“It’s been a week since Aimee and her parents came to visit us and my father…

We've been like strangers living under the same roof since that day.

I wish he had stood up for me instead of siding with that woman."

"Archie! We've got a delivery order."The sound of Elbert's voice echoed through the shop, causing Archie to jolt in surprise. Not because his father had finally broken their silence, but because someone had placed an order from their shop for the first time in ages.

Archie had been sprawled on his bed, pen in hand, notebook open before him, lost in his thoughts. He had taken to pouring his heart out to the pages of his notebook, a silent confidante in these trying times.

The call for delivery roused him from his reverie. He emerged from his room and entered the diner, where he found his father holding a black insulated backpack.

"Take this to Loring street," Elbert instructed, thrusting the bag towards Archie, who took it with a hint of hesitation.

Retreating to his room, Archie grabbed a black hoodie jacket, slipped it over his white chef's uniform, and laced up his black sneakers.

When he returned to the diner, he found ten echoes and a delivery address scribbled on a piece of paper on the table. His father was absent from the diner, but the muffled sounds of activity could be heard from the kitchen.

Archie collected the money, the paper, and his hefty bag. Despite containing only cup noodles, the bag felt like a weighty burden as he slung it over his shoulder.

With the shop door swinging shut behind him, Archie set off towards the customer’s address. Loring street was a considerable distance away - a one-and-a-half-hour drive by car, but a mere half-hour journey by train. Opting for the latter, Archie headed for the subway.

As he navigated the bustling streets, earphones plugged in to drown out the cacophony of city life, Archie couldn't help but observe the people around him. The streets were teeming with life, the air thick with exhaust fumes from the endless stream of cars and bikes.

The morning sun bathed the city in a warm glow, its rays gentle on their skin. People bustled past Archie, each engrossed in their own world. Their attire was as diverse as their activities, each finding joy in their own way, or so it seemed to Archie.To avoid making eye contact with the passersby, Archie lifted his gaze to the skyline. Towering buildings pierced the sky, their imposing structures casting long shadows on the streets below.

The area was dotted with shops, a stark contrast to Archie’s quiet establishment. They were buzzing with activity, customers flowing in and out like the tide.

After navigating through the crowd for a few minutes, Archie arrived at the local subway station. The entrance led to two underground passages - one for entry, the other for exit. People moved in an orderly fashion, most of them engrossed in their phones or engaged in conversation.

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Archie parted with 5 echoes for a ticket and entered the bustling train station, which housed five platforms. He found himself on platform one, standing in line behind a few others, leaving enough space for another person to join the queue, but no one did.

"TOOT-TOOT"

The faint whistle of the approaching train drew Archie’s attention. A sleek, silver train glided into the platform, its multiple cars connected in a seamless line, black trim outlining the windows and doors, and headlights piercing the semi-darkness.

As the doors slid open, people began to disembark, and Archie, along with the others, patiently waited for them to exit. Once the coast was clear, the queue began to move forward.

Archie followed suit, his eyes scanning the interior of the train for an empty seat. So engrossed was he in his search that he didn't notice when he stepped onto the train.

"WOOSH!"

A gust of hot wind hit him square in the face, forcing him to shut his eyes against the onslaught of dust.

'Is the AC broken? What's with this heat?'

When Archie opened his eyes, he was met with a sight that left him stunned.

'What the…'

He found himself standing on a rough, uneven terrain strewn with dark rocks and debris. Behind him, a gradual ascent had formed, seemingly from years of rock deposits.

"Why am I here? Is this a dream?" Archie struggled to make sense of his surroundings. At first, he thought he was dreaming, but the scorching air quickly dispelled that notion. It slowly dawned on him,

'Did I just get rifted out of nowhere? This can’t be happening.'

He scanned the area, hoping to spot someone, anyone. In the distance, he spotted several reddish-brown hills. The slopes of these hills were smooth, a stark contrast to the rugged terrain he was standing on.The sky was mostly clear, with a smattering of clouds hinting at fair weather, but the blistering heat suggested otherwise.

Archie's gaze landed on a massive mountain in the distance, its size dwarfing any building he had ever seen. A reddish hue clung to the side of the mountain, but Archie didn't give it much thought.

'It seems I'm the only one who got rifted.'

Archie mused aloud, "Judging by the looks of this place, I've been rifted somewhere on my planet. The rift must have opened just as I was getting on the train. Talk about bad timing."

"A strange phenomenon! I've never heard of someone being rifted out of nowhere."

A smirk tugged at the corners of his mouth, "The delivery is going to be delayed now."

"What do I do now?" Archie groaned, racking his brain for a solution.

Suddenly, it hit him - his cell phone. He could use it to contact someone. He retrieved the phone from his pocket, unplugged the earphones, and stashed them in the delivery bag. He also put everything else he was carrying, including the 5 echoes, the address on the paper, and his train ticket, into his bag and set it down on the ground.

He attempted to unlock the phone, but to no avail. The screen remained black, unresponsive to his attempts to turn it on.

'The battery must be dead! Damn it.'Archie sighed in frustration, facepalming at his rotten luck. He hoisted his bag onto his shoulder and began to trudge towards the hills in the distance, hoping to find a village or some sign of human life.

Archie had come to terms with his predicament. His only option now was to find someone. So, he set off in the direction where he was most likely to find people.

After a few minutes of walking, Archie was drenched in sweat, his body heating up from the hot air. He took off his hoodie, stuffed it in his bag, and continued walking.

As he walked, his vision blurred and took on a golden hue.

[DING!]

A sound echoed in his mind, snapping him back to reality. A golden screen materialized before him, displaying a message:

[Side Mission:][Survive Volcanic Eruption for 8 hours][Rewards:100 Credits]

[Time Left: 8:00:00]

Before Archie could process what was happening...

"KABOOM!"