My eyes were wide open as I stared at the ceiling of my room.
I couldn't help but remember what I wanted in return for Playing this game.
My mother, my real mother. I wanted to meet her and ask her why she had left me to suffer. Why she had left me in the hands of my father.
I had a mother in this life whom I didn't recognize yet.
Hopefully, I'll gain my memories tomorrow.
'Hey Harper, are you asleep?'
That was weird. I thought this christopher was gone by now.
'What are you still doing inside of me, chris?'
'Ooh, a nickname, that's fun'
'No no, answer my question. What are you doing inside of me? Shouldn't you have left?'
'Where will I go to?'
'Uhm, where you came from?'
'I was built as soon as you step foot in this realm. I have nowhere to go. You don't have to worry, my existence won't cause you any harm'.
'Okay, can I ask you a question then?'
'I'm afraid that'll be tomorrow. I have to shut down now'
'Shut down? Are you a robot or something?'
'Nope. I'm a system and just like you need to sleep, I also need to sleep'
'But.....
'Okay. Goodnight'
What? Did he just ignore me and went to sleep? That little.....
suddenly, I felt something pulling me away again. It was as if my soul was being sucked once again and before I knew it, my eyes went shut.
*** The next morning
'Harper! Harper! Get up you lazy bum, now!'
'Woah!' I yawned lazily after falling off the bed. That was my mom alright.
'Coming mom!'
I rushed to freshen up and get dressed.
'Wake up chris'
No response.
'Chris? Chris?'
'Still no response'
'Come on you lazy system. Get up!'
He finally came out, his usually bright light now dim.
'What's wrong chris?'
'I need to recharge. You can proceed, I'll wait for you here'
'No. You have to come with me'
'But I need food'
What was he saying now? Where do I get robot food from?
'What do you mean you want food? Where do I get food for you? Do you eat metals or something?'
'No. I just need to feed from your energy'
'It's not harmful right?'
'No, it's not'
'Alright then. Let's go'
'Okay'.
I had to leave before my mom came to my room.
***
HARPER
I sat down at the dining table with my siblings while my mom served breakfast.
It was a small bowl of watery porridge.
Other than the food, I still had to digest the fact that, Aliya's stepmom in the real world, was my mother in this world.
What a joke. My best friend's stepmom is now my mother.
I took a good look at my brother and sister.
My brother, Elias was quiet and loves to draw. Speaks little but observes everything. Works two jobs and hides his pain well.
My little sister, Maisie, on the other hand was the sweetest thing. She always tries to keep the family cheerful.
I looked at her and smiled. Too bad all these were not real.
'Harpie, I saved a bigger piece of bread for you. I know you hate the crust'
'Thank you honey'.
'Elias on the other hand..., 'Eat fast. You're going to be late again'
Some morning this was. My mom on the other hand completely ignored me.
I'm used to it though, I regained my memories the night before and I finally have a knowledge about my life.
I already knew that my mom was terminally ill but I didn't let her know.
She still thinks that I'm ignorant and that was why she was being mean.
She wants to distract me from finding out her truth but what I want is to save up enough money for her treatment.
I had to leave for work. Not only am I not being recognized for my work, the money I'm being paid is only enough to feed the family and send Maisie to school.
I still had to work part time but that was just an excuse. I don't always get paid at my part time jobs because my other work always interfere with my part time jobs.
I just got a message two days ago that I'd been fired from my job, again.
I had to rush breakfast and leave quickly. Elias would take Maisie to school today and I had to look for another job immediately.
'Mom, I need to talk to you'
'Speak'
'I got fired from my job, again'
'So?'
'I know you are probably angry at me but I promise you, I'll look for another job'
'I don't care about the job you do but if you....
'Yeah mom, I know. I should never, ever think of being a secret agent'
'Good. you may leave'
'Thanks mom'.
***
'You're lying to your mom Harper '
'I know Chris but what could I have done. I'm doing this for my dad. I have to find out what really happened to him '
I looked over at my dairy which was on the table. It was going to be very useful for me.
I picked it up and skimmed through it.
'You also didn't tell me that you've gotten your memories '
'I was going to'
'Do you still feel some attachment to the real world?'
'No. I've agreed to do this sincerely and I'll do it well '
'What do you want to do now?'
I looked at the list of things in my diary and what I'd planned to do.
'Let's go chris'
'Where ?'
'The hospital '.
'The hospital? Why?'
'To look for a job'
'okay'.
***
'So ma'am, are you sure you can do this job?'
The doctor was asking me this for the umpteenth time already.
'Sir, I'm eighteen. I can do it'
'Okay ma'am. Please resume tomorrow '
'Alright. Thank you so much sir'
I left the hospital in smiles. I had completed one thing on my list and I'll slowly take care of the rest.
'Harper?'
'Yes chris'
'That was the job you wanted at the hospital?'
'Yes of course '
'So, you're telling me you went to the hospital just to be a janitor?'
'It's not a bad job you know '
'I'm surprised '
'We have to go somewhere else Chris'
'Where?'
'The boss's office '
'Ok. Who's the boss?'
'My superior. I have to get his approval to officially start my first mission. All the ones I've been working on were just small tasks. Now, I get to have my own gun'
'Do you have a license?'
'Of course I do. My mom doesn't know this though '
'Oh'
'You know Chris, I find something weird'
'What's that Harper?'
'If this mission was really important, then they should've called me urgently right?'
'Maybe they're other agents available?'
'No. I'm the only one who is at their beck and call. The others are independent now and have spread all over the country. They only work for private individuals '
'Okay. I don't understand what you're getting at'
'What I'm saying is that, this is a missing person case. A small girl at that. If they're really serious about this mission, then they wouldn't take it for granted '
'So....
'So, it's either the mission is a fake or they're just not taking it seriously '
'Wow. As expected of an officer's daughter. You're really smart'
'He's not my real father but sure, why not?'
'Are we there yet?'
'Here we are'.
I stared at the familiar building. There was more to it than meet the eye but I didn't have the time to uncover the secrets yet. I saw a familiar symbol on the flags.
'Why do I feel like i've seen this before?'
'What's that?'
'Nevermind. Let's go in Chris'.
'Sure'.
***
I went inside and met the receptionist.
'Aunt Rita, hi. I need to see the boss'
'Hi Harper. Sure, please sit down, the boss is in a meeting '.
'ok'
I sat down patiently and waited for the meeting to be over.
Soon, the officials slowly came out. They were all smiling happily except one woman.
I recognized her immediately. Aunt Samantha, she was very close to my dad. Her daughter is the one missing and strangely, she has been chill about it. She didn't make any efforts to look for her child who had been missing for a week now.
They were all in smiles except her. She looked pale and lifeless.
I had to talk to her soon. I need to figure out what was going on with her.
'Harper. You can meet the boss now'
'Okay, thanks Aunt Rita '
I will meet aunt Samantha later but for now, I needed approval from the boss.
***
Knock! knock!
'Come in'
I went inside and bowed respectfully.
'Sir, I need your approval for my first official mission '
'Sure. I'll sign the papers'
'Thank you sir'
'Agent Harper, let me tell you something '.
'Sure sir'
'Don't rush this mission '
'Huh?'
'I mean to say that you should take your time. This is a delicate case after all and the child may be affected '
I found it strange that instead of giving me a time limit, he was asking me to take my time. This makes it more interesting.
Now, I really must find out what was going on. I looked up to stare at him.
'Sure sir'.
'You may leave'.
I collected the documents and left, I had to talk to aunt Samantha.
***
The boss slowly removed his mask as Harper left. It was very hard to know that he was wearing a mask as it seemed like a real face.
A lady walked out of the shadows to meet him.
'Dad? What now?'
'Patience my dear. Patience'
***
'Harper, don't you find it weird that the boss asked you not to rush this mission?'
'I know Chris. I need to find out what was going on. I'll retrieve my gun tomorrow and then, I'll meet aunt Samantha '.
'Harper, I sense danger'
'Danger? You can sense that?'
'Yeah. Someone is coming towards you with evil intent and with full speed'
'Do you know who they are?'
'An assassin '
'What?'
Who would want to kill me?