Out of This World Gaming [~ read description]

Chapter 27: Preparation

"Hey, wake up! We're here." 

Clover's eyes opened; she looked around to find herself in an urban area - this must've been the next city over. They were parked on a street lined with cars of all kinds and people crowded the sidewalks. "Alright, where do we go then?" she asked while yawns plagued her speech. "Into that alley over there on your right." Zander responded. 

Clover looked around the car, but the consoleoids weren't with them. "Where did they go?" she nearly panicked. Did something happen in her sleep? "Chill, they just went to get something for us." "For us?" 

The siblings stepped out of the vehicle and it was locked up before the two of them waded through the walkers and waited at the entrance of the alley. "If we're going in there, we need defense. Close combat alone might not be enough." Zander explained. "Satara doesn't fight with ranged weapons, though, she used a sword." "What if she's got a new sword and it can use ranged attacks?" 

She had to admit, he had a good point. 

"Well, I hope they make it back." 

"We're back!" an older woman's voice said. 

The siblings turned to see their electronic friends carrying duffel bags and a fishbowl containing the catfish. "Finally! What took you so long?" Zander rudely asked. "Sorry, we wanted to make sure that you got something capable of attacking from a distance. As for our enemy's location, we're at the coordinates, but I don't see her." Zerrin looked around as she spoke with a tone of skepticism whilst reaching into the bag and handing over pistols and ammunition to the siblings. 

"I didn't think they'd just let you go in and buy one of these things like a bag of chips." Zander mused as he looked at his pistol. "Well, gun laws are different between Vintondale and Arcadia." Clover spoke as she loaded the ammunition into her weapon. "Since when did you two learn how to use those?" asked Larkspur. "Instructional videos." Clover answered. "She personally taught me afterwards." Zander spoke. 

"I'm surprised you trusted me with that kind of knowledge." the older male spoke "Well, that was before the incident." Clover responded. "Fair point." 

They heard the sound of clicking, followed by the sound of metal colliding with an object. The group turned to the source of the sound to reveal that a metal door opened in the side of one of the alleyway's buildings. The group cautiously approached it to find that no light was inside. 

"Right, I say we go home and forget this!" Zucchini shivered within his glass container. "We're not leaving. If my brother's really in there, then we gotta get him." Zerrin protested. "I don't know, I don't think this is the way to go. I mean, we could be at the wrong place." Clover backed up the fish. "I second that. Besides, it's pitch black in there. What if there's another way in?" Zander chimed in. 

"Larkspur? Iris?" Zerrin turned to the last unaccounted-for members of the group. "I-It's too scary.." Iris trembled where she stood. Larkspur was silent, but her facial expression was one of worry as she began to hold the child close to her to calm her down. 

"Fine! I guess I'll go in there myself." Zerrin spat as she turned her back and walked in. "Zerrin, just you wait a minute!" Larkspur called out. No answer was given to that. "What're we gonna do now?" Iris looked up through her fear-filled stare. "Well, I say we give her some time and she'll eventually remember that we have food and come right back to us." Larkspur responded with the upmost confidence. "You got food and didn't tell us?" Clover asked as soon as the trance given to her by her deep thoughts was broken. 

- - - 

"Well, that was the best lunch I've had in a while." spoke the male human among them as he threw his balled sub sandwich wrapper into the empty bag. "Remember when I stole your sandwich?" Zucchini reflected with a tone of nostalgia whilst feeding off pinches of the sandwiches provided by Iris. "Yeah." the child replied with the same tone. 

"Alright, it's apparent that Zerrin's not coming back. I'm afraid we've got no choice but to go in." Larkspur proposed. 

"You've lost your shit, Larkspur, you can't make us go in there." protested Zander as he got a glance of his sister, and even noticed the anxiety she felt. "Fine, if any of us die in there, the blood's on your hands." Larkspur began to guilt trip as she took Iris's hand to lead the frightened child into the darkness. "No! No! I don't wanna go! Zander! Clover! Help!" Iris pleaded.  

"If only there was light in there, though." Clover mused. 

"Light? Of course! Larkspur, can you summon a light source into existence with your illusions?" Iris enthusiastically inquired. "I don't know if it'll work." "It's worth a shot, right?" "Yeah, I suppose." 

Larkspur snapped her fingers, but nothing happened. Can she not create light even with her Consoleoid Ability? Perhaps a few more attempts couldn't hurt. 

"What're you doing?" Zucchini spoke. "Trying to create light." she responded. "Seems as though you can't do that without attaching it to an object meant for light." 

Larkspur thought about it for a few seconds and a smile crept on her face. "I've got an idea!" she shouted just as Iris looked up. "What?" "Larkspur, have you ever watched cartoons as a kid?" "Yeah, but what's the relevance of that here?" "Well, that probably came to mind. Look above you." 

A light bulb. An actual glowing light bulb. Talk about a twisted Consoleoid Ability, though it didn't seem too bright. 

"How lovely, we're breaking barriers the further we go." the eldest spoke. "Enough chatter, let's get in there and save Ziazan." Zander approached her and grabbed the floating bulb and walked through the open door with Clover following close behind while she held the catfish. "Shall we?" "Alright, Larks." Iris took her guardian's hand and walked with her. 

"I think this bulb's broken." Zander tapped the bulb, only to see it flickering. "Can't you make this any brighter?" "I've got a child I need to keep healthy, so to make it brighter would direct my attention away from her." 

Oh, how can he forget about Software Shock? "Well, okay, but we need to find-" 

Zander began to scream; his screaming faded into nothing, like he was far away from them. "Zander? Zander? Hey, where did you-" 

Clover and Zucchini's screams reverberated throughout the pitch black environment, making Larkspur and Iris fear for their lives. "What's happening?!" the child was now bewildered. "Just stay with me!" Larkspur grabbed her hand and kept walking until she felt pulled down. "Help me! Help me! I'm gonna fall!" she cried out. 

"Don't let go!" "I'm being pulled! Save yourself!" 

Iris's screams were high pitched, but that didn't stop this unknown force from pulling her downwards. Her grasp on Larkspur's hand was loosened thanks to sweaty palms and the grip this force had on her until she let go and her screams faded to nothing. 

Now alone, Larkspur had no time to process anything before she felt the floor disappear from beneath her.