1 Meet the Gilbert's

The raging inferno faded from veiw as her life burned out of her.

[Initiating System Binding to Host 999. World locating in progress. Please stand by. ]

Death is Normal.

But having a thirst for life is too.

Neena Winston had that thirst. So, when a defective AI system promised she could live as long as she became its Experience Supplier, Neena only hesitated for a second.

She was a middle-class low-talented paper pusher in an almost bankrupt company and died in a fire because of faulty wires. A very painful way to die.  She, better than anyone, knew that there were far better people who deserved this second chance.

'What do I have to do, System?' She asked it.

The darkness became the backdrop for the glowing golden words.

[Host 999 will be transferred to a suitable world where you will come into contact with the world's children. After you have survived the Plot for two years, System 143 will gain the experience of that world through your soul. Once the experience is transferred, System 143 will evolve from a Novel System to Fiction System and leave. The host may either choose to keep living in the Mission World or may pass on to be reincarnated.]

'So, we are going inside a novel?'

[No. We will be traveling to a movie or TV show realm.]

'But, aren't you a Novel System?'

[This is an Update Mission. Update Missions take place in movies and TV shows. Successful Update means the System can choose the medium of the story according to host preference.]

'Oh. Now I feel that's unfair.'

[Host life and death was not special enough for permanent binding to the system]

'Ouch.'

[Binding complete. Host 999 transferred to world 666. Identity and memory of host will be transferred when you wake up in the Story World. System information says host is aware of Story Plot. System will contact host 999 after 720 days of Plot development. Happy Journey]

'Wait! I still have questions! What do you mean I have Plot awareness? Where are we going? Are you not going to contact me before-'

The world turned dark.

The sound of chirping birds woke Neena up. It was a new experience.

She had lived in an over crowded orphanage in a small alleyway in New York most of her life. And then moved to a more polluted area apartment when she moved out.

With a smile she rushed to the body length mirror.

The girl in the mirror was exotic and tragic to look at. Her long black hair was a mess, unruly and not taken care of for at least a week. Her blue-gray eyes were puffy, bloodshot. Her skin was tanned but waxy, like she had not bathed for some time. It felt sticky and there was a burnt smell coming off her. The poor child. She was probably 17 or 18.

As Neena observed her new body came the memories it contained. Memories that made her want to cry hysterically and also scream in excitement.

The new body was called Aleena Gilbert, Ally for short. They were different. Aleena was beautiful, she was not. Aleena was the queen bee, Neena was the worker. Aleena had family, Neena was an unwanted orphan. But most importantly, Aleena was a witch and Neena was normal, until now.

The world she was in, was the Vampire Diaries. Excellent.

Now she knew why the mission was to survive 2 years of plot. Surviving in a town that was crawled by every creature of the night while being the sister of the protagonist was definitely System upgrade experience worth.

Aleena Gilbert, the 'bad' girl of the Gilbert family. The girl who blamed Elena Gilbert for all her problems in life. She was a bully and a shallow bitch. Her existence made Elena seem tame. Her parents' disappointment.

The death of the Gilbert parents made Aleena hate Elena even more, because she believed that it was because of Elena that their parents were dead. She was right in some ways.

Today was the day after the wake of her parents. All three Gilbert children were clueless and directionless. Aunt Jenna was as lost as the teenagers.

Neena sighed. In a way, she was happy that the sisters were not close so she did not have to perform Oscar level acting. She didn't have that talent. The Gilbert kids were locked in their own rooms and hadn't interacted with each other since their parents death.

This was a world Neena had loved as a teen and looked back with nostalgia as an adult. So she, better than anyone, knew that the story had a plotline that was a straight as the river Nile.

This was a world that was dangerous to everyone. Even the main characters. They all went through a lot of drama and angst.

[Ding!]

[Host 999 has been assigned to The Vampire Diaries show. The host has been given an identity optimal to come into contact with story characters. Please work hard, host!

Chain Quest Alert!

Meet the Gilbert's!

Quest 1:

Aunt Jenna is packing your parents' things! Help Aunt Jenna and improve your relationship with her!

Reward: 50 experience points.

Accept/Reject]

Neena stared at the glowing words.

'Didn't you say you were only going to contact me after two years?'

The System was silent.

Neena rolled her eyes. Defective AI! Where's your complaint box! Bad ratings!

She read through the quest box a few times before reluctantly selecting the Accept button.

She went down the stairs to the main hall where Jenna Sommers was sorting through some antiques.

Hearing footsteps, Jenna looked up in shock. She was not expecting any of the kids to come out. She was planning on dragging them to eat some food.

When Jenna saw her niece Aleena standing next to her with a tight smile, she was even more shocked. Aleena was the last person she expected to come to her.

"Aunt Jenna?"

The voice was barely visible.

"Yeah?"

"Let me help you with that."

Jenna chocked on a sob. Her eyes filled with tears as she nodded.

[Ding!]

[Quest 1 complete!

Gained 50 experience!]

They spent about two hours getting everything sorted and into the storage room. Jenna talked occasionally, trying to make the teenager stay out of her room for as long as she could. Neena would hum and have at her words, trying to see if she would trigger any other Quest.

The two of them crashed into the sofa and laid there for sometime.

The room was silent.

Jenna stared at her niece. Her young face was worn and tired.

"I'll make us coffee. Caffeine would refresh you right? Or are teenagers not supposed to drink coffee?"

Neena stared at her, making Jenna unsure even more.

Neena sighed and gave her another tight smile. "Actually, Aunt Jenna, I haven't taken a shower in a long time. Why don't you have that coffee and I will freshen up."

"That makes sense! I also need a shower! So sweaty from all that moving!"

Neena nodded at her and then walked away.

It took everything in her power not be too nice, fearing of becoming out of character and raising concerns in Jenna's mind.

[Ding!]

[Chain Quest Alert!

Meet the Gilbert's !

Quest 2!

Jeremy hasn't touched his sketchpad in a long time. Talk to him about it!

Reward: 50 experience points!

Accept/Reject]

Neena accepted the quest. Instead of directly going to Jeremy, she decided to freshen up first. She could no longer ignore the smell or the sticky skin.