The Game We Play

Chapter Eight

Ash stepped into the shower too confused to even begin to articulate. From what she understood, two voices were both asking her to choose them, Lyra and Psyche, and they both had a unique animal "guardian" that she could choose. Were these how ferals originated? After all, that phoenix had been her feral that had taken shape when she got her spirit tested. Ferals, as she had read, were the manifestation of one's spirit used for protection in the game. Thinking about it, she knew that once she entered she would be fighting with other's ferals, their spirit manifestations, but what would happen when one's spirit lost? After all, simply put, spirit was just a person's inner strength. She shook off the thought. There were far more dangerous things to worry about when she got there.

After she had washed, Ash stepped out of the shower and dried off before putting on her clothes. Through the foggy mirror, she could see her green eyes. She took most of her looks from her mother, but Ash and her brother's eyes came from their father. It was the one thing Ash could fully remember about him.

"Ash! Breakfast!" Maia called loudly.

"Coming!" she yelled back. She quickly did a small amount of makeup and walked out of the bathroom.

She entered the kitchen to see everyone chatting merrily, Charlie exuberantly telling a story about his romantic pursuits.

"Ah, Ash is finally here. Let's eat everyone!" Mr. Johnson said.

She sat down and started picking at her food. The chatter of conversation around her faded into a buzz as she got lost in her head. Ash decided she would visit Nigil once Charlie went home, unless of course he decided to stay the night.

"So babe, what do you want for your birthday?" Maia asked.

"Birthday...?" Ash was broken out of her thoughts.

"You're turning eighteen in a week. Did you forget?" Charlie teased.

Ash had forgotten. She had been too worked up with the game, studying anything concerning it, training herself in basic combat from YouTube tutorials, and of course thinking of Conner.

"Oh um... I'm not sure. Maybe some cash to go shopping?"

She would have to think about it a little more. Maybe anything cat themed, she thought.

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"GET OUT OF MY WAY!" Ash screamed to Charlie. "I CAN AND WILL BEAT YOU WITH THESE GREEN SHELLS!"

"Catch me if you can!" Charlie retorted, zigzagging on the road ahead of her.

"You two get way too into Mario Kart." Maia sighed.

Right at the very end, the three watch as Ash took the lead and finished milliseconds before Charlie. The screen flashed with her character doing some sort of victory dance as she took the winner's cup.

"Take that Waluigi!" Ash raved.

"At least I'm not the epitome of a female stereotype Miss I-always-main-Rosalina." Charlie sighed, rolling his eyes. "Anyways, it's getting late. Want me to spend over?"

"Of course we do Char!" Maia affirmed. "It's been so long!"

"Alright, lemme text my parents. But, if you two prevent me from getting my beauty sleep someone's going to die." he joked.

The three then gathered up pillows and blankets to spread across the floor after moving the table out of the way. Ash and Charlie laid them out neatly while Maia scrolled through different shows.

"Is '30 Rock' okay?" she asked.

"Starting from the beginning?" Charlie questioned. "You know the first two lines are comedy gold."

"Of course. You're lucky we have tomorrow off from school or else I would've had to send you packing." she joked.

Charlie laughed before turning to Ash. "Hey," he whispered, "can you come to my place tomorrow? I need some help with something."

Ash considered his offer for a moment, wondering what is was he needed that Maia couldn't know.

"Okay." she whispered back.

The three laid down in their mess of blankets and quickly fell asleep.

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Oh my gosh! Thank you all for your comments and votes! You all keep me writing with your support ;'). What do you think Charlie wants to talk about? Stay safe! <3