#lyssa

It all started with the frantic voices, threats of death, and the beeping of a hospital machine.

The threats of death came first. He would hear it from time to time, like static from a radio. It would sound clear while at other times slightly muffled. Oftentimes, it was the voice of a man, sometimes a woman, but hers he could never hear clearly.

The man's voice would rise in volume, sound slurred. At other times, it was calm and dangerous. It held such promise.

It was something Zayne couldn't wrap his mind around. All he knew was that whoever they were addressed to was in grave danger.

It lingered on his mind from time to time, content that it wasn't a regular occurrence. Time passed, days turned into weeks, the voices appearing suddenly without notice. It only lasted for a few minutes, never exceeding past five.

No one else heard them. Why was that?

His curiosity was piqued, conscience concerned. Then, one afternoon, the male voice, clear as ever, spoke. Zayne suddenly found himself standing in an empty café.

How did he reach here? The place felt familiar, yet his recollection to the memory wasn't there.

"How did you find me?" A panicked voice asked. This caused Zayne's gaze to turn to the voices' direction. Why couldn't he see anything?

A mirthless chuckle rang out. "I'll find you, no matter where you run to... you're my wife."

"I have a restraining ord--"

Glass shattering, screaming, a sharp crack split the air—the sound of skin hitting skin. The slap echoed, loud and sudden.

"YOU THINK SOME FUCKING RESTRAING ORDER WILL SCARE ME!? KEEP ME FROM YOU!? YOU'RE MINE! I OWN YOU!"

Zayne felt his body vibrating with rage. A primral urge that rose up, causing his evol to react.

"I am not some property to be owned, Raine... I refuse to stay in this toxic relationship."

Why did he feel a sense of pride? This was a stranger.

"The only way you'll be leaving me is when you're dead."

What followed after was a series of glass shattering, grunts, screams, someone being punched... Zayne has never felt so helpless, and it did not help his nerves with the silence that followed.

"Holy shit! Ms. Alexander, are you okay?..."

This voice was new, filled with worry. This voice didn't sound threatening.

"...Of course you aren't... no, don't speak, you have a cut on your neck, just apply pressure to the wound. I've called an ambulance and the police. Is your baby okay?"

Zayne's evol lost control, shooting out and freezing the entire space.

"I'm glad that I decided not to work today. I hate to think about what else would have happened if I didn't walk past the apartment and heard all the noise."

"Thank you for coming to my aid, Mr. Brice. Can you call my sister for me, please? She's my emergency contact."

The woman's voice sounded so small, hoarse, defeated.

"Sure, and please don't speak. I'm going to take your phone, okay?"

Sirens sounded off in the distance, and the voices disappeared suddenly.

Zayne took the next few days off work. He needed to figure out what was happening, and working would be detrimental to his patients because his thoughts were elsewhere.

His mind kept running through everything he heard. He came to one conclusion, that the people he heard was not from Linkon; they were not from his world.

This hypothesis was proven right on day three when he reappeared in the café, only this time he could see a hospital room. The beeping of a machine in the background.

Zayne stepped forward, hand reaching out, which made contact with a glass-like barrier. This definitely confirmed his theory.

"Ms. Alexander, you should get some rest. It's been quite a hectic day for you."

"In a bit, Nurse. Need something to power down my brain."

The voice again. At least it had more life to it. Zayne was itching to see who it was connected to.

The room shifted, and the mysterious person was revealed. Zayne forgot how to breathe for a bit.

She was beautiful but wait... why did she look so familiar? She looks a lot like... Lyssa? Impossible!

There were bandages around her throat, jaw slightly swollen on her left side. Her lip had a split, and there were shallow cuts over her face.

"Oh, you play that game too. If you don't mind me asking whose your fave? Xavier is mine."

"I don't have one at the moment. I've only downloaded the game three months ago, but so far, Zayne has grown on me. He has a soothing voice that, for some strange reason, eases my anxiety."

"Well, I hope you enjoy it."

So, he was in a game. It's truly not the strangest thing he has come across.

The feeling of a finger poking his chest took him by surprise, followed by his speaking a sentence he wasn't thinking about. Not creepy at all.

"Please excuse how I look, Dr. Zayne. I've encountered a rather unpleasant situation."

She was talking directly to him. Was that normal behavior?

"I really should be sleeping as much as I can, but every time I do, I keep getting nightmares. Your voice helps... I hate being in hospitals as a patient."

There was that feeling in his chest again. Her expression was soft as she continued to ramble.

Zayne had so many questions. How was any of this possible? Why did he feel connected to her in some way? If he was in a game, won't there be other versions of him in her world? Other players? Most importantly, how the hell can he get out?

He had no intention of being stuck in a game, not with this discovery. As he turned back to look at the other world, he made up his mind to find a way there. If this was possible, then getting out should be achievable. It was just a matter of time and a plan.