I inch closer to my phone and touch it and thankfully there is no electric shot I pick it up and start going through my apps as I notice a small blank app with Character Sheet written on it. Ignoring it for now I put the phone back into my pocket and go wake up Alicya and Eryk. Walking the creaking stairs, I hear shuffling as my little sister Alicya emerges from the bathroom with a small pink toothbrush in her mouth and a white bathrobe she stole from mum. She turns to me and starts running down the stairs to hug me, almost tripping over due to the stolen bathrobe, I manage to catch her. I look at her and smile as she starts babbling about the dream she had today. One day she will get herself killed if she doesn’t look where she is going.
“Kacper” She pulls on my shirt to get me to listen to her.
“Sorry, just thinking how you stole the bathrobe again, I though mum hid it from you?” I look at her giving her a fake serious look.
“Uhhhh… Eryk told me… I really like so I took it.”
Picking her up and carrying her to the top of the squares I put her down and smile “Let me guess I have to clean up the mess?”
“No, I will.” I sigh used to this little dance of ours, however surprisingly she gives me a determined look that is offset by her much too large bathrobe and cute little toothbrush she is holding. I grab her shining platinum hair and point to the bathroom “How about you finish brushing your teeth first.” Nodding she goes to clean her teeth and I go to wake up Eryk theirs no point of waking Dad work. Ignoring my parents’ room I step into my former room where a bunk bed sits snuggly in the corner surrounded by a multicoloured painted table and a stained brown sofa. A TV hangs in one of the corners with a game console sitting under it. Grabbing the bottom bunks bed cover I pull it of my younger brother, Eryk starts moaning and cussing at me. I let go of the cover “Breakfast is downstairs sis wants you.” Ignoring me he gets up and walks downstairs pushing me as he walks by.
Following behind him, grabbing my coat and oyster card I follow close behind. Shouting to sis “Which friend of yours is it?” I hear her shout from the kitchen “Alice, you know the tall one.” I shake my head “The nice one or the annoying one?” I really hope it’s the nice one she is at least bearable and close by the faster I get back home the quicker I can go back to my room.
She steps out of the kitchen throwing the keys to me with a slight annoyed look “The nice one with glasses and likes the same geeky shit as you.” She starts contemplating something but shrugs and decides to turn around. I barely catch the keys and nod, so I m dealing with the annoying one. Great she is so bloody happy all the time. Turning around I tentatively grab the doorknob as I prepare myself mentally for the cold.
Opening the door, I feel the cool wind blast and I shiver, gritting my teeth I step out onto the windy streets of New London. Closing the door, I sigh “Just two hours and then I can go back. No dealing with people just good old books and hot chocolate.”
07:31 AM, New London, Borough Greenwich
Only twenty minutes outside and I already want to crawl up and die, jumping of the old repurposed bus I start walking towards Alice’s house. I look down at my phone anxiously seeing 73% on the front of my screen with bold letters spelling out Quest System and Experience Meter. I can guess that once its complete I will be able to gain levels and go on quests? That might be useful if its anything like in RPG then money would be useful. Touching the screen causes the character sheet to appear before my eyes, looking at it I can see that Str is probably a term for strength, but does that just make me overall stronger? I guess I will just have to figure it out. Agi is probably agility but is that my stat for speed and movement or maybe it represents how far I can jump? Wait wouldn’t that fall under strength? Fuck it. Vit and End are probably Vitality and Endurance but what is Stp and why do I have zero? I mean my other stats don’t look good, but they aren’t nothing. Stp could be something I have to earn or something, I probably should just go on the internet I mean this seems to be an RPG so maybe it’s gamer lingo. Shoving my phone into my pocket I start walking towards the Thames.
Walking from the bus stop I pass through the newly built street blocks, turning to my right I reach my destination an apartment block. Looking at the 10-storey apartment, I sigh and walk up to the elevator. I am about to punch the button, but the elevator starts to come down, well that’s lucky. The elevator opens with a stranger standing there, I look at him curiously waiting for him to walk out. I have my foot in the elevator to prevent the doors from closing I nod my head. After a few seconds I speak up “Sorry sir, are you not getting out?” He shakes his head but otherwise does nothing. Yeah, I’m not dumb enough to step into a small metal container with a random man who is suspiciously waiting for me. I take my foot out and give the man a nervous smile “This isn’t Brodstreet Apartments is it? Well sorry for the intrusion.” Really Brodstreet that’s the best I can come up with?
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Not letting the stranger speak I press the close door button and start walking away keeping my eye on him with a nervous smile. As the doors close, I can see him grinning, fear shoots through my spine and without a second thought I run to the staircase right beside the elevator. Ignoring the cold wind, I sprint up the stairs making it to the 5 storeys where I stop and take a deep breath. I hear the elevator door open right beside me. Not glancing at the door, I return to running up the stairs taking out my phone ready to call the police, I stop at the 6 storey and look down to notice a mother and son walking out of the elevator. The anxiety and slight trepidation ease, but quickly return as I realise that there shouldn’t have been enough time for the small family to get on and then off. I didn’t see them standing next to the man and they couldn’t have gotten on without me noticing it, after all I closed the bloody door, there is no way they got on without me noticing. I decide to at least have my phone ready to call the police, however as I turn my phone on all I see a 88%.
Closing my eyes and muttering a silent prayer to God, I go back to walking. Reaching the ninth floor I walk up to her door. A small red door sitting tightly in between 934 and 936. Knocking on the door I wait for a few seconds, before it opens revealing a tall brunet with round reading glasses and green eyes. She shivers her Star Wars t-shirt and jeans do little to protect her, hoping from one bare foot to another. Noticing me she smiles “Hi Kacper did Mel send you?”
I nod before answering “Um, yeah. I was supposed to get something…” I mumble a bit unsure if I should continue.
She nods energetically as she turns around and runs back inside probably for the package. As she darts into one of the rooms, I hear her call out “Would you like some coffee or tea? I know you prefer black tea, but I only have green, sorry.”
“No, thank you and don’t worry I want to get back home as fast as possible.”
She returns a minute later carrying a big cardboard box, I grab it as she nears the door. She gives me a grateful nod before she releases a barrage of chatter. “Really? I bet it must be something important.” I give her a small shrug, but she ignores it and continues “How has Ali been does she still want to play football, one of my friends knows a cheap club close by? How about Eryk has he finally forgiven James? Ooh, I forget to give you a treat for Czarny!” She runs back inside ready to get some dog biscuits, she bought them specifically so she can give them to Czarny when I come around. Jesus Christ, I really am a delivery man. How many times have I collected packages for Sis this month? Isn’t this like the sixth time? As I am lost in thought Alice returns with a bunch of dog treats in a small bag with a cheery smile.
She stops in front of me noticing my problem as I hold the giant package, before nodding and without permission putting them into my coats pocket. Why has this become part of our little tradition? Hell, I always come in this coat to her specifically because of the giant pockets where she can place her doggy treats and gifts for Ali. Sighing I answer “Ali completely forgot about it she now wants to be a tennis player. Erik, well he’s Erik.” She smiles at me shivering in the cold. I’m about to say goodbye but I stop and ask “Hey, did you notice a weird man in the neighbourhood?”
This stops her smiling as she stares at me curiously before answering “No I don’t think so. What did he look like?” I open my mouth to answer but stop and start frowning, what did he look like? I mean beside his creepy smile I can’t remember anything about him. I shake my head trying to remember but its like looking at a foggy mirror, I can see the outline but nothing else.
“Uh… I can’t actually remember but be careful. Alright?” I try and give her a confident smile, but it breaks quite easily under her scrutiny. Giving a small shrug, “Alright I’ll be careful of any weird men.” With a grateful nod she waves as I start to turn away when I hear a small a yelp. Quickly I look back at her to see a wide eye stare and flailing arms. She notices me and quickly stammers out “I’m a ll-ittle sick I sh-ould gget back in bed.” Slamming the door behind her, well that weird even for her.
My phone vibrates as I take it out and see the progress bar had reached 100%. The words and percentage bar disappear revealing a text was sent to me. With a bit of trepidation, I open it.
Main Quest: London’s New Shadow.
Info: A mysterious stranger has appeared in London and seems to have an interest in you find out who he is and what is his problem with you?
Reward: Unlocks “Shadow Over London” Quest Line, 300 EXP and Suggestion Box.
Failure: Loss of interest from [?]. Possible death and/or enslavement.