I sat up.
O....kay? so that happened.
"...Um... System?" I said, but there was no reply.
I sighed.
Standing up, I couldn't help but grit my teeth against the overwhelming pain. My right arm really WAS disconnected from its joint. Damn it. I looked around at the trees and greenery surrounding me. I'm not a nature enthusiast—never understood what all those weirdos find so overwhelming about staring at mountains or forests—but I did appreciate the calm feeling from the fresh air. Smooth, REALLY breathable air.
"Okay..." I muttered, then looked back at the panel on my wrist.
[Consciousness: Ethan - 65% | ??? - 35%]
So this means we're sharing this body, right? I didn't like this. Not one bit. The thought of something obviously way smarter than me trapped in my body only spelled trouble. I couldn't shake the feeling that eventually it would want complete control.
"Another world... Farming in another world," I murmured, recalling a book I'd read. Some guy who just started farming like an idiot after arriving in a new world. I could try that... No. I'm pretty sure he got some cheat for farming. If I tried farming here, I'd obviously die. Not only am I clueless about EVERYTHING CONCERNING FARMING, this is possibly a place filled with dangerous monsters I have yet to encounter.
"That's right... the stream," I remembered seeing a stream ahead when that idiot began controlling my body.
With my good hand, I cradled the damaged one against my chest, then began walking toward the location of the stream.
"But... it might not be a bad idea," I thought. I wasn't keen on farming—would be the ultimate liar if I said I ever wanted to farm. But what didn't seem bad was the isolation. Finding a quiet place just like this, only safer, without people. I think I'd be okay with that.
Back on Earth, I didn't have friends, or... family. Well, I did have a family in the beginning, but I left on my own accord and never went back. They never bothered to look for me. Perhaps they were exhausted from taking care of someone with my... illness. I never related well with people. I mean, I could talk, strike up conversations, but people didn't really feel like... people to me.
I can't explain it. I was just never able to understand or feel others' emotions, never knew the right time to laugh, to cry, to do certain things in front of people. I don't know why. I did learn a few things—no, more like I pretended to understand some things people do. Like... love. Some past friend back in high school crying about rejection. The only thing I ever thought seeing them cry was... foolish. I didn't understand why someone would be attached to another person, why you'd suddenly want someone for yourself. It didn't make sense, so I always... laughed.
With time, I learned not to react in such situations, since people seemed to hate me for it. I did get confessed to a few times, but I didn't know what to do. What should I do when I don't understand the feelings you're talking about? But I did accept a confession or two—one in high school and another in college—though they never lasted. I ended up running away from them, weirded out by their overwhelming clinginess and dependency on me. Eventually, I just... stopped. Stopped trying to be normal, to understand why everyone except me seemed like an idiot. So I played my games and...
Damn.
Games.
No, I can't farm in this world. I would die of boredom. How the hell did that freak not get bored always farming?
"Water," I breathed, running forward and kneeling down at the stream's edge.
I cupped my hands together and lifted the water to my lips. It was clear, so I drank it greedily.
Come to think of it—Cassy. Could she be the one the janitor was talking about? Did she pay him to kill me? It's possible. She did threaten me when I told her I was breaking up with her. She said something about "if she couldn't have me, no one would." I won't lie, I felt irritated at the time. I didn't pay her threats any mind and did like with Angel. Or could it have been Angel? After high school and after running from home, I blocked her and everyone else.
"No," I muttered, looking at the water in my palms. Couldn't be Angel. It was already over two years ago, and she wasn't as clingy as Cassy, so her "love" probably wasn't as intense. So that once again leaves Cassy. I always knew she was rich... so yeah, she could hire a guy with the right price.
Or maybe I'm overthinking it. Maybe it's someone else entirely.
Grrrrrrrrrr!
Damn. I'm hungry.
I looked around, and then something cold touched my neck.
"Move and you die."
What?