Two Worlds

Chapter Seven

"Sit." The General instructs. We look around for a chair, but the room is full of brightly colored blinking lights, gigantic TV screens with maps being displayed, and a large round table with a physical version of the same maps. Clustered around the table is a group of people, chattering among themselves and using long sticks to prod figurines into place. Nothing here looks like it came from the normal player's inventory, and I marvel yet again at the complicated system they've developed.

Colton senses what I'm thinking and he leans over to whisper in my ear. "We keep the player inventory very limited, but we have access to much more advanced technology here at HQ."

I feel a spark of annoyance that they get more stuff than we do, but it ebbs when Colton speaks up.

"Um..." He asks. "Where do we sit, General?"

The General clears her throat. "I apologize. I seem to have lost my train of thought for a moment. Please follow me, and we can chat somewhere more... private."

Colton places a hand on my back and leads me out of the room, following the General. My heart races for a good five seconds, but I shake myself out of it.

Abby, stop! He's just showing you where to go.

The General strides into another room down the hall, and we enter behind her.

It's a meeting room, with a long table and numerous chairs. There's one large chair at the head, and The General seats herself there. We all follow suit and sit- Keia and me next to each other, Colton and Brine across from us.

The General presses her hands together and waits for us to be silent. Once we are, she presses a small unmarked button on the table beside her and a teenage girl with long, carrot colored hair enters the room.

"What can I fetch for you, General?" The girl asked.

"A pot of chamomile tea, please, and five cups. Also a plate of buttered biscuits. Thank you, Petra."

The girl nodded and whisked out of the room.

"Now, let's discuss the matter at hand." The General proclaimed. "Colton brought you here, and I can't expect him to take you back now. It's too difficult. And besides, based on the prophecy, we need you."

"You need us? You mean you need to USE us." Keia snapped.

"Show more respect! You don't want to make The General mad!" Colton hissed.

"Precisely." The General agreed.

At that moment, the serving girl, Petra, came back into the room, hefting a wide tray with the teapot and biscuits.

"Thank you, Petra," The General nodded as she placed the tray on the table. Petra poured tea into each of the teacups. "Please, help yourself."

Everybody took a cup and a biscuit.

"Back to business." The General continued.

"About what you were saying before... Do you mean that we can't return? But what about our parents? Won't they miss us?" Abby asked.

"Three days in the game equals one real time hour, but time always seems to be warped here. You should be fine, as long as you finish your quest within three days time."

"Woah woah woah. Quest? What? We didn't sign up for a quest."
Keia cut in.

"Well, that's the thing. You'll have to complete this quest."

"What if we don't?" Keia challenged.

The General leaned back in her chair. "You'll have to stay here, watching The Dark creep in, block by block, viewing innocent people die, while knowing you can full well stop it. And if The Dark settles over everything, you won't be able to escape... ever."