Chapter 2: Murder Scene

Theo slowly regained consciousness. His vision remained incredibly blurry, and he couldn't make out his surroundings. Panicking, he lifted himself up abruptly and glanced around. His left hand went down to the floor to support him when he got lightheaded.

Upon making contact, Theo felt a slightly warm and sticky substance. He slowly lifted his hand in front of his face and took a deep sniff. He couldn't smell anything. However, he could somewhat make out the outline of his hand and realized that his palm was a dark, bloody red.

Theo reached for the top of his head to feel for any injuries. However, he underestimated the size of his head and lifted his arm too high. He slowly lowered it and soon had a dreadful realization as his hand touched the bloody stump of his neck where his head should be attached.

Retching, Theo scrambled onto his hands and knees, desperately reaching around to find his head. He didn't know how he was conscious without it, much less how it was possible for him to even be alive. He wanted to scream in fear but could not do so without his head.

As he searches, he faintly hears footsteps approaching his apartment, followed by a polite knock. "Theo? It's your neighbor. Your mom called me asking to check on you because you haven't been answering her calls all day."

Heart pounding in his chest, Theo renewed his effort to find his head. He finally found it sitting under a small end table next to the blue velvet couch. As he picked it up, his vision became a lot clearer, and he gasped, seeing the gruesome sight of his own decapitated head resting in his hands.

Blood trickled from it, splattering on the floor.

Theo gulped, trying to remember what happened before he passed out. He thought he heard his neighbor mutter through the front door, "That's strange, I definitely saw him return to his apartment. How come he isn't answering anyone. Something doesn't feel right. I'm getting the landlord to open the door."

Theo looked around his apartment and noted the blood smeared all over the place. It looked like someone had been murdered in it. Then he remembered he was by a mysterious dagger artifact. Not that he understands how it happened. He looks around but doesn't see it anywhere.

He shrugs. A disappearing dagger was not important right now. Not when he is literally holding his head in his hands.

That's when a strange game-like window appears before him.

{Player: Theo Vail}

{Race: Dullahan}

{Level: 1}

{0/100 exp}

{HP: 10/10}

{Strength: 10}

{Agility: 10}

{Stamina: 10}

"Huh?" Theo said while staring in shock. "What is this?"

He carefully examined the screen and realized it closely resembled the status screen of a popular game in Undercity. Gulping, or at least attempting to, he navigated to the next tab.

{Skills}

{0 Skill points available}

{Skill locked—}

{Skill locked—}

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Theo found everything bizarre, but he continued exploring the window. The part of him obsessed with research would not allow him to ignore a mystery, especially when it involved him. Everything on the skills tab is inaccessible, so he moves on to the next tab.

{Store}

{Unlocks at level 10}

Frustrated that nothing seems available, Theo opens the last tab and is delighted to see something he can work with.

{Main Quest}

{Reach level 10}

{Daily Quest: Go for a midnight stroll.}

{Reward: 5 exp}

Excitedly, Theo stands up, checking the time. It is 46 minutes until midnight. Perfect. He then hears footsteps approaching his apartment door again. "You better be right about this, Reina. If not, I will give you hell for waking me up late at night."

Theo freezes for a second, his mind racing. What should he do? His apartment is a bloody mess, and his head is no longer attached to his shoulders.

He hears a key slide into the lock. Without another second's delay, Theo launches himself toward the sliding door. As he pushes it open and jumps over the balcony railing, a piercing scream of horror fills the night.

Theo bolts through the narrow alley behind the apartment building, sticking close to the walls, where deep shadows cover his entire body. His head is swinging wildly in his grip, and his hair threatens to tear from the weight.

Why is he running from the apartment? He could probably explain what happened to the two women. But will they believe him is unknown? Theo can't risk them not believing him, not when his very existence is on the line. He knows he closely resembles a mythical creature.

Theo freezes as a sudden realization sets in. The scholars he has been researching had figured out a way to mimic the abilities of mythical creatures, but their end products were lost in time due to their difficulty in use. Could the dagger have been something they made?

If that's the case, it explains why his head is no longer attached to his neck. This would be the part about it being difficult to use. Would any human be okay with carrying their head around because it's no longer attached to their body? Theo doesn't think so, despite him doing it so nonchalantly.

Theo sighed. He was only there because he hadn't had enough time to process everything that was happening. He should find someplace to hide for the time being. As he continues through the city, a notification pops up in front of his eyes.

{Daily Quest complete, 5 exp has been granted.}

{5/100}

Theo stares at the notification, not bothering to process it now. Too much has happened in the last hour.

Sirens rush down the main road near the alleyway, and Theo knows where they are headed. He feels a headache forming. His mom is going to be so worried. Perhaps he should head to her home. After figuring out how to reattach his head so he doesn't freak her out. He changes his route with a destination in mind, still sticking to the shadows.