The embrace they shared lingered for a while - If anyone were to walk in, they would see an incredibly awkward scene. The heartless Ceo and the wife she hated - hugging as if they were destined lovers
Sounds like the opening to some cheesy romance novel
But Alex couldn't help it, she held Chloe against her chest because to her for the first time in years - no, lifetimes - She was seeing this person again.
This person who, when the world merged and they found themselves in the game, she sacrificed herself when they were transported to the forest of Nightmares randomly and her last message haunted Alex for the rest of her life
Even now the image of her pierced body lying there and the words she managed to write in blood before death on the stone wall
2 simple words that made her feel cold at the time
live please
Perhaps if she fought harder and didn't let her co-workers drag her along, Chloe could have been saved - but this time that would not happen
She allowed herself to feel the warmth of Chloe who just stood there comfortably in Alex arms - but still unsure if this tenderness was real, unsure if it would vanish as quickly as it appeared.
When Alexandra finally loosened her hold, Chloe looked up at her with longing - "Are you sure you're okay?"
Alex still in a numb state nodded slowly while her hand caressed Chloes. After a moment she seemed to regain her consciousness and her eyes softened - "Yes and ...Thank you for coming all the way here to give me a gift and wish me"
Suddenly Chloe's eyes shifted, at the mention of the gift - to the small velvet box wrapped in the black ribbon she placed on the table currently behind Alex
Following her gaze, Alex looked at the box - She moved away from Chloe and towards the table before taking box with her hand so tentatively as if it were a delicate flower
"Ah… It's something I designed and had some jewelers make" - Chloe whispered, her voice soft - "It's not much but I hope you like it"
Alexandra's heart surged slightly even in the past she did not know what was in the box
With trembling fingers, Alexandra opened the box. Inside lay a delicate silver bracelet
It was a bracelet with the rim of the band black while its middle line that held the most space on it was silver - on the silver line there were 3 things made in some sort of black gem and the piece in the center carved of a red one
The gems were carved into shapes: the letter A, a heart made of some red gem and last was the letter C
Her breath slowed slightly, and her eyes began to water up again after just drying
"It's us" - Chloe murmured, cheeks flushed, eyes lowered - "I know you don't usually wear things like this. I just… wanted you to have something. Even if you don't use it to remember the day."
Alexandra's throat tightened. She lifted the bracelet carefully, as though it were sacred - "It's beautiful" - she whispered
Chloe blinked, startled, her lowered gaze flickering up for a moment before darting away again - "You… you really think so?"
"Yes" - Alexandra said firmly, slipping the bracelet onto her wrist - "And I'll wear it. Every day. I'll never take it off"
Chloe's lips parted, a bright smile split at the edges. But her body relaxed. She had lived too long under Alexandra's coldness, too long fearing rejection - So such a situation was still a shock, but a wanted one
Alexandra put the bracelet on with a hurry and then reached out, gently taking Chloe's hand - "I want to make a matching one for you too"
Chloe's eyes shimmered - "The jewelers can make another - I still have the design" - she whispered
"Good..."
Alex quickly walked over to her desk and shut the laptop that she... well that the past her was working on. This one had no idea what was on that screen and honestly had no thought of fighting out
She got the car keys from the drawer and picked up her phone - quickly shoving it into the handbag
"Let's go" - she said softly, turning to Chloe.
Chloe blinked - "Go…?" - Her voice was tinged with confusion
Alexandra nodded, walking back towards her - "Yes, I want to spend the rest of the day with you at home"
To Chloe it may have seemed so odd since Alex was a workaholic - a fact everyone knew. But in truth it had been a few lifetimes since she spent willing time with Chloe, longer since she saw her home, and longer still since she saw the staff of her home
Alex let out her hand for Chloe to take - The bracelet glinting in the shine of the sun
Chloe hesitated, her fingers twisting nervously at the hem of her blouse. She glanced up at Alexandra and this time her eyes didn't shift away but now rather than worry her cheeks flushed as she took her hand
They stepped into the elevator and due to its clear glass frame and unique structure of her family's company building - many of the employees saw them both as the elevator fell to the last floor - each of the employees surprised not only to see their CEO leaving so early but also that she was holding hands with her wife that everyone believed she despised
Markus - someone who's family was of slightly lower status was also employed here - Alexandra knew it was an attempt to get close to her and take her hand in marriage
'Even if I was horrible to Chloe, I never stooped that low" - She gritted her teeth at the memory of betrayal that bastard brought to their group in the early stages of the game. She ignored him but felt a slight rage bubble, but she shut it off
She had been betrayed by many closer to her than just someone who worked in the same company
When the doors opened, the evening air rushed in—cool, alive, carrying the scent of the city. Alexandra inhaled deeply. She hadn't noticed such things before but now knowing what the future would entail she savored it even more
Her car waited in the lot, sleek and polished, a symbol of her wealth and power but she scoffed as she looked at it - 'I miss Strider'
The thought of her pet wolf in the apocalypse made her feel a slight sadness after all there was no chance, she would get him back this time
Chloe walked beside her - "Are you sure you don't want to go out?"
Alexandra stopped, turning to her - "Yeah I just want to go home"
Chloe seemed as if she wanted to object but it was her birthday so Chloe would cooperate fully
As they reached the car, Alexandra opened the passenger door for Chloe - a small gesture, but one she had never made before. Chloe froze, startled at the sudden gesture - "Thank you"
Alexandra smiled softly but her true thoughts did not reflect what she thought - "It's my job no?"
'I really was a demon huh'
But that too had justification. Those people who called themselves her family - not that she cared about them anymore said that her deceased grandmother wished for a family union between her and Chloes family, but she found out... or rather she will find out that those words were lies
'But even so Chloe too suffered' - She remembered how Chloe revealed it when they were hiding - perhaps she had felt her death coming.
Having to leave her university studies towards becoming a doctor, leave her friends as she had to move far away - her whole life had been split
Chloe slid into the seat and Alex closed the door then moved to the driver's seat
The car purred softly as Alexandra guided it out of the office lot, the city flickering across the windshield and her own eyes as if she was not truly a part of this world
'Yeah, well this world isn't even really a world'
Beside her, Chloe sat quietly in the passenger seat, her hands laying on her lap
'This is probably the first time we rode together... well it was the first time that we sat side by side'
Alex feeling a bit possessive decided to place her hand on Chloe's lap and yet she didn't take her eyes of the road.
Alex was concentrating and trying to recall the route from her memories, but Chloe's gaze darted toward her with widened eyes. Her body stiffened slightly. Her mind moved and she tried to make a conversation to draw her mind of the hand gently patting her leg - "I can make a cake when we get home"
"Can we make it together tomorrow?"
Chloe's cheeks flushed and somehow the idea of making it together made the presence of the arm so much more present - "But today is your birthday"
Alex spoke with a sudden sharpness - "I have a few things that i need to do today. but tomorrow i want to do something special with you"
Chloe lowered her gaze and softly placed her hand over hers a sign that she accepted the proposition - "You're… different" - she murmured
Alex felt the soft yet slightly rough touch of her hand and then felt her fingers glide over the bracelet she had just gave - "I am ..."
no matter how much she wanted to tell her - right now this soft person who would just exist and found meaning in helping would undoubtedly go mad. The thought of their very world being a lie...
'No, I can't tell her this yet - She would need to enter Transcendence and then get used to it, then I can reveal it to her'
"I… I don't know what to say or even how to feel" - she admitted softly - "I was never… supposed to be here. My family wanted me to marry you, and I thought… maybe you'd never care" - Her voice broke slightly but it was not negative emotions - "But now to know that you care"
Alexandra's throat tightened. She remembered how Chloe had been forced to give up her studies, her dreams, to become a forced bride in a marriage that had felt more like a contract than love. And yet, despite everything, Chloe had learned to love her - enough to sacrifice herself when the world ended.
Alexandra's hand shifted from her lap and held her hand tightly
"I was too self-absorbed" - Alexandra whispered - "I only thought of how constricted I was"
The gate of the mansion was now in front of her
"But let's get close from now on, okay?"
Chloe let out a bright smile - "Okay"
Alex drove the car and parked it amongst the other wonderful vehicles with a bitter smile
'When the merger happens all of this will cease to exist'
It was true - this world was one of many. A place where a civilization can develop well enough. When it does - since it isn't a part of the tower the Abyss will devour it when that happens. That's when the merge happens and all humans will be sent into the Tutorial tower
And that was to happen in 1 year
But she knew what was to happen - The gods or deities whatever. Created the bridge between their worlds. The stronghold - to the tutorial tower
The information of the bridge was given to high-ranking governmental figures around the world at the moment the game came - and those bastards kept that knowledge for themselves to gain power beforehand and continue their status and they monopolized the capsules
The worst part is that the average person would not know about the bridge's existence - or even how to access it, in fact before they realized its power most would not even want to use it
and that bridge was made through the game that will appear in a few hours. No game developers - nothing. It just appears in shops and people just accept it as a game made by some secret company - that left only the gamers who enjoyed a challenge and could afford the capsules and those who knew its knowledge to gain power
In that game their fate was being held - in the game
Transcendence