Chapter 3: Running from Destiny, Fighting for Love

At midnight, a distant clock chimed twelve. A new day began. Suddenly, I realized I was fading, my body going transparent. I tried to speak, but no sound came.

I panicked, reaching for Carter, but my hand passed right through him. He slept on, clutching the leash.

Carter was sleeping in the other bed, still clutching the leash. He looked sound asleep, almost too peaceful.

His face was relaxed, free of worry. I wanted to scream, to shake him awake, but I couldn’t move.

The next second, I was standing on an empty street. The leash and collar were gone. Suddenly, I understood why Chelsea had been so sure when she vanished. Even in this abandoned game, they still thought they controlled our fate—because we’re just NPCs, programmed data. Yeah, right.

The world was silent, empty. I looked around, searching for any sign of life.

Too bad for them, ninety pounds of my hundred is pure defiance. I flipped off the night sky and took off running.

I sprinted down the street, heart pounding. I refused to let them win.

Far above, Chelsea’s voice echoed. “Running won’t help. Or are you going back to Carter, so he can watch you get hit by a car?”

Her voice was everywhere and nowhere, taunting me. I gritted my teeth, refusing to answer. Great, now I’m being haunted by a voiceover.

I heard tires screeching behind me, but kept running, laughing coldly. “Does playing god make you happy? You’re pretty twisted.”

I shouted into the void, daring her to answer. She just laughed, the sound echoing off empty buildings.

“Twisted and pathetic. Is it because you can’t control your own fate, so you try to control others?”

I spat the words, anger burning in my chest. Chelsea went quiet, stung.

She was silent for a moment, then her voice chilled. “We didn’t program you to be so sharp-tongued.”

She sounded almost impressed. I grinned, refusing to back down.

“Guess I learned from dealing with psychos like you.”

I shot back, refusing to let her see me sweat.

“Still so mouthy. But you’re running out of strength, aren’t you?”

She was right. My legs felt heavy, my lungs burned. But I kept running, refusing to give up.

She was right. The farther I ran, the stiffer I felt, like a plastic film was wrapping me up.

I pushed through the pain, focusing on the finish line. I wouldn’t let her win.

Soon, she noticed I wasn’t heading for Carter. “You’re not going to him. Where are you going?”

Her voice was sharp, suspicious. I just smiled, keeping my secrets close.

“Don’t bother. The program won’t change. You hid in a hotel for ages, and still ended up here.”

She tried to sound confident, but I could hear the doubt creeping in.

“God, you’re annoying.” I was dodging cars and her endless chatter. “You swear the plot can’t change, but why are you here? Admit it, Chelsea—you know you can lose. Both Carter and I are wildcards now.”

I shouted, daring her to deny it. The silence that followed was answer enough.

She was silent a long time. “Your personality is different from your settings, but you’re interesting. Where are you really going?”

She sounded almost curious, like she wanted to understand. I ignored her, focusing on the path ahead.

I ignored her and ran up the mountain. The roar of cars got closer, so I vaulted the guardrail and took the trail. The car crashed through after me, but struggled on the narrow path.

I could hear the engine sputtering, tires spinning. I grinned, knowing I’d bought myself time. Not today, Satan.

I couldn’t help laughing. “You wanted me to die in an accident, but who’d believe this is an accident now? It’s straight-up murder.”

I shouted over my shoulder, daring her to catch me. Chelsea just growled, frustrated.

“Doesn’t matter. Once you die, we’ll erase the oddities. Everyone will accept the story.”

She sounded smug, but I could hear the fear in her voice.

“Carter won’t.”

I said it softly, knowing it was true.

“What?”

She sounded shaken, unsure for the first time.

“He won’t believe it. He’ll go nuts. You can’t imagine how crazy he can get.”

I warned her, voice fierce. She went silent, finally understanding the stakes.

“So I have to stay alive—so Carter won’t lose it.”

I whispered it to myself, promising I’d never leave him alone.

Chelsea went quiet. I finally reached the mountaintop, headlights glaring white. As the car roared at me, I dove into the trash can like a fish.

I landed hard, but I didn’t care. I’d made it.

I saw Chelsea. Strangely, she didn’t look like her in-game avatar. She looked quiet and gentle, in a white dress, sitting calmly. “Maddie, I didn’t expect you to use this bug to cheat death. Data resets at midnight. Right now, you’re ‘dead,’ but thanks to the bug, you’ll revive after midnight.”

She smiled, almost approving. I glared, refusing to be charmed. Nice try.

“This trash can was Carter’s idea.”

I said it with pride, knowing he’d always have my back.

“Smart as he is, he didn’t see it coming. Love makes people foolish.” She smiled. “Want to see what Carter does after you disappear?”

She offered it like a temptation. I shook my head, refusing to give in.

“Maybe he’ll die with you. Then when you return, you’ll be all alone.”

Her words stung, but I refused to let her see my fear.

My heart clenched, but I shook my head. “He won’t. He trusts me.”

I said it firmly, knowing it was true.

Just like I trust him. Carter is crazy, but he promised not to give up. And before I vanished, I bit off a piece of the collar’s leash. He’ll notice the clue.

I smiled, knowing Carter would find me, no matter what.

Chelsea’s fingers flew over a keyboard, smiling mysteriously. “You win this round. But I’m not nice—I won’t let you win so easily.”

She winked, daring me to relax. I braced myself for the next challenge.

Before I could react, I found myself facing Carter’s dad’s disgusting old face. He was drinking, whining to the neighbors.

The smell of cheap whiskey filled the air. I gagged, wishing I could disappear. Of course it’s whiskey.

“That brat never came home. Must be crazy. The Miller girl’s only been missing a day and he’s lost his mind. That kid’s always been weird—he should just go work instead of taking tests.”

He spat the words, uncaring. The neighbors nodded, whispering behind his back.

I wanted to kick him, but realized I could pass right through him. Outside, I finally understood—when he said Carter was crazy, he meant it.

I watched, powerless, as Carter’s pain was dismissed by everyone around him.

Carter was still in his pajamas, scratched and bruised, looking wrecked—worse than I’d ever seen him, even in his hardest days.

His eyes were wild, haunted. I wanted to hold him, to tell him everything would be okay.

My mom was there, eyes red. “Carter, they say Maddie died in an accident. Stop looking. She wouldn’t want you like this.”

She tried to comfort him, but Carter just shook his head, refusing to believe.

Carter’s voice was hoarse, like a broken bellows. “No. Maddie’s not dead. Mrs. Miller, it’s my fault. I didn’t protect her. I thought she’d be safe with me. I shouldn’t have fallen asleep. I don’t know what happened. Mrs. Miller, kill me.”

He sobbed, clutching her hand. My heart broke for him. I’d never seen him like this.

He gripped my mom’s hand like a lifeline. “I promised Maddie I wouldn’t say stuff like this, but I can’t take it anymore. It’s my fault. I should’ve followed the script.”

He whispered it, voice cracking. My mom just hugged him, letting him cry.

My mom looked confused, but seeing his pain, she sighed. “Carter, Maddie wrote you a letter. Don’t you want to read it?”

She lied, hoping to give him something to hold onto. I smiled, grateful for her kindness.

Even I was stunned. I’d never written him a letter—we saw each other every day. Then I realized—my mom was lying to stop him from hurting himself.

She was always quick on her feet, ready to protect us both.

When they gave him a sedative, Carter fought like a dying wolf, desperate to escape. His wild eyes softened as he collapsed, clutching my mom’s clothes. “Mrs. Miller, please… I haven’t found Maddie yet, please…”

He whimpered, clinging to her like a child. I knelt beside him, whispering words of comfort he couldn’t hear.

I knew I couldn’t touch him, but I knelt beside him anyway, holding his bloody hands. “Carter, hang in there. Don’t let me down, you hear? I outran a truck—those so-called ‘creators’ can’t stop us now. Just wait six hours, I’ll be back.”

I promised him, voice shaking. I prayed he could feel my presence, even if he couldn’t see me.

“Don’t wreck your body. We still have the SATs. We’re both getting into top schools. Then we’ll travel—just us two. I’ve saved up. First stop: Portland, seven days of food trucks.”

I listed our dreams, hoping they’d anchor him. Portland, with its endless food carts and rainy streets, felt like paradise.

I don’t even remember what I said. I just rambled, tasting bitterness at the corner of my mouth. I’d never told Carter about the trash can backup plan, afraid of being watched. I forgot he’s crazy—seriously crazy.

I laughed through my tears, knowing Carter would find a way. He always did.

I tried to hug him, repeating, “I’m here. Don’t you dare die on me.”

I whispered it over and over, hoping he could hear me through the darkness. Please, Carter.

I thought I heard him call my name, angry and tear-streaked, cursing me. “Maddie Miller, are you trying to scare me to death? Are you testing me, seeing if I’d die for you?”

His voice echoed in my mind, fierce and desperate. I smiled, tears streaming down my face.

Just hearing “die for love” gave me PTSD. I waved my hands. “No, no, let me explain…”

I laughed, promising him I’d never leave again.