Chapter 31: The Friend we wanted to be.
??? Months after the Fall:
"You and your sister are going to die," the voice spoke with perfect certainty. "It is a sad and terrible fact of life."
I frowned, "What makes you say that?"
The voice ignored my question, "However, what you do have control of is when. No creature, man or machine, can live forever."
"That's obvious."
"It really is," the voice replied with no emotion. "Yet so many, whether they be from the worlds within the Rift or those that float outside it, are tied to the fate of their deaths. They do not fight it. Nor do they hasten it. They simply accept it."
"What do you want?" I asked confused why I was hearing all this.
"My question to you, dear friend, is where you sit on the spectrum of life and death. Do you welcome death or fight it? Will you chase immortality? What would you do to protect the ones you love?" again the voice's tone was level, though her words curious, the intention behind them numb.
"I'd do anything to protect the people I love," I spoke with honest sincerity. "As long as I need to, I can't let myself die. There are too many people I need to save. I can't let the world end again."
"Again?" the voice showed an ounce of curiosity. "How can you stop a world's destruction when you don't even know where you are?"
"Where I am?" I looked around but realised I could see nothing. I could feel nothing. I was in a blank space where even the concept of darkness was far from reality. "Where am I?"
The voice turned colder still, "Child who walks the path of nullity, could you accept death?"
"Where am I!?" my words tightened in apprehension. "Where is everyone? What did you do?"
The voice spoke softly, drifting away, "All the best to you, may you walk the Void in peace."
***
Aria Friend:
"Wait we need to cut the fish first!" I yelled as the characters on the TV screen moved clumsily.
"There's no clean plates!" Erin cried, her character spinning in circles not knowing what to do.
"I'm cleaning them hold on," Endi grit her teeth in concentration.
After several minutes of panic we somehow made it through and though our score wasn't perfect, we had cleared the level.
"Phew," Erin laughed. "Games like these are pretty fun once in a while. Areithia is fun and all, but it's too real."
"I totally get you," Endi nodded. "There's a charm to game consoles."
"So should we play ano-," my voice cut suddenly as a sharp sensation crossed my brain. It wasn't painful but a deep dread forced me to stand from the couch. My controller dropped to the floor.
"Aria?" Erin looked at me concerned. "Hey Aria, are you okay? Say something."
"A-Ardy," I looked around unable to comprehend the wave of apprehension that had struck me. "Ardy! Where's my brother!?"
"Aria calm down," Endi gently touched my shoulder. "Vanter and Ardent left with Zen."
"Somethings wrong," I jittered, nibbling on my fingertips to calm myself. "I need- I need to find Ardy." Why did I need to see him? What was wrong? It felt like I could feel something but it was just behind a wall. The frustration continued to build and I wanted to scream but couldn't.

YOU ARE READING
The Game Before the Fall
FantasyArdent Friend has already witnessed the Fall. The cities of Earth torn apart and those that remain forced to hide in dungeons for safety. What started as a joyous merging of worlds ended in nightmares as Rift Walkers, the enemies of all life, ravage...