186 Kit, I don’t know how to tell you this.

Conversation flowed around the table about everyone's experiences today. "Kit, we received lots of compliments on the variety available in the shop in a shop. We even had a few people return to purchase more!" Twix who was sitting opposite Kit reported.

"That's great news!" Kit was delighted to hear people loved his snacks.

"Ha, I can beat that! I had numerous people mention they were going to move to Spartan Fire so they could come to the animal café each day!" Mars boasted.

"Wow that's incredible! Was the animal café really that popular?" Kit couldn't believe that people would be willing to move just to interact with Snowball, the Piabbits and the Midnight guardians.

"Kit, you have no idea how crazy it was in there. Those animal lovers are damn scary! I had to break up numerous fights and not just from the Piabbits!" Mars shuddered.

"Speaking of working in the café, I think I should tell you its really not my thing. So can you hurry up and hire some people to work in there." Mars turned pleading eyes to Kit.

Snickers butted into the conversation. "Don't worry Mars, I will be interviewing some people first thing in the morning. Speaking of the interviews, Kit did you want to come?"

Kit started shaking his head, holding interviews with Snickers wasn't something he wanted to experience ever again. Plus, with Snickers ability to read auras he felt it wasn't necessary to attend. "No, I will leave that to my capable restaurant manager."

Snickers gave Kit a sweet smile. "That's right, I am talented in picking new employees!"

"That you are. By the way have you tallied the sales for the day Snickers?" Kit was dying to see how much profit he'd made. He could just look at his restaurant menu, but he wanted to see the breakdown from each department.

Snickers pulled out a parchment from the pocket in her dress and handed it to Kit with a flourish. With eager hands he unfurled the paper.

Total daily sales.

Restaurant: 25 gold, 654 silver, 3 bronze crowns

Shop in a shop: 33 gold, 20 silver, 121 bronze crowns.

Animal café: 35 silver, 67 bronze crowns

Fairweather town market stall: 26 gold, 509 silver, 231 bronze crowns

Total daily earnings: 85 gold, 218 silver, 422 bronze crowns.

A roaring started in his ears and his hands trembled. How on earth had he earned so much money in one day! Giddy laughter bust from his mouth. This morning he had been broke, now he had over 85 gold crowns in his available funds!

Looking at the amount of money he earned in one day, Kit felt like it wouldn't be long before he could really earn enough to sustain his game play. Joy danced through his body. He was really going to be able to keep playing CAL!

"Well come on share! Were the sales good today?" Mars leaned over to stare at the paper without waiting for Kit to reply. "Holy shit! I should open a business!"

All the eyes around the table centred on Kit waiting for him to speak. "We did a fantastic job today! It's beyond even my expectations!"

Kit decided that that he needed to formally thank everyone for their help today. So he grabbed a glass and spoon and stood up, a loud tinkling rang in the room.

Soon everyone had quietened down and focused on Kit. "I just wanted to thank you all for your hard work today. So as a thankyou I will be doubling this week's wages!" A loud cheer echoed throughout the room.

Kit plonked himself back down, he didn't have the energy for a longer speech. "On that note, I think I will head in for the night." Kit did a quick lap of the room thanking his staff personally then went to bed.

The next two days went by too fast as Kit enjoyed his new restaurant, then it was time for him to log out. He was looking forwards to seeing Kat and telling her how well he was doing in game.

When the lid of the capsule opened Kit got a fright, Kat was standing there staring at him. "What's wrong?" He could tell straight away something was not right.

His usually bubbly sister was chewing on her lip and her eyes were watery. Kit hurried out of the capsule and quickly engulfed his sister in a hug. "Kat what is it?"

"Kit, I don't know how to tell you this." Tears were streaming down his sister face.

Panic gripped him, Kat wasn't someone to overreact. So, something terrible must have happened while he was in the game. "Kat whatever it is, we will get through it together ok. So just tell me."

"The café closed, I lost my job. I'm so sorry Kit." Kat buried herself in Kit's chest, he soon felt his shirt soaked with tears.

Kit held his sister and patted her back, his own tears pooled in his eyes. He knew what it meant for Kat to lose her job. He would no longer be able to play the game. He would have to find work.

His heart shattered in that moment, pain spread across his chest. Deep despair took root, Kit let loose a shaky breath. He was teetering on the edge of a mental break down. He gazed down at his sister and gritted his teeth.

This time he wouldn't lose himself to the pain. His sister needed him right now. He knew how much she had loved her job. "It will be ok Kat. We will get through this." Kit comforted Kat and fought his own depressed feelings, he tried to sound confident to reassure her.

The two stood there for what felt like hours to Kit until his sister's tears had all run out. "Let's have a coffee." Kit steered his sister towards the kitchen and went through the motions of filling two mugs. Kit finally got a good look at his sister face. Dark circles pooled under her eyes and her hair was in disarray. A vacant gaze stared of into space, Kit knew that feeling to well. 

Kit held her free hand, "Kat, I promise everything will be alright."

"Kit how can you be so calm, it's my fault you won't get to play the game anymore!" Kit squeezed her hand.

"This is definitely not your fault. How were you to know the café was going to close. Beside right now it's not myself I'm worried about, it's you." Kit found if he focused on his sister, he could hold back his own anguish.

"I will find another job." Kat stated firmly.

"I know, it's just you loved the current one," said Kit. 

"That I did." Kat eyes dropped down to stare in her mug.

Kit felt his heart break all over again, this time it was for his sister. Kit felt the air around them dip even further into gloom. He decided that he couldn't sit there and do nothing. If he didn't keep moving, he would fall in a heap.

"Kat, I'm going to go and look for work. You take the day and rest. I'll be back tonight." Kit could tell from his sister's appearance that she hadn't slept. He took the cup from her hand and guided her to bed. "We'll talk more later."

Kit went to his room to find his nicest clothes then walked out the door with his resume. When he returned that night, he had a job.

Kat was still sound asleep when he returned, Kit didn't want to disturb her, so he made some instant noodles then went to his room. Last time he came in he avoided looking at the silver capsule. This time he couldn't take his eyes off it.

A broken sob emerged from his mouth, and he sunk to the floor.

Kit awoke the next day laying on the floor. His eye lids felt like they were lined with sandpaper. He looked at the silver capsule and felt a stab in his chest. He quickly found a sheet and covered the shiny capsule.

In a morbid way he was proud of himself for not succumbing to his despair and becoming an empty shell. He decided to pack all his feelings in a box for now. He could deal with them once his and Kat's financial situation was more stable.

Two weeks went by with Kit just going through the motions. Throughout this time Kat often asked him if he was going to enter the game. Kit response was the same every time, "Yes, but not today."

He couldn't bring himself to say goodbye to his family in game. Kit knew it was selfish, they would be worrying what happened to him. But he could only do this to keep his sanity. He kept telling himself to keep it together for his sister. If it was for her, he could do anything.

As the weeks went by time was getting closer for his subscription to run out. The mood in the house was sombre. Kat finally got a job just before the subscription was up, but it was too late for Kit to keep playing. They were behind in rent because Kit's job didn't pay enough to cover all their expenses.

With a heavy heart Kit booked the capsule removal date. When he hung up the phone Kat was staring at him with teary eyes. "Kit..." Kit stared into a worried pair of eyes, he could tell she didn't know what to say.

"It's ok Kat. I always knew it was only temporary. The company will be here tomorrow afternoon to collect the capsule." Kit tried to smile but it fell flat. Since he left the game, he had avoided anything to do with the name CAL. He felt like he was only holding himself together by a thin thread.

Any spark of happiness had gone from Kit's life, the moment he found out CAL was no longer an option for him. Tomorrow the capsule would be gone, he hoped once the metal bed disappeared, he could move on with his life instead of being in this lifeless daily routine.

"Kit tomorrow let's go out for the day. I will ask one of my friends to come and be here for the removalists." Kat turned her worried eyes on him.

"We can't, I have to be here to sign for the removal of the capsule." At that moment Kit felt like he would never be happy again. Kit hid the pain in his eyes, Kat would know he would be upset but she didn't need to know to what extent. "I promise I will be fine Kat. I will just cherish the memories I made in game."

"Kit, it won't be forever. One day you will be able to play again. We can save like crazy!" Kat stomped her foot and clenched her fist.

By the time he mustered up the funds to play again, he didn't know if his family would still be in Spartan Fire, or they would have moved on. He knew it was silly but if he couldn't play with the family he made in game, he didn't want to go back in to CAL.

"Kit, are you going to log in one more time? What about that friend of yours you made in game Mars. Don't you want to at least say goodbye to him?" Kat hadn't given up trying to get him to log back in again.

He paused for a moment and thought about Kat's request. Kit clenched his fists, "I think it's better if I don't go back in. I don't think it would be good for my mental health right now."

This was the first time he said this out loud to Kat. "Ok, whatever you think is best." Kat came and gave him a hug.

The next morning both had a day off, Kit felt an overwhelming sadness creeping as the day wore on. Kat tried to distract him by pulling out a board game. "Come on, lets have a game." As they were setting up a pounding started at the door.

"I'll get it." Kat went to rise but Kit stopped her.

"It's ok I'll get it." Kit pushed himself up and took a deep breath, then headed towards the door. The pounding got more persistent as he approached the door. A frown pulled at his brows, why were the removalist so anxious?

Kit opened the door and froze.