~Duncan~

I sat with Sjin, Lewis, and Simon in the "break room". We sat around the table, Simon eating scarfing down Jaffa Cakes and Lewis typing furiously on his laptop. He had his brow furrowed, and if anyone interrupted whatever he was doing, you might just get the worst lecture of your life. Sjin was just on his phone. When I looked at his phone screen I saw he was texting someone.

I groaned, bored out of my mind. I was supposed to record with Kim today, but for the fifth time this week she hasn't come in. "Lewis? Didn't you say Kim was coming in today," I asked curiously.

"She said maybe. She still isn't feeling very well," he answered back, a bit irritably. Whatever he was doing, must be important.

When he reminded me she wasn't feeling well, I felt my heart break a bit. I was worried about her. Five days of being severely sick, I really hoped she was okay. I actually thought about visiting her once or twice, but I stopped myself, remembering she probably wouldn't want to see me or anything, although I was aching to see her smiling face in Yogtowers. Or hear her sweet laugh again.

"Listen, Duncan. We are all worried about her, maybe you should go try to visit her," Sjin suggested, elbowing me in the arm.

"No. She wouldn't want to see me, maybe Hannah," I suggested.

Lewis looked up from his laptop briefly," She is visiting family." He quickly looked back down to his work.

"Duncan, besides Hannah you are the closest person Kim has bonded with here. And," Simon stopped and giggled slightly," We know you got a thing for her."

"What! Do not," I replied, possibly a bit quickly. Sjin chuckled, a bit. Simon giggled, and a small smirk spread across Lewis's face.

"Duncan's gotta little crushy- wushy," Sjin teased, followed by chuckling.

"Wait? Duncan likes someone," I heard a voice from behind us ask.

I turned around to see Smiffy, Trott, and Ross standing there, small smiled on their lips . I groaned loudly, hiding my face in my hands.

"Are they from the office," Ross asked.

"Don't answer that," I mumbled.

"Yup," Sjin laughed, popping the "p."

"You guys are acting like we are back in school. So immature," I groaned again.

"Incase you haven't noticed, we are all very immature Duncan. We play video games for a living, now spill," Smiffy smiled.

I realized I had to tell them. What's the harm? Nothing bad could come out of telling them, right? "I-I-... It's Kim."

"What's me," I heard a quiet and familiar voice from the doorway behind us. The voice was lovely, music to my ears, but there was something wrong.

I turned to see my Kim, I mean Kim. She was gorgeous, but something was a bit off. There were dark bags under her deep brown eyes, and her usually smooth skin looked dry. Her lips looked chapped, and her hair was a bit wavy, not to mention a bit longer than I was used to.

"Kim," everyone shouted happily, despite the fact that she looked awfully sick.

"Hey guys. Sorry haven't been in, I was um sick, but I'm feeling better now," she smiled, I could tell it was forced.

I saw her gaze fall on me," Duncan? Want to go record now?"

"Yeah," I answered, getting up and following her down the hallway. Once we were outside my office, I grabbed her wrist to stop her from walking. When I grabbed her wrist I felt a cloth-like mesh, but ignored it for the time being.

She turned around, and looked at me. "Kim. You are not okay," I said sternly.

"Duncan, I promise I am fine," she answered back, flashing a quick fake smile.

"Kim. I know you aren't fine. I know you. What's wrong? Did you go to the doctor," I asked curiously.

"Uh no. It was just a bug, but I am alright now I-I promise," she gave a slight smile.

I frowned in response," You need to go to the doctor. It might be something serious."

"I-I can't go to the doctor. It's complicated Duncan," she said, this time not bothering to flash a smile.

"Why is it complicated," I asked curiously.

"I can't tell you," she whispered, looking down at her wrist, which I still had a right grip on.

"What?! Why not," I whined.

"I-I just can't. I'm sorry, Duncan. I really am. I don't want to worry you..." She trailed off, biting her chapped lips slightly.

"Then tell me, Kim," I pleaded, letting go of her wrist.

"Fine. Meet me at my house after work. Now let's go record," she sighed, then walked off towards her office.

~Later~

I drove to her house, all my mind could focus on was her. I was nervous and anxious. What did she mean by it was complicated? I mean, she hasn't even gone to a doctor yet? What if she has something?

My mind started racing with all the possible diseases she could have. Cancer? Does she only have months to live? Days? Why didn't she go to a doctor, I'm sure they could help her.

I felt myself carefully increasing my speed. I was aching to see her, to help her with whatever is going on. I just want the old Kim back. She was always happy around the office. She would walk through the halls with a skip in her step, and her short dark hair would bounce slightly with every step. I could just get lost in her dark brown eyes, they had the power to make me melt. The way she was a lot shorter than me, I thought it was adorable. She's very smart too, and kind, except during Flux Buddies, then she could be vengeful... Which I thought was adorable too.

As my mind swam with images of Kim, I couldn't help but remember all the times that I made her laugh, or our special little moments. They were stupid moments, mostly over video game sessions, but they still made me feel warm inside.

"Aww! Thanks Duncan I love them," she squealed happily, staring at her new ruby tools. Her avatar walked over to me and hugged me in game, how I wish she actually hugged me.

"It's says follow the path," she said, attempting to make her voice sound spooky. The first thing I saw, was the almost realistic looking textures of the texture pack, and I begin to get worried. Will I really get scared of minecraft.

"Ooooh. Duncan, I'm scared hold my hand," she said quietly. I felt myself blush slightly, then get upset with myself. It's just a game Duncan.

"O-Okay," I stuttered, walking next to her character.

There are so many stupid little memories, of her and I. They made my heart flutter, whilst she probably feels nothing. It's just a game after all. I sighed, then realized I had arrived at Kim's.

I stepped out of my car and approached her door. I knocked three times then waited on the doorstep, getting more anxious by the minute. Was it really that serious? Why does she trust me of all people? Can I help her?

I realized I had been standing outside her door for five minutes, and she hasn't come to answer. "Kim," I call out, knocking through the door. There was no response. "KIM?! It's me, Duncan." Still no answer. I then got worried and panicked. Is she okay? Is something wrong? I couldn't ignore the feeling in my gut, this really off feeling.

I reach for the doorknob and twist, surprisingly it is open. I open it slowly," Kim! I'm coming inside!!! Where are you?"

I closed the door behind me and gasped at her home. It was a complete mess. Stuff was scattered all over her brown carpet, from clothes, to decorations, to magazines and blankets. Her walls, that I assumed were originally a cream color, were covered in purple scribbles. It was a writing of some sort, but I couldn't make out what it was depicting. All I knew was that something was wrong.

I walked down a hallway, and peered into a doorway towards the right. Inside was the kitchen, which looked revolting. Plates and silverware were scattered all over the tile floor. On her stove were pots and pans covered in spoiled food that has probably crusted itself onto the cooking utensils. Her sink was filled with broken and dirty dishes, and I couldn't help but notice the amounts of flys that were swarming the mess. I gagged slightly, then continued down the hall.

There was a closed door at the end of the hallway, and all the other doors were wide open. I gulped and made my way towards the closed door. On my way, I notice too long pairs of gloves. They were skin colored, sort of like those things people use to cover up tattoos. Why does Kim have those? Then I remembered the meshy feeling under my hand when I grabbed her wrist. What could she be trying to cover up? Realization hit me hard. Like a brick to the face. She wouldn't... Would she?

I swung open the door and gasped. There was an empty bed frame, and the mattress, which was wearing ripped sheets, was on the right wall. It was very dark, but from the light in the hallway, I could see that the windows were covered in towels or blankets. "Kim," I asked quietly and nervously.

I heard a slight whimper from the corner and turned my head. I gasped at what I saw. Kim sat in in the dark corner, whimpering and sobbing. Her head was in her knees, and I noticed something. Something very bad. Her arms, which were wrapped around her knees, were covered in purple.

"KIM!" I screamed running over to her and crouching down. "Kim? Kim! Are you alright? I'm here, I'm here," I said soothingly. I wanted so badly to wrap my arms around her, but it looked like she was having a panic attack and I didn't want to touch her and make her more upset.

"The Flux. It's the Flux Duncan, the Flux. It's real. It's real. Real. The flux Duncan. Duncan. Duncan help please. Duncan please! The flux. Flux. Flux. It's real. Duncan it's real," she whimpered over and over again. Her words were slightly slurred but that could wait. She said THE FLUX. The flux from a virtually game, the taint that was extremely poisonous and dangerous. How did it get to her?

"Kim. Kim, look at me. I'm here, see? I'm here," I whispered softly. She slowly lifted her head and I gasped. Half of her face was covered in the purple, and one of her gorgeous brown eyes were ruined by the taint.

"D-Duncan," she whimpered lightly.

I nodded, holding back tears. "Y-Yes, Kim. I-I'm here," I whispered.

"NO! Duncan stay back! ITS FLUX! IT WILL KILL YOU, IT WILL GET YOU," she screeched loudly. She suddenly hopped up and ran to the other corner of the room.

"Kim. Kim it's alright. I haven't been infected in the game? It must be safe for me," I tried to reassure her, although I wasn't sure if this was true.

"Y-You promise," she asked. I nodded.

With that I saw her stand up and lunge at me with such force I almost fell backwards. She wrapped her arms around my neck. After realizing what happened, I wrapped my arms around her waist, supporting her since she couldn't reach the floor. I felt her head bury into my neck and shoulder, and she sobbed and shook uncontrollably.

"Shhhh. Kim it will be alright," I whispered reassuringly.

"N-No. N-no it won't, Duncan. I-I will t-taint people! The w-world will die," she whimpered.

"No. I'll find a cure don't worry," I whispered back, although I wasn't sure about that either. I bit my lip slightly, how was I going to do this?

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I know this is mean... But four votes for part two of this. It was suggested by a person, I forgot their name atm, I'm sorry, I love you, you know who you are! I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!!! WHO WANTS SOME SNUND NEXT CHAPTER? *raises hand* *screams* FUCK YEEEEEEESSSSS. Okay. I love y'all. Byyyyeeeee