章 2: 500 Experience Points
Chapter 2
500 experience points
Neena rummaged through the closet, trying to find clothes that were not so bright toned or was the funeral dress Aleena wore yesterday. It's sad that Aleena Gilbert had tried to always dress in bright colors so that she would be viewed differently from Elena even though she didn't really like them as much.
In the end she chose a deep violet t-shirt and a black long-skirt. Then Neena moved to the cosmetics section and felt her heart freeze in frustration. She had never used most of these products her entire life. Picking up the concealer, she began to try covering up the dark circles. Slowly her hands became steady and she was done with everything in fifteen minutes.
Maybe it was because Aleena had been doing it since she hit puberty and it was reflex to her at this point.
Looking at the clean, beautiful face Neena tried to smile but it was more of a grimace. Like something was holding her back from enjoying the daily routines she used to do. Her head was a bit woozy as well.
She looked at the family photo of the Gilberts on her desk and felt tears fill her eyes again.
Neena froze. Holding her back from enjoying the daily routine...her desk...crying again... Where did those thoughts come from?
Her heart beat fast. It was had to breath. Was she feeling the loss Aleena did? Was she being influenced by the original host's emotions? Is that even possible? Is it-
'Hey, System, can you here me? Better yet, are you listening? So, was Aleena' s emotions transferred to me as well? I mean...her memories and reflexes are. And it would make this whole connecting with the Gilbert thing easier.'
[Emotions are part of the original host's personality. The system is only able to help host 999 attain the body. Host' s dull personality cannot be upgraded to the original, unfortunately.]
Something about those words made Neena grit her teeth. Her mind became hazy.
'Who has a dull personality! You bodyless string of data! Pray you don' the get a physical body in the future! I'll flay you if you do!'
[Abnormality detected. Host 999 is showing anger issues that does not match with previous Behavioral Analysis. Host 999 is being influenced by the emotional issues of the original, which should not have occurred. System 143 is pulled from hibernation to further observe the behavior of host 999.]
'Wait! Does that mean you are not System 143? Who are you! Hey! Answer me!'
There was only silence.
The red haze of anger disappeared as suddenly as it came.
A cold shiver ran up her spine. Did something go wrong during the soul transfer? Was she damaged? What would the system do if it does find a problem with her? Would she be destroyed? Would she die without getting to actually live this second life?
Fear gripped her heart and twisted it as these doubts circled her mind. She didn't want to die! She didn't want to die! She anxiously looked at the ceiling, waiting for the System or whoever it was to return.
After staring into space for some time soaking in the terror , she came to a decision. The System needed her for its update. It was bound to her. If she finished the quests it gave at least somewhat properly the System would have to let her be. It couldn't be that easy to world jump with a soul. It would need energy for it, and she was sure that these so called experience points were its energy source.
With that hope in her heart, Neena went to the room opposite herself. According to her memories that was Jeremy Gilbert's room.
Quest 2, here she comes!
She knocked. There was a sound of something crashing to the ground, followed by a dull thud.
The door was pulled open.
Jeremy Gilbert looked a lot like his TV counterpart, just a bit less muscled. He looked just as bad as Aleena hadhad without the shower.
Dear God! These kids became zombies after their parents' death.
"You look like shit, Jeremy!"
He glared at her. "Yeah? What else? What do you want, Ally?"
"Can we talk?"
"No."
Neena put a foot between the door, stopping him from closing it. She was not going to let Jeremy's rejection get in the way of her chance to show the System her usefulness.
"What the hell, Ally!"
"I want to talk!"
"Yeah? Well, I don't!"
"Don't be a jackass, Jeremy. I just want to talk!"
He glared at her and then threw the door open and walked away. He took up the console, put on his headphones and continued with his game.
Neena looked around, unsure of how she should go about with this quest. With Aunt Jenna it had been easy. Neena had just walked up to her, started talking and the quest completed on its own. This one did not work that way. Jeremy was besically coping with his grief by being a drug user and was defensive, he didn't want to communicate with her or anyone else.
She sat next to him.
Neena had never lost anyone in her life before. She had never been in a position where she had to comfort anyone. So the how to comfort thing became a problem.
She stared at him as he played his game. He probably even forgot her presence.
As she observed his pale, young face, a memory surfaced.
One time, in Neena's old orphanage, a 13 year-old girl was brought in by the social workers. Her name had been Finney. She had been just like Jeremy, engrossed in her video games, not talking to anyone. Soon the kids found out that Finney's dad had died in a plane crash and that she was staying at the orphanage because her mother, who was in Europe, was on her way and they had no other relatives.
Neena could still remember the day the mother come to pick her up. Finney had cried loudly. She had screeched. Then the two had huddled by the stairs and hugged.
Neena finally had an idea of what she could do.
She leaned into Jeremy, their shoulders touching.
He froze. His eyes dilated. His hands were white and shaking as he clutched the console in a death grip.
Neena slowly put her arm around his back and rubbed it.
Jeremy closed his eyes shut.
Neena turned his face towards her with her other hand and pushed it to her chest, embracing him. His headphones fell off.
They stayed like that for some time and she felt wetness against her neck. Her own eyes teared.
Time passed by and both the teens were unaware of it.
Neena stared ahead as Jeremy's shoulders trembled.
His room was a mess. Things were strewn on the floor, broken and damaged. He eyes fell on the sketching pad in the trash can.
''Dad always loved watching you sketch.''
Jeremy stiffened in her arms.
"Mom used to display it for everyone to see, screaming that her little boy was the best artist out there. I was always a bit jealous of you for that. They loved you more than they loved me and Elena."
Jeremy didn't respond.
"You shouldn't give it up. They would hate themselves if you did."
His hair tickled her when he nodded.
Neena chuckled. "And I want to see you try to draw a dragon for me, okay? Make it look realistic."
Jeremy snorted. "Dragons are not realistic."
"So, will you draw me a dragon?"
"I'll draw you a dragon."
[Ding!]
[Quest complete! Rewarded 50 experience!
Quest Bonus: for successfully convincing Jeremy Gilbert to not give up drawing, host 999 is rewarded with 300 experience points!
Congradulations!
Keep working hard!]
Neena was shocked. She had completely forgotten about the quest!
She felt confused. The pain she had felt as Jeremy cried had been a little strong for being sympathetic.
She squeezed him in her embrace harder as fear ripped her heart. There must have been a problem with the soul transfer. Maybe the original host was not programmed for her by the System.
A thought suddenly popped into her mind. Aleena Gilbert was a person. She had her own set of memories, her own personality, and her own emotions. Then...where did the original go? Was this character an actual person before she came in, invading her body? Was this a different world, instead of just recreated fiction? It must be-
[Ding!]
[Quest Alert!
Meet the Gilbert's!
Quest 3!
Just talk to me.
Elena Gilbert writes in her diary that she feels she is alone, that she can't tell anyone how she feels without getting herself a pity party. That no one understands her. Spend an hour talking to Elena Gilbert.
Reward: 500 experience points
Accept / Reject]
Neena gaped at the quest box. 500 points! 500! JACKPOT!
"Ah...hey Ally?"
"Wha...what?"
"You're choking me."
Neena loosened her hold. Jeremy moved away from her. "Sorry, J. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. Are you okay? You seem to be acting...nice."
And that made Neena remember. Aleena was not a good sister. She was a bully and wanted him to be more 'cool'. Bitch.
She gave him a smile.
"I know. Mom and dad are gone now though...we don't...have...have anyone to say I'm being a bully, or that I should be nice to my brother, or I should take care of my-" Neena chocked on her words as tears started rolling down. "I'm sorry! I'm really sorry! I was such a bad big sister! I'll do better! I promise to do better!"
Jeremy pulled her into a tight hug. "It's okay, Ally. I'll get back at you so you don't have to worry about that."
Neena let out a teary laugh.
She froze when she realized her actions. She was actually influenced by the original's emotions!
The fear of what the System would do to her returned with full force. She had better complete the Elena quest fast to increase her value for the System.
She let go of Jeremy and stood up.
"You okay? Ally?"
"Yeah...I'll-I'll let you get back to your game then, little brother. Go win some arms or whatever you were doing."
"You wanna try it?"
"Nah, I'm good. I'll be off your back then. And don't forget the dragon picture. I want it in red and blue!"
"Okay then."
She stared at him for some time.
"What's wrong, Ally?"
Neena hesitantly walked to the door. She was stalling. Meeting Elena was a tough decision for her and the original host.
Neena had cared about the protagonist in the beginning but then that started to change as Elena's character remained the same. Keeping important secrets, thinking only her way was the right way, being a hypocrite. Everyone had character arcs of becoming better - Stefan, Damon, Bonnie, Caroline. Hell, even Tyler.
Elena unfortunately didn't change and the changes that did happen made her similar to Katherine, but without the self-awareness. Katherine knew herself to be a Psychotic Bitch but Elena was blissfully unaware of her own flaws. Maybe she changed in later seasons though, she hadn't watched it. Only heard fan discussions here and there on the internet.
The original host's dislike of her own sister didn't help. The two clashed like two alpha dogs all the time. But the real reason was that the Gilbert parents treated Elena with Kiddy gloves and punished Aleena. Neena could understand why. Elena was adopted so they were not secure in her love for them. They didn't want to loose her when the truth came out. They didn't have that fear with Aleena though, which is just sad.
Neena reached Elena's door and stared at the door, hoping Elena would open the door herself somehow and that she didn't have to bend her neck. Why was she always the one saying sorry and trying to fix things? She didn't do that even for Jeremy.
Neena raised her hand to knock and put it back down. She did it again and again and again and again.
Her stomach growled. She hadn't had lunch yet. She looked at the door and decided to come back after getting some food in her. Neena was aware she was finding an excuse to walk away but she couldn't care as much as she wanted to.
Food first, crazy selfish judgy sister after.
A/N: This story is not Beta tested so, bare with me guys. I am sometimes unsure about the pacing of the story so it would be helpful if you guys could leave a review on the writing style. Also, is there too much details? Are the emotions and actions carried out well? Does the conversations seem forced or does it read naturally? Please leave a review. Thanks.
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