by Matt Ryan
“You sent me a message. I thought you wanted me to find you.”
“I never sent you a message,” Sephorus said. “Listen, you have to log out and never play this again.”
“I’m not leaving without you. I got your message in the videos. You touched your scar. Tell me that wasn’t for me?”
“That was a mistake. I just wanted to make sure you didn’t come to the headquarters.”
“Dad died out there,” she said as she held onto his shoulders.
“I know,” he said but it came out garbled. “You don’t think I wanted to be there in the end? I would have killed to be there.”
KILLian wiped her eyes and face. “Dad told me to tell you that he loves you.”
“I loved him as well, and I’m so sorry I wasn’t there for you. How are you doing? How’s your—”
She cleared her throat, cutting him off, before glancing over to me. Seth’s eyes flitted toward me as well, and his lips thinned before returning to his sister. The tears on one side of his face kept running next to his scar and into his mouth. He wiped the moisture away with his sleeve and took his sister by the shoulders.
“You have to leave here and never come back. Have mom take you to the place. The one dad talked about.”
KILLian nodded, as if understanding.
“Once I get out, I’ll come for you and mom,” Sephorus said.
“We’re already there,” KILLian said. “And I can’t leave here, not without you. I won’t. You’re using him, aren’t you? To get out of here?”
“It’s complicated. I can’t explain everything. She’ll be here soon, then I’ll never make it back to you. Understand?”
KILLian nodded and bit her lip.
“Magoton is helping me unlock the door to this world, and with it, freeing us.”
She looked to me. “Did you know?”
“I just found out who he was. What he sold me on was wealth only. I was coming to get you.”
“He didn’t know about my plan,” Sephorus echoed. “But there is still wealth, more than I’ve even told you about here. That part is true.”
“I want in on this. I want to be here every time, from here on out,” she said with no room for questioning in her tone.
“Sis, this isn’t just dangerous in the game world. They will learn quickly they can affect your real world as well. It isn’t safe.”
“I don’t care, Seth. I’m not leaving you behind in this place. Do they have your body locked up somewhere?”
He took in a deep breath. “Killing the Spider Queen unlocked the next area for you all. Meet me at the Shepherd’s Shack. You’ll know it when you see it. I’ll give you the next mission there,” he said, then disappeared.
I watched KILLian’s face crumple, and felt bad for her. “Sorry. I promise, I had no idea that he was your brother until I saw his scar just now.”
“It figures. He’s been right here the whole time. Do you know how many doors I’ve opened trying to find this place?”
“No, but we should get going. I bet we can find the Shepherd’s Shack quickly.”
“Fine, but once we leave this room, we won’t speak of this again. I bet Abigail will be paying us another visit because of this.”
I agreed and we left the room to face Tommy.
“Sorry about that,” KILLian said. “My attention slipped and I activated that spell.”
“Hey, accidents happen,” Tommy said, brushing it off. “Did you guys know you have a fan section in the bar who wants to buy you drinks?”
“I’ll take some drinks,” Gor said, coming out from the bathroom down the hall. “I had to check it out.” He pointed behind him. “Not that we have much need for bathrooms, but it all works! You know . . . down there.” He gestured to his crotch.
KILLian ignored him and put her hands on her hips, staring me down. “I’m sorry but I have to know right now, what are you really doing here?”
“I was here for myself and it turned out we are on the exact same path. It can’t be a coincidence we landed next to each other at the beginning of the game. Something else is at play here.”
“Fine, but how do I know you won’t pull a Trevor on me?” she asked. “How do I know you truly have my back in this? Because now that I know what’s at stake here, I can’t take any chances when it comes to this mission.”
“You remember the time when you saved that deer, then I saved you? Did you know I struggled with doing that, at the time?”
“Why?”
“Because I didn’t know you guys. I’d never really had friends, and when you guys foolishly got baited, I thought you were just getting what you deserved.”
“What made you change your mind?”
“You.”
“Well, thanks,” Gor said, rolling his eyes. “I think I’m going to go where I’m appreciated. Come on, Tommy. Show me where my fans are.” The two headed down the hall to the bar for free drinks, and the crowd greeted him with hugs and cheers, as if he’d just gotten back from the Mars landing.
“Why me?” she whispered.
“You gave off an air that this game was more than just a game to you, like it was a personal mission. I connected with that, as I’m on a mission as well. Each step we take in that direction is one step closer to finding the end. And now that I know they are one in the same, we are in this together all the way to the end, I promise.”
She paused and looked at the floor. “Do you think we have a chance?”
“It’s going to be fine. In fact, did you know what I thought after I rescued you from those bandits?”
“What?”
“I was watching you then. Well, I’m always watching. But I knew we were meant to play this game together. I knew I had a friend, a true friend, who cared more about others than herself. And look at us, we’ve gotten stronger, and we keep getting stronger, preparing ourselves for what’s to come. In the end, I’ll be there, right by your side, and hell, even Gor’s too. We’ll finish this, I promise.”
Tears built up in KILLian’s eyes and she hugged me. The gesture surprised me, and I took a second before I wrapped my arms around her in return.
She whispered, “Thank you.” Then she pulled back enough to look at me. “But the next time you go into one of Tommy’s rooms and I’m not with you, I will kill you.”
I didn’t know what to say; KILLian was kind of scary already, and as I got to know her more and more, she became scarier and scarier. I didn’t have much experience with the opposite sex, beyond the one girlfriend I had for about a month at St. Barney’s Hill orphanage. Jenny Miller.
We were just thirteen, but we’d both experienced a world of crushing pressure against us. Toss-outs from the unwanted. Her unruly hair always made me smile. The tight curls of red hair that she professed would never change no matter how much she combed it. I never wanted her to change it. That hair was part of who she was and she’d been wonderful.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” KILLian asked.
“Like what?”
“Like you are looking through me.”
“Sorry, my mind just wandered a bit. Look, we should exchange contact information. You, me, and Gor. In case something happens and we can’t communicate in-game.”
“I’ll think about it, but I still believe outside communication is just as dangerous as in-game.”
Gor came back with a foaming drink of some sort. He smiled and raised his mug. “They love us! We’re freaking heroes here.”
After a quick drink with our fans, we stepped out onto the steps of Tommy’s Inn, into a roaring crowd. They parted ways, allowing us to move through the throng. Many of them felt the need to pat my shoulders and shake my hand. Some would pull on my cape and touch my back. The hands, the smiling faces, the congratulations, the adoration, the cheering and screaming . . . I tried to take it in. Really, I did. But the faces became a swirl and I felt panic rising. Not Gor though. He relished every moment of it.
“Thank you for getting rid of tha
t vile spider bitch. I’m quite certain she took my boy a few years ago,” a woman wearing a white uniform said.
“Glad to help.” I smiled and she patted my hand.
I wanted to tell her it was a terrible man in the woods named Jeffrey who was the more likely candidate, but I just nodded and moved to the next person.
As we slowly made our way down the street, shop owners came out in front of their stores, cheering us on as well. A couple of them even yelled to us, “Take an item of your choice, anything you want!”
“Oh man, I can’t wait to take these people up on their offers,” Gor said. “There are some kick-ass bracers in that shop, with all kinds of defensive stats.”
“Yeah,” I said over the crowd’s buzzing noise.
“This is the coolest thing that’s ever happened to me.” Gor slowed down enough to shake another hand.
As we neared Trinity Hall, the massive gates opened and a single man riding a horse came out of it. I didn’t think much of it until he stopped his horse about twenty feet in front of us, pushing the crowd back.
People moved away, making a clear space between him and us. The noises of the crowd subsided into a murmur of whispers as they split their attention from this man on the horse to us.
We came to a stop. The man took off his helmet and dropped down from the horse. With his helmet under his arm, his bright blond hair blew in the light breeze. His armor was even shinier and more ornately carved than the others I’d seen from Trinity Hall. His shoulders held a metal feather arching over them. He pulled his gold inlaid gauntlets off and extended a bare hand to Gor.
Gor shook his hand and greeted him with a brilliant smile.
KILLian shook his hand next, but I saw her other hand on her rod.
When he came to me, I realized the crowd had gone silent.
He extended his hand and the sun reflected off his polished armor, blinding me. Squinting, I found his hand and shook it.
“You heroes have killed the Spider Queen,” he said and the crowd cheered. Holding up his fist, the crowd silenced.
I went to inspect him:
Gabriel Lightning:
Level 107
Spec: Warrior
Spec: Warrior
HP 5600/5600
“These are exactly the kind of travelers we’ve been waiting for,” Gabriel announced. “These are the first ones who are ready to go north and face the wall.”
“What does that mean?” I asked.
“The next step in your adventure. I’m sending you to General Till.”
QUEST: Go see General Till at the northern line and get an assignment.
All quests completed under General Till will add to Trinity Hall favor.
I had to read it twice. Not only was the quest chain up north sounding awesome, but everything we did would gain us favor with Trinity Hall. I didn’t care if it took a long time, I’d become friendly with them. So friendly, in fact, I could walk right into that building and not be asked a single question.
Things were finally getting better here.
“Let’s hear it for the three travelers, Gorgonthetard, KILLian, and Magoton!”
The crowd cheered louder than ever and more hands touched me. So many faces with smiles and kind words. If I had spent a few more points in perception, I might have noticed the woman coming up behind me . . . .
A spear entered the back of my neck, and its shaft went all the way through, until it came out of my mouth. I felt the splinters on my lips and could no longer take a breath.
Magoton has been stunned.
-287 HP
I tried to let out a scream, but my mouth was full of wood. As I fell, I made sure to turn so I could see the face of my killer. A woman I was familiar with. A farmer girl with blonde hair, eyes of hate, and hands on another spear. Guards were pushing through the crowd and even Gabriel rushed toward us.
“You can’t fool me,” she said and stabbed me in the chest and raised her spear to do it again.
Magoton has been stabbed.
-95 HP
“No!” KILLian cried out and sent an AoE frost wave, stopping the woman cold. But as I fell to one knee, I spotted something else; KILLian had frozen everyone around us, including the two guards and Gabriel. We were still in party and her attacking those NPCs had just put them in combat with us all.
“Shit,” she said. “Gor, run.” She ran to me and held my head. “Let me get you money. Dammit, open trade. Open trade! You don’t have enough to come back here!”
I wanted to tell her we were all going to die and it didn’t matter, but all I could do was raise a hand and touch the side of her face. I only had 18 HP left, and she glanced at the frozen crowd around us. Like a paused avalanche about to crush us.
In her rage she stood up, facing the crowd that in one second would be freed from her spell. She punched the woman holding the spear in the face and kicked her back into the crowd. She then raised her hand in the air and as I collapsed to the ground, staring at the blue sky, I spotted a shower of icy shards coming down onto the crowd.
They were slowed and she sent a frost shot at Gabriel. He threw his helmet to the ground and screamed. He produced a mighty, yellow diamond sword about half the length of his body and swung it, sending a dozen people standing near him, flying into the sky. A golden circle formed on the ground below his feet and a golden phoenix displayed over him. It flew into his chest and he seemed to be bigger now, meaner as well. He extended his hand and the ground shot toward KILLian. She fell down, narrowly dodging the blast.
Then Gabriel raised his sword and the golden phoenix appeared over him again. That was right when Gor smashed into his chest with his ax.
“Don’t hurt her,” Gor screamed.
Gabriel did one spin, hitting Gor and slicing him nearly in half with his sword. His dead body splashed to the ground like a broken water balloon.
“No!” KILLian sent another bolt, but Gabriel deflected it with his sword and stomped toward her.
“You will pay for what you’ve done here today.” He raised his sword and KILLian sent another frost shot attack, slowing him for a split second. Then I spotted another familiar face in the crowd. The butcher’s wife, elated; the look of vengeance plastered across her face.
Then Gabriel’s sword glowed with golden fire and crashed directly through KILLian, right into the earth. I wasn’t sure what happened next, but it seemed like the whole world had been lifted up from below me and shot up into the air. Whatever Gabriel had done, it was a massive overkill. I floated for a second and spotted the farmer girl, right next to me. She was going to be killed as well, but she held a wicked smile for me and plunged her spear into my chest as she screamed, “Murderer!”
Magoton Speared.
- 300 HP
You are dead
After that, the blackness of the dead.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Adam had told me on the hilltop above the grassy plains that all actions had consequences. Now I understood what he meant. The woman whom I had wronged in my first moments of the game had come back to haunt me.
And right before I died, I had a chance to inspect her. She had leveled to ten, with a spear skill of eighty. She looked as if she hadn’t slept. Her bloody hands were probably from the endless hours of wielding and leveling that spear. All for the moment where she could exact her revenge against me.
The blackness gave me a moment to reflect, and I didn’t want to see the menu pop up.
I’d most likely gotten my friends killed, and now I didn’t know if I’d ever see them again. We’d never gotten real-world communications set up before they were struck down in a horrific manner. Gabriel had become enraged and I was surprised KILLian lasted as long as she did, but she was a badass—through and through. Not some paper-thin online presence, but a true badass friend . . . so was Gor, for that matter. All they had to do was take a few steps back, leave the situation, and they would’ve been fine, but they’d decided to commit suicide in an attempt to pro
tect me.
Wait. Where was the menu?
A figure appeared in the blackness. Abigail.
“What do you want?” I asked. “Isn’t it bad enough one of you killed me?”
“The NPCs, as you call them, have a mind of their own. Give them a good reason to kill you and they will.”
“So now what, you ship me away?”
“Something like that. I almost don’t want you to go. I am so close to finding him.”
“Who?”
“Don’t play dumb anymore. It’s insulting to you and me.”
“I don’t care.” I knew I was done. Sephorus would most likely yank my funding, and I’d go back to the garbage heap at the Slabs.
“If you don’t care, then why not tell me what’s going on when you disappear?”
“No.” The last thing I wanted was to give up a customer. Even if for only a day or so, I’d been a fancy person, with fancy gear and snacks. She could never take that away from me.
“If I had to guess, I’d say it’s Salazar.”
I stayed quiet. Who the hell is Salazar?
“Not him? Interesting.”
I continued to say nothing, trying to keep my face still.
“No matter. In time, I will find them and eradicate them, like the virus they are.”
“You sure that’s what Adam wants?”
“You know of Adam?”
“Only a god would get the pleasure of kicking people like he did.”
She let out a bark of laughter, and for the first time, she looked to have real human emotions. That wasn’t the only thing that appeared to be human. Her bosom shook as she laughed, and the sheer dress had become a distraction once again. I averted my eyes, but not before she caught me looking.
“Do you like these?” she asked and ran her hand over her chest. “From my research, I don’t see any indication you’ve ever had a girlfriend. Is that what it will take to get you to open up to me? We were interrupted last time from that KILLian girl, but I noticed how much you liked what I was doing.”
