The World According to Max

Chapter 01: Orange Fireballs

Chapter 01: Orange Fireballs

Max furiously pressed the buttons on his keyboard with a joyous look flashed across his face. Each time his fingers landed on a key, his computer screen flashed bright colors and his speakers echoing the sound of what seemed to be women screaming. It was the same delicious sight that Max always loved. Not the screams-the flashy colors.

Max crossed his arms as he stared at his computer screen. His fingers shook from the excitement slowly increasing. Each and every time, he had managed to clear this dungeon alone and he was happy about it. This time though, there was something different. On the left side of his screen were the names of three other players and right below them were their shining green bars. It had been a long time since Max had gone into a dungeon with other people but to him, it wouldn’t make a difference. He’d simply do what he’d been doing. 

Blackness filled the screen as he heard the loudest scream come from the speaker. Max quickly rest his fingers back on their familiar spot on his keyboard. His eyes closed as all sound died down. He knew exactly what to do and when to do it. As soon as the game’s background music began playing, he quickly flashed his eyed wide open and began a series of taps across his keyboard. 

Numerous lights flashed on his screen; the most common being red. Max watched as the red bar above the final boss went down. He had seen the banshee a dozen times before but ever since he had finally become one of the game’s best players, he never did again. All that flashed on his screen were bright flashing lights and the blurry silhouette of the ghost. 

Max quickly glanced at the chat box to the lower left of the screen that seemed to be filled up more than usual. 

Redfix: STOP! THE GUIDE SAYS IT’LL GO BOOM IF YOU DO THAT!

xXxBuzzrxXx: noob noob noooooob!!!

iIiman: ey noob u want get kick?

Max ignored the words on his chat box and proceeded to tap his fingers on the keyboard. He crossed his arms to hit keys any normal player wouldn’t even be using. With the very last tap on F11, he opened his mouth wide. 

“We don’t need a freaking guide,” He held onto the F11 key for as long as the red bar remained. “I’ll just burn it all!” A dark red pillar filled the screen engulfing everything inside. As soon as the red bar above the banshee vanished, he released the key. He turned back to the chat box. His smile immediately turned into a frown as he leaned back on his chair sighing.

The words that always appeared whenever he partied with someone popped up again. Max quickly jumped off his chair and pointed at his computer screen. “I’m so not a greedy player. I’m just way too good for you guys!” He shouted accusingly at his computer screen. 

Max just stared at the computer screen for five seconds before deciding that his mind needed a natural site, one that wasn’t from the world of Fairytale. He slowly hovered his finger over the esc button glancing left and right. He as a gamer; an addicted gamer at that and it was hard for him to leave his realm of addiction but there was no helping it. 

He pressed on the button and held it down. The computer screen quickly flashed black before returning to his desktop. His wallpaper always seemed to lighten his mood. It was simple; a black background with the words ‘Magic is Real’ in white font flashed over it. Max’s growing smile immediately stopped as a chat box suddenly appeared on his screen. 

saLmon: Max! Dude, what was that? I thought you were pro at this game!

Max closed his eyes and sighed. He turned his monitor off and stormed out his room, each step intentionally louder than the previous.