by Devin Hunter
Grey looked down at his shoes. “I did notice all those things you said. I just pretended I didn’t.”
“Why?” Finn asked.
“Because I wanted to believe you would change your mind with enough time stuck here,” Grey said. “You started to see some of the bad things, so I hoped you had finally gotten on board. I didn’t want to leave you here. You’re my best friend. How am I supposed to go to junior high without you?”
Finn smirked. “You’ll be fine. You’re tough after leading a squad in this crazy game. No way junior high could scare you now.”
Grey frowned. “It wouldn’t be the same without you.”
“No, but . . .” Finn sat down. All the anger between them had fizzled quickly. Sadness was left behind, but also honesty. “It’s not like I hate my life, okay? And it’s not that I never want to go back. It’s just that I want to be here a little longer. At least one more season.”
“At least?” Grey kneeled down by his friend. “You seriously think you could do more?”
Finn nodded. “With a little more practice I could get home anytime I want. Just like Tae Min. I’m not afraid of being stuck here. The real world is scarier.”
“Why?” Grey asked. While he could see the appeal of playing a video game all day, he couldn’t understand not wanting to go back to the real world.
“First it’s junior high. Then it’s high school and college and getting a job and being a grown-up,” Finn said. “We’re twelve. In six years they expect us to be adults. I guess maybe I’m not ready to stop being a kid. This is like endless summer in here. I don’t get why anyone would want to leave so fast.”
Grey didn’t agree, but he was beginning to understand why Finn wanted to stay. He wasn’t doing a great job of convincing his best friend to come home. Instead, Finn was convincing Grey of his side. “Well, I wish you would have told me sooner that you wanted to stay here.”
“You do?” Finn said in surprise.
Grey nodded. “I was so worried about leaving one of my friends here stuck. But if you want to be stuck here . . . I almost feel bad for making you rank up. You should go home when you want to. There are so many people who truly want those spots—it’s not fair for you to take one if you don’t even want it.”
“That’s true.” Finn’s eyes began to water, but he shook it off. “So you’re not mad at me?”
“No. Maybe sad, though,” Grey admitted. He still didn’t want to face junior high without Finn, but he’d rather face that than another season in this game. He didn’t mind the idea of growing up as much as Finn did. “But we do need to tell everyone else the truth. It would be a lot easier to help Hazel if she was back in the squad.”
Finn smiled. “Yeah, she’d like that.”
“Tae Min will want to get her up to speed,” Grey said. All this squad switching was exhausting, but Grey was certain this would be the last change.
“Maybe I can help still,” Finn offered. “Kinda like Tae Min is.”
“It could be good to split our numbers more,” Grey said. “Let’s talk it out with everyone.”
“Sounds good.” Finn smiled so wide that Grey knew Finn was happier to be here than Grey could ever be. That made it a little better.
Grey and Finn headed out to the practice area. Lam’s squad would be somewhere out there, but Grey didn’t want to deal with them. He sent Finn to find Hazel, while Grey went to let everyone else know the latest news. He found his friends outside another replicated Tilted Towers building. This was the big office building that stood off on its own in the northern part of the area.
“Where’s Finn?” Kiri asked when he met up with them.
“He went to get Hazel,” Grey replied.
Everyone but Tae Min gave him a confused expression. Tae Min only smiled. “Looks like I’ll have some decent competition next season after all.”
“Huh?” Ben looked between Tae Min and Grey. “Will you just tell us what’s going on?”
Grey ran a hand through his hair. He knew Kiri would be fine with Hazel coming back, but Ben and Tristan might not be so welcoming. The last time they dealt with Hazel, she was still mean to all of them. “Well, it turns out Finn actually wants to stay in the game. With so many people wanting to get home . . . it doesn’t seem right to get him in the top five.”
Ben, Tristan, and Kiri all understood now, but they all had very different reactions.
Kiri smiled with relief. “That’s why he was throwing, to help Hazel?”
Grey nodded.
Tristan looked like he’d smelled some stinky cheese. “I’m sorry, but she’s not playing in our squad. I’d rather deal with Finn than her.”
“Finn is stronger . . .” Ben looked down at his shoes. “He’d round out our squad. If you want her back, she should be with you.”
Kiri rolled her eyes. “She’s not that bad. She’s changed. You have to be flexible—we all do.”
“Kiri’s right,” Tae Min said. “Hazel has sharp edges, but so do you, Tristan.”
Tristan frowned but didn’t argue.
Tae Min continued. “It’s possible that the best team compositions will place Hazel with Ben and Tristan. I don’t know yet, but once we practice I’ll know what will work best. And having Finn floating between teams like I do will be good for everyone as well. This will only help you all get to the top five.”
“We’ll get over it,” Ben said with a sigh. “This is about getting home more than anything else. Right, Tristan?”
“Right,” Tristan replied.
Finn and Hazel appeared over the ridge. Finn waved and smiled. His energy had shifted to excitement now that he didn’t have any secrets to keep. Hazel looked much more nervous. She walked with her arms folded. She bit her lip and looked at everyone like they might snap at her.
“Did Finn tell you?” Grey asked once they were close enough.
“She doesn’t believe me!” Finn replied. “Like I would joke about something like this! I had to basically drag her here.”
“How am I supposed to believe you’d take me back?” Hazel yelled over Finn. “I left you high and dry. You all said you weren’t mad about it, but I figured that was only because Tae Min came to the rescue.”
“We all know what it’s like to be blinded by the game,” Grey said.
Kiri came over and gave Hazel a hug. “Don’t worry about it, mate. Let’s do this together, ay? We want you to get home too.”
“You punks are so . . .” Hazel hugged Kiri back as she began to cry. “Thanks.”
“Okay, okay!” Finn made a sour face as he looked at Hazel and Kiri. “No more mushy stuff! Me and Tae Min gotta make sure you’re in tip-top shape. Those top five spots aren’t free.”
Tae Min raised an eyebrow at Finn. “Why are you talking like we’re some sort of duo?”
“Next season we should be!” Finn laughed. “We’d be unstoppable.”
Tae Min shook his head. “Too boring. I need someone less easy to fight.”
“Less easy?” Finn put his hand to his heart. “Ouch. You’ll pay for that.”
“No I won’t.” Tae Min turned to address everyone. “No more time to waste on talking. We need to get Hazel on track and figure out squads for tomorrow, not to mention finishing off studying Tilted.”
“Let’s do this!” Grey said. Maybe it wasn’t the exact plan that he wanted, but if everyone was happy, then he was too. With everyone settled, they just had to take over the rest of the top five.
CHAPTER 7
Grey and his friends practiced every possible second that night and the next morning. As they gathered in a circle to discuss strategy for the day’s battles, Tae Min put his hands on his hips and gave them all his scariest glare. Grey had learned that was just how he looked when he was strategizing, but it was still stressful.
“We need Ben and Tristan to take a couple more wins,” Tae Min said. “I think adding Kiri in will help them most when we land in Tilted.”
Grey nodded. “That makes sense.
So it’s me, Finn, and Hazel?”
“Yes . . .” Tae Min said. “With your more aggressive styles, I need you guys to take a risky mission.”
“Ooh, what?” Finn said with excitement.
“You gotta find Lam’s squad early,” Tae Min said as he looked at Hazel. “Surely you know more about their landing strategies now.”
“I do,” Hazel said with a clever smile. “Lam picks the farming spot farthest from the bus path, but she might change it up because she obviously knows I will tell you stuff.”
Tae Min nodded. “She’ll still pick a low-population landing to farm. Do what you can.”
Grey began to grow nervous at the thought of going after Lam’s squad. Of course he and his friends would benefit from getting Lam’s squad out early, but it also meant they could be eliminated too. “Are you sure that’s the best plan? What if me or Hazel get eliminated early?”
“Hmm.” Tae Min pursed his lips as he thought. “I will admit I’m not one hundred percent sure on the best plan here. I could duo with Finn and we could go after Lam’s squad, but that would mean leaving you all to your own devices without any help.”
“None of us can do Tilted Towers without you guys,” Tristan pointed out. “Tae Min and Finn are the best at it.”
“Right . . .” Grey let out a nervous sigh. “Well, I guess we will just have to see how it goes.”
“Don’t worry,” Finn said as he slapped Grey on the back. “I’ll take the hits if we get in a bad spot. Then you and Hazel can run.”
“Yeah,” Hazel said. “I’ve learned how to hide and box in from the pros.”
That was true. Hazel had gained some valuable knowledge in her time away, so if anyone could outrun Lam’s squad, it would be her. “So, we know Lam will land in an out-of-the-way farming spot, but should we go there too?”
Tae Min shook his head. “Take the best landing spot nearby, gear up, and then watch for them as they come in from the storm.”
“Got it,” Grey said.
Thirty seconds until the battles begin!
“Good luck,” Tae Min said. “You got this.”
“Yeah we do,” Finn said. “We just have to find them.”
“We will. Those top three spots won’t be theirs for much longer,” Hazel replied with determination.
They were all transported to the battle warehouse to begin the day. Grey and Kiri stood closest to Lam’s squad, and Grey could feel the anger radiating from that side of the ranking line.
The Admin appeared with her cheery smile. Her suit was as pristine as ever, and her blonde hair was still styled the same way even after all these days. “Welcome to Day Fifty-Seven of Battles! There have been no reports. Please note that as the season comes to a close, the developers have determined not to implement any further changes in order to provide players with no unexpected alterations that may impede their gameplay and thus their rankings. We believe this is the fairest mode of action and wish our top players the best in their pursuit of victory. Good luck in today’s battles!”
The countdown to the first battle began, and when Grey appeared in the Battle Bus, it was a little strange to only see Hazel and Finn in his squad. Kiri had been with him since nearly the beginning, and it felt weird not to have her sniper eyes to back him up.
“What’s your best guess, Hazel?” Grey asked as he looked at the map. The bus was flying over the western side of the island, from south to north. It would be a great bus for his friends’ landing in Tilted Towers.
“Hmm,” Hazel said. Grey imagined she probably had the map open in her vision as well. “I’m gonna say Junk Junction. Lam likes being stocked on metal for her bases, and most people will probably land in the south.”
“Sounds like a good guess,” Grey replied. “So how about we try Pleasant Park?”
“Yes, please,” Finn said. “Should be a good fight.”
“Okay, going!” Grey jumped out of the bus with most of the other people. Everyone spread out in the sky, and he tried his best to observe where people were headed. There were lots that went to Tilted Towers as usual, but some went more south to Flush Factory and Greasy Grove. Some picked Snobby Shores and Shifty Shafts. Several seemed to be zoning in on Pleasant Park like them, but there were a few more headed north.
Three players caught his attention in particular, since they were gliding right for Junk Junction. Only two were headed for Haunted Hills. Grey had a feeling Hazel had guessed exactly where Lam would pick.
But Grey had to focus on the enemies at Pleasant Park first. Hazel and Finn picked separate houses, while Grey zeroed in on a gun that was on a gas station’s roof. It glowed purple, and he knew by the shape that it was an SMG. That would be a great weapon to have first.
He had competition, though.
Another player swooped in next to him, and they landed at almost the same time. Grey dove for the SMG, hoping he would see it appear in his inventory. It did, and the player jumped off the roof before Grey could equip it and shoot. If this person wasn’t giving up, Grey assumed he couldn’t rest too easy.
The sound of a door opening below made Grey wait on the roof. There was probably a weapon in there, too, although he didn’t hear the shimmering sound of a chest. His closest enemy was probably armed now.
Gunfire sounded from the other side of the soccer field, and Hazel lost half her health. “Shoot!”
“I got you,” Finn said.
Finn eliminated Petra.
Grey decided he was in too vulnerable a position. Instead of pursuing the enemy, he jumped down from the roof and headed for the boxy house nearest to the soccer field. He needed more than just an SMG and a few bullets to survive.
Shots came from behind as he ran, and one hit him for just nine damage. The guy must have picked up a basic pistol with that low of damage.
Grey took one more shot before he got into the house. But luckily he could hear the sound of a chest nearby. He opened the closest door and, sure enough, there was a chest in there. He opened it—small shields, a trap, and a basic AR. He scooped them all up and used the shields immediately.
The enemy hadn’t followed him. Grey assumed he’d probably gone somewhere else to find more loot.
“You guys okay there?” Grey asked. “I have one on this side.”
“We’re good,” Finn said. “Think there’s one more somewhere over here. They’re lying low, though.”
“We’ll find them,” Hazel said. “Focus on your prey.”
Grey looted the rest of his boxy house. He didn’t find a lot, but it wasn’t too bad a haul. It would have been nice if he’d found a med kit to get his health back to full, but he wasn’t that lucky.
There was a small gray house near Grey’s building, and he assumed that was where the enemy had gone. Both of them probably didn’t have the best loot, but Grey had to be careful in pursuing this enemy. He had a feeling the player was good. Maybe one of the top twenty. This player didn’t take a fight recklessly.
After getting as much material from the house as possible, Grey approached the gray house by building off of the roof. He wanted to keep the high ground, and as he landed on the gray house’s roof, he stopped to listen for footsteps or the sound of a pickaxe swinging.
He could hear both.
But then it stopped.
Shots came at Grey from behind. He whirled around and spotted the source right before he boxed himself in. “This is a duo! His friend tried to get me.”
“I see him!” Finn said.
Grey was sure that whoever had shot at him had warned his buddy that Grey was on the roof. Now the player would crouch and be quiet—Grey would have a much harder time finding him. He’d have to take the risk and push into the house.
Finn knocked down Yuri.
Finn eliminated Yuri.
“Careful, Grey!” Hazel called. “You have Vlad over there.”
“Come back me up, guys,” Grey said. Vlad would be careful now that he knew Grey’s squad was there. There was a window jus
t below Grey’s position, and he jumped as he placed a floor right outside of it. He was immediately met with a shotgun to the face.
Vlad knocked you down.
“What the heck?” Grey yelled. He hadn’t heard Vlad at all.
“We’re almost there!” Hazel said as the sound of a tommy gun filled the air. It was comforting for Grey—Vlad wouldn’t last through Finn and Hazel—but Grey had to avoid getting thirsted in the meantime.
Vlad aimed right for him, and Grey crawled to the side of his wooden floor hoping to drop down in time. But he moved so slowly. Vlad ran closer to get the right angle, but then he took damage and moved back. Grey was able to drop down onto the sidewalk as Finn and Hazel arrived from across the soccer field. Finn ramped up to take care of Vlad while Hazel built a box around Grey and began to revive him.
“Tsk. Get up, Pipsqueak,” Hazel said.
Finn eliminated Vlad.
“Thanks.” Grey was able to stand again. Hazel gave him a med kit, and he started using it to heal up.
But before he could finish, the sound of a rocket launcher blasting filled the air. The wall protecting Grey went down, and he had to move before the next rocket came. He and Hazel ran back toward the boxy house he had already looted.
“Three from the north!” Finn announced.
“It’s Lam,” Grey said as he took refuge in the house and tried to heal again. “She saw I was knocked down by Vlad and they guessed we were here.”
“Vlad and Yuri do like the Pleasant drop,” Hazel said.
“This is not good,” Finn said. “We’re barely geared.”
Grey finally managed to get his heal off, but Finn was right—they weren’t ready to face Lam’s squad at all. Worse, if they were eliminated now, they’d be ranked in the sixties for this game. But they would have to fight, and they had to find a way to win.
CHAPTER 8
The rockets didn’t stop coming. They pounded into the boxy house where Grey and Hazel were hiding. Grey had his good SMG and a few other decent weapons, but he was low on ammo all around. He didn’t have much materials for building either. He needed to be careful.
