On Our Side of the Forest (Short Story Compilation)

Unplugged

Unplugged

A slow, boring day finally ticked down to its end! The clock ticked slowly away before releasing me from my shift at work! I was off, running out of the doors to my home! Well, my second home. I lived at this little arcade close to my apartment, and I wasted more money than I spent on the games! I was a junkie for the thrill of getting to the top! Most of the time I was beating my score, but it was still a thrill I sought as often as I could! The door opened with a familiar chime I loved.

"Varra! Nice to see you, work ended a little early?" The owner of the arcade sat behind the desk as always and welcomed me! He tore me my pass from under his post and handed me one! I had come here for so long, that I was able to get a free pass! The old panda had seen me grow from a young cub barely able to see over the machines without a stool to who I am today!

"Yeah, I came right over when they were done too! I had to spend some time on the new game you got!" he laughed at me as I put a dollar into the soda machine.

"Didn't you already beat the game?" I hit the machine once at the top to unlodge the soda stuck inside! I took a good drink before answering his question.

"Of course, but that doesn't mean I beat my score!" He was impressed as always with my love of this place! I don't know what I would do if he ever had to close it down, but that was a bridge I would cross if the time ever came! He left me to my gaming, I set my soda on the game and booted it up. For some reason, I had been drawn to the game since it came weeks ago. It followed this little Pine Marten who traveled the lands to save a princess. Cheesy and cliche, I know, but something about the graphics was so enticing!

"Alright, let's see where we left off..." I strayed off in my thoughts as the theme song sang to me. I had to start over as always, but the beginning was easy! I had done it so many times now I had breezed through it. It was this one part that stumped me. You trudge up a mountain to get to a boss that is impossible to defeat! I was invested in the game, dying multiple times just to get right back up and climb that mountain with my little character. I had finally had enough, the rage of dying multiple times overtook me and I lost myself. The soda spilled all over the arcade game and sent it on the fritz.

I panicked for a bit, shakily peeking over my shoulder as the commotion commenced. He had just gotten this game in the store and I broke it. I barely made enough money as is, no way my small job would make enough to replace this! I used my shirt to try to wipe away the mess before the light powered off. The machine let out a loud sound and smoke poured from the sides. All of it threw me back on my behind, the smoke set off the alarms and water poured from the ceiling. You know, until now I never thought about why stores poured water. What if it was an electrical fire like this? The store owner ran over with a fire extinguisher to make sure it wasn't in flames. I laid back in shame.

"What did you and your friend here do kid?" Friend? I came in alone, and he saw me. I sat up to see the character of the game in front of us, he had a different pattern on his fur though. Now he was stained like an arcade carpet unlike his normal washes of brown. He was a dark black with bold neon patterns littering him in all colors.

"I-I..."I was at a loss for words. How did he get here? "I spilled a soda! I am so sorry, and I can work to get everything fixed! I don't want to get banned from this place!" My eyes would glimpse over to the Marten as he stood there silently. It was as if he was just as confused as I.

"We can work something out if it matters that much to you! But mistakes happen, now let me get this place cleaned up! Come by tomorrow if you would like!" He gave us a kind smile. I took the hand of my new friend and led us out of the arcade. I was already embarrassed enough, no reason to stay and wallow in the shame.

When we got outside, he looked all around. This was new to him too!

"W-where am I?" He had a thick accent of some sort but his words were clear.

"Earth?" Was a city even important to know if he had no idea about the planet? He stared around for a bit more. I had no idea what to do with him. I led us to the park across the street and set us on a bench to talk.

"I have no idea how I got here...I was on my quest and then I was in that place!" I hesitated for a bit, torn on if I should tell him he was a game character. I settled on he had to know.

"That was an arcade, I was playing your game before I spilled my soda. You came out after that!" He stared at me confused with golden eyes.

"Game?" How was I to explain this?
"Y-yes...a game. You were a character we control and play? I have no idea how to explain this, but I can try if you would like!" He sat for a while in silence. I was hoping I did not upset him with anything.

"I think I will be okay!" His whole mood shifted as if it were nothing to him anymore, "What is your name?" I smiled back at him.

"Varra! What about you?"

"Nex! A pleasure to meet you Varra!" We talked a bit more and introduced ourselves. He was fun and had interesting stories to tell. He lived an entire life when his game was not on. I was lost in his countless tales. The evening began to set in and our stomachs growled at almost the same time. I walked him around my little city and showed him all I could before getting us food. It was fun to have someone around, he was eating up the world and it was different to see. Everyone here looked at our city with clouded eyes! His were innocent and curious about everything it had to offer! I showed him my apartment after we ate, it wasn't much but I made it home! I offered him the couch to sleep on, who knows how long he would be here, so he needed a safe place to be.

"What is that?" He pointed to the tv!

"You can watch stuff!" I turned on the tv and handed him the remote. He flipped through the TV for minutes before finding a colorful cartoon to watch. I left him to shower, and when I came back he was fast asleep! I found a blanket in my closet and covered him up. I had no idea what we would do next, but I could only do my best to make him as comfortable as I could from here. I got ready for bed myself, and as I lay there I thought of one thing....

If he wanted to go back home, how the hell was I going to do that? I have no idea how I got him here in the first place!