Nemesis. Start on the End.

David sat still, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. He had been lost in his thoughts, reading through the game forums, trying to gather more information about the creatures he might face in the crypt, when he realized Elena had fallen asleep next to him. She had shifted in her sleep, her head now resting lightly on his lap.

David froze for a moment, feeling an uncomfortable tension in the air. His sister had always been close to him, but this... it felt different. The intimacy of the moment, the warmth of her body so near, stirred something within him—a strange feeling he tried to ignore. He quickly focused on the screen of his phone, trying to push the thoughts aside. He had a mission to accomplish, after all. He couldn't afford distractions.

The quiet of the room was shattered by the sudden buzz of Elena's phone on the bedside table. It vibrated loudly, jarring her from her sleep. She stirred, blinking in confusion as she slowly looked up to find David, her head still resting against him.

"Huh?" Elena mumbled, sleepily. "What's going on?"

David's heart raced as she reached for her phone. "It's just a notification. Don't worry about it," he said quickly, trying to divert her attention.

Elena grabbed the phone, still not fully awake, and checked the screen. Her expression changed when she saw the message—a notification about the status of the game. "David, what are you doing in here?" she asked, her voice still a little groggy. "You've been gone for two days. And now you're… reading this?"

David let out a slow breath, trying to keep his composure. "Just focus on resting. It's not important," he said, gently guiding her head off his lap as he shifted uncomfortably. "We've got bigger things to worry about."

Elena rubbed her eyes, still half-asleep, clearly not satisfied with the vague response. "Why don't you tell me what's going on? You've been so distant lately. What's happening with you?" she asked, clearly worried but too tired to fully engage.

David had to fight the urge to tell her the truth. He couldn't risk it. Not yet. She wasn't ready to understand. "I'm trying to figure things out," he said, trying to sound reassuring, though his voice lacked conviction. "There are a lot of things happening. We don't need to worry about them right now. Just trust me, okay?"

Elena seemed to hesitate for a moment, her tired eyes studying him. She wanted answers, but she wasn't pressing him anymore. After a long pause, she nodded slowly and settled back down.

David took another deep breath, feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders. He knew that in a few hours, he'd have to go look for his mother. But the crypt... he couldn't forget about the crypt. He needed to get players to help him clear it, gather the money he needed, and move his family before the disaster struck.

As Elena drifted back into a light sleep, David pulled his phone closer again, scrolling through the game forums. He had more research to do, but this time, it wasn't just about the monsters. He was searching for a way to use the players, the ones who'd soon arrive in the village. He'd need their help for the crypt, but for now, he had to play the role of the NPC—silent, mysterious, trustworthy. It was all part of the plan.

His sister might be confused, but she would come to understand, just as the players would. For now, he would focus on survival. But time was running out.

David sat still for a moment, his eyes glued to the screen of his phone as he read up on the monsters in the game. He wasn't just researching for himself—he was trying to prepare for the worst. The more he read, the clearer it became that he needed to act quickly to get money, to keep everything under control, and to make sure he could move his family to safety.

Elena stirred beside him, groggily waking up. She blinked a few times, stretching slightly, before turning her head towards him. Her voice was soft and tired as she spoke.

"What are we watching?" she mumbled, clearly still half asleep, not fully grasping the situation.

David forced a quick smile, trying to shake the nagging worry in his chest. "Not sure yet," he replied absently, his eyes still glued to the phone. But his mind wasn't really on the TV. Something felt off.

Elena's voice broke through his thoughts again. "Where's Mom? She went out, right?"

David's hand froze for a moment as he looked at the clock on the wall. The realization hit him like a ton of bricks. His mother had gone out over four hours ago to buy food—and she still hadn't returned.

His heart skipped a beat. He glanced at Elena, his anxiety rising. "She went to buy food... but it's already been more than four hours," he said, his voice tense.

Elena frowned, her concern obvious. "What do you mean? It's been that long? Do you think something happened to her?" Her voice quivered with worry.

David didn't answer right away. His mind was already racing. He had no idea what was going on, but his gut told him something was wrong. His mother never stayed out this long.

He stood up suddenly, his legs feeling stiff from sitting too long. "I'll go find her," he said, his voice firm as he glanced down at Elena. "Stay here."

Elena's eyes widened in surprise, her confusion growing. "But—"

Before she could protest any further, David leaned in quickly, kissing her on the lips—briefly, but enough to silence her.

"Stay here. I'll be back soon," he said in a low, steady voice. There was no time to explain further. The urgency in his chest was overwhelming, and every second felt like it counted.

Elena was still silent, frozen by the kiss, her eyes wide as she watched him move to the door. She opened her mouth to say something, but no words came out.

David didn't wait. He left the room, stepping into the cool air outside, his thoughts consumed by the need to find his mother before it was too late.

David stepped outside, his sister's voice still echoing in his mind. *"So you finally kissed me too..."*

He shook his head, trying to focus. There was something more important now: his mother hadn't come back. She'd been gone for far too long. He needed to find her, and fast.

He hurried to the shop, his mind racing. As soon as he arrived, he scanned the street, but he didn't see her car parked anywhere. The knot in his stomach tightened. He was sure she'd gone there. But then he remembered something—his aunt.

His aunt had been like a second mother to him. Though she lived abroad, she was close to his mother, and if his mother had been gone for a while, she could've gone there. He needed to find her.

David entered the shop and approached the clerk. "Have you seen my mom? She was just here," he asked, trying to keep his voice steady.

The clerk looked up from behind the counter. "Oh, she left with some woman," the clerk said, shrugging.

David froze, his mind whirling. *Some woman?* Who was she with? Why hadn't his mother told him? Why hadn't she come back? His thoughts spun quickly, and without another word, he turned and left the shop.

As his mind raced, he thought about his aunt again. She had to be nearby. David's feet moved quickly as he pulled out his sister's phone, searching the map for his aunt's apartment. It wasn't far. He could get there fast.

But as he walked, his mind couldn't help but drift. *His sister...* He knew there was something off about the way she looked at him lately. Something more than sibling affection. He had noticed it, and now, in the rush of everything happening, those feelings began to take root in his mind. The temptation to claim her, to possess her in a way that wasn't just as a brother, lingered like a dark thought.

He quickly pushed those thoughts aside. *No, this isn't the time,* he told himself. *I can't think like that. She's my sister.*

David's heart pounded in his chest as he arrived at his aunt's apartment. He glanced around and spotted his mother's car parked nearby. It was a relief, but also an odd sense of dread hung in the air.

David knocked on the door, his mind racing with thoughts of his mother. He hadn't expected her to be gone for so long, and with each passing minute, his worry grew. He was about to knock again when the door creaked open, revealing his aunt—his mother's best friend.

"David?" she said, her voice a little surprised. "What are you doing here?"

David didn't hesitate. "Where's Mom?" he asked, his voice tinged with concern. "She's been gone over four hours now. I need to know where she is."

His aunt stepped aside, letting him enter. He didn't waste any time, his eyes searching for his mother. He found her sitting on the couch, looking surprised to see him.

David quickly moved toward her, relief washing over him now that he could see she was safe. "Mom, what were you thinking? It's been more than four hours. You didn't even tell me you were coming here."

His mother blinked, her face softening in realization. "That long? I didn't realize," she said, rubbing her temple as if trying to recall the time. "We were just talking, and time slipped away."

David sighed in frustration but smiled softly. "I know, but it's still a long time. I just got worried."

She nodded and gave him a reassuring look. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to cause you worry."

David turned his attention to his aunt, who was quietly standing near the door, looking slightly uncomfortable. "So, what's going on?" David asked, his voice calm but probing. "Why didn't you let us know things were this bad?"

His aunt let out a long sigh before speaking, her eyes avoiding David's. "After I came back from abroad, they told me I had to live on my own. It wasn't like I had a choice. I've been trying to keep up, but things haven't been going well. I don't have enough to pay rent anymore." She paused, her eyes filled with a mix of embarrassment and regret. "I didn't want to burden you or your mom, but now, I don't have anywhere else to go."

David processed her words in silence for a moment. He could see how torn she was. His aunt had always been there for them, and he couldn't just let her fall through the cracks.

Without hesitation, he turned to his mother and said, "Why don't you stay with us? You don't have to worry about paying rent or living alone. We can all stay together."

His mother looked up, surprised by his suggestion. "David, we've been locking the doors for safety. We can't keep doing that, especially with so many people. Are you sure it's the right decision?"

David looked at her and nodded firmly. "It's the best option right now. We need to be together—it's safer this way. I know things are tough, but we'll figure it out together."

His mother remained quiet for a moment, thinking deeply. She glanced at her best friend, her expression softening. Finally, she sighed, conceding. "I understand, David. We'll do it your way for now. But you promise we'll talk about this once things calm down?"

David nodded in agreement. "I promise, Mom."

His aunt smiled, relief washing over her. "Thank you, David. I don't know what I would have done without you."

David's heart eased knowing that both his mother and aunt were now under his roof. But the weight of what was to come still lingered in the back of his mind. The world outside was changing, and he needed to be ready for whatever came next.

But for now, they were safe. And that was all that mattered.