Chapter 1: What Was That?

Booting up the game is a hassle, having to go through the start up screen is enough to make me want to get off. Though, this time it's easier… much faster. That's weird, it's been ages since this game has updated. I'm so used to hearing the ear-rape music from the get go, that not hearing it made me feel uncomfortable.

Ding

Ding

Cricket invited me to her party. I haven't even made it to spawn yet, and she already is spam inviting me.

Ding

Goblinlicker: HURRRYYY!! It's closing in 5 min!! PLS PLS PLS PLS

Goblin: stfu

"Hey! I told you I'll report you if you do that to me." Cricket exclaims, attempting to hit my character while in spawn. A notification appears above our heads.

[Safe Zone— 3:00]

A timer? Obviously, that's not the usual notification, but I thought nothing of it at the time. Cricket rushes us into the dungeon, almost instantly. Her character is cute, she put a lot of effort into hers. Soft looking light blue hair that's in two buns on her head, her characters always had heterochromia so of course this one did too. One blue and one green… While I just used the default face with black hair, in a man bun. I didn't care for the game anyways.

Cricket put us into the dungeon que, wanting to review her items one last time before entering the dungeon. Now that I think about it, I've never seen her Stats before? Or her level. She should be really high level by now especially since she's been playing since Beta. Why does she ask for my help anyways? The dungeon que room is small. It looks like a small crappy tavern, tables with fake food lying around. A bunch of junk is scattered everywhere, a pile of narrow poles in one corner, with some trash in the other corner. Waiting in the dungeon que, I open my Stats.

<Goblin -Level 12- Class: Swordsman>

<USER 653996707 ID:>

[Health: 1,100]

[Defense: +6]

[Attack: +8]

[Stamina: +6]

[Intelligence: +2]

[Speed: +5]

[Lives: 1]

What the hell? Lives? Since when are lives a thing?

"Don't worry! After you help me with this you can get off!" Cricket says excitedly scrolling through her items and potions. Her avatar shines just as brightly as she does. I say nothing, since I really do plan on getting off after this.

BOOM

I large vibration bellows through the games core, feeling almost too real. A wave of terror washes over me. That wasn't fake. It couldn't have been. I quickly turn to see Cricket, the real Cricket, hunched over the floor. Her mage outfit still on, but she isn't her avatar anymore. Her dark brown hair covers her round face. She hurls on the ground, her breath staggering as she panics. Suddenly, a large wind wave pushes me to the ground. A spell? But we are in the waiting room. That can't be.

My eyes meet Crickets, blood dripping from her mouth and her big eyes go wide. Something isn't right.

"Kenneth, why does it hurt? It REALLY hurts…" She whispers, trying to catch her breath.

"I don't know, Cricket… It'll be fine. We will be okay. We aren't in the dungeon yet, so we can wait till the timer expires."

Her expression doesn't falter. She feels it too, the unwavering sense of doom. In a panic, she quickly meets my gaze. Her eyebrows furrowed in pain,

"Kenneth, I love-"

A small pole is flown directly into her, piercing through stomach. Her movement stops for a moment, staring me right in the eyes. I couldn't take my eyes off her. Cricket... No, my Cricket was… oh my God.

My eyes quickly dart to what's behind us. Nothing? What the fuck, nothing? This is supposed to be a safe zone, how is this happening? I look back at her, then finally staring at the pole going right through her stomach. "What the fuck." There's a pause, before her lifeless body falls against mine. The blood gushing from her pools beneath us. No. No No No.

"Cricket, stop… this isn't funny. What illusion spell is this?" I gently grab at her shoulders, propping her up so I can see her face. This is something I wish I hadn't done. Blood was almost flowing out from her mouth, and her eyes were wide open. A part from that, she was still my Cricket.

"Okay, Cricket, enough. Were you behind this? Stop." Her body is quickly disintegrating, starting from her feet. I was in shock, I couldn't breathe. How can I not breathe if it's just a game? I hold her close, not caring if her blood is on me. Why would I care? It's all I have left of her warmth.

[Dungeon Que: TERMINATED]

An unfamiliar voice echos through my mind. Declaring that the que had been interrupted, terminated.

In a sudden flash, the dungeon que room is gone. The scenery is replaced with the vibrant over world I was familiar with. A forest surrounding me, the trees waving in the warm breeze. I quickly look down, expecting to see Cricket there with me. She wasn't. Her body wasn't anywhere to be found. For a moment, I couldn't believe it. It was supposed to be a safe zone. It all happened too fast, that couldn't have been real.

Cricket..

I quickly move my hands to remove the VR from my head. She's still here, it's just a game. She's still here. It never happens though, no matter how many times I keep trying to feel for it. I can't.

"Nah, what the fuck.."