The Game We Play

Chapter Ten

He stared at her blankly before speaking. "Ash."

"Y-yes sir, that's me." she said quickly.

He didn't say anything else and the room went silent. She looked over at Charlie who's gaze was fixated at his feet.

"I... uh... It's a pleasure to meet you." she stuttered, trying to break the silence.

"Meet..." Charlie's dad mumbled. "Meet you..."

"Ash and I are going to head upstairs now- bye!" Charlie suddenly burst before grabbing her hand and racing up the stairs.

The two ran into his room and Charlie sat down, hunched over on the side of his bed. His room was very neat with a light blue striped wallpaper and two large windows filtering in the morning light. Ash sat down beside him and draped her arm around him comfortingly. That must've been a regular encounter with his dad, but it still seemed to have shook him.

"I wondered, if I brought a new face around him, would he react? I guess I got my answer." he said, turning to look up at her.

His nose was red and his eyes were watery. The way he looked at her, so lost and hopeless, broke Ash's heart.

"Hey... it's okay Char. What... Well- why exactly is he like that?" she asked.

"He's fallen. His spirit was lost in Ludum." Charlie said sadly, looking down.

There was that word again, Ludum. Was that what the game was called?

"What do you mean lost?" she questioned.

"You know your feral right? Well, if that creature gets mortally wounded and isn't repaired... you become fallen. The spirits of fallen participants are what power Ludum, the reason why it holds this game. Mom and father... they entered before. I never mentioned it, I'm sorry, but I also never thought you'd really try this. It's dangerous Ash... you'd be risking yourself in every way. You could die. you could fall. Worst of all... will you be able to subject someone else to this for your wish...?" He looked up at her, his deep brown eyes staring into her own.

"I don't know... I would do anything for Nigil..." she couldn't hold his gaze.

"Ashley. Listen to me. If your spirit isn't strong enough to protect you then we'll back you. But, what will happen if you're alone? If you can't protect yourself..." he grimaced and he shifted his gaze away from her.

"Charlie... how do you know so much?" Ash inquired.

"When mom was still around, she told me. Father's been like this since I was eight... then one day she came back home with a note she wrote herself, no memory of where she'd been, and father practically lifeless behind her. She can't remember anything about the game, but in her note, she explained to herself that she had chosen to surrender in Ludum after father had fallen. I'm sure father remembers, but he doesn't care to speak about it. He doesn't care about anything. It's not his fault though..." Charlie stared up at the overhead light, trying to suppress his tears.

"I won't let it happen to me Char. I promise. I think the doctor miscalculated or something because-"

"CHARLIE GET YOUR BUTT DOWN HERE- TRINA IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TODAY!" a female voice yelled

"Oh no," he said looking over at Ash. "I totally forgot!"

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Charlie's had it pretty rough hasn't he ;~;. Next chapter will be less sad, I promise. Stay safe! <3