Rebooting.

Sebastian 

“In my past life, there were no missing boys. Is there something I'm missing?” I asked, staring at the glowing screen that had the mission written on it.

“Everything is proceeding according to protocol, Host.” Buis replied and I blinked, tilting my head in confusion.

“Host? What do you mean?” I questioned and the blue screen suddenly glitched. For a whole minute, all I could hear was my own breathing as the system remained silent.

Suddenly, lines of distorted letters flashed across the screen before displaying in bright red: “ERROR. REBOOTING.”

“What is happening?” I asked as my heart started to pound in my chest but I got no answer. Just the glitching sound that echoed through the space.

And then, the screen went black. Like it turned off completely. 

“Buis?” I called out softly but there was nothing. With a frown, I pulled out my phone and turned on the flashlight, lighting up the space. 

“Are you ignoring me now?” I asked in despair as I rubbed the space between my brows but all I could hear was my own voice.

How was I sure I wasn't even hallucinating and that I wasn't losing my mind?

If I told this to anyone, they would probably lock me up in the asylum for mental assessment.

I decided to leave the plant when suddenly, I heard a soft “ding” and the blue screen lit back up, making me blink in confusion.

On it was a bold “SYSTEM REBOOT COMPLETE” written in blue and I couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief.

“I am B.U.I.S. Your Build Up Intentional System.” Buis said in its usual robotic voice and once again, my fingers passed through the blue screen in front of me.

“Why the hell did you reboot? And why do you call me… host?” I asked and there was a brief moment of silence, making me wonder if it'll glitch again.

“There was a little glitch in my system. Correction, you are Sebastian. You need to continue with mission 001.5. Immediately.” It replied and my frown remained as I tried to understand what just happened.

A glitch? It could have just corrected itself. Why reboot completely?

*I have questions.” I pointed out and the screen switched back to Mission 001.5, the timer staring at me.

“Keep them till the missing boys are saved.”

“Promise me that you'll answer my question once I'm back.” I muttered and it stayed silent for a while, making me sigh in despair.

I reread the mission once again, realizing that the boys were abducted and kept in “The Core”.

“Where is The Core? How do I get there?” I asked, making my way out of the plant and back to the road.

I found myself looking around for signs of the dog that chased me earlier but I could have sworn that the dog just vanished into thin air.

The screen suddenly divided into four parts, all containing images of different areas of Sloradath.

“The Core is this one.” The first image zoomed in as Buis spoke and I raised a brow. “The home of the higher-ups and governors. Military officials, the president, and the rest.” It explained and my eyes widened in surprise as it dawned on me what I was about to do.

“You want me to sneak into that heavily guarded place and rescue those boys? What if I get caught? Dude, I will die for the second time!” I complained, shaking my head immediately and the mission appeared on the screen again.

“This mission is involuntary. This is crucial for you.” It replied and I raised a brow in question.

“Why is it crucial? Why were the boys taken? What do I have to do with them?” I asked all at once and when I was rewarded with silence, I knew I wouldn't get an answer.

“I'm beginning to hate you, Buis.” I huffed in frustration and the next second, the words jumbled together to form a middle finger, right at me. “Did you… you flipped me?”

I couldn't believe my eyes.

The words returned to normal and all I could do was complain in frustration as I walked into my apartment.

The audacity.

“You have twenty-four hours to complete this mission. And you have to do it as soon as possible. Or it will be too late.” Buis said as I started to take my shirt off but I suddenly paused, gasping in shock.

“Dude, are you going to watch me take a bath?” I asked in horror and I just knew that if Buis was physical, it would be shaking its robotic head in disappointment.

The screen went blank right after that and only then did I feel comfortable. I took a bath hurriedly and only when I got out did I remember that my suitcase had been crushed by a boulder earlier.

I have no clothes.

“Oh, you've got to be kidding me.” I muttered in despair and ended up having to wear the clothes I wore earlier.

Thankfully, I had a few “extras” that I left behind because they didn't fit into my luggage.

Knowing that I was about to do something that could jeopardize my life, I ended up wearing gloves and boots that would make it easier in case I got caught.

I slipped my handkerchief into my pocket and then wore a cap I didn't exactly like because it was pink. 

“How do I look, Buis?” I asked when I was done and the screen came back on, followed by silence that made me feel awkward.

“Like you need a new wardrobe.” It replied and I scoffed in amusement.

“You're the reason I don't have clothes anymore.” I complained as the screen changed into the mission once again.

“Alright, I'm ready. You better have a plan B if I get caught.” I muttered, and the timer started to count.

One day to save boys I have no idea about and why I need to save them.

But Buis wouldn't give me an answer anyway so I made my way out of the house.

Just as I opened the door, I almost bumped into someone, making me frown. My mood dampened quickly when I saw it was John. He was standing right outside my apartment like he was waiting for me. 

What the fuck was he doing here?

“I'm quite disappointed in you, Sebastian.” He started and I scoffed, brushing past him as I closed the door shut behind me. “Where are you going? And why are you dressed like that?”

“I thought we weren't friends anymore.” I said plainly as I tried to move past him but he suddenly stopped me.

Just then, the screen in front of me showed a bright red sentence and my brows furrowed.

“Exit the conversation. Now. Failure will result in a reduction in time.” 

I didn't understand what that meant because John wouldn't let me go and I was getting pissed off.

“You literally betrayed me and your girlfriend, the only people who ever had your back on my important day! Do you know how embarrassed I was?” John asked, looking betrayed and I scoffed.

“It was my birthday too, you asshole. Did you remember that?” I snapped and his expression literally changed into one of shock as he stared at me.

Before I could move, the timer on the screen changed from 23:52:00 to 22:52:00.

“Wait, what the fuck?” I asked in confusion and then the sentence written in red became bolder than before. “You can't do that!”

Reduction in time for making a conversation with someone I didn't want to talk to?

“Who are you talking to?”