Jack awoke to the soft glow of the morning sun spilling through the thin curtains of his rented motel room. The first thing he noticed was the silence,the absence of Lila's warmth at his side. For a heartbeat, he thought she was simply in the bathroom, or maybe downstairs already working. But when his hand slid across the sheets and touched only cold emptiness, the truth struck him.
She wasn't there.
His eyes widened as he sat up, heart thudding. No… she couldn't have just left without saying a word. He swung his legs off the bed and hurried toward the bathroom. The door creaked open to reveal nothing but steam stained tiles, a cracked mirror, and the faint smell of soap. No trace of her. He checked the tiny closet, the narrow desk, even behind the door like a desperate fool.
"Lila?" his voice cracked. Silence answered.
Jack froze. A hollow pit opened in his chest. Yesterday had been the most surreal, intoxicating, unforgettable night of his life. He had fallen asleep wrapped in her scent, her curves pressed against him, her lips soft against his neck. He had drifted off certain that when he opened his eyes, she'd still be there, teasing him, smiling that sly smile that made his chest ache.
But she was gone.
He sank onto the edge of the bed, running both hands over his face. Images of last night flashed;her laughter, the way her body moved, how he'd trembled in disbelief that someone like her could want him. Now, sitting alone in the aftermath, he felt foolish, like it had been a dream too fragile to last.
And then, like a stone dropping into still water, his thoughts shifted.
The quest.
His eyes snapped open. "The system," he muttered. "Where the hell were you last night?"
The interface flared to life in front of him, blue text dancing against the stale motel air.
[System Online.]
[Good morning, Jack. For a moment there, I thought last night would never end. You really did keep me waiting.]
Jack groaned. "So much for privacy. You didn't say a word the whole night."
[It was cute you thought I'd disappeared. Did you miss me?]
"Only because of the power you give me," Jack shot back, trying to mask the hollow ache in his chest with irritation.
[That would've hurt… if I had feelings.]
Jack snorted, shaking his head. "So why the silence?"
[I figured you needed your private time. Even I know when not to intrude. Strange as it sounds, Jack, I let you have your moment.]
Jack blinked. That was almost… considerate. "Weirdly thoughtful for a parasite in my head."
[Call it a freebie. But it's over now. Back to work.]
Jack sighed, leaning back. "It was good while it lasted."
The interface pulsed again, new notifications scrolling across.
[Quest Completed: Lose Virginity]
[Rewards: +10 Stat Points | +150 EXP | +3000 Credits]
[Level Up Achieved! Current Level: 2]
[Bonus Reward: +2000 Credits]
Jack's jaw dropped. The sudden numbers almost numbed his grief. He had never even seen this much money in his life.5,000 credits total. Hell, he could get a new ride perhaps one of those hover cycles that sped like the wind and roared like a beast or even better he could obtain a new weapon;he wondered which weapon would suit him best:sword,axe,daggers,a spear or a fancy pair of gauntlets.He clenched his fists, forcing down the urge to grin. A part of him wanted to celebrate, but the emptiness beside him on the bed dulled the thrill.
"No new skill?" he asked aloud.
[You have three already. Don't be greedy.]
He muttered, "Could've been nice…" before scrolling through the new stat options.
"Ten points. Where do I even put them…" he mused. His first instinct was strength. Imagine throwing a punch that could shatter steel. But the system chuckled.
[Good luck outrunning a five-year-old with that logic.]
Jack groaned. "You're insufferable." Still, he knew it was right. Balance mattered. He decided carefully:
+2 Luck.
+1 Charm.
+1 Charisma.
+2 Intelligence.
+2 Speed.
+1 Strength.
+1 agility
He confirmed the changes. The numbers re-arranged across his interface, and he couldn't help but smile faintly. For the first time in years, he didn't feel like the powerless, hungry boy trapped in a warehouse. He felt… capable.
But then his gaze slid to the empty side of the bed again, and the ache returned. "Where are you, Lila?"
He freshened up, splashed water on his face, and forced himself downstairs. Maybe she was at her desk, pretending nothing had happened. Maybe she'd flash that mischievous smile again, as if she hadn't just vanished without warning.Jack suddenly shook his head not believing that he was seriously acting like a love struck teenager because of some receptionist,he then freshened up.
But when he reached the lobby, his heart sank. The front desk was manned by another woman: plump, middle-aged, nowhere near half as striking as Lila.He suddenly panicked.Was she hurt,had someone done something to her.
He froze. "Where's Lila?"
The receptionist looked up. "Oh… Lila Myers? She resigned. Left a note."
It felt like the air left his lungs. "She… resigned?"
"Yes. Handed it in this morning. Said she wouldn't be coming back."
Jack's stomach twisted. His fists clenched. She had left. Without a word. Without waking him. Without even giving him a chance to understand.
Did she… did she only use me,and nothing else for a quick bang? His mind replayed last night. Every kiss, every laugh, every sigh. Was it all meaningless to her?
For a moment, tears threatened. But he bit them back, grinding his teeth. "I'm not the old Jack anymore," he whispered. "I'm not that broken kid who gets left behind."He wasn't gonna break down because of another Maya Cross.
If she could walk away after everything, then fine. Let her. If she thought he was just another body to warm her bed, to satisfy her body and give her pleasure then to hell with her. Still… if he ever saw her again, he'd demand answers but he'd never forgive her.
He stormed back to his room, collapsed on the bed, and stared at the ceiling in a haze of betrayal. The glow of his system interface did little to ease the sting of being abandoned again.
Lila's POV
The streets of Neon City were still soaked in night, dawn barely stretching its pale fingers across the horizon. Lila clutched her small bag and pulled her suitcase tightly, her steps echoing in the empty streets. She didn't wait for the sun. She couldn't. Every second in that motel felt heavier, like Jack's warmth still lingered in the sheets, threatening to pull her back into something she couldn't afford.
Her heart ached. She hated herself. She hated how much she had wanted him, how easily she had given in, how beautiful and fragile last night had been. It was everything she never thought she'd have. Which was exactly why she had to run.
"He'll never love me for who I am," she whispered. "I was just… convenient."
Her eyes stung, but she forced herself forward, weaving into the rundown neighborhood where shadows reigned. The neon lights didn't reach here. Buildings sagged with rot, windows shattered, doors hanging from rusted hinges. Rats darted between trash piles, and the smell of oil and stale liquor lingered in the air.
This was her past. The gutter she'd crawled from. And as much as she wanted to believe she'd escaped, she knew deep down she had only been playing a part.
A door creaked open as she approached a decayed apartment block. A man in his fifties leaned against the frame, cigarette dangling from his lips. His smile was cruel.
"Well, well. Look who crawled back." His voice dripped with mockery. "The orphan slut herself. Did you get tired of playing rich girl behind a desk?"
Lila froze, trembling.
"You think a fancy motel job changes you?" His eyes narrowed. "You'll always be trash. You'll always be the same lonely little girl with nothing. No matter where you run, you'll end up back here."
Her lips parted, but no words came. His hand lashed out ,smack! and she staggered, clutching her cheek. He grabbed her arm and yanked her inside, slamming the door behind them.
"You belong here," he hissed.
Hours later, Lila curled into a ball in the corner of a dim, stinking room. Tears streaked her face. She crawled toward a loose floorboard she had always known hid something precious. Her mother's last gift;a chest she had been told to never open unless it was an emergency.
She slipped the bracelet from her wrist, revealing a tiny key hidden in its clasp. With shaking hands, she unlocked the chest. Her breath caught.
Inside lay only a book.
Her heart pounded as she lifted it, whispering, "What is this…?"It was a plain hardcover book with a brown cover and her family crest;a green mighty impressive looking Dragon with spikes all over the body engraved in it on relief.
The moment she cracked it open, green light flared. It poured into her eyes, flooding her vision. Pain shot through her skull,her eyes shone with Perfect jade green.She gasped, convulsed, and collapsed to the floor.
The book slid from her limp hands, its glow fading back into silence.
And in the dark room, Lila Myers lay still, her body trembling faintly, her fate now tied to something far beyond her understanding.