Chapter 1

In the underbelly of a bustling city, while the sun set. A squad of teenagers sat while rummaging through their bags in an alley in between two tall apartment buildings.

They were what society often referred to as rebels, though they weren't. One could tell from their distressed looks that things weren't going the way they planned.

"I hope it's enough this time" Jason, a tall blonde haired guy with gray hue eyes groaned.

The rest shared his thoughts. They've been involved in different and extreme part time jobs in order to save enough money for something they deemed crucial. It was really important to them.

Gabbie, the only girl in their group, dropped the stack of money she was counting. Her expression spoke the very thing the rest didn't want to hear.

"We've already gathered so many, it's just remaining one-third" she tried to sound hopeful.

Derrick sighed into the cold air, cursing "this is so damn overwhelming, I can't even concentrate in class"

They all nodded at his statement, concentrating in the class seemed next to impossible with something so heavy in mind.

Jason leaned back on the wall, "after this week's deadline, the cost is going to increase again" the words pained him as he said them.

The four of them sat in gloomy silence, each thinking of what they could do to overcome their financial struggle.

Suddenly, the sound of things crashing caught their attention and they looked to the entrance of the alley. A man staggered in, obviously drunken to stupor.

He pointed at them as he staggered, occasionally wiping his eyes to clear his blurred vision. "W-what are you kids doing here eh?" He asked and hiccuped.

They remained silent at his question, watching him like he was on display. He was completely wasted.

The man chuckled and drool fell from the side of his mouth. "Doing drugs huh?" He asked before continuing, "I'll call the cops and I'll tell ya pa-", his words were cut shut abruptly and he fell before them.

His body made a thud sound after colliding with the cold ground.

Silence once again had its course.

There was a lengthy pause before Derrick spoke, "I wonder if he's got good cash on him"

"Derrick!" Gabbie scolded, staring at him half amused. He shrugged.

Jason found sense In Derrick's words and quickly added "yeah, and if he does, we can go right away to stripe's VR store and-"

Gabbie cut in, she couldn't believe her ears "Jason you too?". She looked to Eiden, he was the goody-goody in their group, she was sure he would decline.

Eiden sat in deep thoughts, he wanted the game as well but stealing? He wasn't so sure about it.

Derrick arose and headed to where the man laid wasted. "Derrick!'' Gabbie called out in a whisper but he waved her off

"What? I'll just check". He emptied the man's pocket and found a crumpled picture, an ID, and a wallet. He threw a smug smile at his friends, "this guy's loaded"

Gabbie shook her head, how badly do they want the game? Apparently so badly that they would steal from an unconscious man. Funnily, the money to actually purchase the game wasn't within their little budget and it would take them almost a year to gather the amount. They plan to play the game in the shop and that's what they've been saving for.

Jason smiled while Derrick displayed the dollar notes that were in the wallet. He looked at Eiden, "what do you think buddy? We can finally get the game going"

Eiden was skeptical about the whole thing. "It's good and all but let's think this through, this man probably saw our faces and when he discovers that his money's gone I'm sure he'll come after us'' he aired his thoughts.

Gabbie nodded in agreement, "see, this is a very bad idea. We still have three more days to go, we can keep doing the petty work we used to for money" she added

Derrick sneered "why go through all that when we can just take these and go play the game right now.. Listen, he's completely out of it, he's a drunkard and I doubt he saw our faces clearly'' He tried to convince them

Jason added "plus, our exams are coming up soon, let's just take the money and play the game, and get it out of our systems"

"He'll have no proof that we stole it, common" derrick said impatiently.

"Alright" Eiden stood up and Gabbie followed, "but if we do get caught, Derrick, Jason, you both are taking the blame"

"Yeah that's right," said Gabbie.

"We will, we will" chorused Jason and Derrick while holding each other's shoulders.

They picked up their bags, Derrick arranged the man's things as they were and took the money they needed.

Finally, they get to try out the popular game Wisher's Death and be free to carry on their lives.

Eiden went home to prepare and after preparing, he headed for the door.

"Bye mum, love you" he said hurriedly

"Eiden," his mother called out. He stopped and stood near the door

"Yeah?"

"You're going out again?" She sounded inflicted

"Yeah, I'm going to Stripe's VR store," he announced.

She sighed in defeat at his response. She didn't want him around those other children but she couldn't stop him. Eiden was nineteen and an adult and all that, she wanted him to make his own decisions. She could only guide him from a distance.

"Just come back home in time for dinner okay?''

"I will, I will. Bye love you" he left.

Eiden estimated that the game workers only allow at most three hours and some minutes so he should be back just before dinner.

He felt a bit inflicted leaving his mother all by herself, she was lonely after all and only had him. Eiden's existence was as a result of pregnancy outside wedlock, thus he was marked a reproach. His mother was abandoned by her family but she chose to keep Eiden and care for him.

He grew to understand the sacrifices she made for him and he never questioned her, instead promised to always be by her so he swore to make sure he would be back just in time for dinner.