The bright light winks out to nothingness. I stagger back, slamming against the wall. And, just like that, I’m inside the silo again, fully formed. Pain shoots through the back of my head. I run my hands up my arms, feeling whole again.
“What the hell was that?” I ask.
“I need to get out of here.” Myco opens the hatch and shoves her way out, Rohan quick on her heels. At least I’m not the only one who’s freaked out.
Lucas pulls out his device and, as he presses down on it, the silo’s lights and power dim. The digital display remains black, but the hum from the silo disappears.
“What did you do?” I ask.
“It’s a temporary freeze of the code and silo commands.” He gestures for me to leave the tight space and I stumble out, unsure of what to expect. I no longer feel the Shift Silo’s heat and pulling sensation, but the memory lingers at the back of my mind.
What a rush!
I expect another similar island paradise as the arena one, but I’m sorely mistaken. The sun is blotted out by a thick gray cloud, shading a rather dull landscape. Damp air clings to my skin, and I taste a thickness on my tongue that’s indescribable.
There’s no ocean behind the silo, only swamp. No other transport silos either. I assume this isn’t a place avatars often frequent, especially if there’s a hidden market for rare and possibly illegal items.
Our shoes squish over the soft, wet ground. I cross my arms over my chest and squeeze them close to my body. I long for the warmth and beauty of the other island as we make our way farther into this new place.
The ground eventually hardens to a muddy cobblestone path. Small huts shoot out of the ground on either side, sitting high above the street on stilts. I wonder how often the swamp must flood for the people here to build their structures in such a way.
The only source of light is in the distance, but shielded by the fog like everything else here. It’s dark enough that the walkway is barely visible as we make our way farther into the island. I glance back at the transport silo and wonder if we made the right choice to come here.
“I thought the Moderators described this place as a rich environment for the players,” I say. My lip curls as I take in the gloomy place. I don’t miss the eye roll from Rohan.
“We don’t have a lot of time to discuss that,” Lucas says, looking back-and-forth over his shoulder. For the first time, he shrugs off my questions. What is it about this place that has the boys on edge?
I glance at Myco. Her neck is craned, looking up at one of the taller huts. There isn’t a light in the window, and I wonder what time of day it is. I’d say night, but I’m unsure if there’s a time change wherever we are.
We’re the only ones here, it appears. As Rohan and Lucas quicken their pace, I keep up, not wanting to get lost or left behind.
A coolness rolls up my spine. The dark edges of the landscape pull at my nerves. We’re all silent as we creep deeper into this ominous place.
CHAPTER 10
THE LIGHT AHEAD of us acts like a beacon. If we’re inside of a game, this place seems like the island that the game-makers forgot to decorate. On the sides of the road, the overgrown flora reaches across the cobblestone. Even though the avatars on the arena island wore blank faces, I preferred that to the lack of any people on this place. At least, there, I hadn’t felt as if we were alone.
Emerging from the thick overgrowth, I hear the sound of crickets and other small critters. I try to remember if I heard animals on the other island, but can’t. The ocean may have covered up any sounds of birds or creatures, but it seems odd that only avatars may have inhabited the paradise island.
“Do you think we’ll find what we need here?” I ask the guys.
“If we don’t, then we’re screwed,” Rohan says.
“This is the only place we could think of that will give us any chance of hiding from the Moderators.”
A sinking feeling pools in my stomach.
I cross my fingers that Lucas and Rohan’s plan works and we can find something to keep the Moderators away, or else I fear we may meet our Maker here. Remembering their icy stares and unwavering determination to destroy Lucas, the slithering sensation moves back down my spine. I try to clear my thoughts and hope for the best. But, on this desolate island, I can’t imagine there’s much hope here.
Lucas looks back at Myco and me. “We’re almost there. Keep up.”
I glance at Myco. Since the Shift Silo, she hasn’t said much. Instead, I settle for squeezing her hand in what I hope is a reassuring gesture.
Rohan picks up his pace, and we all fall in line behind him.
A bustle of activity greets us as the merchant village finally comes into view. The forest on either side of us splits apart, revealing the one place on the desolate island that might be safe—if we can blend in.
My heart flutters when a large gathering of avatars comes into view. They’re hustling around between the multiple buildings at the center of the village. There must be nearly a hundred people here.
“Wow,” I say. “I wasn’t expecting this.”
Lucas smirks. “Yeah, it’s somethin’. Not pretty, but somethin’.”
“What if the Moderators followed us here?” Myco’s gaze darts around.
Rohan glances over at her. “That’s why we need to move quickly. Find out what we need to get them off our trail permanently.”
He’s the first to charge into the village. Lucas hesitates next to me.
“Come on, Myco,” I say.
Her hands are fists at her sides, and she blinks several times, as if there’s something in her eye.
I reach out, and she jolts at my touch. “Are you all right?”
“Yes,” she says in a clipped tone. She starts forward and I stay by her side.
“You know we’ll do everything to keep you two safe,” Lucas says.
Since we met, Lucas has tried to “help” us, but other than our awareness, I can’t find another reason for him protecting us, so I ask “Why?”
His eyebrows lift. “Because we’re all on the same side.”
I can’t help but laugh. “I didn’t even know there were sides. You and Rohan have enough information to go off on your own.”
He scoffs. “I believe there’s more than just staying alive. And I think you guys are a part of that.”
“Well, we are now,” I say.
“We need to figure out how to get the Moderators off our backs. I hate that they know who you are now. It wasn’t our intention.”
“I’m sure they would have figured it out eventually,” I say. “I wasn’t exactly discreet when I went looking for answers.”
“You’ll learn.” His smile lights up his face. A warmth moves through me, and I have to look away.
I don’t linger in that feeling for very long. It’s confusing and new at the same time, which confuses me more.
I focus on Rohan as he leads our little group. His gait is slow yet purposeful as he peeks through the front windows of the shops. Unlike the other island, the shops are solid structures, not fabric tents. This place must have been built a while ago.
A bright light emanates from one of the shops and I pause to look inside. There are several people—or whatever they are—in the center of the large room. Various orbs of all different colors hover in the air over them. There are more orbs than avatars, and I wonder how many we’re able to absorb at once. They don’t appear as clear and sharp as the red one I received after I killed that man in the arena. These aren’t as vibrant, and they almost look digital, not completely solid.
Lucas clears his throat and I break away from the shop, jogging over to meet the others.
Like the other island, there are shops with weapons, but these are much more complex. Avatars add silencers and eye sights to their guns while others obtain large crossbows and other barbaric looking items. I shiver, thinking of how much damage these may cause.
“You look like you have a lot of questions,” Lucas says.
> I laugh and shake my head. “Where do I begin?”
“Ask whatever you like I’ll try to answer, if I can.”
“How can they not see this world as strange? Why don’t they question things as we do?”
“When a player isn’t controlling an avatar, they’re programmed to think this is a normal life. This is what they’re supposed to do and be. I suppose you can compare them to fish in the sea. Just . . . existing.”
“If we’re all programs, why are we more complex? I don’t see how—”
Something hard slams into me and I drive my elbow into Lucas. A growl rumbles close to my ear. I stagger back as two male avatars roll on the ground together. One man punches the other in the face, blood spurting out from his mouth.
“Hey, what are you doing?” I shout at them, but neither look at me. They’re too wrapped up in their fight.
“Esa, did they hurt you?” Lucas asks.
Our eyes meet, and genuine concern fills his.
A tingling sensation pools in my chest. “No. I think I hurt you, though.” I touch his side where I hit him.
He flinches. “I’ll be fine.”
As we continue, I scan the area for more trouble. Luckily, I don’t come across any more scuffles, but I do notice that the avatars here aren’t the most trustworthy. A petite female avatar steals an orb as it’s about to be absorbed into another. She speeds off before the other girl notices. I’ve half a mind to trip the thief as she passes, but we have bigger problems. Attracting attention won’t help us get away from the Moderators. If anything, it will only help them find us quicker.
“What exactly are you looking for here?” I ask.
“Since the Moderators found us on the other island, we’re sure they’re able to follow us here,” Lucas says.
“Why aren’t we on another Shift Silo out of here then?” Myco asks, looking around us.
“We can only run for so long,” Rohan adds. “We need to be on the defensive now.”
“Since the Moderators are a part of the game system, they have better access to the workings of every part of the game environment,” Lucas explains.
I scan the area, expecting at any moment to see the Moderators with their little black devices, ready to take us out. “You don’t sugar coat things, do you?”
Lucas scratches the back of his neck and smirks. “Sorry. We’ve heard of a merchant on this island who has rare items for trade. I’m hoping we can find something that can help us.”
I’m not sure what item could help the four of us, but it isn’t as if we have a better plan.
Myco kicks my heel and mumbles an apology. She sticks to my side like glue, but I don’t say anything. She’s obviously freaked out enough for the both of us. I try to be a rock for her, but as we head farther into the village, I find that harder and harder to do. My concentration is drawn to the odd happenings around every corner.
The shops are fewer and far between as we veer off toward the edge of the village. One lone shop sits in a dark corner and I cross my fingers, hoping this is our destination. I don’t want to go back to the dingy outskirts of the village empty-handed.
Rohan turns to us and grins. “This is it.” His smile softens his features quite a bit.
This shop is bigger than the rest. A carved sign, hanging from the awning, reads, “ETHOS”. The dark wood exterior has seen better days. Numerous holes pepper the front wall. The three uneven steps, leading up to the porch, creak under our weight.
Rohan ambles up to the door, his shoes scuffing across the knotty wood porch. He opens the door and ducks his head as he walks through. Myco is still stuck to my side, so I maneuver to fit us both through the doorway.
A pinging sound goes off as the door closes behind Lucas. A small white device hangs next to the door. I shield my face with my hand, hoping it's not a camera.
The shop is large, but no one is in here. The center of the room is crammed with rows of shelves, each filled to the brim with objects I don’t recognize. The space is poorly lit, and there’s a chemical scent that crinkles my nose.
The guys split off in search of whatever they need to keep the Moderators away. Myco lifts a small metal object from a nearby shelf. She holds it in the palm of her hand, inspecting the reflective surface.
“Do you know what that is?” I ask.
She opens her mouth to say something, but only a choked sound escapes her throat.
“Myco?”
Her entire body starts to shake as if she’s having a seizure.
“Lucas!” I call out.
Myco grabs onto the shelf, knocking a small handgun and an ammo clip to the floor. The clip smacks on the cement surface, rattling as it slides a few feet away.
Rohan and Lucas appear next to us.
“What’s happening to her?” I shriek.
Her eyes turn diluted and gray. I suck in a breath. Did that metal ball do something to her?
Rohan stands behind Myco, trying to keep her still. “Her Grip is taking over.”
“Grip?” I ask.
“It’s what we call the players that control us,” Lucas says.
Rohan’s eyes dart around the room. “If a player sees this place, then it might alert the Moderators to our direct location.”
“What do we do?” My heart breaks now as I realize what’s going to happen to Myco next. Is she going to try and fight one of us? Or will her player give away our location to the Moderators who are hell-bent on destroying us?
Myco stops shaking, and I breathe a sigh of relief.
I touch her shoulder. “Myco?”
She squeezes her eyes closed, and her hands slide down from the shelf and fall lifeless to her sides.
Rohan’s eyes widen as Myco stands up straighter. “The player has control.”
The solemn way he says it is more like a death sentence, for all of us.
I back away from Myco, hoping that I can help her if she tries to come after us. The Moderators are the least of my worries. I need to protect my friend.
A shadow crosses behind me. I whip around and come face to face with a short woman boasting the most vibrant pink hair. Her eyes lock on Myco as she reaches out, holding a device aimed at Myco’s chest. A blue beam shoots from the device, and Myco falls to the ground in a crumpled heap.
“No!” I shout.
The woman merely smiles as if she hadn’t just drop my friend to the ground. “I don’t allow players in my shop. Welcome to Ethos.”
CHAPTER 11
I FALL TO the ground, slamming my knees into the floor, and turn Myco over. I brush raven strands of hair away from her face. Her eyes are closed and she’s not moving.
“What did you do to her?”
Searching her neck for a pulse, I don’t feel anything. I can’t believe this. Did Rohan and Lucas bring us right into a trap? Are the Moderators going to burst through the door at any minute?
The woman tucks the device into her brightly colored robes. The multi-hued fabrics drag across the floor behind her as she approaches. “She'll be fine. But she needs to re-initialize.”
“Thanks for the warning,” Lucas says through gritted teeth.
The woman presses her hands together in front of her as if she’s praying. “A simple ‘thank you’ for saving her would suffice.”
“How is knocking her unconscious saving her?” I ask.
She considers me. “I blocked the player from taking over.”
I look at Rohan and Lucas, who seem relieved by her response. “You can do that?”
“Yes,” she says. “This is my place of business. I’ll protect it at all costs.”
Myco starts to stir. I slide back a bit. “Myco?”
“She’ll need a minute,” the woman says, then lifts her chin. Her eyes land on each of us before she speaks again. “I’m Tressa.”
How can she be so calm? I jump up from the ground and charge at her. “You could have hurt her!”
Lucas’ hands grab both my shoulders. “She’s going to be okay.
”
My heartbeat roars in my ears as my body tenses. Myco could have slammed her head against the shelf and been seriously injured. Tressa could have warned us.
“My dear,” Tressa says, her voice light and airy, “there’s no need for this. I helped your friend. Now how can you help me today?”
I blink. That doesn’t sound right.
Rohan steps forward. Wordlessly, he helps Myco up from the ground.
“Wh-what happened?” Myco asks.
“Ah, you see?” Tressa says, pleased. “She’s okay. All is well with the world again.”
“Not exactly,” Rohan says as he helps Myco onto a small chair next to the shelf.
“Are you sentient as well?” Lucas asks Tressa.
Tressa narrows her eyes. For the first time since we arrived at Ethos, she seems suspicious. “Why would you say that?”
“Our friend Kara told us of a hacked merchant who has been reprogrammed for sentient needs,” Lucas says.
Kara. That must be the name of the girl who dematerialized in front of Lucas and Rohan. It’s the first time either has spoken her name.
Rohan doesn’t leave Myco’s side. “How did you block the player?”
Tressa shrugs. “Information is a commodity which is only for sale.”
Lucas opens his mouth, but stops as if he thinks better of what he’s about to say. He sighs, then speaks. “We need to block the system from detecting us. You must have something here. We don’t have a lot of time. We’re being hunted by the Moderators.”
“Don’t worry about the Moderators finding you here,” Tressa says. “Ethos is masked from the game system.”
My shoulders relax. At the very least we can hide out here for a little while.
Tressa grins. “I haven’t dealt with sentient avatars in some time. It’s quite thrilling. I do get so lonely here. You see, I don’t get many customers due to my masking system.”
“Why not?” I ask.
She turns to me. “No unaware avatars can enter my shop. They don’t even see it on the map.”
“How is this possible?” Lucas asks. “If the game system isn’t aware, then how do you exist?”
Avatars Rising: SILOS I Page 7
