chapter 1

Aaron didn't want to admit it. He was currently standing in the woman's clothing aisle and Laney was staring at him with anticipation while she held a green dress.

"I don't know, red looks better on you," said Aaron hesitantly.

Laney calmly put the dress back. "You're just saying that."

"Maybe. But red actually looks better on you."

Aaron flickered his glance in the other direction. He was coming on too strong and he knew it. Laney would never be into him. Not as much as he wished to at least. They were just friends. Best friends actually. They've known each other since the second grade. Aaron remembered those hazy gray eyes and curly red pigtails like they'd only met yesterday.

"Thanks for shopping with me. It's just a little weird going on my own ya know?"

"Yeah, I understand. How's Ridley doing?"

"She's been kinda...busy these days. It seems she's headstrong on Eli than she is with me."

"Don't say that. I'm sure she's got a lot on her mind right now and she definitely cares about you."

Laney tried to disguise the small smile on her face. Aaron was glad the calm chatters of the customers hid the awkwardness.

"Is your mom ok?"

"Getting by," said Aaron. The calm air was suddenly getting dark and surrounding him. There was an emptiness in his chest.

"I've heard stories. People are talking about this game called Osiris. Apparently, if you win the game, you get two hundred thousand kelas. Only thing is, no one has ever won the game. But they're reopening it again this year. Tomorrow actually."

Aaron gave her an ominous glance. "Reopening?"

"It's a VR game. Only those who've been in the game actually know how it's like. Only they've never returned."

Aaron could see the spark in her eyes starting to arise. He shook his head.

"You have to give it a shot," said Laney.

"My family needs me, Laney. I'm all they got since...it's too dangerous."

"If you win, our faction could mean something. You'll be able to help your mother and your brother. Maybe even our people. Think about it."

"I am helping them. By staying alive."

Laney took the red dress and carefully caressed it. The silky-smooth cotton wrapped around her fingers like water.

"Maybe red looks better on you than it does on me."

The Crescent was a run-down neighborhood in the suburbs of Green Faction. Most of the families that lived here couldn't afford to live anywhere else, especially in the city. The kids that lived here spent their time snorting or selling cocaine, beating up other kids, or running from the cops. Some kids even murdered their own family. The Crescent was an uninviting place to be and no city folk who's ever heard about it, ever dared to enter.

Aaron walked up to an old dilapidated house, right next to the one where a shirtless boy was watching him. He seemed to be about his age. It was hard to tell whether he wanted to talk to him or kill him. Or maybe neither. Maybe he just liked to stare at strangers. With unease, Aaron opened the door and went inside. His mother would probably be asleep and his brother at training camp. But not today. Today Aaron heard crying. It was coming from his mother's bedroom. He went up to her room and cautiously crept in. It turned out she was weeping. Lydian was sitting right beside her.

"What's going on?"

"We're getting evaded," said Lydian. His voice didn't even sound like his own anymore.

In Green Faction, being evaded was synonymous with death. You would be sent to Terminal and there you would be shot and your body would be thrown in the fire. Evasion was what kept everyone doing their jobs and following the law.

"Is this true mom?" Aaron asked.

"We've been late on paying our rent four times. We have two weeks to pay this one or the Government is taking us to Terminal."

"Aaron?" said Lydian. Aaron couldn't ignore this. His own little brother was looking up to him. He had to fight the fear that was engulfing him.

"There's this game. If you win, you're able to get some money."

"How much?" Aaron's mother asked.

"Enough."

"What're you waiting for then?" Lydian asked, looking as if all you had to do was press a button.

"It's dangerous. If I go, there's a chance I probably won't come back. There's a chance I did it all for nothing."

Aaron's mom pursed her lips and shook her head. "Listen, Aaron, you're strong, and I believe in you. Lydian believes in you. But if you give up now, we have all given up."

"I'll die, mom."

"We're already dead."