4 chapter 4

Dervin Werkheiser was kicked to the ground. His knees splattered into the muddy puddle and his hands were tied behind his back like he was a captured rabbit. His green eyes glimmered like he had done the right thing, but his body shook and beads of tears dripped from his face. A huge crowd encompassed him. They were silent and some even cried, but still, they waited.

People that Dervin knew from Green Faction were going to watch him die. Family, friends, coworkers, children, teachers, everyone. It hurt, but it was a relief. In some divine way, Dervin knew it had to be this way. He saw his five-year-old son standing in front of the crowd, flooded in tears. A voice rang out. It sounded like "Don't!". But that didn't matter because a second voice rang out, and then there was a bang. Dervin Werkheiser fell into the mud. The hunted rabbit was finally dead. The five-year-old ran to his father. He tried to shake him back to life but it was no use.

"Dad! Please!"

The body was still but then it suddenly opened its eyes and began to choke his son.

"Level two." It said.

"What?"

"Level two." This time it was the voice of an AI. A woman AI.

Aaron jolted himself back up. He was breathing heavily, but he was still alive. However, he was lying in a bed that he didn't remember being in. The bed covers were purple and it illustrated a rocket going into space. The bedroom had a bunch of posters of UFOs, aliens, and shooting stars. The room was cool and imaginative, but it wasn't his. And surely, Aaron wasn't back at Green Faction.

There was a window beside him. Behind those silvery eyes was a forested land covered in white. The snow gracefully fell on everything, as if it somehow belonged here. Aaron knew he could escape. Just open the window and run away into the snow forever. Maybe that was how he could pass this level. Just run away.

Aaron grabbed a hand mirror that was lying on the nightstand. Maybe he could use it to break the window if it had enough impact. He carefully looked into it. Those scared green eyes looked back at him and the lip scar was fighting to get his attention as well. Looking north Aaron's hair was messy and it was wet. Aaron gripped the hand mirror, harder than he meant to. And just as he was about to throw it, the door creaked open and a young girl appeared. She had sandy hair and her hair was tied back in a ponytail. She looked like she was five years old.

"Is this your room?" Aaron asked.

The young girl formed a thin line between her lips. It didn't move.

"I was just about to shatter your window open. Pretty sad isn't it?"

"Mother," the girl murmured.

"Mother? What do you mean?"

The girl gave Aaron one last piercing stare and then left the room. Aaron quickly got up and followed the girl. He suddenly noticed he had been wearing pajamas. It was weird. Everything here seemed out of place.

The hallway was dimly lit with candlelights hung to the walls. There weren't any portraits or any other ornaments on the walls. However, in between the candlelights, Aaron saw an eye. The same red eye he had seen back at the barn, only this time they were stamped to the walls. There were plenty of them and they were all staring at Aaron with that same red flare.

"Do you know what that eye means?"

No answer. Aaron wasn't surprised. The girl wasn't much of a talker, and for some reason, he understood that. But he needed to find out what that eye means. Every time he saw it, it felt like it was melting through his flesh and bones. Aaron even got the feeling it could see through his soul.

The girl arrived at a dinner table. There were about six or seven people sitting there. One of them was praying, some chatted calmly to each other, while others sat quietly. The people appeared to be at peace, all except one girl. She played like she was at ease, but deep inside she was disturbed. She was blonde with weak eyes and a motionless limp body. When she saw Aaron, she looked like she just saw the walls move.

The mother that the girl was talking about was standing in front of the dinner table with her hands laced, elated to see the young girl and Aaron. She was wearing a black dress covered by an apron.

"Mother," said the young girl, pointing.

"Madura, please sit down. Aaron, I'd like to welcome you to our dinner. Would you mind taking a seat?"

"Who are you?"

"I'm Madura's mother. But for formality sake, you can just call me Mrs. Beckham."

Aaron hesitated. If he tried to run, they would probably tackle him back to the table. Aaron looked at the door. There was someone sitting there guarding it. He was young, probably around his teens and he was wearing a gray hoodie, hiding most of his face. In his hands, he carried a machete. The machete glimmered back at Aaron, pleading him to rethink his decision.

On the other hand, if he stayed, something would be bound to go south. Sure Mrs. Beckham was much more peaceful than Bale, but nothing bad has happened to him yet. It was unsettling how peaceful this level was turning out to be. Aaron took his fate and sat down next to the blonde girl.

The table had empty plates on it. But the forks were laid out as if everyone was already ready to eat. Some looked like they were, others didn't.

"It's good to have everyone here! I'll be back with our meal," said Mrs. Beckham and she calmly strolled out.

"Who are you and why are you here?" the blonde girl asked.

"I'm a player. My name is Aaron Werkheiser. I'm guessing you're one as well?"

The girl momentarily jerked her eyes on the table. It lifted shame. Memories that ate her every waking hours. "I used to be. My name is Heather. You shouldn't be here."

"What do you mean you used to be?" Aaron asked.

"They call us Echos. People that gave up on the game and are long forgotten."

"You mean you just quit, just like that? A girl I know told me that people that play this game don't make it. She wanted me to believe that I can. Please don't give me a reason to doubt her."

"I was weak, but I was also smart. You should be too and give up while you still can," said Heather.

"You say this as if you've already finished the game. You're a coward," Aaron said accusingly.

"You can't beat the game, Aaron. It's suicide. The game creator set you up."

"Breckage gave us a choice! We all chose to join! If one of us wins, Breckage is going to award us. How can you say different? Sure there might be fifty-two levels, but that's-"

"That's what you think is going to stop you from winning?" Heather asked. "It's not the levels you need to be worried about, it's the opponent. Once you get to the end of this game, you're gonna have to face the boss."

Aaron's insides felt shriveled up. "Who's the boss?"

Heather softly grinned. Aaron couldn't help but hate that gloating smile.

"The one that carries this game's name." She said simply.

Aaron thought about the name. He studied this way back when he was in training camp. It was ancient history. Ancient. Archaic history if there was even such a name. Osiris. The Egyptian god of the dead. Ruler of the underworld.

"I'll have to fight a god to win?" Aaron asked, trembling.

"Welcome to the game."

Aaron turned to the eyes on the walls.

"And those eyes?"

"His. I wouldn't look at them too long, it hurts you inside and makes you lose track of your existence," said Heather.

Mrs. Beckham finally returned and this time she was carrying a huge dish of pork roast. She went back to the kitchen and brought several more dishes including Turkey, collard green, spaghetti, tomato soup, birthday cake, and brownies.

"Eat up. And afterward, we'll get to know each other," said Mrs. Beckham. She had her hand on her back this time, and in it was a silvery jagged object.

The cold was unforgiving. Biting. Miles's ear was as red as a furnace and his legs were trembling. They looked like they were about to be an ice sculpture and break. Miles and Lex had been trudging in the snow for forty minutes ever since they'd arrived to level two. They've been wandering around the forest looking for any sign of Aaron but so far, all they've seen is tents. They've tried resting in them, but they couldn't fight off the cold for too long. They had come across Ruben and a couple of other players twenty minutes ago, but they had chosen to stay behind.

The forest had a white clarity to it. Like you were looking at through a snow globe. The sky was cloudy and the wind was blowing hard, but there was a ridge of sunlight escaping through the trees. Miles looked at the sunlight and smiled. It gave him hope. Aaron was still alive. He had to be.

"Aaron is dead," Lex slurred. "Let's just go back to our tents with Ruben and the others." He was sick of seeing white. Back in Yellow Faction, it rarely ever snowed and he could go swimming whenever he liked without having to worry about frostbite.

"No! I promised I would look after the kid. I know he's out there somewhere."

They continued walking for a couple more steps and then Lex fell on the ground.

"I can't. Just let the cold have me."

Suddenly there was hollering. Someone was shouting in pain. The shout came again. It sounded like the word run. But it was hard to tell because of the wind. It must have torn it in two and crushed it. The voice came closer and so did the runner. He had wounds all over his face and his hair was frizzled with twigs and snow. The distressed runner was none other than Ruben.

"Wolves," he sputtered. "Run. Like now!"

Miles looked at the other campers that were following Ruben and some didn't even make it because they fell. What jumped on top of them were two huge, gray, monstrous canines. Their jagged teeth sunk into the flesh of the fallen campers and they began to enjoy their meal. They not only looked mean and starved, but they also looked vengeful. After they were finished, they wouldn't wait.

"Have you lost your ears man! Run!" Ruben pleaded.

The trio stumbled away but it was already late. Ruben's voice had alerted the creatures that there was more flesh. The wolf began to howl and pretty soon swarm of wolves began to emerge behind them and come through the trees.

Miles ran as fast as he could. But it felt like his feet were failing him, especially now since he was holding Lex. He didn't feel like his arm or legs could take it any longer. At this rate, he would never find Aaron. He would never keep his vow to his sister.

"Aaron is strong, but he doesn't know it," said Laney. "And he won't be able to find his strength if he's alone. I heard people don't make it in the first few levels of Osiris. A lot of people die. I need you to look after him and guide him through the game."

"Fine. But what's in it for me? I am risking my life here after all."

"You're a good guy Miles. I shouldn't have to answer that," said Laney.

"You're not leaving me with a lot of choices here," said Miles.

"Because you might find your girlfriend again."

"Heather?"

"Are you in or not?"

Suddenly it was seeming like it might not be a reality anymore. Until there was something coming through the clearing in the trees. It looked like a house. Miles threw Lex on the ground.

"Get up, there's a house! We have to get inside."

'I can't feel my legs." wailed Lex.

"Boo-hoo. We should probably throw you in a private jet to make it all better huh?" spat Ruben, who was several feet behind them.

Miles banged on the door frantically. Like he was a lunatic. As if he was a convicted killer. The growls of the wolves were moving closer. Three more seconds and they were game.

"Come on! Let us inside! We won't harm you!"

Three...two...one. It was over. The wolves growled with passion and pounced but somehow all they seemed to have hit was wood. It seemed the walls had listened after all.