This world was boring. That was his only thought. It plagued him day in and day out, festered in his mind and made him feel like he was rotting. He was dying slowly, though not from a disease or a wound; the world itself was killing him. His was not a happy life, but it was a boring one. People were predictable, walking cliches, love was a lapse of judgement that would only lead to one being hurt and betrayed; human relations were pointless. One day, he encounters a situation in which relieves his boredom, if only for an instant. He plays the hero. Saves the damsel in distress. Unfortunately, his one and only act of kindness had left him bleeding out in a gutter. The world was boring, and he was glad to be rid of it. "Do you want the world to change?" A childish voice, pure yet full of chilling intelligence questioned him. It was the only thing he could hear past the ringing of a gunshot in his ears, and he looked up to see a little girl. She was standing over him with a smile that seemed to glow in the dark alleyway on her face, her eyes warm, but within them was a disturbing clarity and intelligence, as if in her mind was the answer to everything. He was cold, and he knew he was going into shock. He thought it a mere illusion, his mind offering some hope for his lifelong wish of excitement. And yet, despite everything he had been through, despite his shrewd cynicism and detached emotions, there was something in him that he hadn't felt in a long time; hope. Hope, and a burning desire for this boring world to end. "Yes." He croaked out, his voice weak and unstable. Just that one word made him dizzy, his vision going blurry and his eyes becoming unfocused. But he didn't care. "Yes" he said again, and this time his voice held a tone of defiance, defiance against his own world that had disappointed him so. She cocked her head, staring at him inquisitively. "And why is that?" With every second that passed, every breath that he took, death slowly took a hold of him. But despite that, in his eyes were a raging inferno of desire, causing him to speak once more. "This world is boring." He spat. "I'm sick of this stagnant existence. I'm tired of all these people who never change. I'm done with existing in death. I want to live. I want this world to disappear." After he finished speaking, he went into a coughing fit, and blood splattered onto the pavement. He collapsed onto his back, slowly losing consciousness. And yet, unseen to him, the girl's eyes began to glow, and her smile became dazzling. "I see. So the world is boring... what an interesting thought. Very well, you are worthy." She strode to him, and through his half-wakened state that hovered between life and death, he could've sworn she was floating. "You shall be one of my Beta-Testers. Let's make this world more exciting." He was fading, his mind growing blank and his vision dimming. Her words were muffled and distant, indistinct. Then, just before he passed out, he heard her final, parting words; "Let's play a game."