Chasing Brinley (a story inspired by Sword Art Online)

Brinley

One year later...

"Every time I take one step forward, I leap two steps back," I mumble, running my fingers through the digital grass. It feels so real, but it's all a lie. Just like this place.

"What do you mean?" Cole sits up, eying my curiously.

"I mean- I mean-" I groan. I plop back down on the grass, my arms spread apart.

"Each time we think we're out of here, he just throws another mission at us." I reach up right hand up towards the sky, my left hand resting underneath my head of light pink hair for support. "We try our hardest. Families. They're waiting. Waiting for the ones they love to escape this game alive. It's not a game anymore, it's real."

"It's not," Cole objects.

"Yes, it is."

"No, it's not."

"Yes, it is."

"No, it's not!!" Cole whips out his sword and jams it into the ground.

My eyes squeeze shut. My stomach aches. I carefully take out my trident. I crafted it myself.

I stick the trident into the ground.

I roll over to my side to face Cole. His eyes are closed.

"Hey. Cole?" I say.

"Mm?" he hums, eyes still shut.

"Are we going to get out of here?" I ask.

"Of course," he insists.

"Alive?"

He doesn't answer. I roll back on my side and continue to watch the clouds.

"Brinley," Cole says, startling me.

"Yeah?" I breathe out, still tense.

"Magic Mine Online is just like SAO. We were lured into a trap. Many people from SAO got out alive. This game is different. Games like these have improved over the years. Better nerve gear. Less glitches. You're forgetting the big picture. This game, it's nearly impossible to escape. In SAO, the players at least knew how to escape. We have no idea how. Whether it's to defeat all one hundred floors- hell, it there are any- defeat a high-level Master of Magic and the Arts, whatever. We don't know. Brin, people have already prepared for the worst. They're already building permanent homes! There're getting smart about making money! For God's sake, Brinley, open your eyes! Can't you see it's useless to even think about it?" Cole groans.

I sit up, flabbergasted. "So what are you saying? That our year of training was for nothing? That we should just-"

"What the hell is there the train for, Brinley?! What the fuck do you think training will do?! Give us a bit of Magic EXP?! Learn how to summon two different demons instead of one? Seriously, Chloe!"

"For the last time, stop calling me Chloe! Call me by my username, Otto!" I fire back.

"Brin, don't call me that." Cole sighs.

I stand up and fix my training outfit. "Look, Cole, I'm sorry, I'm just sick of this place."

Cole snorts. "Join the club." He begins to stand up. "Population: me, you-" He faces me. "- and everyone in MMO."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, I get it," I grumble, picking up my trident and fastening it around my belt. Cole picks up his sword and puts it in his belt. We begin to walk down the road to Magician's Market and Plaza, the specific place in the game you're in when you're a new player.

Cole is my best friend in the game, though I've never seen him in real life. We became friends shortly after we created an account. His eyes are a rich brown, and I love them. I ruffle his dirty blond hair when he jogs toward me; he playfully glares at me.

"So how's that new invention going?" Cole asks, nudging me teasingly.

"Shut up," I mumble, smiling. Yeah, I've been working on an invention. Cole says it doesn't work, I say trial and error.

This game isn't just magic and swords. Lots of machines, too. Not to mention awesome laser guns that act as real ones.

When we get to the plaza, I stop. I grab Cole's arm and hide behind a building. I scan the area for red players.

"We're clear," I whisper. We continue to walk nonchalantly around the market.

This was normal routine. More and more red players have begun to roam the area. By scanning the area, I was able to detect any murderous players, even if they were disguised as green players. Even though they can't kill you in the spawn area, they can still lure you easily to a place where they can. They kill you, you die, they get your loot, they're one step closer to getting out of here.

I wouldn't have to do this if it weren't for the Midnight Man. He's the anonymous one who trapped all of us players in MMO. The way to get out, we have no idea. We're been here for a year and a half, and have made absolutely no progress. 

"Brinley, you can be so paranoid sometimes, it's actually quite hilarious." Cole chuckles as he examines some daggers at a stand.

"Hey." I take a bite out of an apple I just bought. "In this game, you can never be too paranoid."

Cole just grins. He says I have a way with making people smile. Maybe I do.

I'll need that charm to keep people from spiraling into despair.

I think most people in this game don't have either hope or despair.

Me, I'm not too sure.