Kylo

Xander once said nothing can be faster than the smile he gets when he sees Aria. But Aaron proves him wrong, his cute smile fading into a frown. This time he doesn't even bother to hide his concern, “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” I reply quickly. But looking the notification on my phone, I change my answer. “Everything? I don't know, maybe it's a glitch.” I start to ramble on about how I can fix it not noticing that he doesn't know, or care what I’m talking about.

Aaron tries to conceal his smile but he fails miserably. His dark eyes glint with amusement as he places his hand on my shoulder and tells me to calm down and shut up. “Now that you're not trying to rip my head off with information, what’s wrong?”

I take a deep breath in and look the notification again before I reply. “This notification says over two hundred people joined the game-”

“That is great.” he interrupts.

I cut him off, “-in the last one hour.”
Aaron blinks at me like there is nothing wrong about what I just said. He looks confused as to why exactly I’m freaking out. Wait, why am I freaking out?

“Isn't that good?” he asks. Two hundred players. At least half of them will play it till the end. One hundred souls. Those numbers will surely drag me into the top five. Aaron himself is at two hundred and fifty souls right now, Kathy following closely at two hundred. Besides that, no one has even crossed one hundred and fifty souls.

I blink back at him, confused why I was even freaking out. This is going to be awesome. The top three are basically considered royalty at school. This is great! Cry on this Professor Paronia-is-an-important-subject.

“You are right, but they still have to play it.” I reply. It could have just been a bug.

Aaron winks, “Trust me, they will.”

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“You know how I used to say the floor doesn't need hugs?” I nod, but I know Xander didn't need an answer as he continues, “Well, I want to give it one right now.”

I chuckle ordering yet another chocolate ice-cream, which used to be only for the Elites in the cafeteria. It's been just two weeks since I got notification stating the surge in players and I can't believe how much has changed.

Some stupid player figured out what my game is doing and set up a blog warning people not to play it. So, obviously, everyone wants to play it. There haven't been many new players, but there are just enough to keep me on the top three. Aaron and Kathy are still leading, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Being the best is a lot of work and I’m too lazy to do that.

“I would definitely recommend that you do it. I need some entertainment in life.” I reply, sitting down at the best seat available. It is right beside the window, giving me the view to a dark but not damp sky and dead yet beautiful trees which seems to be crafted to have branches curling towards the abandoned castle on the left.

The sight might appear depressing to me a few weeks ago, but nothing can destroy my amazing mood right now. Being one of the top three is almost as great as being one of the Elites, it is also rumored that these perks will continue even after graduation. I have no idea what comes after Edifice Phantoms, but it would be sweet to have non-vanilla ice cream in death.

Thankfully, not all the players who died know me. But even if they did, I am somewhat of a legend that I can avoid the punches heading straight towards my face.

“I would pay with your ice cream to see that.” Aria says as she joins us. She and Xander have been spending a lot of time together these days. And everytime, it gets more and more gross.

“For you?” Xander starts off and I know I’m going to be stuck in awkwardness for hours if I stay. So I quickly get up, grab my ice cream, and Xander's, and walk towards this old prisons. This time, for the first time, it’s not out of boredom, sadness or anger. Instead out of excitement, Aaron said he would come there soon.

As soon as I get down the stone staircase, I look at the half broken walls and carvings on them. This time when I look at my own name etched onto the wall, I don't feel overwhelming guilty or grief. I might never be able to meet my mom again but it’s okay. I’ve almost made my own life here.

The carved word doesn't only mean my old failure anymore. It holds so much more than that. It’s the place where I coded 72 Hours. The place where I realized it actually worked out. The place where Aaron and I shared our first kiss together. Even as I continue to stay in hell, this might just be my happy ending.

Speaking of happy endings, I hear footsteps on the staircase. My face breaks into a grin as I wait for Aaron to come down. The ice cream is almost melting but I don't really care about it right now.
I don't notice the ghastly look on his face until he is right in front of me. I feel my smile fading away. This was supposed to be my happy ending.

I barely hear it when he whispers, “King Lucifer and Queen Lillith want you to be at the castle in the evening.”

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