Stella and Alice Novel Rejecting the System's Mission

My best friend and I were trapped by a System, forced to seduce the cruel male leads of a novel.
My target, Kevin Bright, was disgusted by my affection, calling me a twisted freak and an unwanted stray.
Her target, Marcus Blackwood, used her as his emotional punching bag, refusing to even answer her final, desperate phone call.
We hit our breaking point. A game of rock-paper-scissors and two faked deaths later, we were finally free, back in our own reality.
But now, theyve chased us here. Theyre playing the part of heartbroken lovers, desperate for a second chance.
And they think regret is a price high enough to buy back our hearts?
...
My best friend and I were shackled to the same System, forced to play a game of seduction inside a novel.
Her target: Marcus Blackwood, the impenetrable stoic. Her mission: to conquer his body.
My target: Kevin Bright, my cold, distant guardian. My mission: to shatter his heart.
But Marcus was an ascetic who spent his days in quiet contemplation, utterly immune to the temptations of the flesh. And Kevin, still obsessed with an old flame, hadn't seen me as anything more than a child in the three years we'd lived together.
We were being crushed. I was done.
Im exhausted, I messaged her. Im tapping out. You?
If youre out, Im out.
It was a deal. We immediately pulled out our phones, calculated our savings, and planned our escape.
But I hesitated. Which one of us dies first?
First to die gets to go home. The other one has to clean up the messarrange the funeral, tie up loose ends.
Our eyes met across the screen. Stellas message popped up first. Ive had it worse. Ill go first.
No way, I typed back. Rock-paper-scissors. I cant stand another second in this godforsaken place.
Fine. Youre on.
She chose scissors. I chose paper.
She won.
I stomped my foot in frustration. Fine! You die, Ill plan the funeral.
Stella went silent for the next two days. I was morbidly curious about what method shed chosen to end it all. That evening, just as I was about to call her, my phone rang. It was her.
Alice
Her voice was thick, the words slurred, nearly swallowed by a howling wind.
Are you drunk? My heart clenched.
Just a little, she said, letting out a small hiccup. Liquid courage Im about to do something big.
I shot up from the sofa. What happened to next Friday? That was the plan!
We had agreed she would go in seven days. Id handle the aftermath, then follow.
I cant wait anymore. The wind tore at her words. I think today is a good day. I want to die today.
Her voice cracked with a pain so raw it vibrated through the phone. Alice, I just wanted to see Marcus one last time I gave him three years of my life. I know him so well I can tell what he wants in bed from a single glance and I get nothing? I cant accept it
Hes having dinner with her with Seraphina He wont even answer my calls
Three years A dog would have learned to wag its tail for me by now
But he still doesnt want me
That bastard, Marcus he wont even give me one damn phone call Since today is Seraphinas birthday, Ill just make it my death day. A day he will never, ever forget.
She rambled on, a torrent of broken thoughts, but her intention was terrifyingly clear. She was leaving tonight, and she had wanted one last conversation, one last chance to hear Marcuss voice.
He had denied her even that.
No, I said, my voice shaking as I scrambled for my keys and sprinted out the door. You cant. Im not ready for you to go. You cant do this.
Stella, where are you? Wait for me, please! Let me be with you!
Alice She wasn't listening, lost in her own world of pain. Jumping is messy. Youll have to find the best mortician to make me look beautiful again.
And dont bury me. Im afraid of the dark. Have me cremated, and scatter my ashes in the Veridian River. Make sure Marcus can never find me.
Every word was a needle in my heart. I felt her agony as if it were my own; I had watched her suffer for three long years.
A chill washed over me, but I forced my voice to stay calm. Whatever you want, Stella. Ill do it all. But you have to tell me where you are. I want to be with you.
No I dont want you to see It would scare you
The line went quiet, filled only by the screaming wind.
I ran through the streets like a madwoman, shouting her name until my legs gave out and I collapsed onto the cold pavement.
A final, soft message came through the speaker.
Alice, Ill be waiting for you at home.
CRACK.

2
At the foot of the Apex Tower, I saw her fall.
Like a broken butterfly, she plummeted from the eighteenth floor. A spray of crimson stained the pristine concrete.
Stella died right in front of me.