3 chapter 3

Aaron gazed at the red eye. He couldn't stop looking at it. It was as if he was staring at an eternity of fire, and for a strange reason, he liked it. For a moment, it was even addicting. But just for a moment, because not too long after reading the scroll, the barn doors swung open, the scroll disintegrated in his hands, and the red eye disappeared. Aaron snapped out of his trance and quickly scampered out of the barn.

Aaron stumbled on the grass and quickly looked around. He couldn't disguise his heavy breathing. There were around twenty other kids spawned around him, and they looked just as confused and frightened as he did. Aaron didn't spot Miles or even Ruben. The field was dark and the inky sky above him held no remorse. There were a few twinkling stars, but that was just about it. There was also another source of light, but it was red and it was coming from the ground. Not to mention it came with shouting. Buzzing noises of angry shouting and chanting.

"Get the rich off our land! They're going to destroy our crops and our livestock. They've probably already torn down our barns!" cried a deep gritty voice.

They were already here. An army of farmers carrying torches, pitchforks, rifles, and cannons. The ages were mixed. Some were around twelve and some were around forty-three. The one that had just spoken was Bale, a tall but heavy black man wearing a straw hat. He was carrying a torch in one hand and a pistol in the other. The red-bearded man beside him was his accomplice Bane. And if it was even possible, he looked angrier than him.

"We're not rich people! We're just players. Where the heck are we?" asked one of the guys facing the torch army. Aaron didn't recognize him, but he knew he must've been from Yellow Faction or Blue Faction. Their people always took the lead.

"On our land!" cried Bale.

"We're wasting time. Let's kill them already!" shouted Bane.

"There doesn't have to be a fight. We can work together!"

It was already late. The first shot rang across the field and ten more followed after it. A myriad of shouting and chaos flooded the field. Torches got thrown everywhere, stomachs and heads got pierced by vengeful pitchforks, and blood splattered everywhere like paint. Bullets cut through the air so quickly and swiftly it looked like it was part of the wind. Aaron quickly stumbled back to the barn, but to his horror, it was already being swallowed by the fire. A hand grappled his mouth. For sure it was over this time. Bale got him. And they were probably going to impale him.

"Calm down Aaron! We need to get out of here!"

Relief washed Aaron's body like rain. It was Miles. But how did he get here? Or was he already here? The hand let go of Aaron.

"Where are we going?" Aaron asked.

"There's a shack not too far from here! Come on!"

The two of them sprinted away from the massacre and ran toward a black wooden shack. The windows were shattered and the shack looked slightly tilted and there were holes punctured into the wood. But still, it was a far cry from where they just were. A safe haven possibly. Depending on who was inside. Just as they were about to get to the door, Aaron felt a small sting go through his shoulders. Then he felt two more stings go through his back. The stinging quickly grew into searing pain. His legs became weak and soon did his body. Aaron had just been shot.

"It's over," Aaron gasped. "Just go without me!"

"Like hell it is."

Miles grabbed the limp body and heaved it to his shoulder. Then he lumbered through the door and he threw Aaron's body on the ground. The shack was dark, this was no surprise to Aaron. However, he saw something else that caught his attention. Something that temporarily drew him away from the pain, and it was hovering on the ground.

"The game has just begun Aaron! We can't afford to be weak!" Miles shouted vehemently.

"What's that?" Aaron asked. He pointed to a glowing green object that was hovering in circles. It was in the shape of a suitcase and it had a cross labeled on it.

Miles turned in awe. "It can't be...not this soon into the game. First aid."

Aaron crawled toward the health object and stretched his hand to touch it. By inclination, as if it knew someone was coming, the first aid object attached itself to Aaron's hand like jello and spread throughout his arm and then through his whole body. For a few seconds, Aaron's body glowed green, and then it reverted back to normal.

"How do you feel?" Miles asked.

"Healed," said Aaron, amazed.

"So y'all noticed the healing juice too huh?"

Aaron turned his attention to the shadow that was sitting in the corner of the room. He had been too busy focusing on the health to recognize that someone else was in the room.

"Ruben?"

"Yeah, I wish it wasn't me either. I could be off to level two instead of being stuck in this stupid shack!"

"How many of those were there?" Miles asked.

"Two. Your boy gobbled up the last one."

Ruben looked suspiciously at the door. "Someone's coming."

The wooden door swung open and banged against the wall. The silhouette of a boy stood looking at them. He was carrying a pitchfork but he wasn't wearing a straw hat. When he moved closer the torchlights from the outside slaughter illuminated his face. He was blonde with a fair amount of wounds on his face and he had a thin nose. He looked athletic as if he ran a lot, but he also appeared to be leaning on the side of skinny, as if he hadn't eaten in a while. He too was around Miles and Ruben's age.

"Got room for one more?"

Aaron recognized that voice. He was the guy that tried to negotiate for peace back in the field. The fact that he made it out alive was astonishing.

"I should probably introduce myself, I'm-"

"Oh, I know who you are," said Ruben bitterly. "Lex Sommerfield, son of President Sommerfield. Your father is the leader of Yellow Faction. Tell me, how much do you enjoy your privileged life there? How much do you enjoy your hot baths, late-night manicures, and your fancy banquets? I'm not even surprised you're in this game."

Out of all the five factions in the country of Aurora, Yellow and Blue Faction got it the best. They even saw themselves as the best. This was because Yellow Faction held control of the electrical power supply system in the country as well as produced the crops in the country. With these two businesses in command, it made Yellow Faction very rich. Some believed it made them very arrogant. Blue Faction held power in the country's water supply, hydropower system, and the production of seafood. They were also rich and seen as a little less arrogant than Yellow Faction. People from the Yellow Faction or Blue Faction usually tended to be leaders and were very forceful on the other factions. This is why a lot of people in Aurora despised them, especially people from Green Faction.

"Stop it!" cried Aaron. "The real enemy isn't Lex. They're outside these walls and they're ready to attack us at any moment!"

"You're a traitor to your own faction. I don't listen to you!" said Ruben.

Aaron threw Ruben a glance of fury. "Look, I don't know what you have against me. And quite frankly, I don't care. I almost died and if we keep fighting each other like this, we'll all be dead for sure. We must work together!"

"You're right," Miles was currently peering through the window. "There's a group coming toward us right now! We have about two minutes to arm up."

"Do you see the farm leader?" Aaron asked.

"His name is Bale," said Lex. "I heard the mob whispering his name."

"I don't know. Why does it matter? There's a whole horde of them ready to fork us," said Miles

"Because they're AI. If we kill the AI boss, we kill the AIs, and hopefully, we pass the level." Aaron answered.

"Brilliant!" cried Lex.

"I see a bearded man. Wait! I think I see him. He's black, tall, and he's wearing a huge straw hat!"

"That's him!" said Lex.

"Does someone have a gun?" Aaron asked.

Ruben crawled his hand in the shadows behind him and slid out a pistol.

"One bullet. Make it count."

Aaron grabbed the gun and aimed it at the door.

"How much are you willing to bet that it's Tweedle Dee that walks through that door and not Tweedle Dum?" Ruben asked.

"Our lives."

"I hope we win this one," said Miles. But the way he said it was as if he didn't believe himself.

"Guys, there's something I have to tell you," said Lex.

"Not now Lex!" Ruben bellowed. "Don't distract the kid!"

"We won't be able to win the game."

Everyone looked at Lex with caterpillar eyes.

"What're you talking about? Of course we'll win." Aaron said with faltering lips.

"No, we won't. Because we need to pass fifty-two levels to win."

"Breckage didn't tell us that!" yelled Miles.

The door broke open and Bale, accompanied by the orange faces behind him, stampeded inside with wrathful fire and blood tipped pitchforks. Aaron wavered his aim, but then he fired. The bullet squeezed through Bale's neck. If Aaron had hesitated one second, he would've missed. Bale cupped his hand around his neck and fell down to the ground. His supporters shouted in agony and disappeared in black smoke.

Aaron fell down too. His head was beginning to ache again and his insides wailed for mercy. And then, it was over.