Adrian was just about to drift off into the sweet oblivion of a nap which, honestly, seemed to be the only perk of this infant body when the universe decided to interrupt him again.
It wasn't a sound. It was a translucent screen right in front of him.
One moment, he was staring at the blurry white ceiling of the hospital room; the next, a translucent blue screen hovered in front of his face.
Adrian blinked. The screen didn't move.
*'Oh, thank the gods.'* he thought, his tiny brow furrowing. *'At least I'll be able to fight and not die instantly. *'
He tried to wave his hand to dismiss it, but his arm just flopped uselessly against the swaddle. Resigned, he focused his eyes on the text.
---
[ STATUS PANEL ]
Name: Adrian Marsh
Age: 0 Years (Newborn)
Store Points: 0
Current Location: Derry, Maine
Objective:
Survive the Cycle.
World Progress: 0 / 100 %
When World Progress reaches 100%, you will have cemented your place in this timeline and ensured survival against the encroaching darkness.
Time Limit: 15 Years
You must reach 100% Preparation before the Cycle begins in earnest. If you fail, there will be… unimaginable consequences.
Missions:
The Missions tab will give you tasks to help you earn points. The Missions aren't compulsory, but non-completion in this environment is ill-advised.
World Store
(The store contains abilities, skills, and provisions tied to your survival. Everything can be bought using the points you earn.)
[ STARTER GIFT PACK ]
---
The words 'Starter Gift Pack' blinked at him like a neon sign in a dive bar.
Adrian stared at it. If he had working fingers, he would have clicked it immediately. Since he didn't, he tried to mentally press the button.
Click.
The panel dissolved and reformed instantly.
---
[ STARTER GIFT PACK RECEIVED ]
~ 100 Points
~ M9 Pistol (Beretta) + 24 Bullets
~ First Aid Kit
(The pistol and first aid kit are stored in the Dimensional Storage provided by the System. This storage space can only hold items obtained from the Store. Nothing else.)
---
Adrian stared at the glowing list, his mouth falling open slightly. A bubble of spit formed on his lip.
'A gun,' he thought, his internal voice dripping with disbelief. 'You gave a newborn baby a Beretta. What am I supposed to do with this? I can't even hold my own head up! Am I supposed to dual-wield pistols while getting my diaper changed?'
The sheer absurdity of it almost made him laugh. He had a loaded firearm floating in a pocket dimension, and he currently lacked the motor skills to scratch his own nose.
The points, however... those were useful. And the First Aid Kit might come in handy if he ever figured out how to use his hands.
'Alright,' Adrian thought, focusing. 'Let's see what 100 points buys you in the murder capital of the world.'
The Starter Pack panel vanished, replaced by the World Store.
It was massive. Or at least, it felt massive. Rows of text scrolled through his mind. But as he looked closer, he realized most of the list was blacked out. The System was hiding anything he couldn't afford. It was like shopping at a high-end boutique that kicked you out for looking poor.
'Classy,' he grumbled. 'Show me the goods.'
He focused on the Abilities tab first.
---
ABILITIES
1) Suspiciously Lucky Coin Flip – 5 Points
Flip a coin that somehow always lands in your favor… unless it's life or death.
2) Reverse Psychology Aura – 20 Points
People are 25% more likely to do something if you say not to do it.
3) Speed Whisper – 50 Points
Can whisper directly into someone's ear from up to 15 meters away.
4) Ghost Veil – 100 Points
Become completely undetectable to supernatural entities for 7 seconds — they won't be able to see, hear, or sense you. This effect works only on monsters, not on humans.
Cooldown: 45 minutes.
5) Echo Mute – 60 Points
Silence all sounds you make for 15 seconds.
Cooldown: 20 minutes.
6) Adrenal Surge – 100 Points
Double strength and speed for 20 seconds.
Cooldown: One hour.
7) Blood Rush – 95 Points
Push past exhaustion for 30 seconds. Once the thirty seconds are over, you fall unconscious.
Cooldown: One hour.
---
Adrian's mental gaze locked onto Ghost Veil.
Seven seconds of invisibility to monsters. In Derry? That was huge. If the Clown or whatever shape It took came sniffing around the crib, seven seconds could be the difference between life and being a snack.
But he didn't buy it yet. He was a savvy shopper. He needed to see the rest.
He mentally swiped to the Skills tab.
---
SKILLS
1) Nap Anywhere Protocol – 45 Points
Can fall asleep instantly, even in danger. Helps in regaining mental stamina.
2) Professional Side-Eye – 15 Points
Grants the ability to silently judge others so intensely they feel vaguely guilty.
3) Keen Eyes – 60 Points
Enhances visual perception. Spot movement in the dark and notice small details others would miss.
4) Silent Step – 100 Points
Greatly reduces noise made when walking or running.
5) Iron Will – 80 Points
Grants high resistance to fear, panic, and mental pressure. You can think clearly in stressful situations and resist psychic manipulation.
---
Adrian paused at Iron Will.
'Resistance to fear and psychic manipulation,'* he mused. *'In a town run by a creature that feeds on fear... that's not just a skill. That's a necessity.'
Ghost Veil was good for hiding, but Iron Will? That was good for fighting back. Or at least, not losing his mind. Plus, he'd have 20 points left over.
He quickly glanced at the Provisions tab, just in case.
---
PROVISIONS
1) Rusty Pocket Knife – 5 Points
Barely sharp. Good for utility, bad for combat.
2) Lighter + Matches – 15 Points
Firestarter kit.
3) Canned Rations (3 meals) – 80 Points
Mystery meat. Edible.
4) Flask of Clean Water – 50 Points
1 liter. Purified.
5) First-Aid Kit (Basic) – 40 Points
Refill for your starter kit.
6) Flashlight + Batteries – 80 Points
Strong beam, lasts 8 hours.
---
'Okay, the provisions are garbage,' Adrian decided. 'I'm a baby. My mom is my provision provider. I don't need a rusty knife or mystery meat.'
He went back to the Abilities and Skills. It was a toss-up between Ghost Veil and Iron Will.
Ghost Veil was a "Get Out of Jail Free" card. Iron Will was a passive buff that would be active 24/7.
'Think, Adrian. You're an infant. You can't run. You can't fight. If It finds you, you're toast regardless of whether you're brave or not. But... It feeds on flavor. It salts the meat with fear.'
If he wasn't afraid, he wouldn't taste good.
On the other hand, being invisible for seven seconds might just confuse the hell out of a monster long enough for his dad to walk in.
His eyes drifted back to Professional Side-Eye.
*'God, I want that just for the sake of being a judgmental baby,'* he thought. *'But no. Survival first. Memes second.'*
He looked at his point total.
100.
He looked at Ghost Veil .
Exactly, 100.
It would leave him broke.
He looked at **Iron Will**. **80**.
That would leave him with 20. Enough to buy... Reverse Psychology Aura?
'Imagine telling a monster "Don't eat me" and having it actually consider it,' he chuckled internally.
The choice hung in the air. The blue light of the screen reflected in his wide, infant eyes. Outside the window, the wind howled through the streets of Derry. The town was quiet. Too quiet.
'Alright,' Adrian thought, making his decision. 'Let's go shopping.'