[11:21 AM; Saturday, 29th of April, 2024]

"W-who's there?" I whispered gently, feeling an uneasy feeling course through me.

Not only because of the weird feeling of someone being in my head, but also due to the constant knock that echoed from my room's entrance.

It was beginning to sound more desperate.

~Please hurry! They're coming! They're coming for me! Please hurry!~

'Is it another survivor? They managed to escape the monsters and came this far?' My thoughts rapidly tried to process the information presented in front of me.

I slowly moved closer to the door, wondering if the System would warn me about an encounter with a Demon. I still had no idea how close I had to get before it warned me, but judging from my dreams—or rather, my earlier experiences—it seemed I had already fulfilled the requirement.

I was standing barely a hair's breadth from the door, drawing my eyes closer to the peephole on my door to see who was there. A part of me was scared I'd get stabbed in the eye or something, but I somehow found the courage to do it anyway.

'N-no way!' My eyes bulged the moment I saw the woman standing in front of my door, sweating profusely as she was nearly in tears.

'It's the nice secretary from earlier!'

Her panicked expression broke my heart, and I could see her sobbing as she looked to her left and right, fearing what would come.

~P-please, I know you're there. Please help me, Mikey!~

My heart leaped when I heard her voice. It wasn't strange that she would know my name, considering the package I wanted to be delivered here went through her. Plus, I did lodge on her counter.

Seeing as she desperately pleaded to be saved… how could I, in good conscience, refuse?

'DON'T DO IT!' A voice that sounded like mine sharply pierced my head.

However, it was too late. I quickly unlocked the door with my card and twisted the doorknob for her to come in.

And just in time too.

[SYSTEM WARNING]

<You Have Encountered A Demon>

"E-eh…?"

As my eyes bulged, I felt the receptionist lady swiftly move past me.

"Eeeeek!" She slipped in, and just then, the grotesque hand of a monster swept through the passage.

It caused my heartbeat to spike—seeing the very thing that impaled me many times already. A bead of sweat formed on my face instantly, and I felt myself shiver a little.

"Close it! Hurry!" The receptionist screamed, sobbing as she looked at me desperately..

"A-ah!"

I slammed the door shut, locking it with my card before leaping away from it.

>DUM!<

>DUM!<

>DUM!<

The monster, whatever it was, pounded at my sturdy layer of defense, creating loud intimidating echoes that caused my heart to leap with each noise.

'What if this noise attracts others? If more monsters attack, won't the door eventually fall? What would I do then? Fuck!'

Now I understood why my thoughts had warned me about not opening the door, even though an innocent stood in front of me.

'No, what was I supposed to do? Leave her to die? I can't do that!'

But, didn't I leave everyone else to die? Billions of people in the world, and I totally only cared about my survival. How was this situation any different?

'S-she was right in front of me, asking for help! I couldn't just abandon her! I….'

As I felt myself experiencing inner turmoil, my mental strength seemed to be slowly draining away. I could feel myself slowly revert to the frightened person that first arrived inside this room.

'FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! FUCK!

FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! FUCK!

FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! FUCK!

FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! FUCK!

FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! FUCK!

FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! FUCK!

FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! FUCK!

FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! FUCK!

FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! FUCK!

FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! FUCK!

FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! FUCK!

FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! FUCK!'

And then, suddenly…

"W-what?"

… The pounding stopped.

I could hear the sound of departing footsteps, most likely belonging to the monster. It was surprisingly walking away from my front door.

'But why?'

Could it be that it had spotted another unfortunate soul in the hallway? Perhaps it gave up easily? I had no idea.

The only thing on my mind at that point was gratitude and relief.

'I didn't die. I didn't die. Haaa… I came this far and I didn't die.'

Words couldn't describe how relieved I felt about the whole thing. Sure, I probably wouldn't have gotten into this whole mess if I hadn't saved the lady, but if the Demon—as it was called by the System—killed her, I probably wouldn't have been able to live with myself.

'I would have been…' I stopped myself mid-thoughts and took a deep breath, banishing the thoughts of my past.

Of the plane crash that killed my parents and little brother.

Back then, there was nothing I could have done. I wasn't even on the flight. I couldn't blame myself for their deaths.

Just as I couldn't blame the world for its current state, and the many who would die as a result of the chaos.

But, to see someone who I could help right in front of me… and refusing to save them… I could have as well pulled the trigger myself.

"Fuck…" I whispered, eyes closed.

Despite my best attempt to avoid those thoughts, they kept surfacing.

"T-thank you…" A voice suddenly echoed in my ear, banishing the dreary thoughts that threatened to swallow me whole.

The sweet tone allowed me to slowly open my eyes. The first thing I saw was the receptionist, smiling and crying at the same time.

"I… I would have died without you." She sobbed even further as her quivering lips curled up to grant me the warmest smile I had recieved in the longest time. "Thank you so much!"

Beads of tears fell from her eyes, and I could feel my heart ache a little.

'How can I even doubt my decision?'

That's right! Just watching this survivor, and seeing how happy she was to be alive, I knew it instantly.

'I made the right choice.'

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[A/N]

What do you all think? Do you think he shouldn't have helped her?

Let me hear your thoughts.

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