Chapter Three

Emily awoke feeling invigorated. She couldn't remember the last time she felt so refreshed. She woke in the same bed she slept in which she found almost surprising. She had thought maybe when she woke, she would be back on her hard bed in her dark basement. She shivered at the thought.

By the time Emily had crawled out of the cloud she called a bed she realized it was already dark out. It seemed Molly had left some food but didn't want to wake her. Emily took the opportunity to munch the sandwich that waited for her on the vanity while staring out at the great white moon.

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It wasn't long before Emily left the room to explore the castle. Some maids and butlers scurried around the halls but mostly it was quiet. If she were insane, she thought she may as well enjoy, but what if she wasn't? What if this was all real somehow? The thought somehow scared her more than the idea of her being completely crazy.

If this were the game Emily had spent so much time playing, then maybe she knew more about this world than she was giving herself credit for. In the game, King Adam lived in the castle with two of his brothers. None of them were married, as women exposed them to weakness. Most of the quests in the game led you back to the castle but Emily never got to explore.

Emily had found the main entrance and was about to swing the large white door open when a strong arm came around her waist, pulling her back and into a sturdy frame. She flinched at the sudden movement and tried to see who had so blatantly grabbed her. She spotted a tall man smiling down at her, his light brown hair framed his oval face, his eyes were a phenomenal blue, brighter than she had ever seen before.

"Just where do you think you're going, little kitten?" The man asked teasingly.

Emily ripped herself away from the man and shot him a glare. "Who do you think you are exactly? Grabbing someone like that?"

The man snickered. "It��s dangerous out there at this time of night, kitten. You shouldn't wander around out there. That's how you go yourself in that little pickle last night."

Emily stared at the man. "Everyone keeps saying I was hurt but I seem fine now, so I don't understand what you all are on about." Emily didn't like this man's arrogant demeanor. "And stop calling me kitten." She snapped.

"That's because of what attacked you." His smile never faltered. "You are brothers' new little pet, aren't you? You seem like a kitten to me."

"What attacked me then?" Emily rolled her eyes. If she had to guess she would say this is Alex. In the game Alex was the teasing brother, while Adam was always calm and collected. "King Adam is just being nice in letting me stay here."

"Oh? He's just being nice? Is that why your room is right next to his?" He sneered. "Just stay inside at night. I might not be there to save you next time." He winked and walked off. Even his steps leaked his smugness.

"I always thought you were a jerk." Emily whispered under her breath and returned to her room.

It seemed Emily's mind had created quiet the story in her. Emily was positive she must be hallucinating. There was no logical way that this game existed outside of a computer monitor. There seemed to be a million red flags. Yet it felt so real. When she ate the food, she felt it fill her belly, when that man had grabbed her waist, she felt his strong arm tighten around her, she felt his muscular chest against her back. Could those things be made up?

It seemed it was mostly her surroundings that had changed. When she looked in the mirror, she still saw the same skinny, pale, scared little girl, just in fancy clothes. However, everything else was different. He father was no where to be found, her old belongings had vanished and been replaced with luxury. She was even the guest of a king. How could any of this be possible?

Emily plopped back onto the bed and starred up at the white ceiling. If this really were the game, she loved to play maybe she should try to live as she used to play. She would go on hunts and bring back the heads of her prey. Get coin for her troubles and take it back to her home in Walden. She wondered how much of the outside world matched the game she played so often. Would her home be there?

Sleep seemed to elude her for most of the night. She wasn't sure what she would have had to dream about anyway. It seemed this place had exceeded every wish she had so far. In the morning she would venture. She would fund adventure and see where it took her.