Opening the Blinds

The ceiling looks so nice, the lines of light dancing across the pale wallpaper. The blue of the noon sky mimicked on the canvas of my ceiling. The gentle light floating in through my window, the shades doing their best to hold back the onslaught of daylight. Maybe for once I should lift the blinds, let natural light into my cave, let the holy rays into my evil lair. I dragged my body to the cord, my pale limbs stretching and pushing to edge closer to the window. My feeble and weak hand stretched out to the cord pulling the thin beaded cable. The blind shot up, unleashing a vicious burst of light bursting into my eyes. The warmth burning my exposed skin, the lengths of my arms and legs that had been sheltered from light suddenly exposed in this ambush and betrayal. How long has it been since I had the window open like this? It feels strangely nice. Like a melancholic radiance washing over me. My younger days and the joy I felt returning in that one blissful moment.

I could stay here for eternity.

It's a strange sentence that I never thought I'd say, let alone about being in the sun. throughout most of my life I've always wanted more… I'm greedy like that. Whenever I tried at sports I wanted to be the best and I'd work insanely hard trying to get there, but as the world is I could never compete with people who were naturally talented. That's what drew me into games, the idea that no matter who you are the harder you work the better you get, and once you conquer one world there is always another. The never ending challenge of gaming. The labyrinth of levels and techniques. As I became more and more obsessed my friends started to stop talking to me, or maybe the other way around. As I got stolen by the virtual worlds It started to become the only thing i could think about. My world became this room and leaving was a chore and eventually it became difficult for me to even talk to people. The skills I used to have like making friends and talking vanished, replaced by skills like quick scoping and slide canceling. Useless things anywhere but the screen on my computer. I shifted my legs around dropping them to the floor. The cold seeped through my skin sending shivers up my spine.

I put on some clothes and picked up my phone walking to the door. The house was empty. It's twelve O'clock. The sun is high in the sky so I need to wear a hood. I've gotten enough sunlight today to last me a lifetime. I got a job delivering parcels for the mail since they were understaffed. It has decent pay enough for me to be free tomorrow. It's a big amount of work but it's worth it to play…

To play with…

Well anyway. It's a necessary sacrifice so I have no choice. No choice… hah right.

It was a tough day's work, not that I've ever had an easy one. I got enough money so I'll stop by the games store. I walked back through town, the sun dipping beneath buildings. And submerging me in sweet, sweet darkness. The cool shade refreshed me after a day in the cruel heat.

I walked into the center of town passing various stores, their lights turning on and flooding the streets with natural light reflecting off the pools of water lying in the road. I walked into the store to the friendly chime of the bell greeting me. Behind the desk was Psye her feet on the counter and flipping through a magazine. Upon seeing me she put the paper down and put her feet under the counter and cleared her throat.

"So does your arrival here mean you made enough?"

"Yeah can I buy one copy of LSO and the equipment to play it on please."

"Wow, so polite, yeah sure but to be honest I was hoping you'd have a break tomorrow so I can finally surpass you."

"I doubt many could break level twenty but you could probably do it if I'm honest."

"Such praise and from the best player in the world no less you're going to make me blush..."

"As you should in the presence of the greatest assassin"

"Haha anyway here's your stuff and when I'm off you wanna play together a bit later?"

"Sure if you don't mind my friend Banana."

"Would this banana happen to be of equal skill to the one before me?"

"I don't know this will be my first time playing with him."

"Wait so I'm the only other person you've played LSO with I'm flattered, haven't you checked your friend requests? You have thousands of fans who want to meet you."

"I could say the same to you but yet you still play with a lowly shut in such as myself it is I who should blush."

"Aah Shut up I bet I don't have as many requests as you."

"How much?"

"Ten Gold"

"In-game currency?? Booo but fine I'll take it " then laughing I left the store and returned home.

I pushed into the small house, the door swinging open to see my sister sitting alone reading.

"Lee is that?!?!"

"Yeah" it's sad looking back on my life, seeing how hers is unfolding. It's my duty as her older brother to make sure she doesn't end up like me. I need to make sure she doesn't become a useless shut in like her brother. I shouldn't discourage her by making the game seem difficult, I need to make it easy, boring. That should ensure that my sister… man what have I become?

"Hey Ellie, before I give you this, can you promise me that you'll still keep studying and researching before you play and limit yourself?"

"Why you don't limit yourself." She has a point. Damn her smartness!!

"But do you really want to end up like me?"

"No.'' That was brutal, but at least I've gotten her to promise me and that's what matters even if it hurts a little, or a lot.

I carried the game to her room and placed the game on top.

"Alright we'll play this the day after tomorrow but I'll set it up for you tomorrow"

"Ok."

I then walked back to my room shutting the door and walking back to my bed. The blind were still open looking at the dark town. The stars twinkling in the river, their reflection shining in the peaceful water. Lying down in my bed I attached the game and my finger governed over the play button. Butterflies running rampant in my stomach. I'm excited! I can't wait to see her.

'Banana_boy86:

You in yet?

You:

Yeah

Banana_boy86:

Alright I sent you a friend request.'

"Woah you're actually him!!!"

"You thought I was lying?"

"Maybe just a little"

"How are you? What do you think of the game? And most importantly what is your US??"

"Man I love this game although it's a little weird to get used to but I made it to level five but that seems to be my limit as with a bunch of people, that why everyone admires you for breaking it in the first few minutes of the game, also my US is some shitty cryo ability that lets me freeze wounds and smash them doing the a fraction of damage as the initial attack. It's not bad but there aren't many uses for it although as I get higher level maybe the multiplier will increase and that would be OP."

"Does it only work for your attacks?"

"Yeah otherwise it would be pretty good."

"Damn but if I carry you then you can improve and it will evolve into an amazing skill."

"Also last thing until we start in a bit S.I Rene might join us that ok?"

"WAIT WHAT!!!!! SINCE WHEN ARE YOU!!!! ON CASUAL TERMS WITH S.I RENE!!!?!?!?!?!?!!?!?!?! I mean you?!?!?!!"

"Hey I'll take that as a yes though. Alrighty let me go get a quest from the tavern wait here."

I ran up the street, my boots clattering on the stone path and walked into the tavern. I accepted a small quest that should be easy although I don't think I'll level up. I ran back down and shouted to Banana. but instead opf seeing him I saw two men each with a sinister grin carved across their malignent faces.

"Hey lets go!"

"You that wimp's carer?"

"yeah that dumbass was almost too easy."

"What?"

"I'm saying a noob like that shouldn't be playing this game he's clearly a fucking retard!"

"Ah I see." I slowed my walking and clenched my fists. Damn these fucking humans why do they have to be so annoying. Why does everyone attack each other so needlessly? It pisses me off! at every chance they take advantage and pick on those weaker than them, pityfull rats! "So I suppose you pro's are what level thirty? Forty? You must be something like that to talk down to me!"

"Hey who the hell do you think you are?!? I'm level seventeen and ranked twenty second. What about you noob?"

"Wow so impressive, for me I'm ranked number one. Now let's fight…. NOOB!"

"I..i don't care what level you are both in the teens you can't stand up to us and our USs we got super lucky!"

His friend fell to the floor slowly backing away.

"I saw her stream is tyhat really you? Hey bro lets leave this guy alone drop the stuff you got from that other guy and fucking run I dont want to restart again. hes fucking 'ItsAssassin' we fight him and we'll die!"

"Your friend here has the right idea you see in this game when you die your level goes back to the last checkpoint be it ten, twenty, thirty sofor someone such as you who has seven levels to lose are you really prepared to take the risk that I wont kill at least one of you."

With that the guy's companion ran away. Its annoying but I cant exactly chasde him and if I'm honest if they had stuck to their plan they would've beaten me.

"It doesn't matter, I got the fireball skill, I don't have to worry about you! Skills mean more than levels."

He then pushed his hand out and a fireball began to form.

"you were lucky indeed." I formed my bow, the shining light pouring out of my wrists. Then aiming at his hand I shot. This arrogant bastard killed Banana. He deserves whatever he gets. The arrow flew forward cutting through the ball of fire and sinking into his outstretched palm, the arrow cutting through his forearm and breaking out the other side.

Now lets see what this paste ability does!

'Unique Skill 'Copy' activated - 'Fireball' sub skill activated paste X10'

Ten fireballs formed in front of my face as I stretched out my hand. the flames licking out of the spherical mold. the consentrated balls of fire creating a heat that was unbearable. the air is dry and my eyes hurt from the light. I feel weak puring magic into every small flicker of the flame my hand burning and boiling from the preasure the air turning harsh and hostile as I stared down at the player. then bending my hand into the familiar shape of a finger gun. I released the army of fire flicking my finger upwards.

"Burn asshole!"

the orbs of flame all flew at him exploding as they hit his body with a rush of pressure and destroying the low level armour. The exploations tearing through his flesh and burning his body to ash in an instant his screams only lasting for a few secinds,

Only a colection of blood ash and bones lay before me,

This game is too realistic.

the sight almost made me throw up, but it also makes me happy. its only a game after all.

"Uuuuh hey what happened here? I got killed and I came back to all this stuff on the ground? What did you do?"

"Just trying out an ability, don't worry about it. Shall we go? And uuh pick up that gear the owner won't be needing it."

Luckily people level five and under dont lose levels. Lucky!