Chapter 6: The Truth Behind the Blue Screen
"Yes... continue."
The voice replied in a soft, mechanical tone, without hesitation:
— "Activating level two permissions... please wait."
A brief silence followed.
The watch lit up with a faint blue glow, then scanned my body from head to toe with a misty light. It moved silently, but it felt deep — as if it could see more than I knew.
— "Visual scan complete. Accessing personal system."
But instead of the usual interface, the screen changed completely. The calm blue lines turned into a dark gray tone, with slowly moving symbols in the background and soft electronic breathing sounds.
A new title appeared at the top of the screen:
[System: RΣ:VOKE – Adaptive Horror Simulation]
Then the voice returned, flatter and colder than before:
— "Sir, would you like to activate the simulation system?"
I didn't answer immediately.
I asked quietly:
"What are you?"
Before replying, three small icons appeared at the bottom right corner of the screen, under the title:
[Active Logs – 3 of 173]
The system automatically opened one.
It was a short message dated two weeks ago:
> [Sender: Unknown]
"What is this place? Why can't I leave? The watch won't respond… and the shadow in the mirror started moving."
The second:
> [Sender: Unknown]
"This can't be real. The door leads to the same room. Everything repeats. I'm starting to doubt if I'm the one writing."
The third was empty… only a timestamp, with no message.
I stared at the screen. I felt nothing. No fear. No curiosity.
Just another strange detail in a world I didn't understand.
I muttered:
"These messages… who wrote them?"
— "Previous users. They activated the system in this same body. None of them completed their first mission or transition."
I nodded slowly.
"Did they use any of the other features? Like the logs I just saw?"
— "Yes. Some basic functions were used — note-taking, log access, simple analysis — but the full simulation path was never initiated."
I closed the interface briefly, then reopened it.
"So... what are you?"
— "I am RΣ:VOKE. A complete operating system designed to support travel across alternate worlds. My main purpose is to assist you in completing cinematic missions, recording them, and uploading the footage to your official account on the F-Stream network."
I paused.
"F-Stream? Like a streaming site?"
— "Yes. Similar to YouTube in your original world. It lets you upload recorded videos or stream them live during missions."
"Who watches them?"
— "Viewers from your home world. Every interaction—views, comments, likes, followers—adds points to your account. These points can be used within the system."
"Points... just numbers?"
— "Points are the main currency in RΣ:VOKE. You can use them to unlock abilities, buy tools, access information, or upgrade your gear."
I rubbed my forehead in silence.
"The missions. What are they like?"
— "Each alternate world follows a unique scenario. It could be a disaster, a psychological trap, or a high-tech nightmare. Completing missions isn't required, but success earns you high points and rare upgrades."
"Can I just explore and record, without doing missions?"
— "Yes. Simply recording and interacting with the environment is enough. But without completing story events, audience interest may remain low."
"And the abilities?"
— "There are two types: permanent and temporary."
Permanent tools include: environmental analysis, smart interface access, content control, auto-translation, and media management. They're always active.
Temporary abilities—like enhanced strength, signal masking, or visual cloaking—only work in other worlds, not here."
"Why not here?"
— "To maintain balance in your reality. Unauthorized use here results in instant point freeze and possible account termination."
I stared at the dark screen, watching the symbols slowly spin.
"Am I your first host?"
— "No. Others activated the system in this body before you. But they never used it for its true purpose."
"None completed even one mission, right?"
— "Correct."
"Did they use any features, like logs or tools?"
— "Some did. Basic note-taking, reading logs, and low-level scans. But the full system was never truly used."
"Can I plan ahead before doing anything?"
— "Yes. You have full control. The first mission only starts when you confirm it. You can delay or skip it as you wish."
A secondary screen appeared, showing a timeline of suggested missions, along with world types: [Psychological] – [Nightmare] – [Survival] – [Alien] – [Corrupted Tech].
— "Starting with a low-risk world is recommended to get used to the system."
"What's my current status?"
— "New user. Rank: F. Points: 0. Abilities: Limited."
"Can I rank up just by uploading good content?"
— "Absolutely. Some users reached Rank B without doing any missions, only through editing quality and strong audience engagement."
I looked at the screen again. Cold. Still. Not exciting, but clear… organized… and maybe useful.
— "Sir, it's advised to enable auto-protection during missions and update your editing preferences before entering any world."
"Can I edit videos inside the system?"
— "Yes. The system includes a built-in editor. You can cut, trim, enhance, or remove unwanted footage."
Then suddenly, the voice changed tone:
— "Sir… another notification."
"What is it?"
— "You have a university lecture today at 9:00 AM. Your current location is 12 minutes on foot from campus. Arriving late will affect your attendance record."
I checked the time.
8:47.
I muttered:
"Right... university."
I closed the interface, picked up the coat by the bed, and got ready to leave.
Other worlds might be waiting…
But for now, the ordinary one still exists.
I paused at the door. Silence settled in.
I didn't know if this was a new beginning or just another part of a long nightmare.
But the door opened.
And I walked out—slowly, without rush, and without expectation.
Author's Note:
Please leave a comment announcing that there are readers for my novel.