Infernal Moon ⋮ ᴏɴɢᴏɪɴɢ ⋮

〝⋟›∔‹⋞〞𝔐 𝙾 𝙾 𝙽 𝙸 𝚇

     Each pixel trembled and morphed into a whirlwind of chaotic whiteness. The pale hue were gentle on the eyes and with a mere flutter of her lashes, Kanha's sight adjusted back to its usual clarity. Yet she found herself not embraced by the lush vibrant woods or the sturdy earthy trunk, but rather standing before a rugged craggy cliff where the CD above were situated.

     Kanha struggled to draw in breath, her throat ablaze with discomfort. Her eyes flicked around and landed on her right hand that was pressed against the jagged rock for support. She instinctively clenched it into a tight fist, grounding herself as she sought to calm her frantic breathing.

     "Helloo? Can you hear me?" a strained yet piercing voice came through, "Is everything okay?"

     As Kanha struggled to grasp that she's no longer in the virtual world, the moment she sensed someone approaching, her instincts kicked in and she viewed it as a threat.

     She pivoted swiftly, ready to confront the imminent danger. However before she could strike, her left hand was seized mid-air and with a powerful shove, Kanha was sent crashing to the ground.

     It appeared completely unfazed, "Whoa, hold on! I had no idea you were this fierce!"

     Fortunately, Kanha recovered quickly. She gathered her strength and skillfully lowered her legs just in time to prevent her head from slamming into the ground.

     "But you know what, Cupcake? That's exactly why you steal my heart even more!" it playfully taunted her before dashing off.

     Before Kanha could find her footing, it caught her completely off guard with a swift kick. Just as she lifted her gaze, she was about to be struck in the face. Once she recognized who stood before her, Kanha simply stared at their foot, showing no inclination to evade the blow.

     It pulled up just shy of its face, grinning at Kanha with a cheerful expression as it firmly set its foot down.

     "Was it fun?" Kanha asked in a composed and frosty tone.

     The threat leaned in slightly, grinning brightly as it gazed at her. It shared a laugh before twirling around, happily agreeing with Kanha's words.

     "You can trick others but not me," Kanha issued a chilling warning, "Stay out of my way, Roselda."

     With a playful giggle, Roselda once again brushed off Kanha's words as harmless. She leaned in closer, wrapping her arm around Kanha's in a sweet gesture, swaying it gently like an affectionate puppy eager to share its joy.

     "Come on! We both made it out okay which shows we have something in common. So why not be friends?" Roselda remained firm in her conviction. Kanha released her hold on her arms, stepping back to survey her surroundings.

     Kanha realized that those who materialized out of nowhere were the ones who had survived the simulated mission. Her focus wasn't on the fallen, instead, she fixated on the singular objective that drives her mission forward.

     Roselda admired the way Kanha observed those around her. Her gaze conveyed indifference as if they held no significance to her. To Roselda, Kanha embodied a reclusive predator, someone who shies away from connections with others. This intriguing aloofness only fuelled Roselda's desire to win her over even more.