I step out into the dining room and see my mom is already awake and is pacing around the table, nervously fidgeting with an old rag. The moment she notices me, she drops the rag and strides over quickly to grasp my shoulders. “Honey, there was an announcement not long ago. We need to head to city hall and see what's going on."

  “Yeah, I saw it," I say, trying to keep my voice level.

  “You saw? Oh… yes, I'm sorry. Happy eighteenth birthday Elvira,” She says with a somewhat forced smile, taking a moment to look above my head. Her expression shifts for a moment when she sees my class but she doesn’t comment on it. "It's a shame this mess couldn't wait another day or two. Come, we'll celebrate after we get back. Hopefully your sister will be here soon.”

  Mom guided me out the door while I took a moment to look at the name that now floated above her head. I expected to see this from everything I heard, but what I was not expecting to see was a red mark next to her name, similar to the one next to the quest I was given. A cold shiver of fear, despair, and pure hatred shot through me at the realization of what it implied.

  I double checked my profile to confirm and sure enough, it matched. There was also a new added detail that I barely noticed due to my swirling thoughts:

  The mark next to my mom’s name is the same as the one for my quest, asking me to kill innocent people! I don’t care if it just applies that mark to everyone that START deems innocent. The sheer inclination that I would so much as scratch my own mother is maddening!

  I followed my mom through the empty streets as we made our way towards the city center. I couldn't hide my eyes from the red mark but my Mom’s nervous muttering quickly replaced my anger with sorrow. She clearly seemed distraught and I truly wished I could comfort her. I wanted to tell her that there will be new threats because that world message was about me but, of course, admitting that to her probably wouldn't be a good idea. I could only apologize inwardly as I promised to tell her one day when I felt safer.

  We arrived at the city hall where a large crowd had already gathered. The noise of the crowd was almost deafening as many people shouted over each other, desperate for answers. I, meanwhile, couldn't focus on any of the words that were being spoken. My attention was firmly locked onto the red marks next to the names of each and every person here, as if START itself was trying to tempt me into going on a bloody rampage.

  “I'm only level one," I reminded myself, shaking my head vigorously. Very few people here were level one but most seemed to range somewhere between six and thirty. A few notable individuals even pushed past level fifty. The highest level I saw was a well dressed man in his elder years.

  Of course, I recognized the man. He’s the owner of one of the busiest shops in town where he sells everything from fancy clothes to pillows. Seeing his level didn't surprise me, but what did was the notable lack of adventures around his level. There also wasn't a single Paladin here, much to my dismay.

  The mayor stepped out from the building and approached the front of the crowd. Seeing this, people began to quiet down in anticipation. The mayor, however, did not look like he belonged at the front of a crowd. Not only was his level quite low compared to the rest of the crowd at fourteen, but it also didn't match his position as mayor. Not that I knew if there was a mayor class or not but I'm sure you could find something better than fisherman.

  “At present we know very little information beyond what START has given us but we must remain calm until-” he began.

  “Why is there another one?!”

  “What’s going to happen now?!”

  “I’m too drunk for this!”

  “Will there be another war?!” Various people shouted.

  “P-please avoid panicking until-”

  “Has The Hero said anything?!”

  Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author's preferred platform and support their work!

  “Do we know where The Villain is?”

  “Dude, not on my shoes!”

  Try as he might, the mayor couldn't get a word in over the shouting. He pulled a rag out of a pocket and began wiping at his brow while his mouth opened and closed like a fish.

  Suddenly a window popped up in front of my face and at the same time the entire crowd grew silent, likely seeing the same thing.

  After a moment that window was replaced with another one. This time instead of text; it showed a close up video of The Hero’s face. He had messy brown hair, a short stubby beard, and wide shoulders covered by gleaming white armor. The way he spoke probably seemed powerful and comforting to some but to me; I could feel a powerful sense of dread clutching at my heart. Looking at his face conjured up a feeling in me I’ve never felt before, despite having seen him personally when I was younger. I felt cold and scared but more than that I felt … rage. The mix of emotions warring within me made it feel like the man before me had just killed my family right in front of me.

  I clutched at my chest and grit my teeth. Why the hell do I feel like this?! Is it just because I’m The Villain now? Is this because of some skill of his is managing to affect me? Or is this something START is doing to me?

  The broad face staring into my eyes, regardless of where I looked, smiled broadly and began to speak: “Hey everyone, I’m sure you’ve seen the announcement but there’s no need to panic. I’ll have that villain’s head separated from their shoulders before you know it!” he laughed boisterously, each exhale of breath thumping against my chest like a beating drum.

  “I’ll start my hunt shortly so if you hear anything about The Villain be sure to let me know! Just shout for a hero and I’ll come running!” he flashed his pearly white teeth; somehow they looked even brighter than his armor.

  “And one last thing before I go,” his broad smile disappeared as he grew closer to whatever was capturing his face. All that was visible now were his eyes, which now held a dangerous glint.

  “I know you can see this message as well. I know you’re only level one right now. You stand no chance against me and wouldn't even if you trained for ten years straight. I will find you. Turn yourself in and save everyone the pain of your existence and I’ll consider showing you mercy.”

  The window vanished from view, leaving me feeling like the world had ended. My ears were ringing and I was only vaguely aware of the soil under my hands. When had I fallen over?

  The voices around me all sounded like empty noise as my mind raced. He was right. Despite everything, he was right! My trait may hide me for a while but he’ll still find me when it wears off. Bonus experience or not, the moment those two months are gone I’m still dead regardless. The last hero had been raging war with the world since the day I was born and he still died to The Hero. I couldn’t stand up to him, I wouldn't even be able to defend myself! I would be nothing but an annoying cockroach in the corner of his house. Even if the cockroach is harmless it still gets stepped on the moment it’s seen.

  A hand of my arm brought me back to reality. My mother had crouched down next to me and wore a look of concern. “Are you alright, dear?”

  I looked at her and felt some momentary relief but that quickly faded when I looked back up at the symbol next to her name.

  I can’t do this. I just can't do this! I can't deal with this much stress! I thought I could try and be a good person despite my class but I just can't deal with this entire mess. Resigning myself, I opened my mouth to confess everything to my mom.

  “Yea, those sudden messages are just going to take some time to get used to,” I said with a chuckle.

  Wait, what?! That wasn't what I wanted to say; and why did I sound so normal?! I just blatantly lied to my mom for some reason!

  I tried again to speak my mind, and again, I failed. “But I’m still excited to learn how to be a proper Rogue!”

  What is happening?! Am I losing my mind now?! Has something taken control of my body?!

  Mom gave me a weary smile and said “I don't think I can say the same. But I'm glad you aren't feeling too down about the class you were given."

  I felt myself grin back at my mom until she turned away. I looked down at my hands and flexed my fingers, wondering if I had actually lost complete control of my body but everything seemed normal.

  “This is weird” I said, my words lining up with what I wanted to say.

  Mom looked back at me, hearing what I said, and asked “What’s weird?”

  I wanted to tell her it was weird that I seem to be losing control of myself but instead I said: “Having all this stuff in my face all the time.”

  “Oh, yea… It takes some getting used to, I'm afraid. Try not to let it bother you.”

  The moment she turned back to the crowd again I no longer struggled to control myself. I even whisper my own name and some other nonsense; nothing out of the ordinary happened until I tried to speak the name of my class. “I’m a Rogue.”

  Realization dawned as I thought back to details of the trait I took.

  It wasn’t just referring to hiding my class from others. I literally can’t say anything that would risk outing me as The Villain! START has that level of control over people?! Thinking over the implications of this, the words of my current quest creep into my mind like a knife against my throat.

  Time passes and I find myself back home, hardly aware of how I got here in the first place. My mind is a whirlwind of thoughts but somehow my mother doesn't notice. I imagine START is puppeting my expressions like a child's doll so that nothing out of the ordinary can be noticed about me.

  Mom opens the door and a sudden wash of serenity brushes through my emotions like a wave washing against sand. I see my sister standing inside wearing a bright smile.

  Not you too.. I barely had time to form that thought before I was nearly knocked onto my butt by my sister. “Happy birthday!" She yelled while throwing her arms around me.”

  I hug her back and notice as I do that she didn't even bring her Paladin uniform. Instead of robes and chain mail, instead she has on a form fitting grey shirt and leather pants.

  She separates from me, still holding my shoulders, and glances upward. When she does, her expression immediately falls. " Oh… I'm so sorry Evy.”

  I try to smile back at her, but only my lips move. I try to tell her it’s no big deal but find words difficult to form. Her aura may have quelled the anxiety and fear I had been feeling, but it does nothing for the deeper feelings I had pushed down. All at once, everything catches up to me in that moment and my eyes begin to well up. I cover my face with my hands and start to sob quietly; START doing nothing to prevent this. Natalie doesn't say a word as she continues to embrace me for a while.