"The winner is Player Ru!" The announcer's voice boomed through the speakers, followed by a wave of applause as the dull silver car crossed the finish line first.
Behind her, two more cars screeched in, the second-place Astra pulling up just moments after. Astra, gripping her steering wheel tightly, felt a surge of disbelief crash over her. She had lost—lost to some unknown witch. Shame welled up inside her, sinking like a heavy stone in her chest.
She had come so close to victory, but it wasn't enough. She was second.
As Astra stepped out of her car, her knuckles still white from gripping the wheel, the murmurs from the crowd hit her like daggers.
"She was so close, but she didn't make it."
"Who is Ru? She's so talented!"
"Zorya did well too—third place!"
Each word burned, especially the ones praising Ru. Being second felt like a cruel joke. She was inches away from her goal, but knowing she had lost it in the final moments made the sting worse. It was a hollow victory, standing on the edge of triumph and falling just short.
Astra's gaze landed on the winner, this 'Ru,' an unknown witch whose face was obscured by a scarf. There was nothing special about her appearance, no show of power or arrogance—just an understated confidence that made Astra's frustration boil even more.
So close to being the best, but still falling short—it gnawed at her, and the bitter taste of defeat lingered.
Ruby, on the other hand, was feeling the onset of a splitting headache. The original owner of this body had rarely used her spiritual force, so when Ruby pushed it to its limits, the strain hit hard. Her head pounded relentlessly, as if her mind was rebelling against the sudden surge of power she had forced through it.
No matter how strong Ruby was mentally, the original owner's body and brain weren't prepared for such an intense strain. Her energy drained rapidly, leaving her feeling slightly dizzy and light-headed. But despite the physical exhaustion, a bright spark of happiness flickered in her chest.
She had earned her first win and money in this world!
The excitement of earning something real in this new, unfamiliar place filled her with a sense of accomplishment.
Her thoughts quickly shifted to her next steps. With this money, she would finally be able to find a decent rental house for her and the husbands to live in, some good food to fill their stomachs, and—most importantly—she could begin learning about the history of this strange ghost world.
With a small grin tugging at her lips, Ruby allowed herself a moment to bask in her success.
Soon, Ruby was called into one of the largest transparent floating cubes.
The cube floated down smoothly from the sky, its edges glowing bright white against the eerie red surroundings.
As it touched the ground, a soft hum echoed, and the door opened with a hiss. Ruby stepped inside, her feet landing on the smooth surface, followed closely by Astra and Zorya.
Astra wore a cold expression, her lips curving into a sickly sweet smile that didn't match the tension in her eyes. She was still furious about her loss, her pride wounded. She tried to mask it with politeness, but her stiff posture and narrowed eyes betrayed her. Losing to some unknown witch was a blow she hadn't prepared for.
Zorya, however, was all smiles, relaxed and seemingly carefree. Her bright eyes danced with amusement as she repeatedly glanced at Ruby. Unlike Astra, Zorya didn't seem upset about finishing third. Instead, she seemed invigorated by the challenge, almost as if she welcomed it.
"Well, well," Zorya said, her voice light, but her gaze intent on Ruby. "It's been a while since someone made me push this hard. I like it."
Ruby barely acknowledged her, her head still throbbing from the strain of using her spiritual energy.
"I respect you, Brother Adi. I know you're doing this for us, but stealing is wrong... I don't want to lose the little peace we have!" Julian's voice was tense and pleading as he looked at Adrian, who stood there, cold and angry.
"What peace?!" Adrian spat, his frustration boiling over. "If I didn't steal, we'd be dead from hunger by now!"
"We didn't have to steal, Adi! There are other ways!" Julian took a tentative step closer, his voice soft but gentle.
Adrian's voice cracked as he shot back, "Stop right there, Julian!" His hands clenched at his sides, his eyes flickering with buried pain. "You don't understand. I'm doing this to survive! It's the only thing I've ever known. You had a home once, but me? Nah! I had nothing. No one cared when the rains came and the soil burned. I had nowhere to go! I used to hide under any shelter I could find, just trying to stay alive. And now, all I care about is keeping you three safe! Is that so wrong? Is it wrong to want to protect my family?"
Julian sighed deeply, his heart aching as he placed a gentle hand on Adrian's arm. "But we can't steal, Brother Adi," he whispered, his words thick with emotion. "The last thing I want is for us to lose this tiny home we've built together. You know how cruel the world is. Without money, without status, without a home... we won't be respected. People will look down on us, and if we keep going , what if they take everything away? No one will care if we starve, Adi. No one will bat an eye if we're left with nothing. And now, you've even influenced Karl... he stole that Ecto bike, and we're in more debt because of it."
Adrian's defenses began to crumble, his anger fading as the importance of Julian's words sank in. His fists tightened, then loosened.
Adrian glanced over at Karl, who was cradling a trembling Milo in his arms. Karl's big baby-blue eyes, wide and filled with unshed tears, looked up at them with a mix of fear and confusion.
The sight pulled at Adrian's heart, yet a dark thought flickered in the back of his mind.
His expression hardened as he wrestled with Julian's words. Maybe Julian is right! he thought, a gnawing guilt beginning to creep in.
But then another voice shouted in his mind, filled with desperation: It's better than dying hungry!
—To be continued...🪄