Game Over

4

I opened the door of our apartment and tried to silently close it behind me. A dim, single lightbulb flickered on as I locked the door. 

"Where have you been?" I heard my mother's voice from behind me say. 

"I got us money mom, I went around doing odd jobs all day," I said. I felt horrible about lying to my mom, but if she found out I had joined the Elite, she would never forgive me.

I held out the 100 dollars and she grabbed it from my hands, "Did you go to the upperclass sectors? How did you get this much money in a day?"

I shrugged, "People were feeling generous and I was willing to do anything."

She stopped cold, "Anything?"

I looked at her expression, "N-no Mom not anything like you're thinking. Just jobs no one else wanted to do ya know?"

She seemed to relax a little, "Wow Victoria, thank you. This will help us so much. I appreciate you going and doing all of those things."

She hugged me tight and I felt a wave of guilt wash over me. I couldn't tell her, but I knew I couldn't keep it a secret from her forever. What would I say if my handheld went off in the middle of the night, wanting me to go to a midnight tournament?

I guess I would just have to keep lying.