Heroine, Game On

Prologue

Trigger warning: Some scenes may trigger a traumatic experience. Depictions of accidents are included. Reader discretion is advised.

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“These motherfuckers!” Claire cursed under her breath. She couldn’t believe her groupmates are not responding to her message. Now she had no choice but to do their thesis alone... again!

It had been like this since their third year, Claire would ask for progress from her groupmates but to no avail. She always end up having to do everything alone in her cramped apartment with her almost-broken laptop. It would be okay if she doesn’t have multiple part-time jobs to take care of, but she has, so she had to take care of her thesis and make the ends meet at the same time. It was so frustrating, she pitied herself for being such a pushover.

“I’m going to file for groupmate dismissal. Those jerks don’t deserve to be included in the thesis I’ve worked alone for three semesters!” She talked to herself.

Thankfully, her part-time job for the night was cancelled. After finishing a bowl of instant noodles, she sat in front of her laptop and continued her thesis. She was so focused that she lost track of time. By the time she realized it, it was already at dawn. She had no choice but to stop for awhile because she had a part-time job in the morning. Although she felt dizzy and sick, she forced herself to stand up – only to notice the smoke coming in to her apartment. Claire later realized that there’s a fire in the apartment complex she was residing in and the tenants were screaming for help.

Adrenaline washed over Claire. She quickly packed her important belongings and rushed out to her apartment, which was her mistake. She didn’t know that the hallway was already being engulfed by a large fire; getting out of the apartment complex was impossible. No emergency exits could be found. To say she was terrified was an understatement, Claire was as white as a sheet of paper, her hands were trembling, she was having a hard time breathing, and she couldn’t think straight. The traumatic tenants’ plea kept ringing to her ears. Until the fire reached her, burning her dreams along with her body. Her eyes were shut hopelessly.