Rick didn't dare open his eyes. He feared that if he did, tears would start flowing.
Sure, he had given the magic eye to Aaron, but his plan was to quietly retrieve it in a few days. He had everything worked out: if there was a fourth beta test on February 22nd, he would use the money he had saved to buy two skills, one for **Disguise** and one for offense. Once the game ended, he'd go and take back the magic eye.
But then someone had intercepted it midway—efficiently and ruthlessly.
After giving Aaron the eye, Rick had stayed with his group of brothers the entire time. They had been inseparable for days, and last night was the first time they parted ways. He had thought that with the beta test starting at 2 a.m. on the 22nd, it wouldn't be wise to be wandering around on the 21st. What if the Lopez family made a big move, and he missed out?
Yet, disaster struck in the early hours of the 21st.
The magic eye was gone.