Disconnected

Section 4

        I enjoy many other games. One of them happens to be a fantasy game. This game isn’t different from most fantasy games. The main difference is the division of the land. The players have land while the non-player characters, have the rest of it.

     In this game though, we fight against the non-players for land. As we win, land opens up for us to build houses. We have the keep the land in our possession long enough to do that, which is not easy to do, their attacks can come at any time. I am not involved with the defense. That is a job for soldiers. Of all the classes I could have chosen, I chose ranger. My specialty is stealth.

     As I run, the forest flies past me. It has been a normal day so far. I came across an army of goblins heading towards one of our cities. I sent a message to warn my fellow humans. They should have enough time to prepare.

     As I ran the trees became a blur. I was running faster than anyone could have in the real world, and I wasn’t out of breath. It is a great feeling. Running has always been a painful thing for me, but when it is not painful, it is actually quite fun. My feet carry me, as I enjoy the scenery around me. The scenery is not realistic, yet very beautiful.

        Games in virtual reality are never realistic. The government banned realistic games as soon as virtual reality became available. It made sense. When we kill someone, we need to be able to differentiate the real and the virtual.  

     Looking up at the trees above, they could never be mistaken for real trees. The government did their job. I stopped for a rest still looking up at the trees. Running doesn’t tire my body, but it does have an effect. It drains my stamina. To replenish it, I reach into my inventory to pull out my next meal. I have to eat every thirty minutes to keep running.

        Eating is easy here. I select a piece of bread in my inventory, and opted to use it. I could see in the corner of my eye, my stamina bar slowly filled up. After a few seconds, I was running through the forest again. I can’t stop for long, this is a dangerous forest. The forest may be amazingly rendered, but the trees are not friendly.

        They were dark gray, and skinnier than they should be. The trees escaped the ground in one direction, but seemed to zigzag as they made their way to the top. The tree tops completely blotted out the sun. Their shadows surround me, and seem to whisper death around every turn. I have been in this forest many times, and it no longer frightens me.

        It was that overconfidence which was my undoing. As I ran, there was a sudden jabbing pain.. I was surprised to see an arrow protruding from my knee.

        I tried to turn around, but fell over instead. Looking up, I can see five goblins were running at full speed. I stood up while drawing my sword. A grunt escaped my body from the effort of it, but the pain was beginning to fade. I turned to face the goblins. I can’t outrun them, because the arrow will slow me down.

        This is going to be tough, but I have to fight them off. On their own, goblins aren’t tough, but they have numbers. I held up my sword as a barrier, and they pulled out their swords in response. Their swords made mine seem giant in comparison. They stopped a few feet in front of me. At this distance I can see every ugly feature.

        Their faces, instead of elliptical, were circular. They were completely bald. Their heads were bumpy with warts. Their entire bodies were covered with snot-green skin. Their ears and nose came to a point too far from their faces. They were half my height. All in an animated style.

        Two of them came forward at once. Their teamwork was surprising. Their blows came from both sides, with a quick duck, they passed overhead. While I was distracted a third one had drawn his bow. I am done for. There is no time to do anything.

        The shot didn’t hit any critical spots. Instead the arrow pierced my other knee. I suddenly couldn’t move. They paralyzed me. I began falling, but before I could fall to the ground, the goblins caught me.

        This is the first time they have shown teamwork. Before they put a bag over my head, I recognized the crest on their chest. They belong to the army I noticed earlier that day. They carried me back the way I had come. One question persisted in my mind: why hadn’t they killed me?

        A long time passed before they let me down. All four of them had to carry me, because of their size. I was paralyzed, so I can’t log out. I am stuck here, either until they kill me, I break free, or my mom takes off my helmet. After an hour, they finally threw me to the ground and I didn’t even care about the violent dismount.

        Light flooded my eyes when they removed the bag from my head. My virtual eyes adjusted to the light instantaneously. I looked around, and immediately could tell that I am in a goblin camp. The sun is nearly covered by the horizon. The goblins are all making their camps for the night. I didn’t even know they did this; I have never seen a goblin sleep before.

        They immediately placed a gag in my mouth, and they picked me up again. Luckily, they threw me down after a short walk. I landed on something soft. I am surrounded by human bodies, and they are all rangers.

        Not only have the goblins organized enough to kidnap me, but they are also organized enough to systematically remove these rangers. We have to tell the rest of the world, but no one can log out. We’re trapped.

        Two of the goblins are walking the perimeter of our pile. They are spaced evenly apart, so they can see the entire pile at once. They beat anyone who moves. My hands and ankles were tied up before they left me here.

        While the goblins were beating on someone else, I took the chance to bring my knees to my chest. I stayed like that for a while. The goblins began circulating again. Each time their attention was diverted, I moved. I brought my arms to the front of my body. I got in a position I could crawl from. I noticed a section of the pile too close to a tent. I decided to crawl to that part of the pile. I made it there in increments, one beating to another.

        It took time, but I finally made it to that section. I had to move. This part is going to be my biggest risk. Small movements will be useless. The tent is five feet away, and I can’t get stranded away from our pile.  

        I have to take the whole distance at once. I prepared myself for a roll. As soon as the goblins noticed movement, I rolled as hard as I could. Arm over arm, I rolled over the hard ground. I made it across the gap unnoticed, and the tent obstructed the guard’s vision. I entered the tent after I was sure they hadn’t noticed me.  

        The tent was lit with a small lamp. A goblin was sleeping in his little sleeping bag. His sword and knife were lying next to him. I picked them up, equipped the knife, and cut my bonds with it. I now have to free my fellow captives. If any sound reaches him, this goblin will wake up and come to help. I have to take care of him.

        I stabbed the knife into his chest. As the knife cut into his flesh, his eyes flew open. He didn’t let out any sound, and his eyes only revealed his fear for a second. His life quickly faded from them. His animated body went stiff.  

        I pulled the knife out, and wiped blood from the blade. Now for the goblins outside. I crouched down and slowly exited the tent. I waited for the nearest goblin to come around the curve. With his back to me I jumped forward. I ran up behind him, and plunged the knife straight into his heart. I pulled the knife out, pulled it behind my head, and threw it towards the other goblin. The blade found a place in his head. This was my first chance to try out this new skill. I looked down at my right arm. I was completely covered in blood.

        I walked over to the dead goblin and pulled the knife out of his head. I started cutting the ropes off the prisoners. The prisoners close to the dead goblin are covered with his blood.

        We don’t have time for small talk, we have to get out of here. Many of the goblins are asleep now.

        Our escape was almost unnoticed. Those who did notice were quickly dispatched.