Game On

Chapter Forty-Six: A Losing Game

Sean walked up to the altar, asking softly. "I need to know for certain. I do this... We all go home. That's the deal?" Glade strolled casually up to his side, telling him with a flourish to his voice. "I promise that I will let everyone out of this game... except you." Glade skeletal fingers brushed over his cheek, causing Sean to flinch from him but he felt nothing and gave no other reaction. Glade lowered his hand, his fingers ghosting down one of his wings, when he whispered over his shoulder. "I will take care of you. I will set your heart free." Swallowing, Sean mumbled out. "Let's do this then." Climbing onto the altar, he closed his eyes. Glade's hand dropped down onto his chest, and Sean gasped sharply as his body blinded the room in a bright light. His avatar suddenly jerked upright, and he found himself in a bright white room with golden accents. From a golden throne at the end of the room, the Game Master's voice boomed throughout the room as soft rain pattered around them and he told him. "So... he found you. I was hoping to kill you before he did."

Staring at the void beneath the hood of the Game Master's red robes, Sean sighed out. "I'm sorry, but I don't understand why you'd punish people like me. Your son likes games. So what? You son... clearly is upset with some things I've said but... That's no reason to kill thousands!" The Game Master tilted his head, his voice slightly confused when he said amused. "I thought it would be obvious once you met Glade... I guess not." The Game Master tapped his fingers on the throne, regaling broken-heartedly. "My son took after me. He loves games and programing them. I never faulted him for that. What I took fault with was how much he admired you. He was obsessed with you. It worried me. I don't know what you said or how you said it... but you hurt him. Deeply. He lost all his passion. He isolated himself from me. He probably would have pulled away from friends... if he had any that weren't youtubers. In his note he said... He'd wasted his life thinking he wasn't alone. Only to realize that the people that hated... we're the ones he foolishly admired. I never intended the game to kill anyone. Except you... but my son is really good at undermining me."

Gesturing to the room around them, the Game Master continued. "I built this world to give him interaction. My hope was to calm his anger. To give him closure... but he turned this game into a nightmare. I've lost billions in this pursuit. Yet, Glade has learned nothing. He sees humans now as unsavable. He's hacked himself into my business and as we speak... he's taking over the company and many others. He's grown too smart and too powerful. I can't stop him. This is his world now." Sean slowly rose to his feet, exhaling out nervously. "What are you saying? That your son is... It's your game! Unplug him from it or something!" The Game Master huffed, telling him in a defeated tone of voice. "I can't. My son is dead. He lives in the program. His uploaded consciousness is a computer system the likes of which you couldn't comprehend. I can't destroy him because he got out. He's within the digital network now. Every computer. Every electrical device. He has access to and can slip himself into to restore himself. He's the government's problem now. All because... I was trying to save my son."

Sean's shoulders fell when he reluctantly asked. "How did he... How did he die?" The Game Master inhaled deeply, before telling him. "Glade attempted to commit suicide. He hooked himself up to his 'game' and tried took pills. He didn't take enough. He was in a coma for four years. I kept him alive and used my knowledge of computers to... save what was left of him. It worked... but being alone... It has twisted him. If he isn't stopped... I fear the worst." Sean shrugged, asking quickly. "How do we stop him?" The Game Master shrugged, answering honestly. "I've tried everything, and he's countered it all. My guess now... He's still obsessed with you. Now that he has you... Maybe he'll stop." Hugging himself, Sean blurted out. "There has to be something you can do?" The Game Master huffed, telling him frankly. "As we speak, Glade is soloing the boss. I've already made the announcement that the game is over for them. However, he's locked and protected your data... He's going to transfer you into HIS game. I know nothing about that game... It's... not my style. Win it. See what happens. That is my best advice for you. I've got a mess to contain."