LOCKED DOWN

PROLOGUE

THE LEGENDARY HERO

Five years ago.

"Adira!"

She could hear her brother calling out for her from the main door of their little home. She immediately put down her Hatsune Miku doll and ran downstairs, diving herself to the college guy who had just arrived.

He was with a luggage and a backpack on one of his shoulders, that dropped on the floor to catch her little body.

She giggled while hugging him tightly. "You better not forget what you promised me," she said.

"Of course. But I am going to ask mom if you are doing good in your school," he said as he walked into the kitchen, carrying her on his back.

"Hi, mom," he greeted their mother. "That smells good. Oh, how I missed home-cooked food."

"Take a seat. This will be ready in a minute. I told you to stop eating instant foods at your dormitory."

"At least, I am still smart," he boasted as he took his seat. "By the way, is Adira the number one in the second-grade class?" he asked.

Their mother turned around, moving her hips to one side and a bowl on her hand. Her face is somehow distorted. "She will be in her fourth grade this coming school year, Odin."

"Oh, I see," he mumbled as he looked at Adira.

"How could you forget that?" she said as she crossed her arms on her chest, pouting and looking at him sharply.

"At least, I did not forget your plushies." He smiled when he saw her face lit up.

"Can I see it now?" she asked excitedly. If there are things that could make her happy, that is the figurines and plushies that her brother bought for her. She loves watching Japanese anime series and collecting merchandise was her hobby.

"Later, young lady. Dinner, first." Their mother pointed to her chair as she put the dishes on their table.

"It has been a while since you came home. How was the university?" their mother began asking her brother.

"You will not believe the great news. Our game will be featured in the annual exhibition at our university. They said that the biggest tech company would be there to scout."

"That's great! It's just that you do not come home often. We miss you every day," her mother said and looked at Adira who was busy digging on her food. "Especially Adira. You should give her some of your time."

"There's no need for that," she gulped the last bite. "As long as Odin will be back home," she said.

Odin stared at her. "With figurines and plushies," he continued, and looked at their mother.

"So, can I see it now? I have finished my bowl."

Their mother could not stopped her from going on her brother's luggage.

"It's the limited edition figurine of Saber from Fate/Stay Night! I thought it was a plushie." Her eyes are sparkling with joy that time.

"Do you like it?" Odin asked from behind.

"I love it! Thanks Odin."

It only took Odin three days to stay at their house. Something came up at their university lab where he was building his game and he needed to return soon.

"I will return by tomorrow. I just need to fix it before the exhibition," he said and kissed Adira's forehead before leaving.

The next day came, but there was no Odin appearing on their door. Adira waited the whole day but he did not arrive. She even fell asleep on their long sofa and her mother put a blanket on her and made sure she would not wake her up.

The loud thumping and brushes on the floor did not escape her ears even if her eyes were closed. She gently opened her lids to see that her brother was moving things on his room in the middle of the night. Few of his friends were helping him. She rubbed her eyes and sat up.

"Oh, hi little girl. Did we wake you up?" A red-haired girl around her brother's age halted upon seeing her. She was holding a big box. "I kept telling Odin to transfer his things tomorrow but he was in a little hurry," she said and kept helping in moving things. "Kinn, would you mind helping me with this?"

Her brother's workstation moved on his room at their house. And he worked day and night for the next few days. He never leaves his room and they would seldom hear him shouting in frustration.

"Mom, is he okay?" she asked.

"I will check on him," her mother said and went to her brother.

She walked near the banister of the staircase so she could see how the talk went.

"Odin? You busy?" her mother asked.

"Yeah. As you can see, I am busy."

"You promised to take Adire on the park this weekend, remember?"

"Mom. That can wait. I am really busy, okay?" he said in a higher tone. "I am sorry. I just -- " he too a sigh. "I really need to do this this time. I can't fail again."

Her mother went out the room and was shocked that she was standing there. She only shook her head and went to her room.

Another frustrated shout came from his room.

She went to the kitchen and grabbed her favorite chocolate cookies. She placed them in a white plate, drawing a smiley face on it. With that, she knocked on Odin's room and slowly went inside.

"Mom, please give me time to -- " he stopped in the middle of his sentence upon seeing it was her.

"Cookies? I made it," she said and offered him.

He grabbed one and took it in one bite. "Aren't these the cookies we always buy at the convenience store?"

She giggled. "Yes." Her face went back to normal. "That was not nice, you know," she pointed out the way he talked to their mother.

"I know. I will make it up to her after this." He took a sigh. "Sit here," he patted the space on the floor beside him. He began screwing a wired object attached on his computer.

"What are you doing?" she asked.

"It was not making. I am building something that could change the world." He put down the screwdriver and grabbed the smaller one.

"Something that could change the world?" she asked as she began eating the cookies she brought for him.

He paused and looked up as if imagining things.

"Actually, I am building a new world." He smiled.

"A new world?"

He nodded. "It was a magical place where you can be the lead character and do things you have always dreamed of."

"What does it is called? Your game."

"It is called The Legendary Hero," he proclaimed with strong feelings but stopped when he saw her not reacting. "Why? Isn't it cool?"

"No. It was common," she said, and took another bite of the cookies, licking the tips of her fingers.

"Thanks for the motivation," he said in sarcasm.

"But the one who made it was cool," she said and stood up.

Odin was just looking at her, probably didn't know what to say or react at what she just said.

"I am going back to my room. Good luck Odin," she smiled and left.

They counted the days until they could hear Odin's screaming of joy. Their home was filled with delight. They celebrated and Odin's friends even came over.

The day of what Odin have been waiting for came. It was the event held in their city every year that all of the advanced technology were presented. Lots of companies from the top tiers will be there to select a program to be under their big names.

Adira came with her mother to watch the event. Her eyes widened as she saw how these geniuses developed their creations. There are inventions, games, programs, and other technological creations to show that night. There are robots, holographic things, mind controlling vehicles, and lines of the thinnest computers. Everything is making her jaw drop and her eyes glitter with excitement.

They found where was Odin and his friends. It was like they are discussing a serious matter. The looks on Odin were the same as the way he look when he was at their house.

Adira poked Odin's elbow. He gave her attention.

"Goodluck, Odin! You're the coolest!" she cheered him up and showed her thumbs up.

He smiled and thanked her. He once again turned around to face his friends. "We are still pushing this through. We can do this."

The selection started and she was hoping that her brother will be selected. Finalists were announced and she almost jumped on her seat.

"See? Odin is the coolest. He will be selected." She was gripping the chair tightly.

When the name of the game was announced as one the chosen creations, Adira could not contain herself and jumped in joy.

"Odin did it! He was the coolest!"

Her mother also almost cry because of it.

A month after, The Legendary Hero was launched, not just in their country, but worldwide. It was a huge break for Odin and his team. Lots of players gathered to start their journey on the virtual reality game that Odin invented.

It was the happiest days of Odin's life as he succeeded in his creations finally. Weeks after weeks, more and more player came to join. It was as if they are living their lives on the game.

But then, the game began to be so addicting that players wouldn't want to log out of it. Every player were required to sleep in order to enter the virtual world. But then, plenty of them are not waking up anymore. Many tried to remove the headset attached on the players' heads but were sent to hospitals because of their critical conditions.

The government found out that the game probably was the real reason. And with that, the game was forced to be extinguished. It was shut down.

The news went out and Odin was depressed because of it. His game was loved and now, hated. He cannot eat well and his eyes are creating dark circles because of lacking of sleep.

One time, Adira opened her favorite cookies again, hoping it would calm her brother. On her way to the kitchen that night, she saw her brother leaving in haste. He went on the front door and she followed.

She wanted to call his name but he had already left. And that was the last night she saw her brother.