“Well you’re awake, how are you feeling?” The old woman asked when she saw Zoey was awake.

“What the hell was that! What did you do to us?” Zoey exclaimed 

“I am or rather was the high priestess for Felinia and she still gives me task from time to time and she wanted me to arrange a meeting with you to hopefully help with your identity” the old women explained

“Wait how do you know about that” Zoey exclaimed 

“Well I can’t explain why but this world isn’t completely a game and the people are more real than you think as for though I knew the goddess has been reading you mind whenever you enter this world and sleep, she knew about your distress and wanted to help.” the old women explained 

“Guess I owe her then, she set me free from what my father did to me.” Zoey replied.

“No she sees you as a child and simply did as any mother would, you owe her nothing, I don’t think I introduced myself you can call me Elder Steph” Elder Steph replied.

“Okay, but when will my friends awaken?” Zoey asked glancing over to her sleeping friends.

“They should be waking shortly then I can send you three off to stop the cult” Elder Steph.

Soon after Sasha and Avalia awakened 

“What the hell happened!?” Avalia exclaimed turning to look at Elder Steph. Zoey then explained the meeting with Felinia and the situation about the game leaving out the personal details. 

“Wow that's insane, I mean this not being a game come one that's ridiculous” Sasha replied.

“Why would any of the AI be made to lie, there's still a lot we don’t know but let's forget that for now, we have a cult to stop,” Avalia added. 

The three girls began their way up the mountain to where the cult was supposed to be, they looked for hours and before long the sun had set and it was night 

“Face it we aren’t going to find them we better set up camp here,” Avalia said sitting on a rock to  rest 

“Thet have to be here somewhere though, lets look a little bit longer” Zoey replied 

Standing on her tippy toes trying to look over the trees but didn’t see anything.

“Guys I don’t see anywhere they could be lets just re-” Sasha said before she was interrupted by the sound of people coming.

The girls hid and looked in the direction of the voices and saw three cloaked figures walked right out the side of the mountain before walking towards the village 

“Come on we have a cult to stop and villagers to save,” Zoey said.

The girls walked into the side of the mountain and found a hidden cave they made their way to the main chamber and found a group of cultists including the three attackers and a new face that was unfamiliar to them.

Well well well looks like our prey came to us” said Derek the pale lizard person spoke 

“Yes, it does and a good thing too because I owe that demon for having to regrow my arm” the blue-haired scaly girl replied. 

“Enough this isn’t about petty revenge, the mater needs the demon alive.” The wood elf spoke. 

“I don’t think you ever told us your name,” Sasha said pointing to the wood elf.

“Me? If you must know my name is Damien and I am the second strongest of the Blood Moon Order” he replied.

“Attack them now” A voice in the way back shouted causing the three enemies to charge the three girls. Sarah stood back and shot arrows at the enemies while Avalia and Zoey attacked head-on. 

Zoey channeled the blend of light and dark into the blades having no trouble fussing the two to create a new power move she focused on fighting Angle and Damien not finding an opening her anxiety began rising as each of her attacks were blocked.

Zoey called forth her wings and channeled divine fires through her feet to speed up her movement she felt free as she dashed around the cave she went to dash right through Damien but he caught her by the throat mere inch away from her blade making contact, fear started to rise in her and she was paralyzed as Damien pulled his hand back to tear right through Zoey's chest she shut her eyes but instead, she hit the ground. She looked up and noticed an arrow was in his right eye socket 

“Arrow of poison” Sasha shouted as Damien shouted clutching his eye in agony before quickly pulling it out, “You think arrows can hurt me? I am a child of the moon mere poison can’t hurt me nor can the presence of light” Damien said showing a pair of fangs with a wicked smile. Sasha was shocked she knew all too well what he was, a vampire or at least half it.

“Now back to you,” Damien said looking down to Zoey before kicking her across the cave.

“Fight me instead coward” Sasha shout drawing another arrow.

“If you insist,” Damien said before dashing towards Sasha who dashed away as she pulled back an arrow this time one that would explode on contact, she stopped looked back and fired it right at Damien. It hit his arm and exploded blowing  it clean off 

“Damn it you bitch!” he spat.

Meanwhile, Avalia was fighting Derek who was punching at Avalia as she continued to block each punch 

“You’re pretty tough for a girl, though I suppose that's to be expected from an amazon,” he said with a wicked grin. As he continued to punch Availia she noticed a pattern and 

Drew her sword once she saw the opening she charged the sword with the flames and pierced it right through Derek who yelled out in pain as the flames burned him 

“How did you manage to hit me, I should have been untouchable,” he said. 

“You do a small barrage of attacks and in between them you leave an opening which I used to stab you,” Avalia explained as she watched the flames burn the lizard person to death. 

Meanwhile, Zoey was fighting Angle who was using her fins like blades as Zoey dodged each swing “I’ll get you for cutting off my arm on that boat, Siren shriek!” She shouted before releasing a deafening shout from her mouth directed at Zoey who was unable to move and fell to her knees as she covered her ears in sheer pain her eardrums felt like they were going to burst, Angle walked up to Zoey ready to strike her down but as she raised her arm she felt the blade pierce her chest and she saw that It was Zoey's blade and the dark energy was spreading through her chest like a virus and she couldn't chop this one off the black veins quickly spread throughout her body and killed her. That was two down, 

“Shame, she had so much potential but guess she wasn’t good enough.” The leader spoke from the very back “My name is Diavlo and I am the servant of the demon of undead Necrosis,” he said “And you are an abomination!” he said pointing at Zoey 

“M-me?” Zoey said getting to her feet.

“Yes, you half breed, I wonder how someone like you would react to the virus that causes vampirism,” he said scratching his chin 

“Master please help me!” shouted Damien as he was bleeding on the cave floor 

“I will once I infect the girl,” Diavlo said walking towards Zoey. Avalia immediately ran over and stood in his path to protect Zoey 

“How cute you have a little crush on her however you aren't going to be able to protect her” he said walking closer once he reached Avalia he swatted her away like a fly 

“Pest,” He said before glancing at Sasha “I suggest that you stay out of this unless you want to die” 

He continued his walk towards Zoey who took a battle stance prepared to fight the demon she couldn’t use her wings anymore for a bit more so she just held her swords up and prepared to fight but in the blink of an eye he had his hand around her throat “Now lets test how you react to a vampirism virus shall we?” he said getting ready to cast a spell but felt an arrow hit his arm causing him to drop Zoey.

“So you do want in on the fun, very we'll” Diavol said before teleporting over to Sasha who was now paralyzed with fear 

“What's the matter afraid? Don’t worry it will be over shortly.” Diavlo said with a wicked smile he sensed something behind him and as he turned around he felt three blades pierce him 

“Well well well it seems that I underestimated you however I will not be dying here so I will be taking my comrades and going now, Sally gets us out of here!” he said before four black holes appeared on the ground and consumed the injured members.

The girls caught their breath before helping the kidnaped girls back to the village as the reentered the village the children who were kidnapped ran back to their mothers who were crying tears of happiness. Zoey couldn’t help but smile at this sight, one of the mothers walked up to Zoey 

“Thank you so much, I want to apologize for how we acted when you first arrived we made a judgment based on the new text from the gods and you proved not all half breeds are bad,” she said before walking away Elder Steph approached them granddaughter in toe 

“Thank you so much, I don’t know how to repay you  for reducing her and all the other girls, wait I know just what to do give me your hands,” she said to Zoey before taking hold of them and transferring a glow form her hands to Zoeys 

“What was that?” Zoey asked. 

“I gave you the blessing of felinia your magic has been doubled and I want to give you these as we'll” Elder Steph said before two katanas appeared in her hands-on was a sheer black like ebony and a white dot in the middle of the blade and the other was a white gold blade with a pure black dot in the middle of the blade. 

“Wow these look soo cool, where did you get them?” Zoey asked 

“A gift from Felinia the trinity and chaos blade” Elder Steph said handing the blades to Zoey.

“I-I-I don’t know what to say,” Zoey said shocked 

“Just take them and do well on your journeys” Elder Steph said before  walking away 

“Guess it's time to go, you guys ready?” Sasha said looking at her two friends 

“I actually need to log out, let's find an inn I gotta talk to my aunt in private, sorry guys,” Zoey said apologetically 

“No worries let find a safe place and you can do what you have to,” Sasha said.

The three girls made their way to an inn and found a safe place to log out once she logged out Zoey took off her headset and picked up her phone to call her aunt.

“Hey Aunt Jessie I um do you think we could talk in person I want to talk about something but doen’t want my dad to hear me” Zoey said trying to talk in a whisper 

“Sure kiddo does this evening work for you I’m busy right now but Around five I should be free” Aunt Jessie replied 

“Yeah, that's fine I better do my Sunday workouts or dad will kill me see you later Aunt Jessie.

Zoey hung up the phone and did the workouts her dad made her do to stay in shape only now she couldn’t stand doing them without feeling a crippling uncomfortable feeling, she did her best to power through it and eventually did, she showered and before long her aunt was there to pick her up. Zoey walked out and got into the car 

“Hey kiddo what was so important that we couldn’t talk on the phone?” Aunt Jessie said 

“I know everything that happened what my dad did when I came out and what he did when he took custody of me. That asshole turned me into someone I wasn't, he never cared about me and if he knew I remembered he’d I don’t even want to think what he’ll do” Zoey said her body trembling with fear as tears began welling up in her eyes 

“Oh sweetie I’m so sorry you are a beautiful girl no matter what and your mom loved you no matter what,” Aunt Jessie said.

“M-Mom, I-i-it's my fault that she died, oh my god so much has been going on I wasn’t able to piece together what happened before but that memory of mom taking me home I’m the reason mom died! I was scared and she wasn’t supposed to be on the road but she was because of me!” Zoey cried 

“Oh sweetie, it wasn’t you fault don't ever blame yourself. Your mom wouldn’t blame you just know she loved you no matter what.” Aunt Jessie said 

“Why didn’t you tell me I was a girl!” Zoey said back as she dried her eyes.

“I did remember a week ago remember but you denied it, and I'm not surprised that cult your father joined and indoctrinated you into brainwashed you to be what they deemed as normal. ” Aunt Jessie explained 

“I-I am not surprised, honestly,” Zoey said wrapping her arms across her chest.

 

“Hey I was to take you out to the mall lets go shopping and get you some clothes, how about one outfit.” Aunt Jessie said with a smile trying to cheer up her niece 

“I-I think I’d like that lot,” Zoey said with a smile.

Aunt Jessie drove to the mall the next town over so Zoey could avoid any teammates she might meet. They walked in and out of many stores but eventually they found one where Zoey was able to put together an outfit it was a simple one of rose gold tennis shoes, leggings and a light pink hoodie, when Zoey stepped out of the dressingroom her aunt gasped 

“Zoey you look sooo cute! Just like your mother” She said causing Zoey to blush. 

“R-r-really?” Zoey replied tears welling up in her eyes.

“Of course sweetheart, I couldn’t lie to you and wouldn’t especially about how beautiful you are now get changed and I’ll wait so we can pay for the clothes and get you home so you can rest for school tomorrow. 

Zoey got changed, the clothes were paid for and Aunt Jessie drove Zoey back home. When Zoey walked into the front door her dad was passed out on the couch beer in hand and Sunday night football playing on the T.V. Zoey walked upstairs and logged into Facebook on her computer and decided she would send Jessica a message 

Zoey: Hey Jess can I talk to you after school tomorrow, things have changed and I don’t want to only have my aunt to talk to about this.

Five minutes went by before Zoey saw a response 

Jessica: I’d love too! I can take you home tomorrow after you have football practice I’ll just have Alice with me so we will need to drop her off first. 

Zoey: Okay that's fine I just need someone I can trust and you’re who came to mind. 

Zoey went to bed and her dreams were peaceful more memories began to flow back into her mind like a dam had burst and there were memories of Zoey and her mom clothes shopping and dress shopping, Christmas mornings, and birthday parties with friends. She woke up in the morning blaring, She noticed that she left her shopping bags out and quickly hid them and buried them in the closet to hide them from her dad. 

She got dressed in  baggy jeans and a pullover hoodie trying her best to hide her body, she walked to the bus and noticed her friends from the football team. 

“Hey dude what's up? You get you game name yet?” Rob asked 

“No I honestly forgot, sorry” Zoey replied 

“It's okay bro no worries, I’ll remind you after practice to get it,” Rob said 

“Yeah, we really wanna play, while we are on the subject of the game another clip of the demon girl surfaced and she had two hot friends with her,” Joe added 

“Oh yeah I saw that they were fighting that cult of vampires even took on the leader, they were all amazing though I still want that hottie, Zoey. you know what I’m saying, James?” Rob reapplied 

“Wh-huh-oh yeah Deffinitly” Zoey replied trying to hide her uncomfort with being talked about in a sexual manner.

“Hey man you okay, you look a little weird” Rob said 

“Yeah I’m fine, was just caught off guard is all” Zoey replied.

The bus arrived and took the three students to school and as she walked through the hall Zoey noticed Alice getting books out of her locker and she had felt a pang of guilt in her chest because she was friends with Alice in middle school but cut her off. Zoey wanted to walk up to her and apologize or try to reconnect, but she ignored it. Zoey walked away and went about her day which was pretty normal until it came to football practice 

“Peterson!” the coach yelled from the sidelines while signaling for Zoey to come over to him.

“Yeah coach whats up?” She asked 

“Where the hell is your head! That's the fourth paly today that you screwed up!” the coach yelled angrily.

“I’m sorry I’m just a little distracted,” Zoey replied 

“Well get it together otherwise I'm going to  bench you for Friday's big game.” Coach replied.

“Sorry, sir.” Zoey replied before running back onto the field.

Practice ended and Zoey walked out front and saw Alice waiting 

“Hey, how are you?” Zoey said awkwardly to Alice who didn’t respond

“Heyy um I want to say I'm sorry for being an ass I don’t blame you for hating me but I am sorry,” Zoey said causing a look of shock to go across Alices face 

“I-I-I never thought I’d hear those words,” Alice said.

“Yeah until recently I didn’t see why I was a jerk but things change and I really am sorry” Zoey replied.

“I-I accept the apology” Alice replied with a smile.

“Great glad to have you back as a friend” Zoey replied 

“Great to be friends with you to James, I missed you” Alice replied causing Zoey to wince and her dead name but found it difficult to come out to Alice yet so they waited in silence. Eventually, Jess pulled up in her car and this time everyone in the car was chatty and laughing together the whole dive until Alice was dropped off.

“Okay so spill” Jess said to Zoey as they pulled out of Alices driveway

“Well I know my past and that I was trans from a young age and my parents got divorced because of their views on it. When my mom died and I went to my dad he brainwashed me into being a boy” Zoey explained with sadness overtaking her and tears falling down her cheek.

“ Oh sweetie I’m so sorry, I hate parents who have reactions like that, it’s awful and your dad is a dick!”  Jess said comforting Zoey.

“It’s okay I have accepted the fact that I can never be happy until I’m 18 and even then probably not” Zoey said sobbing.

“Hey, you wanna go to the mall? I can buy you a cute outfit” Jess said trying to cheer Zoey up.

“Oh you don’t have to do that” Zoey said.

“Please I want to!” Jess said happily 

“Only if you want to,” Zoey replied.

Jess started made the turn needed to get to the mall and once there they walk around for a bit Jess gets something together that Zoey really Loved, it was a leather jacket a black crop to a pair of heeled leather boots and a plaid skirt, they paid for the clothes and walked back to the car 

“You are positive you don’t want anything bacK” Zoey asked 

“YES! This is a gift I don’t care how much it is, you deserve it now hush” Jess said confidently 

“Okay I just don’t want to be a  burden” Zoey said as they Approached the car 

“You don’t trust me,” Jess said while smiling at Zoey 

The got in the car and road home Zoey tried to sneak past her dad but he was waiting

“Boy, where the hell have you been!?” her dad said with anger 

“I was out with a friend getting clothes” Zoey explained.

“With who none of your teammates are allowed to dive to school?” her dad asked 

“Just a friend, dad why does it matter” Zoey said Annoyed 

“ Was it Peters boy?” her dad asked.

“Why does it matter!” Zoey shouted.

“Because I won’t have no sissy loving queer for a son!” her dad shouted 

“ It wasn’t her! God dad I picked clothes out for my girlfriend.” Zoey lied.

“So my boy finally got a girlfriend, when can I meet her,” Zoey’s dad said happily.

“Um I have to ask her what works for her and I’ll get back to you!” Zoey said nervously before running up to her room she hid the clothes under her bed so if her dad found them he wouldn’t find both and crawled into a ball on her bed and cried herself to sleep. 

Zoey found herself standing in her room in front of a mirror dressed in her newest outfit and a smile across her face, however a chill ran up her spine as her dad entered the room

“What the fuck is wrong with you boy!” her dad said with rage.” 

“D-D-Daddy, please I'm’ sorry!” Zoey pleed. 

“No, I’m giving you a hair cut, make you look like a real man” her dad said 

Tears of terror poured out of Zoey’s eyes “ Please daddy, I don’t want to be a b-boy!” Zoey croaked out between sobs

“No now come on!” her dad said as he pulled her into the bathroom where he had a razor ready to give her a buzz cut. She sat on the toilet as the razors buzzing drowned her sobs and her hair fell to the floor when her father finished cutting she looked into the mirror with horror and the face staring back at her was unmistakably masculine she woke in her darkroom drenched in sweat from the terror she just felt.

Zoey began crying and not being able to go back to sleep when it came time to get up she just put on sweatpants and a hoodie and went about her day and just went home since practice was every other day she got to go home. 

Before long it was Wednesday and that meant practice, Zoey did just as bad ad she did on Monday 

“Peterson!” the coach yelled motioning for Zoey to comeover 

“Yes, coach?” Zoey asked 

“You’re benched for Friday's big game, if you continue playing like this you’re off the team.” the coach said.

“Sorry coach,” Zoey said

“You better be because if we lose, it’s going be on you” the coach replied 

Practice eventually finished and Zoey headed right home. When she walked through the front door she was greeted by her father who looked furious.

“What the hell is wrong with you, the coach told me he had to bench you!” 

“Sorry dad, I am just feeling off that's all” Zoey said lying 

“Is there something you want to tell me, son?”

“N-n-no, why do you ask” Zoey said worriedly 

“I thought you might be doing drugs so I went looking through your room and found this” Zoey’s dad said throwing the clothes from Aunt Jessie on the floor 

“Yeah dad they are for my girlfriend. I told you this yesterday” she replied.

“You sure spent a lot on her and she wears a large size,” her dad said 

“so, some girls a bigger, nothing wrong with that” Zoey complained 

"Yes they do, but they look to be about your size," her day said anger rising 

"That's ridiculous dad, I'm not some sissy," Zoey said trying to put up a shocked expression

“Go, get out of my sights, oh by the way you have a hair cut scheduled for tomorrow afternoon,” her dad said angrily 

Zoey froze in place on the steps when she heard this 

“Why dad? I don’t need a hair cut.” Zoey replied 

“Because you are starting to look like a girl and play like one” her dad replied

“Dad it’s not the hair,” Zoey replied 

“Regardless it need cut.” her dad replied.

Zoey walked up to her room and she just cried

“I can’t take this anymore, the nightmares, the fear, it's all too much. My dad will never accept me and I can’t put up with this for a year.” Zoey thought to herself as she sat in her bedroom. It was then that she began thinking of how she could put an end to all this pain, schools were off nationwide tomorrow so she would do it then so she could leave something for Avalia. 

It was early in the morning earlier than Avalia would be on a day like today  or anyone for that matter except her dad who had to go off to work, Zoey began composing the message for Avalia 

Dear Avalia,

I’m sorry, I’m so very sorry that I am doing this to you but I can’t take anything anymore. My whole life was a lie and my dad explicitly said he would never love the real me and then there's this nightmare. In them, it’s usually horrors from my past of my dad abusing and treating me like an animal. I also have a secret I am trans male-to-female to be specific, not like this matters much but I can’t live my life faking everything. I will never be able to be happy and so this is good by I secretly liked you but never had the guts sorry

,Love Zoey. 

Zoey had tears going down her cheeks as she composed herself to send Avalia the message in-game. Eventually, she was able to send the message. She then dresses in the new outfit she got yesterday and rolled up the sleeves on the leather jacket to show her wrist the then grabbed her pocket knife and cut her wrist while sitting in her bedroom she began to feel lightheaded and passed out.

Meanwhile 

Alvaia logs into her game account and notices she has a new message, she reads it and begins crying and worrying about her friend. Abe shen remembers that she met Zoey's aunt shortly before coming to the kit islands and should still be in the recent players list she eventually found her and sent the message with the subject ‘URGENT!’ 

Almost immediately Avalia got an email back thanking her. 

Aunt Jessie logged out of the game immediately after and called 911 for help.

“That's about it,”Zoey said finishing her story for the doctor she was talking to

“We need to get you out of that environment and into a safe one, unfortunately an investigation needs to be done before anything.” the doctor said 

“It’s okay, I realize how bad that decision was, truth be told I wanted to be found,” Zoey said holding back tears.

“It’s not wrong to feel down like that just the way of handling it was bad.” the doctor explained.

“So what's my diagnosis?” Zoey asked wanting to change subjects.

“Gender dysphoria, depression and anxiety, is what it looks like but we don’t know of sure,” Tina said 

Zoey sat there quiet and didn’t say anything for awhile

“So is there anything else you need to talk about?” Tina asked breaking the silence.

“Honestly no that's everything that changed and I don’t have much else to say, guess you can say it’s my dad's fault for reacting the way he did, he’d never love me,” Zoey said glumly. 

“It’s oaky Zoey we’ll have another session later tonight and go from there with any luck you'll be out on Friday” Tina replied with a smile.

The rest of Zoey’s time at the hospital was pretty much the same, group therapy and one on one therapy as well. Zoey was prescribed an SSRI to help her depression and anxiety. She was released Friday evening in the clothes she was brought in with and taken home by an officer, Zoey stood at her front door terrified to open it she finally got the courage to turn the knoob and open the door to her day waiting in the living room

"Have a seat, we need to talk." her dad said sternly motioning  to the dining room table