Deadly Decadence

Albertyne

"Fools! Your time is up! HAHAHAHA!"

The last thing I heard was the demonic cackle coming from the large speakers of the place, and the gnarl of a hungry infected person as it rushed to chew me before darkness engulfed me.

I woke up with a start. Sunrays coming from the opened window hit my face, making me squint.

I checked myself and my surroundings, there’s a desk in the corner to my left, near the window where the sun rays are coming from. In my front is a corkboard full of pictures and whatnots. In my right corner is the door to this room, and beside it is a coat hanger, which is also beside my wardrobe cabinet. And I am in my bed, a faded blue bedsheet covering the mattress I’m lying on; paired with a peach-colored blanket and pillowcases. Yeah, I’m in my bedroom alright, that’s good to know.

"Albie! Hey! Wake up!"

I wipe the sweat off my forehead, taking a deep breath. Okay, let me say this, but I’m glad and I really appreciate that I’m still breathing! I moved my hands to my cheeks; they felt cold to the touch, still sweating as I remember what just took place. Did I faint when I smelled the stinky breath of that zombie? I thought that was my last moment!

Ugh, it was purely gross! Was that a dream or what? If that was a dream, it felt so realistic, though. That is quite impressive of you, dear brain.

I felt myself being rocked by someone, that’s when I noticed my sister has been frantically shaking me.

“Hey? You awake now?”

Still not responding, my elder sister peeked at my face, a tinge of worry visible in her eyes.

I look at her before responding, "Yeah, yeah, I'm awake now. See? You don't have to shake the soul out of me."

I sigh as I looked straight into her eyes.

"Oh? I thought it'd be harder to wake you up." I notice a smile forming on her face, teasing me.

"If I'll shake you the way you did just now, I bet you'll have no choice but to wake up."

She laughed at my remark.

“Why did you have to wake me up? Not that I’m not glad you did, I actually am thankful.” I said.

"Well, shouldn't you be getting ready now?" She asked.

"Getting ready? What? Why?" I asked nonchalantly.

"Dummy. Didn't you say yesterday that you are going to do your social experiment today? Right, with your classmates?"

My sister said as she started to walk out of my room.

"WHAT?!"

What social experiment? Wait.

Don't tell me...

I look at her back as she walks out.

"What? Why do you look so shocked?"

She turns around to look at me, head tilted as she intently looks at me. Is she just pranking me?

"What do you mean, social experiment? I'm through that! I'm already a college freshman, Christine."

"Pfft! Don't make me laugh, Albertyne. That's still two years ahead!" She burst out laughing.

I look at her, puzzled.

“Excuse me, WHAT?!"

She stopped herself from laughing before turning to me and narrowed her eyes at me.

"Are you perhaps just making excuses to not go to that social experiment, Albie?"

I fumble as I reach for my phone to check the date today.

I can’t believe this! Is my phone just two years delayed, or was I thrown back in time? I looked at my sister. Well, it's not like she changed so much, as I remember.

I thought for a while before answering her.

"No… Of course not. I'll take a bath now. I just had a crazy dream, I guess, that’s why you know, I’m disoriented."

"Okay. I'll wait for you in the kitchen."

My sister said before disappearing into the kitchen area.

I got up the bed to prepare myself. I followed my sister out of my room and head towards the bathroom that is located between me and my sister’s bedroom. I stopped to look at our calendar that is placed adjacent to the door of the bathroom, just to double-check, you know. And yep, the time has indeed gone two years backward. I can only cradle my head as I get ultra-confused, eyebrows knitted close enough that I can have a unibrow, as I stare at the calendar.

“Yeah, okay.”

I heaved a long sigh. As if that would be enough to still my buzzing thoughts, hah.

What does this mean? Was I reincarnated? Or I'm just dreaming? Which one is the dream, though? That I got thrown back in time or that I really died two years from now?

After I finish taking a bath, I wrapped my hair in a turban and went to the kitchen to have breakfast with Christine.

Christine has already sat on one of the chairs for our wooden dining table, scrolling through her phone as she waits for me. Rice, slices of bacon, and scrambled eggs were already set neatly on the table, as well as four empty plates around it.

"Are you really that disappointed that I woke you up for your social experiment?"

Christine asked as I sat down in front of her for breakfast. She must have noticed the frown on my face. Well heck, I feel like my brain is going to explode from all the thinking I’ve been doing, I’m sure my frown will indeed be noticeable!

"No, it's not that. There's just something in my head."

I looked at her and smiled a little as I start to dig in my breakfast.

"Woah, really? Thought that's empty."

I narrowed my eyes at her, "Christine!"

"Haha, sorry, Albie! Just want to crack you up a little. You don't want to go to that social experiment with that huge frown on your face."

She said as she reached out to me and pinched my cheeks jokingly.

“Where’s Ma and Pa?”

I asked, noticing that there were four plates prepared so they must be eating with us.

“Oh, don’t worry they’re still busy in the garden. Besides, you don’t want to be late on that social experiment, don’t you?”

She answered as she begins to put food on her plate. She then proceeded to put food on mine but I stopped her.

"No, let me do it. How old are you now?" I asked her out of the blue.

"What? Why are you suddenly asking me about my age? Don't you know it's rude to ask a woman about their age?"

She sat back on her chair and acted as if she was really offended. She even raised her eyebrows at me.

"Yeah yeah. Just answer me, please?"

"I'm just three years older than you, Albie."

If she’s three years older than me, she must be 21. However, given that this is two years back, I must be 16 which means that she’s 19 years old.

"So, you are now 19 years old," I concluded.

Oh, now I remember she was also 19 years old when he met that bastard James who cheated on her. The nerve! Well, if I’m indeed thrown back in time, it must still be the same, right?

"Ugh, do you really have to say it aloud?"

I chuckled.

"What? I'm actually envious of you because you can do everything you want now."

"Nu-uh. Not everything."

I know. I mean, if I wasn't thrown back in time, I would also be of legal age now.

"Whatever, if you ever meet someone named James who looks like wrinkled spinach, don't ever date him."

I looked at her straight in the eye as I tell her this.

"What? Hahaha"

I notice that her laugh sounds somehow forced and nervous. I narrowed my eyes as I look into her eyes.

"You've already met him, haven't you?"

"How did you know him?"

I wanted to answer her, "Because I remember how I suffered many nights with you as you bawl your eyes out for that stinking bastard!" but I know it'll just complicate things. And besides, I'm still not sure of my current situation.

"Just think of it as a sisterly instinct."

"What? Pfft HAHAHA"

I shared a burst of hearty laughter with her then I finish my breakfast. After brushing my teeth really nicely, changed my clothes to something casual yet presentable, I bid goodbye to my sister and my parents.

As far as I remember, the location where we will conduct the social experiment is not too far from my house. So, I decided to walk to the place instead, taking this time to think.

If my speculation is right, Lydia, the leader of the group should be the one who'll greet me first. Then I'll notice Greg, whose nose is buried in a book, and Arthur, whose way too focused on playing games on his phone.

I anticipated these events to happen as I approach my classmates, not all of them, the people I see right now are just my groupmates for this social experiment. If I remember correctly, Lydia, which is the leader of this activity will say, "Albie! You're just on time!"

"Hey, Albie! You're just on time!"

And I was right! Somehow. I greeted back Lydia and looked for Greg and Arthur. They are sitting near the sidewalk; Greg is indeed busy reading a book, and Arthur is almost cross-eyed as he plays games. As I look at all of them, an idea popped up in my head.

I went to Arthur. "Hey, Art."

I sat down beside him, peeking at his phone to watch him play for a while.

"Yeah." He answered without even bothering to look at me.

"Can I ask you for a little favor?"

Why didn't I think of this a while ago? I wouldn't have disturbed him.

"What is it?"

Thankfully, the game he was playing can be paused. I was so happy when he looked at me. That means he's willing to do what I ask.

I fiddled with my fingers as I address my request.

"Umm... You see, I can't access the internet at the moment, and I've been waiting for the release of this mobile game I've been anticipating. It's Deadly Decadence. Can you search if it has been released on the app store? Please?"

"Umm... Sure."

He nods and I just stood there quietly as he does what I ask. As far as I remember, that strategy game I played where I ended up joining the event for their anniversary will be released a year from now.

"Nah, it’s not yet released. Though some news said, it'll be released 6 months from now."

Good... Wait...

"WHAT? WHAT DO YOU MEAN SIX MONTHS FROM NOW? I THOUGHT IT'LL BE A YEAR FROM NOW?!"

"What? Is that so? Shouldn't you be happy though?" He said, confusion visible on his face.

"Umm... I mean, yeah. I guess." I nervously laugh as I smile at him to thank him.

"Alisa and Theodore just arrived! Let's start now!" We both turned in Lydia’s direction and then she called us as well.

Lydia instructed us on what to do, and then she handed us papers that must contain questions and things that we will be doing for this social experiment. We conducted the social experiment then, but heck, my mind's confused. I feel like my mind is floating elsewhere as we continue the social experiment.

If I was thrown two years back, that game should be released next year. What the heck's happening?!