1 Chapter 1: Welcome New Life

City Hospital

20XX

I woke up with a girl crying beside me.

Everything was all hazy. My last memory was being in a car with my Mom and Dad. It was my high school graduation day. Dad was driving. I remember the trip being mundane up to this point before the car lurched violently as Dad tried to avoid something on the road. Then it all went black.

My body feels so weak. My head really hurts, so hungry and I'm thirsty as hell.

"Thank God you woke up! It's been three years since the accident," Her familiar voice rang out softly in my head in between sobs. I tried opening my eyes and I still can't see properly.

"Hey is that you Mari? You've grown really cute," I said, in an effort to make her smile because I don't want to see her cry, trying my best to speak with my groggy voice. She must have been in a lot of pain by herself for these past years.

She grew up really cute with that baby face and mid-length hair.

"You still haven't change brother. You can still joke around even after what happened. Hmm. I really missed you. I'm so happy that you woke up!" She replied smiling while wiping her tears. It shows that she's really happy. Thank God, I still know how to make her smile.

Then it dawned on me, I've been lying down here for three years.

"By the way, where are Mom and Dad?"

The question brought a fresh wave of sorrow across her face. Looks like I know the answer. It felt like everything happened just yesterday. I know that I should cry or be sad about it but for some reason, I only feel empty inside. Am I really a bad son for not grieving for my parents? No, because I know that wherever they are, they will be always with me in my heart and right now I need to face the present and try to live my life with my sister.

"Mom and Dad didn't make it," She said softly, looking away.

"I'm sorry, brother,"

"You don't have to be sorry," I paused, thinking for a moment.

"Wherever they are, I know Mom and Dad are happy,"

*After a couple of months*

The next couple of months passed by in a blur. With my medication and rehabilitation, I am able to walk by myself now without help from anyone. I regain my strength from doing what my doctors told me to do which really did great for me. After all that, Mari helped me settle the paperwork needed and I was discharged from the hospital. Some doctors told me that my body healed so fast but maybe that's just because I'm eager to go home.

We went to visit where Mom and Dad were resting. I really miss them. Fresh flowers lay beside each of the graves. It must have been hard for Mari. I allowed myself a weak smile.

She must have had to really go through a lot these past few years, having to deal with Mom and Dad's death alone, while I laid in a coma. The doctors told me she would visit the hospital almost every single day, waiting for me to wake.

"Thank you, Mari," I said, so softly I wasn't even sure she heard it.

*Present Day, Morning*

The house looked pretty much the same as it always had. Mari had done her best to keep the house clean, another thing to add to my sister's list of achievements in the last three years.

"Hey bro, your room is clean as always! Thanks to your sister," Mari exclaimed proudly. You could almost see her pride beaming through.

"Thanks, Mari, I know it's sad to be alone for three years. I promise you I won't leave you and will always be here for you," I said wholeheartedly.

"Thanks, bro, I really missed you," She smiled and tugged me towards my room.

"I'm sure you have a lot of catching up to do now, so I'd leave you to it!" She said and left me inside my room.

It looks like my computer is still working fine. I surfed through some of my social websites, the first few months were filled with friends posting their well wished, and then the posts fizzled out into occasional pictures they had of me. It was heartwarming.

As I was scrolling through some of the more recent feeds, something popped up on my chat - a message from Jay. Jay is my best friend, looks like he saw me online.

Jay Renzo: "Hey Aries? Is that you?!"

Yup, I'm Aries Kim. Right now, I feel like I'm still 17 years old but in reality, I'm a 20 years old college student... or I would have been if not for the accident. I'm your regular normal looking guy, tall and pale skin.

Aries Kim: "Yup it's me, Jay. I just got out of the hospital. My sis is with me here in our house,"

Jay Renzo: "Ok I'll contact Son and we will be there for a minute! Stay there!"

Aries Kim: "You don't have to-"

He was already offline before I could hit "Enter".

*Afternoon*

Only took about fifteen minutes before there was a loud knock at the door. Looks like those two are here. I feel like it's just yesterday since we last saw each other, though.

"Hi, brothers, how did you know Aries is here?" Mari answered the door, surprised to see the grinning faces of my best buddies.

"Oh Mari, Jay saw me online earlier and with Son, they rushed here," I replied happily, ushering my friends in.

They entered the house while carrying a bag of food.

"It's so nice to see you moving and talking. Looking at you sleeping is boring, dude," Jay laughed while hugging me pretty hard. I'm pretty sure there is no bromance going around.

"You should have contacted us when you woke up!" Son added in accusingly.

"Are you really ok now?" He asked worriedly.

"Yeah, I'm okay now, you guys grew up a bit. It's been so long since I last saw you both," I replied.

Jay, Son and I are always together in high school and an inseparable group of friends.

They quickly filled me in on what's happening in the world right now as we ate. It feels surreal to be talking and laughing with my best friends. They also mentioned a Game that was released a year ago. Not just any game but the most popular game in the world right now. According to them, the Game was played through its own device, like unique console built exclusively for it. I promised to check it out later because we became friends in the first place mostly because we love games.

Time passed quickly and before long the evening had set.

"If you need anything just ask us, alright bro? It's good to see you back on your feet again," Jay said as stepped out.

"Don't be a stranger!"

*Night*

The game's website was impressive, bright steel letters on the front showing that it was called "New Life Online", almost as if it was calling out to my current situation. It also shows some pictures of top players in the game which are really awesome wearing armor and having those breathtaking weapons. The device used for it was expensive, but not so much so that I couldn't afford it.

I also checked the game's forums and guides. It seems like New Life doesn't have any NPC's in this world, not even for quests. Players would be able to control the whole game's ecosystem, from its economy and hierarchy to politics and laws. Players are free to create an alternate world of their own. It all seemed pretty cool, a game that could mirror reality.

"Brother! Dinner is ready!" Mari's voice echoed through the house, breaking my concentration.

The foods look good but... if memory served me right, Mari doesn't know how to cook. The last time I taste one of her dishes, I almost lost consciousness. But I guess things could have changed in the last three years.

"Let's eat now bro, I made this food and I hope you'll like it," Mari said encouragingly. Guess she really put effort into cooking this so I have high hopes. I scooped a mouthful and...

Ugggggghhh!!!

I feel like I want to throw up! Did Mari put toothpaste in this?

"So, did you like it, brother?" She asked expectedly.

"It really tastes unique... in a good way. Thanks, Mari," I forced out with a clenched smile. What else should I say? I didn't want to hurt her feelings. I just hope she doesn't see my smile.

"I want to help you Mari so from now on I will do the cooking for us is that ok?" I said trying to still chew the food... or whatever you call it.

I continued, trying to save myself from further horror.

"Sure Brother, I learned it from a friend. But Brother cooks better than me so it would be great!" She replied, still beaming, thinking I really liked her food. Just who the hell is this friend she's talking about? This doesn't taste like the food at all!

"By the way Mari, where did you get the money for my hospital bills and for yourself? I asked.

"Oh, Mom and Dad left a really good amount of money in the bank for our college fees. They're gone now... We both have access to it," She said, handing me a bankbook - our parent's final gift to us. I can't believe we got this kind of money. I can't really count how many zeroes are on it. It looks like Mom and Dad really worked hard for us.

"Brother, I saw you earlier checking out New Life. I'm currently playing it with my friends too. If you want you can buy the device and play it too. I know you like playing games but promise me when enrollment comes, you will also enroll ok?" She said. Well, I think going to study again isn't that bad.

"Sure, it looks like we are going to be in the same year too! Let's enroll together Mari," I said.

She smiled and nodded. I really can't believe my sis and I will both be freshman students soon.

*After a week, Morning*

The game finally arrived, after almost a week of waiting. The packaging was unimpressive, just plain box. The device itself looked like a headgear of some sort with a power adapter attached to it. There didn't seem to be another wire connected to it. Reading the manual, it says all I need to do is put the power adaptor to the power outlet and the device will connect itself to the game.

Playing a game without a controller seemed foreign to me, how would I be able to control my character? I asked Mari about it and she said that controls were done using the brain, the device would read the player's thoughts and send it as command actions to my character. Also, it lets me play while awake and if I fall asleep the game will still go on and I won't lose consciousness, it will also tell me if my body is sleeping or not and there is also time so I won't be late if I need to wake up.

The technology in this thing is something else. In just three years, they developed gaming technology that could sense your thoughts and transport you into an alternate world. There are lots of games released on the same console but the best one right now is New Life Online.

Okay, I think it's time to test it out. I started to put the helmet thing and started to lie down. Oh, an interface is asking me something.

"Choose your game mode," A mechanical female voice sounded from nowhere in particular.

"Choose your character's name,"

"Scythe,"

"Scythe registered,"

"Welcome to New Life, Scythe!"

*****