Avilien

Laying low

Tender fingers ran across the brand new pair of augmented glasses as Luke tried to be as delicate as he could in unboxing them. He put the packaging aside on the nearest counter he could find. No one said anything, and just seemed to watch him...like watching a kid open a Christmas present. It felt like one of those moments. Brit didn't understand that feeling or the strange atmosphere. Breaking away from the group, she strolled to the nearest shelf filled with GTs and grabbed a box for herself. She ripped it apart in an ungodly manner and tossed the packaging to the floor.

"I can't stand to wear these ones; I feel creeped out after what went on at the school. What I wouldn't do to have my pink ones back. Well, thanks Prance and Baldy," Brit said with a hearty smile.

"No one said you could have a pair! You already have a set," shouted Lance as he watched Brit crush the old set under her boot. Even if he wanted to, he couldn't beat her in a fight—she outclassed him by many lengths.

"Do you know what is going on out there, Lance? And why is he and that girl here?" Mr. Aldwin asked as he pointed a finger at Luke, not taking the slightest interest in the fact that Brit just stole from him.

"They are with me, and she just stopped all the looters from getting into your store and robbing the place. Remember the game Avilien, Dad?" Lance took a deep breath, understanding this was going to be a tougher battle than fighting a raid boss.

Mr. Aldwin, for all his worth, understood next to nothing about games or technology. He ran the store after Mrs. Aldwin passed away, losing her life to cancer several years ago. She was a mad gamer and enjoyed everything about games and gadgets, so set up the store.

"That childish game that appeared from nowhere that even idiot adults play? What of it?" Mr. Aldwin folded his arms as his brow raised; he knew Lance enough to know something ridiculous was going to pour out of his gob.

"It's not a childish game. In fact, right now we are all data. We are no longer human and are about to be transported to a whole other world." Lance watched his dad's face, as did everyone else in the room.

Bangs and thuds on the metal shutters made a few jump, but the loudest of all noises was Mr Aldwin's laugh. He laughed so hard, tears formed under his eyes and rolled down his plump red-hued cheeks.

"I'm just going to call the police again and when I get through, I'll ask them to take you to the nearest hospital ward. Something strange is in the water around here and turning people into idiots." Mr. Aldwin chuckled and turned to grab the phone resting on its stand.

A loud pop in the air—the sound of bubble wrap—made Mr. Aldwin's eyes burst from his head, as he didn't expect something to suddenly appear before him. Fascinated with his own GTs, Luke caught a fraction of the conversation going on. What he did hear made him wonder how stupid Lance and Nagori's dad was. First of all, Brit still had a great big sword on display, which Mr. Aldwin didn't so much as question. He didn't even question the fact she blatantly stole a pair of his "precious" GTs from right under him. What he did have to question was the strange orange ball of fur floating in front of his face with green tentacle arms and huge saucer-like black eyes.

In a strange way, the medium-sized guide looked cute. Unlike the others, it appeared to have no markings until it smiled. From side to side, the orange ball of fur had a nasty pair of dagger-like chompers. Its smile looking menacing and evil. The game-guide markings across said teeth didn't help, as it looked ready to devour Mr. Aldwin.

"Good day, master, I am your ever-so-faithful companion and game guide, Quinn the One Hundredth. I am at your service." Quinn's smile faded as Mr. Aldwin fell backwards, pale as a sheet. Augments don't speak, he thought as his back hit the floor and his eyes rolled shut.