[center]
[b]Rika[/b]
[/center]
She grinned and clapped her hands together, excited. [b]"Good! How does meeting at 5 tomorrow sound? I really need to log off and go practice."[/b] She told them, already standing, her soup untouched. She smiled at the two and paid the bill quickly before pulling up the Menu.

[i]"It's not going to be there."[/i]

She paused, her finger held over where the log out button should have been. [b]"Umm..."[/b] She mumbled, her eyes growing wide. She'd read about the incident with SAO like this but she hadn't expected it. [b]"There much be some sort of glitch or something...[/b] She continued, searching through the screen.

[i]"It's not a glitch."[/i]

She let out an awkward laugh, looking at the two in front of her. [b]"I.. uh... can't find the log out button. Think they moved it?"[/b] She asked, trying to hide her nerves. Her eyes went from one boy to the next and then back, frantically. [b]"Right? It's a mistake, right?"[/b]

[i]"It certainly is wrong, but not a mistake."[/i]

[b]"Shut up!"[/b] She yelled, closing her eyes and holding her hands up to her ears. Who the hell is that person? Why does she seem to know so much, what did it have to do with Rika? She took in a deep breath and opened her eyes straightening. Her eyes went wide as Donovan and Pakuna disappear before her eyes. [b]"D-Did they manage to log out? Where did everyone go?"[/b] She stuttered, looking around. Everyone was gone, the inn as empty.

It wasn't long before as she looked, the scenery around her changed. [b]"Wait, what?"[/b] She looked around. She was in the middle of a large crowd of players, Donovan and Pakuna no where to be seen, presumably far away from her on the other side of the square. They were in the center of the First Floor town, Renalia center square. Rika's heart sped up, her palms got sweaty and she pulled her extremities in close, claustrophobia setting in. 

[i]"It'll be okay. You're fine. Well... for now."[/i]

[b]"Shut up..."[/b] Rika whispered angrily, clearly not dealing with this well. Soon, the sky turned red and a large apparition appeared in the sky, a figure cloaked in blood red fabric.

[b]"Good Afternoon Players!"[/b] It boomed, it's red eyes glaring down at them. [b]"I'm sure you're all familiar with the SAO incident. Well, I'm hear to tell you that, I have recreated it, made it better. I have [i]improved[/i] the system."[/b] It boomed again, it's voice large and condescending. Slowly, it floated around the room. [b]"There is no escaping, no logging out. When you die, that's it. [i]You die.[/i] Just like the old SAO, the NerveGear will [i]kill[/i] your brain and you will be lost forever. No one can save you and believe me, no one has tried."[/b] It explained. [b]"I see none of you have even attempted the boss for this level, and with good reason. Now that the games have begun, I'll open the gates to the boss for you. Good luck."[/b] It sang, it's voice dripping with disgust. [b]"Now... If you'll all look in your inventory. I've given you a little present. Consider it a Good Luck gift."[/b] It told them and then disappeared, leaving them all staring at one another.

Rika shook in denial. [b]"No... No... It's not real. This is a weird dream..."[/b] She mumbled, her eyes showing her fear. 

[i]"Don't worry. I'm here for you. If you want to leave this crowd, get out his 'present.' It'll transport you somewhere else."[/i]

Rika, sat for a moment, pondering before she, with a shaking hand, pulled up the menu and searched for the gift. She was probably one of the first to actually start looking for it. She found it quickly, it reading 'Mirror, Mirror.' Fairy tales? Rika blinked and clicked the object. It popped into her hand, a small ornate hand mirror, much like the one from Beauty and the Beast. When she turned to look at herself, she looked like normal Rika in her character's gear. Her eyes went wide and she began to fall. She let out a blood curdling scream as she did, scared for her life. Soon, she felt herself slowing down as she was placed gently on the ground, grass all around, the world's sunset off in the distance. She felt the tears coming on and curled up into a ball, letting them flow. Ugly tears...

[center]
[b]Yuki[/b]
[/center]

She sighed, still sitting on the bed in the tower. She'd realized, going through the menu she'd found that she had access to information, as well as a view of players. If she clicked certain buttons she could she their view and even talk to them. She'd shuffled through a few and found a girl named Rika... She didn't know why she did, but Yuki decided she'd try and help this girl. She'd been spending countless hours reading up on all she could and with the information Aiko had given her, she knew what to tell Rika, to help her. She felt sorry for the girl because at least Aiko wasn't really going to kill Yuki. No, Yuki was safe up in this tower, all locked away. 

Her eyes shot open when she heard footsteps coming up the door and she quickly closed the menu and laid down, pretending to sleep.