Sunday night settled over Johor Bahru, the sound of rain pattering lightly against Siti's window. She had just saved her progress in Kena: Bridge of Spirits and stretched, her body aching pleasantly from hours of exploring magical forests and cheering on the Rot.
She was about to switch off her PS5 when her phone buzzed.
Asmawati: Oi gamer girl. Done with your fairy tale?
Siti giggled, typing back quickly.
Siti: Hey! Kena isn't just a fairy tale, it's beautiful. You should try it.
The typing bubbles appeared, then Asmawati's reply came in seconds.
Asmawati: Beautiful, yes. But too soft. Now it's time for REAL gaming. Dead by Daylight. You downloaded it, right?
Siti froze, glancing at the corner of her TV screen. Sure enough, the eerie icon for Dead by Daylight was there, quietly waiting.
She typed slowly.
Siti: …Yes, I bought it. But I haven't opened it yet.
The reply was instant.
Asmawati: HA! Scaredy-cat!
Siti pouted, her fingers flying across the screen.
Siti: I'm NOT scared… I just want to finish Kena first. That's all.
Her phone buzzed again—this time, a call.
"Hello?" Siti whispered, glancing at her bedroom door, worried her mom might hear.
"As expected," Asmawati's voice teased through the speaker. "Miss Suhaili, spirit guide in magical forests, but too chicken to face a killer with a chainsaw."
Siti groaned. "Asma, please… the game looks terrifying. And it's multiplayer! I'll embarrass myself screaming."
"That's the fun part," Asmawati said with a laugh. "Nobody plays Dead by Daylight silently. We all scream. Even me."
"You? You're never scared."
"I am," Asmawati admitted, her voice softer now. "That's why I like it. Fear makes the game more fun. And you won't be alone—I'll be in the same lobby with you. We'll run together. Promise."
Siti hugged her pillow, her heart torn between fear and curiosity. The thought of logging into such a dark, dangerous world made her stomach twist… but Asmawati's words gave her a strange comfort.
"…Not tonight," Siti whispered. "Let me finish Kena first. Then I'll play with you. Deal?"
"Deal," Asmawati said cheerfully. "But no backing out. The game is already waiting for you. You can't escape forever."
When the call ended, Siti lay back in bed, staring at the dim glow of her PS5 screen. The Dead by Daylight icon sat there silently, almost mocking her, like a shadow lurking just beyond the light.
She pulled the blanket over her head, whispering to herself, "I'm not scared… I'm not scared…"
But in her dreams that night, she wasn't in Kena's bright forest anymore. She was running through a foggy field, footsteps behind her, a heartbeat pounding louder and louder.
The game was waiting.