I let out a deep sigh as I rested my head on the cold, hard surface of the caffeine table. "Why am I still not waking up?" I pondered, feeling the weight of my situation settling heavily upon me.

It had been two years since I transmigrated, and like so many other stories, I found myself cast in the role of the villainess. My name was Stiella Hensel, a character from the popular otome game "Even in Darkness There is Light," set in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by zombies. I would have much preferred to be the game's heroine, Lily, but alas, fate had other plans for me.

In every route of the game, Stiella met a gruesome and terrifying end. She was the classic villainess - bratty, spoiled, and always looking down on others. In one route, a love interest even threw her in front of a horde of zombies out of anger. In another, she was bitten and tried to hide it, only to be shot in the head by a love interest when he found out. It seemed that no matter what path she took, death was always waiting for her at the end.

But for me, this wasn't just a game - it was my new reality. And to make matters worse, I found myself constantly getting blamed for things I didn't do, simply because of Stiella's reputation. It seemed that no matter how hard I tried to distance myself from her persona, I couldn't escape her shadow. As I sat there lost in thought, as I started banging my head on the table softly, a voice suddenly interrupted my musings.

"Oi! Stop hitting your head, do you wanna get even more dumber??" It was Carl Addison, one of the love interests in the game and Stiella's childhood friend.

Carl's route had been the first one I played, and while he had shown some sympathy for Stiella after her death, he had also abandoned her to go find Lily when they got separated during a zombie attack. It was a decision he regretted deeply, and one that haunted him every night. As Carl stood there in front of me, his curly black hair and dark eyes shining in the dim light, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of annoyance. "Go away," I snapped, "I might really become dumb from being next to you since you're a bad influence."

But Carl just chuckled in response, clearly unperturbed by my insults. "What? Am I too handsome that you can't even look away?" he teased. I rolled my eyes and rested my head on the table, wondering what other twists and turns my transmigration story would bring.

The tinkling of a girl's voice interrupted our conversation, "Stiella, I got the foods." A small smile crept across my face as I welcomed Ruby's return. I didn't want to continue talking to Carl, who would abandon me at any moment for his crush.

"Ruby, you're back!" I waved my hand happily, feeling grateful for her presence.

"You have changed a lot these past two years," Carl remarked as he sat down on a chair next to mine.

I glanced over at him, not really in the mood for small talk. I didn't want to risk my life for someone who couldn't make smart decisions.

I couldn't help but think to myself, 'I don't want to die because of your dumb decisions in the future.'

Ruby took a seat in the empty chair beside me, a grin spreading across her face. "Look, I got a burger for you!" she exclaimed.

"Why are you here?" she glared at Carl.

Ruby was the first person I had met after being reincarnated. When I woke up that day, I found myself in her house. She explained that while walking home from school, someone threw a stone at my head, and I fainted. She was walking down the same street and found me lying on the ground, so she took me to her house.

It was a mess, and I was extremely confused and acting like a crazy person. However, she was patient with me, thinking I had lost my memories, and helped me a lot during those days. I couldn't remember seeing her in the game, so she must be a side character or something. But how could an angel like her be a mere side character? With her curly long blond hair, blue eyes, baby face, and warm smile, she looked just like an angel, and no one could convince me otherwise.

As she was never shown or talked about in the game, there was a possibility that she would die when the apocalypse started. But I wouldn't let that happen. I would protect her at any cost. Come to think of it, she was the only side character with such a catchy appearance. Was she really a side character, or was I forgetting something? Regardless, I pushed these thoughts aside and focused on enjoying my time with this cute angel.

"Don't worry. I'm not here to look at your ugly face," Carl interjected, breaking my train of thought.

"Trash's opinion doesn't matter, behhh," Ruby retorted.

As always, they kept arguing back and forth. "Stiella?" Ruby called out, bringing my attention back to her. "What's wrong? Is the burger not to your liking? I thought you liked burgers, which is why I bought one for you," she said, her face falling with concern.

"Ah, no, it's not that. I'm just so touched by how caring you are towards me," I said, feeling guilty for making her upset.

"Ew," Carl interjected, looking disgusted.

"You can leave if you don't like it here. You were uninvited anyway," I snapped, glaring at Carl.

"Ouch. Is this how you talk to your childhood friend? My heart hurts," he said dramatically, a smirk on his face.

Time passed by just like that, and soon the tiffin time came to an end.

As Carl left to attend his class, Ruby and I made our way towards our own classroom. As usual, she couldn't stop gushing about how incredible her brother was, making me wonder if he was just as good-looking as her. With his blonde hair, blue eyes, and angelic features, I couldn't help but feel curious about him. Unfortunately he has already graduated from high school.

As we approached our classroom, Ruby bid me farewell and continued on her way. I entered the classroom, and as I did, the room fell silent. It had been two years since I started attending this college, and I had always tried to be kind to everyone, but it seemed like I was still an outsider to my peers.

Taking my seat, I heard whispers from behind me. They were talking about how I had allegedly tried to poison a girl who had confessed her love to Carl a few days ago. I was taken aback by this rumor and couldn't help but wonder how it came to be.

As I was wondering, my thoughts drifted back to yesterday after class. The scorching heat had left me feeling drained, and Ruby and I had been craving something cold. We stumbled upon a vending machine and were on our way to get a drink when we saw a girl crying by the bench.

I vaguely recalled seeing her with Carl the other day. Had she been rejected by him, too? I couldn't help but think that he was not worth shedding tears over. He was as dull as a brick wall and twice as thick-headed.

I bought two drinks, hoping to offer one to the distressed girl. As I approached her, she stood up, looking startled. "Hey," I said, handing her the drink. "Drink this. I hope you feel better soon."

After giving her a small smile, I left with Ruby, thinking nothing more of the encounter. But apparently, my simple act of kindness had been twisted into a sinister plot to harm someone.

Sighing, I leaned back in my chair and tried to focus on the lesson, despite the negative attention that seemed to follow me everywhere.

"I heard Stiella was smiling really creepily when she gave that drink to that girl," one of them said taking my attention once again.

Ouch. I was just trying to act kind. Sometimes they sound really childish. Well, let me just mind my own business from now on.

"Poor Ruby... she got stuck with this demon," the back bench said again.

They know that I can hear them, right?

"I heard Stiella is treating Ruby like a slave," the girl behind me sighed as she said that.

How I wish my classroom was the same as Ruby's. It's so triggering listening to the gossip about me. Also, why isn't the teacher coming yet?

Oh, speaking of the devil, the teacher came. He was also a support character, a pervert character.

He tries to rape the main character and ends up getting caught by the most dangerous love interest... the psychopath one.

That psychopath stabs him to death. The poor teacher died even before any route started, but he deserved it.

Lily finds out about it in the psychopath's route later.

That psychopath is a red flag, so it's a good thing I still haven't seen him even though we are in the same college.

The class ended, though I couldn't understand a thing the teacher said. "Well, whatever, since the apocalypse will start soon, it's not like I have to give exams."

"Apocalypse?" someone said from behind me.

"Gahhhhh!" I shouted because of the sudden voice. I looked behind to see that person.

It was Carl.

Why are you here?" I asked coldly.

"Because I missed you, obviously," he replied, winking at me. I rolled my eyes, wondering why he couldn't take a hint.

"Go away," I said, trying to hide my annoyance.

"Why are you being so cold to me?" he asked, looking hurt. "Is it because of the chicken you've been hanging around with?"

I couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of his insult. Ruby, my best friend, looked nothing like a chicken. Or did she? I imagined her as a fluffy little chick, waddling around, and I couldn't help but giggle.

"Hey! Who are you calling a chicken?" Ruby's voice cut through my thoughts, and I turned to see her marching towards us, her face red with anger.

I couldn't help myself; I started laughing again. Ruby glared at me, and I could tell she was furious.

"Stop laughing at me!" she shouted.

"You stupid donkey, from which side do I look like a chicken?" she continued, and I couldn't help but laugh harder.

"You're dumb, just like a donkey!" Carl retorted, and I could see that the two of them were on the verge of a full-blown argument.

"Oh yeah? And you are short, annoying, and yellow just like a chicken!" Carl replied.

A donkey and a chicken? I ended up laughing, which made both of them look at me.

"It's been awhile since I heard you laugh like that," Carl said while laughing too.

"Ahahahaha, your laugh sounds like a duck's voice," Ruby said.

Duck? What is this? A zoo? First chicken, then donkey, and now a duck?

"Ahhem," I cleared my throat feeling embarrassed cause of the sudden laughing of mine. "Ruby, let's go." I took Ruby's hand and started walking away from Carl.

As We walked outside, and I could see that Ruby was still fuming.

"I'm still mad at you for not defending me and for laughing when he called me a chicken," she pouted.

"I'm sorry, Ruby," I said, trying to make amends. "It's just that you're so cute, like a little chicken."

"If you're going to apologize, you should do it with a good excuse!" she replied, still angry.

At that time, I had no clue that hanging out with Ruby too much would make things more danger and difficult in the future.

I awoke to the blaring sound of my alarm, feeling more exhausted than ever before. The prospect of starting another day seemed overwhelming, and for a moment, I entertained the thought of skipping classes. But just as I was about to give in to my fatigue, a message from Ruby popped up on my phone, urging me not to miss the day's lessons.

I couldn't shake the feeling that the end of the world was imminent, and I knew I couldn't afford to waste any time. In my previous life, whenever I skipped school, something interesting always happened. Of course, it was usually my fault for skipping in the first place.

With a heavy sigh, I dragged myself out of bed and made my way to the bathroom to freshen up. As I gazed at myself in the mirror, I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe at the sight of my striking blue hair and pink eyes. It was a strange sensation, being reincarnated as the villainess of an otome game. I had never expected to be in this position, but I must admit, there was something exhilarating about it.

My delicate, feminine features combined with the coldness in my gaze made for an unsettling combination, both pretty and unnerving at the same time. I couldn't help but wonder what my future would hold in this strange new world. Would I be able to find my place in it, or would I forever be seen as a villain, feared and misunderstood by those around me?

I knew one thing for certain, though. I had no intention of getting involved with the main characters. They could do whatever they wanted, as long as they stayed out of my way. All I wanted was to protect Ruby when the apocalypse came.

As I was lost in my thoughts, I heard a knock on the bathroom door. It was Clemon, Stiella's younger brother, who was also born with blue hair and pink eyes, but his hair was much darker than hers. I knew that Stiella and Clemon were on bad terms in the game, so I assumed he was probably not fond of Stiella.

"What is it?" I asked as I opened the door and stepped out of the bathroom.

"Mother told me to call you for breakfast," he spoke in a cold and distant tone.

It was clear that Clemon was not interested in being friends with me, and I didn't blame him. According to the game, Clemon was a supporting character who had been saved by one of the love interests named Luke. He had harbored a lot of resentment towards Stiella, who had ignored him until Luke bought him out.

Since I had been reincarnated in this world, I had tried to be friendly with him, but he had shown no interest in reciprocating my kindness. Eventually, I gave up.

"Alright, tell her I'll be right there after getting ready," I said, trying to keep my tone neutral.

After dressing up, I made my way to the dining room, ready to face whatever the day had in store for me.

"Good morning, Stiella. Please take a seat," Stiella's mother offered with a warm smile.

Stiella's father looked up from his newspaper upon hearing the commotion. "Stiella is here?" he asked, clearly pleased to see his daughter.

I tried my best to smile, hiding the guilt that gnawed at me. Stiella's parents were so loving towards her, and I couldn't help but feel like an imposter in her place.

Clemon's indifferent attitude towards me was almost a relief, as I would have felt even guiltier if he had shown any kindness. As I looked over at him, a sudden thought struck me. Where was the real Stiella? How did I end up in her body? And what happened to my own body? Did Stiella and I switch souls?

Lost in thought, I barely registered Clemon's voice as he snapped me out of it. "What?" he asked, clearly annoyed by my spaced-out expression.

Shaking away the thoughts, I replied, "Nothing," and took a seat. Breakfast was the usual sandwiches, and I tried to finish quickly.

As soon as Clemon finished eating, he stood up. "I'll get going then," he said, heading for the door. Even though we went to the same school, we never went together. At first, I had tried to go with him, but he had made it clear that he didn't like it.

After Stiella's parents bid Clemon farewell, Carl's voice could be heard. He seemed to arrive earlier than usual today.

"Is Stiella here?" he asked, most likely expecting to see Stiella and not me.

"Nope," Clemon replied, making me wonder if Carl had managed to irk him too.

"I can smell lies from you," Carl joked.

"Don't pinch my cheek!" Clemon shouted, clearly not appreciating Carl's touch.

"Hahaha, you are adorable!" Carl laughed, seemingly unfazed by Clemon's irritation.

"It seems Carl is here to pick you up again," Stiella's mother remarked. "He's such a great friend."

I nodded, trying to finish my breakfast quickly.

Suddenly, both Carl and Clemon rushed into the dining room, with Clemon yelling, "It's not appropriate to run inside someone's house!"

I sighed, watching as Carl continued to annoy Clemon. I couldn't help but wonder why he was so popular with the girls in our school, despite his troublesome personality. He was undeniably handsome, and I couldn't help but appreciate the way he was portrayed in the game. But his behavior towards me after I had stopped chasing him had been frustrating.

"I knew you were lying!" Carl exclaimed triumphantly, ruffling Clemon's hair.

Clemon pushed his hand away, irritated. "Stop touching people like that," he grumbled.

Ignoring Clemon's complaint, Carl turned to greet Stiella's parents.

Before I knew it, the three of us were walking together to school, our footsteps echoing in the early morning silence. The air was crisp and cool, and I pulled my jacket closer around me.

As I walked to school with Carl and Clemon, the silence was palpable. The morning was quiet, adding to the awkwardness of our walk. I glanced over at Clemon and saw that he looked incredibly annoyed, while Carl seemed lost in thought and cheerful.

I didn't want to deal with the discomfort, so I let myself get lost in my own thoughts. I wondered how much my actions would change the course of our story. Would Carl still leave me behind in the apocalypse, now that it seemed like he didn't hate me anymore? I found myself growing angry at him for no apparent reason.

I reminded myself that I was capable of taking care of myself, and that I didn't need anyone to protect me. That dimwitted Carl wouldn't be able to defend me even if he wanted to.

My thoughts were interrupted as we arrived at school, and I realized that I was once again late. Carl complained about how he had left early but still managed to be tardy, and I glanced at my watch to see that we had only a minute left before class started. Clemon had already left, not bothering to say goodbye.

Carl and I rushed to our classroom, and I quickly scanned the room for an empty seat.

I felt relief seeing the teacher wasn't here yet, but Unfortunately once again, running late caused me to miss meeting up with Ruby before class. Soon enough, the teacher arrived, As the teacher began to drone on about a topic that failed to capture my interest, I found myself gazing out of the window.

The day outside was peaceful, the gentle breeze rustling through the trees and the sunlight casting a warm glow on everything it touched. But despite the tranquility of the world outside, a thought crept into my mind - the calm before the storm.

As I looked around the classroom, I saw many of my classmates were engaged in their own conversations, paying little attention to the lecture. I wasn't much different from them; my mind was preoccupied with random thoughts, and I found myself drifting away from the lecture. The only difference between me and them is that they were talking with each others while i was just looking here and there, thinking about random things.

My mind wandered, and I thought about how much more fun this class would be if Ruby were here. She was always the life of the party, bringing her infectious energy and laughter wherever she went. Whenever we were together, it was usually Ruby who was talking, and I was the one listening. I enjoyed hearing her stories, and her animated gestures never failed to make me smile.

As I sat there, lost in thought, I couldn't help but smile as I imagined Ruby walking through the door. I could already hear her voice, as she regaled me with stories of her latest adventures. Whenever we were together, time seemed to fly by, and the world around us faded into the background.

It was funny to think that, in many ways, Ruby was my opposite. She was outgoing and adventurous, while I tended to be more reserved and introspective. But despite our differences, we had become the best of friends.

Suddenly, a series of sharp cracks jolted me out of my reverie. I traced the source of the sound to the girl seated next to me. She was acting strange, her eyes transfixed on something beyond my line of sight. Worried, I tapped her shoulder to get her attention. "Hey, are you okay?" I asked.

Her gaze shifted to me, and her pupils were so dilated they were almost completely white.

"F-"

"Thirsty..." she croaked, her voice barely audible.

Before I could react, she lunged at me, sinking her teeth into my neck. A scream of pain escaped my lips as blood gushed out of the wound. The commotion attracted the attention of everyone in the classroom. They stared at me in horror, frozen in fear. As I lay on the ground, writhing in agony, I realized there was no hope of survival. In this game world, I was nothing but a bug that had deviated from the expected course. I had no place in this story, and now I was paying the price.

The pain was excruciating, and tears streamed down my face as I gasped for breath. The classroom was a blur of faces, all too afraid to come to my aid. It was too late now anyway. In my final moments, I thought of Ruby, Clemon and Stiella's mother and father, hoping that they were safe.

Even though they weren't my real family, I had good time cause of them. Too bad, I was kind of looking forward to my journey of surviving in this zombie world.

What will happen to me now? Will I go back to my real body? Or just die, just like this? Well I find out about this soon anyway, all i need to do is close my eyes and let my life end quickly instead of fighting back.

My body went limp, and my consciousness faded into darkness. All that remained was a sea of blood and the lingering memory of a life cut short.