Off Limit System

"The online game," Ethan said.

Chloe looked at Ethan and didn't seem to like that answer. Meanwhile, Albert looked at his daughter and showed a face that was rather difficult to interpret.

"Only occasionally," Chloe added.

Ethan nodded. "And recently."

"I hope you stay focused on your goals, Chloe," Albert said.

"Yes, of course, Dad. I don't really like to play games, it's just that I met Ethan by chance." Chloe's eyes looked troubled, but she tried to hide it with a casual demeanor.

Then Susan turned to Ethan. "Dr. Ross wants to check your condition, so let's go to the MRI room."

"Now?" Ethan asked.

Susan said yes. "Yes, the next ride is for you," she said as she patted the wheelchair.

Ethan got out of bed and sat in the wheelchair. He glanced at Chloe, but didn't dare say anything. Ethan was completely confused. How would Chloe react after seeing the harsh reality that Ethan was now living in?

...

Ethan emerged from the MRI room and gasped in surprise when he saw Chloe waiting for him in the hallway. As Ethan had suspected, Chloe was not going to let Ethan's life on the brink of death go by quietly. Surely there were things Chloe wanted to discuss. Susan smiled sweetly as she looked at Chloe.

"Ah, hello, I thought you were with your father," Susan said.

"He's sleeping," Chloe replied. "Do you mind if I accompany Ethan to his room?"

"Sure, no problem," Susan nodded.

Trouble for me, Ethan muttered to himself.

Chloe smiled at Susan. "Thanks. I'll be careful."

"See you later, you two," Susan said.

Susan hurried to leave Chloe and Ethan, her pace so fast that she was already ahead of them at the end of the corridor. Chloe pushed the wheelchair nonchalantly, as if she was deliberately trying to extend the duration of the conversation into the room.

"So is it really you?" Chloe asked carefully.

"What do you think?"

"I'm sorry, E." Chloe sighed.

"No need. I'm fine."

"Okay." Chloe nodded.

They were silent for a few minutes. Ethan felt tormented by the look in Chloe's eyes earlier, looking at him so sadly. Especially when Chloe said that she would be careful in bringing Ethan to the room. It made Ethan feel so fragile and helpless. It was the truth, but it still felt unacceptable.

"I thought your last name was Simmer." Ethan asked, breaking the silence between them.

"That name is only in the game. I don't use my real surname," Chloe replied. "Do you? Mannon is your last name?"

Ethan nodded. "No, it wasn't. But it's on my birth certificate."

"A pretty unique name."

"Thanks. Actually, it's my middle name."

"Oh, so you have a last name?"

Ethan nodded. "Yes, Ford. My father's."

"That's pretty simple."

Ethan chuckled, although his laughter felt dry. "Do you want to know how I got here?"

"Not really, but if you want... I'll listen."

"Last year I was diagnosed with blood cancer. It's terminal, and I've only got a year to live. Since then, I've automatically stayed here. Just to wait and suffer for my death."

A hologram screen suddenly appeared in front of Ethan's eyes.

 

[Honesty Mission: Successful]

[You have the privilege to skip the next level if you fail the game. Congratulations, player]

 

The status suprised Ethan.

"What?" muttered Ethan in disbelief.

"What?" This time the voice came from Chloe, who sounded surprised.

The holographic screen suddenly disappeared.

"Did you see that?" asked Ethan, half desperate and half excited.

"Saw what, E?"

"My hologram screen?"

Chloe stopped pushing the wheelchair. Then she moved forward, half kneeling to stare at Ethan.

"E, the game has gotten to you. I think we should stop playing," Chloe said quietly.

"But..."

"I don't see anything, Ethan," Chloe interrupted.

"Okay," Ethan replied briefly.

Seeing Ethan's defensiveness, Chloe sighed softly and returned to her original position. She pushed the wheelchair again and her mind was torn. The girl didn't want anything worse to happen to Ethan. Especially playing in OFF LIMIT.

"Don't push yourself too hard, E. Think about your health," Chloe said.

"I'm not healthy, and I probably never will be."

"At least hang in there and fight until your last day."

"For what?"

Chloe was silent for a moment. Then she replied, "To be my friend."

It was the sweetest thing he'd ever heard, and it tugged at Ethan's heartstrings.

"Will you stop playing this game and spend some time with me?" Chloe asked.

"You're doing this out of pity, aren't you?"

A small chuckle escaped Chloe's lips. "One part, true. But on the other hand, I often feel lonely when I'm with my father."

"You play OFF LIMIT because you feel lonely?"

Chloe sighed softly. "No, I don't. I play because I want to save my dad."

...

Chloe got the game OFF LIMIT, again from a stranger, as she admitted. She was waiting outside the chemo room when someone offered her the game, with the enticement that whatever Chloe wanted could come true. If Chloe didn't want it, the person simply asked Chloe to leave the game box on the chair where she was sitting.

A very beautiful woman, probably in her early thirties with blonde hair and a beautiful body, gave her the game. Different from the figure Dane said.

Chloe also said that the gold earned could be converted into real money. Chloe had tried it, and she had gotten quite a bit of money, which was suddenly in the savings account.

Ethan thought about this all night. The information about converting gold into money was new to him. Maybe Ethan hadn't seen all the features of the game, so he missed that information.

Was this one of the attractions of OFF LIMIT? So that people who were invited would be interested in trying it out? To play for life or death?

Ethan corrected his lying position and felt his hot back. His eyes looked to the front, where the curtains had been closed for the last few hours. At the same time, Chloe went home because it was nine o'clock and all the patients had to rest.

The wall clock read one o'clock in the morning as Ethan glanced in that direction. There was the sound of the door opening and soft footsteps entering the room. It must be the nurse who checks on the patient's condition every few hours, for a period of twenty-four hours.

Now Ethan felt completely bored. He couldn't sleep again. Changing his sleeping position from left to right never made him sleepy. He noticed that the nurse who came in did not check his condition. Maybe later, Ethan thought.

Not long after, there were more footsteps in the room and the curtains were partially drawn.

"Can't sleep, Ethan?" a nurse asked.

Ethan just gave him a quick look. "Can I get some sleeping pills?"

"Would you like a glass of warm milk? The doctor didn't give you a prescription for sleeping pills. You have to consult them again."

"Oh, I see." Ethan just nodded.

"So, a glass of warm milk?"

"Yes, please. I'm sorry for the trouble."

"No problem."

"Can you leave the curtains open? I feel stuffy."

"Yes, of course."

The nurse went to Albert's bed and there was a quiet conversation. Apparently, Chloe's father had not slept at all. The curtain on the other side was also opened. Then the nurse left the room quickly. Ethan looked down at the bedside table and stared at the console game he hadn't played all day.

"You're not asleep yet?" Albert asked.

"Not yet. How about you, Mr. Montgomerry?"

"Just Albert," the old man replied. "I've been asleep for a while. You'd better get some rest, Ethan."

Ethan nodded and tried to close his eyes. But there was a slight noise, like paper being torn, the sound of a box lid opening. He didn't know what Albert was doing. But Ethan did not want to disturb the old man.

"Oh, a console game," Albert muttered.

Ethan gasped.

"Who gave me this? I'll try it."

Ethan immediately woke up and looked at Albert. But it was too late, Albert had already pressed the same game button as Ethan. The old man immediately fell asleep with his hands clutching the game he had turned on.

"Shit!" Ethan hissed.

He hurriedly picked up the game console from the nightstand and pressed the 'START' button.