chapter 66

As the game's screen illuminated her face once more, Rose took a deep breath, steeling herself for what was to come. She had unlocked Sylus's chapter—now she had to experience it in full. A wave of anticipation and nerves coiled in her stomach. She wasn't just playing for entertainment anymore. No, now it felt like a quest. A journey back into the depths of a world that had once consumed her.

The screen flickered as it loaded the next scene, and Rose's breath caught in her throat. The atmosphere shifted again, darker and more intense than before. The room Sylus was in was grand, but suffocating—luxurious, yet it felt cold. The faint light from distant candles barely illuminated his figure, casting shadows that seemed to dance in time with the haunting music.

Rose swallowed hard as she read the words on the screen:

"You've finally come."

Sylus's voice was unmistakable, deep and commanding, and it resonated through her like an electric pulse. She leaned forward, hands tightening around her phone. Her heart skipped as she read the rest of his words.

"Did you think you could escape me?"

Her fingers hovered over the screen, her mind racing. He was here, finally. Sylus, the enigmatic leader of Onychinus, the one who had captivated her attention since the very beginning. Rose's chest tightened with a mix of excitement and fear. This moment, the culmination of her effort, had arrived.

The screen flickered again, and Sylus's character was revealed in all his splendor. His red eyes, burning with intensity, locked onto her character's avatar. His sharp features, defined jawline, and that dangerous, almost predatory aura—it was Sylus, and yet, there was something different about him this time. He felt more real, more tangible, and it was unnerving in the most alluring way.

The dialogue continued, each line sending a thrill down her spine:

"You've been waiting for me, haven't you? Waiting for me to return to you."

Rose's breath caught in her throat. His words felt like a direct challenge, as though he knew everything that had been swirling in her mind. How could he? How could the character in this game have such an impact on her emotions?

"I've waited too long for this," he continued, stepping closer on the screen, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "Too long for you to come to your senses."

Rose could feel her heart racing. She had wanted this moment so badly, but now that it was here, a part of her felt uncertain. Was this real? Was she allowing herself to be swept up by a mere game?

But before she could process the rush of emotions, Sylus's voice broke through again, each word laced with the heavy weight of authority and longing.

"You belong to me now."

His words held a possessiveness that made Rose shiver. It wasn't just the game. It wasn't just a line of dialogue. There was something undeniably magnetic about him. She wanted to reject it, to tell herself this was nothing but pixels on a screen. But deep down, she knew—Sylus was more than just a character. He was the embodiment of everything she had been craving, everything she had been running from.

The conversation continued as the plot unfolded, and Rose found herself hanging on to every word. Sylus had always been an enigma—dark, charismatic, and yet vulnerable in ways that left her questioning everything she thought she knew. The more she read, the more she found herself unraveling, not just the character of Sylus, but the emotions she had been burying deep inside her.

And then, a sudden shift. The game's music changed, soft and melodic, signaling the start of a more intimate scene. Sylus's character stood before her avatar, a dangerous tension hanging in the air. His eyes softened, just for a moment, before the next words appeared on the screen:

"You think I'm a monster, don't you? But I'm only as monstrous as you allow me to be."

Rose's chest tightened. The words pierced her. She had always been cautious of people like Sylus, wary of their dark allure. But now, she wasn't sure where her reservations ended and her longing began.

Sylus reached forward, and for a fleeting moment, his hand brushed her avatar's face in a gesture so tender, it almost felt real. The intimacy, the connection—it was overwhelming. Rose gasped, her fingers trembling as she continued to tap through the dialogue.

"I've been waiting for you," Sylus said, his voice softening. "I've waited far too long. And now that you're here, I won't let you go."

The intensity in his voice stirred something deep inside her, something she hadn't allowed herself to acknowledge. She had been running from this connection, from the pull that Sylus had on her, but now, there was no turning back. She could feel her resistance crumbling, piece by piece.

The screen faded to black for a brief moment, and when it returned, the scene had changed. Sylus stood before her, his red eyes glowing with unspoken promises, his entire being radiating an overwhelming sense of power and desire. His words were soft but filled with an undeniable command.

"Tell me, Rose. Do you trust me?"

Rose stared at the screen, her heart thundering in her chest. She wanted to scream, to tell him everything, to tell him how deeply he had affected her, how his presence in her life—both real and virtual—had shattered every wall she had built. But the only thing that came out was a breathless whisper:

"Yes."

It was a single word, but it felt like everything. The game paused briefly, and Rose's stomach fluttered as she realized the weight of her own admission. Sylus's eyes flared with an intense heat, and she could feel the game's storyline shifting once more, leading her down an uncertain, thrilling path.

As the new scene unfolded, Rose felt a surge of excitement mixed with dread. She had crossed a line. There was no going back now. The journey she had started with Sylus—this strange, intoxicating connection—was about to deepen.

And for better or worse, Rose was ready to face whatever came next.