The bright rays of the morning sun streamed through the window, casting a warm, golden hue on everything it touched. Zelly's eyes fluttered open, the light making her squint as she woke up from her peaceful slumber. For a moment, she lay still, her mind still trapped in the realm of dreams. But as the remnants of sleep faded away, reality began to set in.
"No, this isn't a dream," she muttered to herself, as she sat up and stretched, her back arching like a cat's. The softness of the bed beneath her, the sunlight on her skin, the sight of the forest outside the window - it was all too real to be a dream. And yet, she was living in a virtual world, a reality that was both real and unreal at the same time.
As she pondered this, a loud rumble from her stomach broke her train of thought. She clutched her stomach as it growled again, the sound echoing in the quiet room. "I really need to find some food," she said aloud, her voice echoing in the room.
In the world she had left behind, satisfying her hunger would have been as easy as walking into a kitchen, or picking up her phone to order takeout. But in this world, things weren't as simple. "It's not like I can just hop out of bed and go to the nearby grocery store or whip out my cell and call for a pizza," she mused, her mouth watering at the thought of her favorite pizza.
"Mmmm... pizza," she sighed, her mind conjuring images of a steaming hot pizza topped with sausage, pepperoni, green peppers, and onions, all smothered in gooey, melted cheese. She could almost taste the tangy tomato sauce, the spicy pepperoni, the sweet bell peppers, and the savory sausage. And then, of course, the side of warm, garlicky breadsticks, and a refreshing, ice-cold Pepsi to wash it all down.
"And for dessert, chocolate ice cream and a slice of apple pie," she continued, her mouth watering at the thought. "Slice? HA! Forget that. I am so freaking hungry I would eat an entire pie by myself, and I could care less about watching my figure."
As she sat there, talking to herself, she couldn't help but chuckle. "Zelly, girl; get a freaking hold of yourself. You do realize you're talking to yourself huh? And you know what they say about people who talk to themselves right? But then again, I hear it’s okay to talk to yourself as long as you don’t answer—right? Right? Oh shoot, I just answered myself. Yep, Zelly Valentine, you are officially nuts! Oh my God—nuts. I would do anything for some cashews!"
Realizing that she wouldn't be able to satisfy her cravings just by thinking about them, Zelly decided it was time to take action. "Okay, Zelly, let's do this," she said, clapping her hands together for emphasis. "It's time to find some food."
Taking a deep breath, she swung her legs over the edge of the bed and stood up. As she made her way down the winding staircase, she couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation mixed with fear. After all, this was a new day, and who knew what adventures awaited her in this virtual world, but at the same time, what monsters awaited her as well.
Zelly, slowly inching open the front door, peered out into the unknown, her eyes scanning the alien landscape with a mixture of apprehension and curiosity. "Just need to ensure there are no abominable beasties lurking about. No Menacing Pines or any other dreadful surprise. Alright, Zelly," she muttered to herself, her voice a soft whisper on the wind, "the coast is clear. You got this."
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No sooner had she taken her first tentative step out into the wilderness, the same bizarre creature, part-lizard, part-dolphin, but with short stubby legs that woke her on the beach darted past her, skimming her foot. The little creature halted, twisted its odd-looking head back to hiss at her before scampering off into the undergrowth.
"Shoo! Go!” Bellowed Zelly, surprising herself with the authority in her voice. As the strange creature disappeared into the thicket, she couldn't help but shudder. "What in God’s holy name are those frightful little things? Disgusting!"
As she ventured deeper down the narrow trail, she was consumed with thoughts of Zac. Was he somewhere out there, lost and alone like her, or worse, injured? "Pull yourself together, Zelly," she chided herself, halting the downward spiral of her thoughts.
“He could be dea— No, don’t think such thoughts. He could be safe and sound at home, wondering about me. Or he could be in another world entirely. We could be lost forever, trapped in this cursed game."
Zelly felt a lump forming in her throat, the sting of unshed tears blurring her vision. She missed Zac, her other half, her twin. She missed their bickering parents, the familiar sounds of their home. In that moment, she would have given anything to hear their voices, the comforting, albeit often annoying, cacophony of their life back home.
"I'm so homesick I could even tolerate Stacey and her horrid friends," she muttered, pausing in her trek to wipe away a stray tear. "No, that's a bit too far. I don't miss those evil bitches at all. But I do miss Chevy, my neighbor."
Just at that moment, Zelly's eyes were drawn to a glint of gold, peeking out from beneath a dense cluster of shrubs. A strange curiosity, haloed in the golden rays of the alien sun. "What on earth could that be?" she mused aloud, her voice whispering in the gentle breeze.
Tentatively, she approached the source of the glint, her heart pulsating in her chest like the wings of a hummingbird. As she gently brushed away a few errant branches, her eyes widened in surprise. Nestled under the foliage was a treasure chest, its wooden form outlined in an elegant trim of shimmering gold.
She bent down, her hands carefully reaching out to touch the chest. It was real, it was solid, it wasn’t just a hologram. She attempted to pry it open, but it was locked.
"Damned," she muttered under her breath, "There could be gold in this thing. But wait, gold? What use would that be here, in this desolate world where commerce seems a forgotten concept? Perhaps it might contain food, but why would anyone store food in a treasure chest? And even if it did, it would likely be spoiled, riddled with mold, or even worse, poison.”
Despite her reservations, Zelly felt an irresistible pull towards the chest. Her eyes darted around the area, finally landing upon a tall black tree to her left. Hanging from one of its outstretched branches was a golden key, tethered by a string, swaying gently in the breeze. Recalling her recent leveling up by conquering her fear of heights, Zelly walked briskly towards the tree. With a newfound agility, she climbed its tall, gnarled trunk with ease and in mere seconds, reaching out to grasp the key. Descending the tree was just as effortless, and she was soon back on the ground.
"Well, that was easier than I thought," she murmured to herself, the golden key clutched tightly in her hand. She headed back towards the treasure chest, a sense of anticipation building within her. The key slid smoothly into the lock, turning with a satisfying click. Then, the chest sprung open.
"Too easy," she murmured to herself, a wave of unease washing over her. "What if it's a trap? What if there's something dangerous inside?"
But the allure of the unknown was too strong. She had to know the contents inside.
"Alright, on the count of three. One, two, and...three."
With bated breath, she slowly lifted the lid of the chest, her eyes widening as they took in the contents. A gasp escaped her lips, her heart pounding in her chest. The sight that met her eyes was beyond anything she could have anticipated.