Being an Extra Actor in an Escape Game

Lin Qin thinks about it carefully, and finally, asks rather quietly, whats wrong? Then, perhaps his instincts are at work again, he adds, is is something wrong with me?

No, its not you.

Youre hiding something from me again. Dont do that. Im worried about you.

X Beijin is still quiet.

In the end, he instead laments, I should not have brought you here. Youre trapped.

Whatever Lin Qins true identityNo idea what it is, especially when he doesnt have the time to ponderLin Qin has no way in or out. The screen of light blocks him in the front, and X Beijins own Nightmare was terminated a long time ago, and gone is the bug alongside it. It means, Lin Qin has no way out.

He is trapped at the boundary of the Tower.

X Beijin is in deep regret. It was his wish to take Lin Qin along, after all.

And at this climatic moment, he wishes to be with Lin Qin. It makes him feel safer.

But but he wasnt expecting, Lin Qin would be trapped here!

Feeling guilty, and even self-loathing, his mind is going through all the things he did wrong. He knows he doesnt have time for all this; every second he dawdles here is a percentage point off what tiny chance of escape humanity had. Even so, he cannot lift his legs.

He is stuck in a quagmire of defeat, anxiety and hopelessness.

In this almost entirely dark space, all the emotions that has been piling, that has been accumulating but pushed aside, is threatening to blow himself up. Its like he is realising how powerless and puny for the first time. He never

He never managed to save anyone.

He finds his thoughts lost for a moment there, and bitterly smiles. Some quagmire this really is; all these years, hes never managed to do the right thing

Witnessing humanitys plight but helpless to stop. Bringing his love into a dead-end and incapable of escaping

Though that is when, X Beijin feels his cheeks gently caressed.

Like some clumsy little animal, Lin Qin is brushing his own cheeks on X Beijins cheeks.

X Beijin just watches, stupefied.

I want to follow you too. You said you will never abandon me; this is not your fault. I also want to be by your side, and you cannot refuse me, Lin Qins words are incoherent, but they are confident.

Well, and gentle in tone.

X Beijin cant help but blink.

Now, Beijin, both humanity and I are waiting to be saved by you.

This somehow makes X Beijin break into a chuckle.

Lin Qin doesnt understand why X Beijin is amused. He thinks he did his best to say serious stuff, to make sure he had the drive to carry on doing what needs to be doneEven if he clearly doesnt like doing this.

He continues, dont laughIm serious. Now Im trapped here, you say, and those people said humanity is trapped in the Tower. So both they, and I, are going to depend on you.

X Beijin looks firmly at Lin Qin.

Youre right he says.

Lin Qin isnt sure what X Beijin is trying to imply by that. He finds that he really doesnt understand anything sometimes.

For example, is it or is it not that X Beijin has found the motivation to do the serious business?

X Beijin takes a deep breath, and once again pushes all the boiling emotions deep back down.

The boundary of the TowerFor Lin Qin, at leastposes no danger. All the jumbled data and sharp game object polygons, are all too easily avoidable for him. Lin Qin would never be hurt by them.

X Beijin is able to convince himself of that.

But its dark here, so he wants to

Man, hes hopelessly indecisive. His lover is the top dog of the Tower. He has strength and power unfathomable to the average Missiontaker or Actor. But still, that doesnt stop him from worrying about how he might leave him behind here alone.

Once, X Beijin was ready to take this path completely alone, without fear or anxiety.

But now, simply making Lin Qin stay here for a bit is making him so utterly worried.

He cant help not to worry, because this moment

I just want to save you, X Beijin, having thought for a long time, says, do you know that? The other humans just happen to be on the side of that.

Lin Qin seems stunned, blinking in surprise.

Even now, I still think I dont have much certainty in winning. There is hope, but hope is intangible, X Beijin mumbles, I can never forget that moment

He doesnt specify which.

Then he just cuts to the chase, saying, I still cannot believe that NE is on humanitys side. It must have some other goal in mind.

This uncertainty, plus the mysteriousness surrounding Lin Qin overall, is a thick fog clouding X Beijins judgement, making him hesitate before stepping onto the top floor once and for all.

He still cant see how he can grasp victory.

Lin Qin, though, seem somewhat confused now. He knows everyone has said that NE is on the humans side now, but it seems X Beijin doesnt think so?

NE may be helping humans right now, but it is merely an artificial intelligence X Beijins voice trails off. It looks like he is recalling something deeply demoralising, and his expression turn sullen and unmotivated once more. He says, Lin Qin, I just

Lin Qin looks closely at X Beijin.

I just wish that, you didnt have to become involved in all this, X Beijin explains, if you can follow me, perhaps we can prevent humanitys tragedy together. At least I dont know how it will all turn out to be, but

He has difficulty putting what he wants to say in words.

Splitting Lin Qin out from the other Missiontakers, and instead, just follow after him, is his rather selfish wish.

And if the ones behind this whole debacle, is angered by their puny resistance, and decides to punish them, then, Lin Qin, who is with him on the top floor, might might be able to avoid it, he thinks.

But its as if even fate is laughing at how nave his little self-indulgent will is.

X Beijin is doubting himself. He is wavering. Lin Qin is not allowed into the top floor, and it is making him question everything.

Its just like the moment when he realised his own identity in the Tower and everything after that

He is fated to be powerless against it all, it seems. Nothing could be saved

We all might lose it all.

X Beijins gaze turns towards the screen of light, looking rather distant; powerlessness is written all over his face.