"Ouch. I don't," Ava replied shamelessly. "I made your life exciting actually and extreme situation call for extreme solutions."
Philip looked like he wanted to fight her.
Rick, however, had already turned toward Felix.
"So," he asked while leaning back lazily, "why do you look like absolute shit?"
Felix immediately looked traumatized again.
"Don't remind me." He grabbed his hair dramatically. "Damn it."
Jay looked amused already.
"Our door was the Entity storyline," Felix continued weakly. "Ghosts. Crawling things. Creepy smiling NPCs. Weird crying sounds in walls."
Big V burst out laughing already seeing Felix's thousand-yard stare.
"We had to solve clues about the marriage while trying to help the bride escape," Felix continued while looking emotionally exhausted. "But every ending failed."
Kai sighed softly beside Derek.
"And every failure ended in death," Kai added quietly.
Felix pointed at him immediately.
"Exactly!"
He looked genuinely offended remembering it.
"The bride's family got tricked into the marriage."
"The groom's family wanted her heart too," Derek continued calmly.
"And the lover?" Rick asked curiously.
Felix's expression turned complicated.
"…He killed her himself."
Everyone paused.
Felix nodded dramatically.
"He had low self-esteem," he explained. "Thought the bride never loved him and was only using him to destroy the groom's family."
Rick clicked his tongue.
"Idiot."
"So before the groom's family could take her heart…" Felix pointed at the floor
dramatically. "The lover killed her first so they could stay together in death."
A brief silence fell.
Then Ava spoke.
"That's toxic romance."
"THAT'S WHAT I SAID!" Felix yelled immediately.
"Well you guys suffered cause you follow the rules " Jay said
"Yeah as far it work the solution doesn't matter" Ava said
Philip suddenly stood up.
"No more games."
Everyone looked at him.
"No more escape rooms. No horror. No zombies. No entities. No digestion." He pointed at Ava accusingly. "And absolutely no human shield activities."
Rick started laughing again.
Big V wiped tears from his eyes.
"What about strolling around instead?" Matthew asked calmly.
Philip immediately shook his head harder.
"No. I need emotional recovery."
Ava crossed her arms.
"Sure you don't need therapy?"
Philip glared at her like she personally ruined his bloodline.
Kai finally stood up stretching lightly.
"Then let's go to the second district instead."
Everyone agreed instantly.
Anything sounded better than another escape room.
The group finally left the game club together.
Outside
The first district was even livelier now.
Bright holographic advertisements glowed across buildings while crowds filled the neon-lit streets. Music blasted from different arcades, restaurants, and clubs nearby while luxury cars passed constantly across the massive roads.
People still stared at their group while walking past.
Especially Ava and Matthew walking side by side.
Ava still wore Matthew's oversized sweater
Hand holding each other.
"When can I have my sweater back ?" Matthew finally asked.
Ava hugged the herself possessively.
"It survived war with me."
"That's not yours and I'm not leaving it with you God knows what you will do "
"You don't know our bond or wait do you want to wear it so you can also Inhale my scent."
Matthew looked away immediately deciding silence was healthier.
The group entered the luxury cruiser again.
Big V took the driver seat while everyone settled back into their earlier spots naturally.
Rick instantly collapsed against Jay dramatically.
Felix curled up looking emotionally defeated.
Philip grabbed bottled water like a war survivor.
Kai leaned against Derek calmly while scrolling through something on his phone.
Ava immediately rested her head against Matthew's shoulder like it belonged there.
Matthew looked down at her once.
The cruiser left the lively chaos of the first district and entered the second district slowly.
Unlike the flashy afternoon atmosphere outside the first district, the second district felt cleaner, richer, calmer.
Massive glass buildings towered into the night sky while holographic advertisements reflected across polished roads.
Luxury restaurants, private clubs, tech companies, and futuristic entertainment buildings stretched endlessly across the district.
Big V purposely drove slower this time.
The tinted windows were rolled halfway down letting the cool night breeze drift inside the cruiser while music played softly in the background.
"Damn," Felix muttered weakly while still emotionally recovering from the escape room. "now I know why people like this Silver Arc District so relaxing."
Rick nodded seriously head resting on Jay's lap. "Yeah they is a type of relaxation from having money and connection."
The cruiser finally stopped in front of one of the district's most popular attractions.
Virtual House of Fun.
The building itself looked unreal.
Huge digital screens wrapped around the curved structure displaying different fantasy worlds, racing simulations, horror themes, underwater cities, and futuristic battle arenas.
Bright neon lights glowed across the entrance while groups of young rich heirs, influencers, couples, and celebrities walked in and out laughing.
The moment the nine stepped out of the cruiser.
People nearby slowed down instinctively.
Some openly stared as it has the logo from the third district.
Others secretly took photos.
Because honestly the group looked absurd together.
Ava stepped out first.
Her tight midriff halter cropped top in rich chocolate brown hugged her slim figure perfectly, exposing just enough pale skin to feel unfair beneath the district's glowing neon lights.
The matching pleated high-waisted mini skirt moved lightly with every step while fluffy white fur leg warmers wrapped around her calves above her brown boots.
Matthew's oversized knit sweater swallowed almost her entire body now, the sleeves hanging past her hands while the sweater itself nearly reached her knees.
Combined with her waist-length red wavy hair flowing behind her under the lights—
She genuinely looked unreal.
Like some rich chaotic game character that accidentally escaped into real life.
And beside her Matthew looked equally unfair.
Standing at six-one, he had the kind of face people stared at twice before realizing they were staring yet they keep staring.
His black cat-like eyes looked both sharp and lazy beneath dark leaf-cut hair that framed his face perfectly. The messy strands curved around his cheekbones before arching back naturally, emphasizing his sharp jawline without trying.
The fitted white inner shirt beneath the missing sweater somehow made him look even more expensive than before.
Cream-colored cargo pants hung loosely against his long legs while the silver chain near his collarbone caught faint light whenever he moved.
Even walking casually beside Ava
He still looked like someone filmed in slow motion.
A girl passing nearby accidentally walked into the glass door because she kept staring at him.
Rick immediately noticed.
"Damn." He clicked his tongue proudly. "Our group really destroys lives."
Rick bounced slightly while walking, tugging Jay's sleeve dramatically so the taller boy would hurry up.
His pink hair under the neon lights made him look even more playful than usual.
Cute.
Sweet.
Trouble wrapped in expensive clothes.
The type of person people wanted to spoil first and regret later.
Meanwhile Jay followed beside him calmly, letting Rick drag him however he wanted.
His brown hair framed his sharp features perfectly while his naturally c Nobel cool air around that does not made him cold nor approachable at the same time and he was also freaking sexy and hot .
Kai, meanwhile, looked completely opposite Warm, Gentle, like a ray of sunshine after constant winter and also Quietly pretty in a way that relaxed people naturally.
Even while being carried lazily on Derek's back because he claimed his legs were tired, Kai still looked unbothered enough to scroll through his phone peacefully. Derek remained silent as Kai talked to him about the video he is watching.
Kai's soft voice fooled people too much.
The moment someone crossed his boundaries, the sweetness vanished fast.
Derek himself looked exactly like the kind of person schools warned parents about.
Low haircut.
Sharp features.
Rebellious vibe.
The type that looked dangerous leaning against motorcycles at midnight.
Yet the second he smiled you can hear your heart do a flip
Felix leaned weakly against Big V while walking dramatically.
"I saw ghost brides today," he muttered lifelessly. "I deserve compensation."
Big V snorted.
Felix himself looked ridiculously pretty even while dying emotionally.
His features were so balanced and unreal that people passing by genuinely kept double-checking his gender before giving up entirely as Felix could pass as both a girl and a guy.
Meanwhile Philip followed beside them looking pale from his earlier explosion experience.
Even then
He still carried that clean rich academic vibe naturally.
The kind of handsome people associated with honor students and romance movie male leads.
Big V rounded out the group entirely.
Relaxed posture.
Sharp eyes.
Confident without trying.
The type of bad-boy presence that naturally dominated space the second he entered it.
The staff at the entrance immediately straightened seeing them approach.
Especially after noticing the district access tags attached to their cruiser.
"Welcome to Virtual House of Fun," the receptionist greeted politely.
Rick immediately pointed inside excitedly.
"I want something fun."
Felix looked horrified instantly.
"No more horror." He grabbed Big V dramatically. "If another ghost bride appears I'm dropping out of society."
The moment they entered the building—
It genuinely felt like stepping into another world.
Not futuristic cold.
Not overly digital.
Beautiful.
Warm.
Alive.
Above them stretched a massive artificial sky glowing soft gold and blue like late afternoon sunlight.
White clouds drifted slowly overhead while birds flew freely through the air between hanging gardens and floating crystal bridges.
The building itself was enormous.
Several floors connected together so naturally it no longer looked like a building at all but an entire fantasy city hidden indoors.
Huge trees with glowing leaves spread across marble pathways while flower gardens wrapped around elegant fountains and waterfalls flowing down transparent glass walls.
Every corner looked like a mix between an art gallery and a dream garden.
One side held luxury shopping malls with floating display windows and designer stores.
Another side led toward high-end restaurants built above indoor rivers where koi fish swam beneath glass floors.
Farther away huge aquarium tunnels glowed deep blue beneath the ground level while rollercoasters twisted through artificial mountains inside the amusement park section.
Massive sculptures stood between pathways while moving paintings and digital art pieces decorated the walls like living exhibitions.
Even the air smelled nice.
Sweet flowers mixed with expensive perfume and fresh desserts.
"Let's go look at the animals first," Ava said immediately, eyes already wandering around excitedly.
"Amusement park," Philip corrected instantly.
"Food," Felix replied weakly like a dying man.
"The underground ocean tour," Kai added softly.
Rick looked at all of them lazily. "Do you people never run out of energy?"
Jay glanced around before deciding, "Amusement park first. Zoo second. Food after. Underground ocean last."
"Sure," Ava agreed easily.
The group headed toward the amusement park first.
Bright lights flashed everywhere while music echoed around giant rides overhead. People screamed from rollercoasters twisting above artificial castles while arcade booths lined both sides of the pathways.
The moment Ava spotted a giant teddy bear almost half her height
"I want that teddy."
"I want that teddy."
Ava and Philip spoke at the same time.
Both immediately looked at each other.
Ava smiled sweetly.
Philip sneered back.
The game staff holding the teddy looked entertained already. "To win the prize," she explained while handing them equipment, "you must clear our virtual wrestling challenge."
Large screens lit up instantly.
Opponent selected.
Arena loading.
The second the game started
Ava moved first.
Fast enough to make the audience nearby freeze.
Her virtual character summoned twin blades before dashing across the battlefield violently.
The opponent barely reacted before Ava threw one blade directly into its chest.
Then—
She grabbed the second blade mid-spin and slashed upward from below in one brutal motion.
The entire screen exploded red.
Her opponent split apart instantly as the announcer screamed dramatically—
FATALITY.
MATCH COMPLETE.
00:58
Silence.
Even the nearby crowd stared at her.
"I WON!" Ava yelled proudly while ripping the headset off and clapping for herself.
Matthew's lips twitched.
He genuinely wanted to crack this girl open and inspect how her brain functioned.
Because no normal person smiled that brightly after virtual murder.
Ava ignored everyone completely and grabbed the giant teddy bear twice herself immediately hugging it against herself before running toward Matthew proudly.
Philip slowly removed his own headset looking offended.
"Tsk." Felix held his chest dramatically. "Defeated by the same person that fed you to a monster earlier. Painful."
"Fuck off," Philip snapped.
Ava already grabbed Matthew's wrist dragging him toward the photo booth area before he could escape.
Inside the booth
Pure chaos happened.
One photo captured Ava jumping onto Matthew's back while hugging the teddy proudly.
Another had her sitting directly on his lap while Matthew looked completely done with life.
Another showed Ava trying to hug him while Matthew held her face back with one hand as she struggled angrily.
One picture captured Matthew holding the teddy above his head while Ava jumped trying to grab it back.
Another somehow perfectly caught both of them kicking each other at the same time.
The final photo ended with Ava storming out of the booth annoyed after losing the teddy again.
A few seconds later Matthew stepped out holding the teddy casually over his shoulder.
A lazy teasing smile rested on his face while he followed behind her slowly.
"You're annoying," Ava complained while walking ahead.
"And yet," Matthew replied calmly, "you keep following me."
Afterward Rick, Ava, Felix, and Kai dragged everyone onto different rides.
At one point Felix screamed louder than actual children during a drop tower ride while Big V secretly recorded everything for future blackmail.
Matthew, Derek, Philip, Jay, and Big V mostly followed behind afterward carrying all the random prizes and bags the others kept winning.
Eventually the group finally headed toward the virtual zoo section.
Massive golden gates slowly opened before them.
The inside looked breathtaking.
Different environments stretched endlessly beneath the artificial sky
Snow mountains.
Rainforests.
Deserts.
Crystal caves.
Ancient forests.
Extinct animals walked peacefully through recreated habitats while holographic information floated beside them.
Gigantic woolly mammoths moved slowly across snowy fields while saber-toothed tigers rested lazily on giant rocks nearby.
Rare birds flew above glowing trees while ancient deer species wandered peacefully through flower gardens.
Everything looked terrifyingly real.
Visitors could touch them.
Feed them.
Pet them.
Ava immediately crouched beside a small white fox-like extinct species that rubbed against her leg affectionately.
Matthew looked at the animal quietly. "…Even animals like you."
Ava gasped dramatically while hugging the creature proudly. "See? Nature understands me unlike you."
Rick and Jay walked ahead toward the sea-animal section while the others slowly scattered around different parts of the virtual zoo.
The lighting turned deep blue like sunlight underwater while transparent glass tunnels curved through massive artificial oceans surrounding visitors from every direction.
Water flowed above their heads.
Beside them.
Beneath parts of the glass floor.
Huge glowing jellyfish drifted slowly through the water while schools of colorful fish flashed past like living jewels.
Children pressed excitedly against the glass walls pointing at giant manta rays gliding overhead while couples stopped to take pictures beneath the floating sea life.
The deeper they walked inside—
The more breathtaking it became.
Massive whales moved slowly through the largest tank so close people could see the scars along their bodies.
Ancient extinct sea creatures recreated through virtual projection swam peacefully beside modern marine life.
Transparent glowing fish lit up darker areas of the tunnel naturally while artificial coral reefs stretched endlessly across the ocean floor.
Even the air smelled faintly like the sea.
Workers dressed in ocean-themed uniforms guided visitors while feeding shows happened at different sections of the exhibit.