CODE. (only the dead escape)

BACK IN THE MASKED REALM

***"Harper

I followed the younger version of Lyra's memory through a series of ghostlike images: laughter, hunger, sickness… and finally, a knock at the door by a man in a grey CODE suit.

It all ended with the grandmother's cries fading into the void as Lyra was dragged into a black vehicle.

"The realm will collapse soon. You need to help Lyra fulfill her last wish… or her soul will be trapped here forever." Chris warned.

tears started to form in my eyes. "I didn't know… I thought she was just some cold-hearted killer… I never even asked her name…"

A whisper came through the wind, barely audible.

Lyra's Voice: "I just wanted to say sorry… to Grandma…"

I clutched my chest. "I promise, Lyra. I'll help you get that message across. Even if I have to tear through this realm myself."

I stood up and looked around as the world darkened and twisted.

A new mission screen appeared before me:

NEW QUEST UNLOCKED: REDEMPTION

Objective: Deliver Lyra's last words to her grandmother before the realm collapses.

I tightened my grip around the blade still stained with Lyra's final battle.

"You're not just a file. You were a person. And you deserve peace."

******

REALM OF NOCTIS — FINAL HOURS

******HARPER

The wind howled through the twisted remnants of Lyra's memory-world. Shadows curled like smoke across the fragmented realm as I sprinted toward the lone cottage where the old woman sat, quietly humming, her back turned to me.

Each time I neared the small house, the path warped—bending, stretching, dissolving beneath my feet. Again and again, I reached out, only to be pulled back, flung yards away like a ragdoll.

"No! No, not again!"

I stumbled forward, bloody palms scraping the cracked earth. The cottage shimmered like a mirage.

*Chris! What's going on?*

*This shouldn't be happening… The realm is unstable, yes—but something's interfering. Artificially.*

---

CODE HEADQUARTERS – OBSERVATION CHAMBER

Assistant Natalie gritted her teeth, her fingers moving swiftly across glowing interfaces.

"Barrier holding. She's stalled again, my lord."

The Gamekeeper, Lord Kaelith, stood with arms crossed, gaze fixed on the holographic projection of Harper's flailing form. His jaw clenched.

"Good."

"Good? But… if she fails this realm—"

Natalie tried to reason with him but he was lost in thought.

*If I don't slow her down, he will notice. And then everything we've done will be unraveled.*

Natalie whispered . "You're risking everything for a human."

The GAMEKEEPER responded as if he could hear her .

"No. I'm risking everything because she's more than that…"

---

REALM OF NOCTIS — MOMENTS LATER

****HARPER

I collapsed on my knees, frustration boiling over as the phantom wind dragged me further from the cottage again. My knuckles bled where they had scraped the ground.

*Chris… I'm losing. I only have a few hours left. I can feel it. My body's growing colder…*

*You're fading. If you don't complete this mission soon, your data here will dissolve. You'll die in this realm.*

My voice cracked . "She just wanted to say goodbye… just a simple goodbye…"

I looked toward the fading cottage, barely a speck now in the mist.

*Someone is doing this, Chris. It's not the realm… someone doesn't want me to succeed.*

Chris was silent… then:

*You're right. The interference isn't natural—it's directional. Like someone's deliberately blocking your path.*

*Then we'll break it.*

I pulled out the dagger still stained from Lyra's final fight. Without hesitation, I sliced across my palm and smeared the blood in a circle on the broken floor.

*Wait—Harper, what are you doing?*

*The realm responds to emotion… pain… memory. If they're going to use Lyra's trauma to trap her, I'm going to use her spirit to set her free.*

I pressed my bloody palm against my throat and whispered softly.

Moments later, the voice that emerged was not my own.

Lyra's Voice (through Harper):

"Grandma… I'm sorry. I didn't come back like I promised. I thought they'd help us. But I only hurt people. I never wanted that. I never forgot your stories. I never stopped loving you…"

The old woman looked at me strangely at first but she immediately knew it was her granddaughter speaking. She burst into tears and held my hands.

'It's enough dear. You can finally take rest now'.

The realm pulsed violently—then stilled. The cottage door creaked open and light flooded out like a burst of sunrise.

A moment later—

SYSTEM MESSAGE: OBJECTIVE COMPLETE

PLAYER HARPER: LEVEL UP! — LEVEL 2 UNLOCKED

*Harper! You're now a level 2 player!*

*Yeah*

---

CODE HEADQUARTERS

Gasps echoed across the control room as the red alarms turned gold.

Technician: "She did it… She actually did it!"

Natalie turned to Kaelith, speechless.

She spoke. "You let her win."

Kaelith responded flatly "No. She earned it. But this is… good. In a bad way."

Natalie looked at the GAMEKEEPER with a confused look.

*This is not over Harper. I'll destroy you before you destroy everything we've put together. I'll destroy you one way or another*

The GAMEKEEPER sighed,*tread slightly Harper*.

---

BACK TO HARPER'S REALM

*****HARPER

Harper jolted upright in a rush of light, coughing, covered in dust. Uncle Mark immediately rushed forward.

"Harper! Thank goodness, you're back—safe!"

I was still disoriented, but my instincts kicked in.

"The kids… the children. Did you get them out?"

Uncle Mark and Aunt Samantha looked at each other, sadness evident in their faces.

"Yes. We did. Every single one… except…"

"Sophie. Where's Sophie?"

Aunt Samantha suddenly broke down in sobs. Uncle Mark reached into his coat and pulled out a note.

The paper was stained with red ink, folded with precision. I opened it.

> "Since you wanna be a hero so bad, then it's on.

You have just a few days to find the girl—or else you'll find her dead body.

Till then, please bear with whatever you see."

My hands shook, but my jaw clenched.

*She's very much challenging you now Harper*

*Who knows where she has taken the poor girl to*

"This isn't just a game anymore. This is war. And now it's personal."