Chapter 11 - Down Time

Trev's next few hours were spent attempting to relax, or as much as he could given the circumstances. Due to the sound that had annihilated all technology, they had been left devoid of power. Even if electricity had been available, the appliances and sources of entertainment had met their explosive demise. Thus, he found himself sitting in the lounge, engaging in conversation with Emilee while she tenderly stroked Mr Bluebell, nestled cosily on her lap. Elena, on the other hand, had retreated upstairs, defiantly declaring ownership over one of the rooms and securing it with a locked door. Occasionally, their eyes would catch glimpses of desperate figures sprinting past the windows, relentlessly pursued by various creatures. It appeared that the Evolution Corp had done their research on earth's popular media, as a majority of the creatures were keystone figures of fantasy, history or myth. Goblins seemed to have overtaken this particular area, darting about with their miniature blades, viciously shanking unsuspecting victims. Trev presumed that they had fortuitously begun the game in a starting zone. If the Evolution games were anything like the MMOs he was accustomed to, there must be a multitude of higher-level zones. Those unfortunate souls who commenced their journey in a maximum-level zone would either be in hiding or already dead.

As darkness enveloped the surroundings, Trev managed to scrounge up some matches and candles, casting a feeble glow to ward off the pitch-black abyss. The night sky was clouded, devoid of the comforting moonlight, so although the outside was pure darkness, the noises of the creatures still resonated as if they didn't sleep. Eventually they decided to go to bed, forcing Mr Bluebell to get up off Emilee's lap. While Emilee was rousing him, Mr Bluebell stepped on her arm and rubbed against her, with one paw that happened to stand on her blue faced watch. His foot pressed down on the watch, causing it to strobe and ultimately flash a vibrant blue hue. Emilee froze, it appeared like she was reading something, a smile slowly creeping onto her face. Once she had finished reading, a brilliant smile adorned her face as she enveloped Mr Bluebell in a joyous embrace.

"You're my companion now!" she exclaimed with uncontainable glee.

"Companion?" queried Trev, his curiosity piqued.

"Yes! He is now enveloped in a blue outline, and I can access additional statistics about him," she squealed in delight.

"That's fantastic! Since his previous owner is no longer with us, you may as well take care of him," Trev responded warmly.

"Come with me, Mr Bluebell," Emilee beckoned, rising from her seat. "Goodnight, Trevor."

"Goodnight, Emilee," he replied, watching her depart with Mr Bluebell, a flickering candle in hand.

Left alone, carrying the remaining candle, he ascended the stairs and entered the last bedroom. Trev's sleeping quarters were modest, featuring a single bed. As soon as he lay down, he swiftly succumbed to slumber.

At an indeterminate hour, Trev stirred from his sleep, the click of his bedroom door echoing through the darkness. As daylight had yet to reclaim its dominion, and given the relatively short summer nights, only a few hours had elapsed since he had drifted off. Assuming it to be a figment of his imagination, he attempted to lull himself back to sleep until an individual approached the bed, unveiling the covers and slipping into the vacant space beside him. Trev, believing the person had merely mistaken their wayward return, reached out to touch them, but they continued their endeavour unperturbed. Nestled against his chest, they spooned against him, securing his arm around them. Soft to the touch, their flowing hair and diminutive stature indicated that it was Elena. Trev welcomed her presence, assuming she sought solace in companionship. Before long, he succumbed to the lull of sleep once more, her warmth becoming his sanctuary.

[Four days until earth's transformation is completed]

Upon awakening the next morning, sunlight graced the world beyond the windows, and Elena had vanished. Had he imagined her nocturnal visitation? He retraced his thoughts, reminiscing on the warmth and tenderness he had felt, ultimately convincing himself of its authenticity. Shortly after rousing, he emerged from his room and descended the stairs, where the two girls sat in silence, patiently awaiting his awakening.

"Finally," Elena rejoiced, her words devoid of acknowledgment regarding their nocturnal embrace.

"How long have you been awake?" Trev inquired.

"Feels like hours," Elena replied, her tone laced with exaggeration.

"It's been no more than half an hour," Emilee interjected, her demeanour more grounded. "Good morning, Trevor. How did you sleep?"

"Great thanks, you?"

"We slept well, thank you," she replied, indicating to Mr Bluebell.

"What's the plan for today?" asked Trev.

"Putting as much distance as possible between us and the dropship. Hopefully, we can stumble upon functioning technology to shed light on our situation," Elena declared with a hint of optimism.

"What exactly is the dropship?" Emilee inquired.

"It's the term I've coined for that colossal object we witnessed descending onto the street yesterday."

"Dropship it is, then," acknowledged Trev.

Having occasionally mentioned gaming slang and an explicit understanding of what was happening, Trev speculated Elena had a better grasp of gaming in general that she let on.

Fifteen minutes later, their belongings were gathered and ready for departure, Trev procured a backpack and diligently stocked it with provisions—food, water, and other essentials. Elena, through some stroke of fortune, had acquired another metal pole, now proficiently dual-wielding them. She had craftily fashioned a makeshift sheath out of a small golf bag, finding a way to accommodate her newfound weaponry. Regrettably, the golf clubs had been classified as weapons and reduced to metal dust. Meanwhile, Emilee had taken charge of acquiring all the necessary supplies for Mr Bluebell, including cat food and a cat backpack discovered within the house, ensuring their feline companion could join them on their journey. To Trev's surprise, Elena made no objection to the presence of the cat, accepting it without protest. He had expected her to dismiss the notion, fearing that it might impede their progress. When they were finally prepared, they ventured outside, with Elena at the forefront, poised to strike down any monsters that dared encroach upon her swinging range.

As they traversed the park, retracing their steps from the previous day and passing the spot where they had initially scaled the wall, their gaze was drawn to three newly arrived boxes. Two large, fridge-sized containers and a smaller one, a perfect cube measuring approximately thirty centimetres on each side, had descended upon the park during the night. Made of the same trademark metal as the dropship, they emitted an aura of intrigue. The larger boxes emanated a chilling coldness, but held no other apparent interest. The smaller box, whose top surface was a glowing Vermillion red, however, ignited a fervent debate among the group.

"I want to press the red button, I'm curious," Elena announced, determination lacing her voice.

"I don't think we should," replied Emilee, cautiously.

Trev found himself torn. Red buttons usually signified danger, yet he couldn't help but harbour a profound sense of curiosity. He yearned to witness the outcome firsthand. Disregarding any semblance of authority or advice, Elena brazenly dismissed Emilee's cautionary words and firmly pressed her palm against the vivid vermillion button. Instantaneously, the button's hue transformed into a regal shade of blue, and the side of the box opened, launching out a tiny capsule no larger than a marble onto the grass. With astounding speed, the capsule expanded, morphing into the size of a basketball within seconds. It continued to grow until it reached the proportions of a human, at which point its expansion ceased. The capsule burst open, revealing a mantis-like creature, standing tall at human height. Unbeknownst to them, they had inadvertently summoned a miniboss.