Game On

Chapter Fourteen: "Gamer Vs. Non-Gamer"

Sean watched Mark approach Lulu with a small smile on his lips. He could imagine Mark as a parent and his lover. The smile on his face faded when he realized what he was considering. The thought and feelings behind it scared him. It would be so easy to lose himself here. To forget everything before. Jerking his attention away from Mark, he forced himself to bring up his menu and scrolled through his spells. He had to think about something else. All his spells were meant to heal a lot of health. He didn't want to waste them on something small. So, he investigated alchemic potions that he might be able to make. Pressing the ingredients, he glanced around to see that a few were highlights in the woods nearby. He didn't want to stray too far but couldn't talk himself out of collecting them. With Lulu joining them, it wouldn't hurt to have extra supplies. Keeping low, he picked the herbs quickly and stashed them in his bag. It was peaceful to listen to the sounds of nature in the morning.

He could hear the birds chipping and bees humming by. He even realized that he could hear a great deal farther than he thought. The snap of a twig in the far distance, drawing his attention up to faintly see a deer walking slowly through a clearing. Staying still, he watched the young buck look for danger before nibbling on a patch of grass. Silently picking his last herb, he made to turn around when the birds stopped chipping. Freezing in place, he saw the buck jerk its head up before trying to dash off. The sudden flash of purple lightening striking the buck made Sean tense and ease into the bush beside him. Stomping through the woods, a man in blue robes with arcane symbols called out to his friend casually. "Got it. Now what was I saying?" Walking at a short distance from the mage a human man with a bow and quiver set answered dryly. "You were telling me about the gamer you killed and why..." The mage snapped his fingers, excitedly retorting. "Yes! As I was saying. We have no proof that anyone on the outside is really getting hurt. For all we know, this is all part of the game's crazy story."

The ranger snorted, grumbling out. "I don't believe that. If this was a game, then we could log out. You killed that man..." The mage stopped short, whirling around to snap out angrily. "Let it go! Fuck! Don't you see? This is just a ploy to get people to play the game longer. To get word out in a big way to spike sales. No one is dying. Besides, who doesn't want the satisfaction of killing some stuck up gaming know-it-all. They deserve it." The ranger rolled his eyes, defensively retorting. "I don't care. That's not why I signed into this game, Jones." The mage stomped his foot, yelling back stubbornly. "I'm not Jones in here! I'm Firebrand! Jesus, Carter. You are such a pussy sometimes. None of this is real! Relax and have a little fun." The ranger moved closer to the mage, bitterly replying. "What the hell is wrong with you?! Ever sense we signed in you've become this... different person. YOU KILLED A KID!" The mage shoved the ranger away from him, yelling back. "He was foul-mouthed little shit that deserved it! Gamers ruin games like this with their toxicity. I'm purging them out. THAT is fun to me!"

The ranger brought up his menu and clicked something, causing the mage to blurt out. "You are leaving the party? Really? You self-righteous prick... What do you think you're going to do without me carrying you the whole game?" The ranger began walking away but sneered over his shoulder. "I'm gonna find out. Anything is better than watching my brother cheat on his wife and turn into a toxic asshole!" The mage tensed up, then lifted his staff to aim at his brother as he growled out under his breath. "Fine. I'm so sick of your bullshit. You wanna log out..." Sean clamped a hand over his mouth as the staff went off and struck the ranger in the back. The brother screamed as flames engulfed him, rapidly draining his health until his body fell to the ground limply and faded out to nothing. The mage kicked dirt in the ranger's direction, chuckling out. "There! Happy now?! I'll win this for the non-gamers myself!" Upon turning around, the mage got a message on his communication mirror and answered it for all to hear.