The Crimson Quest: A LitRPG Adventure

by J. B. Smith

  Stevie walked over to me. "Already tried. The bars go under the stage and into the floor. There's no way out. I've already looked everywhere.

  I looked around and examined the bars. They went right over our heads. There weren't any gaps big enough for me to go through. We were literally in a big rat cage. "How long have you been here?" I have a sked.

  "I have no idea. It's been several months though. I figured I could finish the quest and save Johnson. But, everything was working against me. He doesn't even want to leave. I had no idea I was going. would stay stuck here for so long. And now with the problem , I can't even log out. My life is really suck now.

  "And the guards didn't come to get you?"

  Stevie laughs. “They don't care. I am stuck in the quest. Nobody cares if you're stuck on a quest unless you're very important to FlatFall. "

  “There must be a way out. There is always a way out. What haven't you tried?

  “I tried to dig and climb,” he replied.

  I sat down. "How about running out of the door when the giant opens it?"

  “He would probably kill you. It's too risky, ”Stevie replied .

  What else? What could possibly work? There was no way I could kill the giant. This I knew for sure. I needed to cheat on him somehow. Otherwise, I would be doomed to be a full time loser like my new friend Stevie. The last thing I wanted was a life of dancing in a weasel costume. Sure, being a prisoner at FlatFall sucked a bit, but it was a whole new level of sucking. At least at FlatFall I had the chance to become Grand Champion. There was nothing to hope for here, and I refused to pretend to be a weasel any longer. "I'll find a way out," I said, hopping to my feet.

  "Really?" Stevie asked in a hopeful voice. "Will you take me too?" Please. I want so badly to leave.

  “It wasn't part of the deal,” Johnson replied. “You're with me Stevie. Why do you keep denying this? "

  "What's your business, man?" I don't belong to you. The only reason I'm here is because I can't complete this stupid quest. Why can't you understand this?

  "Because it's not true," Johnson muttered. “We had rich conversations and connections at a high level. Can't feel the connection? You must feel it good?

  "I don't feel like shit," Stevie yelled back. Stevie walked over to me and leaned against my ear. "This NPC is delusional."

  "What did you whisper?" How could you hide secrets from me with this stranger?

  Stevie didn't answer. The truth was, I didn't know how I was going to escape and if I could even take Stevie with me. It was going to be pretty hard trying to figure out how to take Johnson with me. “I'll try to make everyone happy here,” I replied. "But first, I have to make a plan."

  Everyone fell silent as I tried to think of something clever. Something that would confuse the giant. I looked at the giant and saw that he was still sleeping. His drunken ways had sent him to a dark world. I was happy with it. But what was I going to do? I didn't know, but I knew I was going to escape. I was ready to risk everything to escape. There was no other option. Then I suddenly had an idea. "Did you fake your death?" I asked in a low voice.

  "I've never tried this," Stevie replied with a raised eyebrow.

  "That makes sense, doesn't it?"

  “It could work,” he replied.

  I nodded. It was official, I was going to fake my death. I didn't know how it was all going to play out, but it was the only plan I could come up with.

  Chapter twenty-seven

  I walked back and forth as a fire burned inside my mind. I had an idea, but how was it all going to play out? I realized Stevie was asking the same question. "How are you going to fake your death?" And how could we both escape? Stevie asked.

  I loved Stevie, but I had only known him for a very short time. I wanted to help him, but it wasn't as important as helping myself. Still, I would try to help him escape too if that was possible. “You could take advantage of the situation. When the giant is distracted by my death, maybe you could run for it?

  "It's not good enough," Stevie replied.

  "Not good enough? But what other options do you have?"

  He shrugged his shoulders. “You might want to find something better. That's all I'm saying.

  "Like what?"

  "I don't know. But I can't sit here and watch you slip away without me.

  "Why not? What does my escape have to do with you?"

  Stevie looked me in the eye. “You are my ticket. Do you understand this? I'd love to let you escape without me.

  I could tell Stevie was a depressed little man. I could see it in his eyes. Still, there was nothing I could do for him. He must have made the most of my escape attempt. "You better understand something because it's my plan." There is no other plan. So, I advise you to create your own plan based on my plan. "

  “I won't allow you to escape without me. I will tell the giant that you are faking your death. Wait and see.

  Thin. Was I going to have to kill Stevie? For a split second, I thought it might be necessary. But I couldn't kill someone so desperate. However, it was hard to believe that he would resort to such selfish measures. I knew he was depressed, but now he disagreed with my plan. "Come on man. Why are you trying to screw up my escape plan? I wouldn't do this to you.

  Johnson ran closer to us. "Why don't you both stay?" he asked with wide eyes. “It's not that bad here. Over time, you will learn to like receiving my master. There is a certain satisfaction in pleasing him. It can be a very rewarding lifestyle. "

  “It sounds like a very crappy life,” I replied.

  "It's a crush," Stevie replied. “That's why I won't allow you to leave without me. Sorry, that's how it is. I have to get out of here and I won't let you go without me. Please, can't we come up with a plan that helps both of us? "

  I didn't really blame Stevie. If I were in her shoes, I would probably do the same. I guess it was selfish to come up with a plan that only helped me. "Alright, do you have any other ideas?"

  "We are fighting. A vicious fight and we both die.

  " How can we both die?" Two people don't just die at the same time. Usually someone survives.

  "You're right. Maybe I'll just pretend I'm badly injured and barely alive. Then I can crawl on top of your body."

  "Crawling over my body?" But why would you need to do this?

  “It's simple,” Stevie replied. “The giant will reach out and grab your corpse. I want him to take me too.

  "But what if he just blows you up?" I asked.

  “I don't think he will. I'll hold on to you.

  I rolled my eyes. This plan seemed a little too complicated. There were so many things that could go wrong. In theory, this could work. But it all seemed so risky. Then Johnson expressed his concerns. “It was not part of our deal. Stevie can't leave me. I told you he couldn't.

  "What's your problem?" Stevie asked. "What's this strange obsession you have with me?" I can go and I will. Understand?"

  A surprised look came to Johnson's face. "Why are you acting this way? I've never seen this side of you. How can you let someone influence you so much? Are you really that easily swayed?

  Stevie became upset. “You worry about yourself, and I will laugh at me. Does that sound good?

  This whole situation sucked. Johnson didn't know it, but he was leaving with us. The "Stevie stay with me" thing didn't even matter. Still, I had to pretend it was important in case Johnson had any brilliant ideas. “Don't worry Johnson. I'll make sure I stick to my end of the deal. "

  "How are you going to do that?" Stevie asked irritably.

  I pulled Stevie closer to me and pulled him to the far corner from Johnson. Then I whispered at an extremely soft level . "Do you have any ropes or chains?"

  "Yes. I have rope," Stevie whispered back.

  "Great. We might need it for Johnson.

  "What are you two talking about over there?" Johnson asked with a long neck.

  "Nothing," I replied. “Just a few chatty type things. A wide range of things really.
>
  Johnson moved closer to us. "What are you really talking about? Something sneaky is going on here. I can just feel it. "

  “There is nothing sneaky,” Stevie replied. "We were just having a conversation."

  Johnson was getting really boring. But I had to act like everything was going according to plan. "Don't worry. Stevie isn't leaving. We have a big plan. Shut up, and I promise Stevie will stay with you. Not only that, I 'll bring new players here too.

  “Good,” Johnson replied. “If you do as you say, I won't alert my master.

  “Don't worry, everything is going according to plan. But it's a complicated plan. We just need a few moments alone to figure it all out. Do you understand?"

  Johnson seemed to disbelieve me at first. But that look quickly faded as her head bounced up and down. "That makes sense. But don't you think three brains are better than two?

  "Sure. But that's only the first step in planning. The second step will involve all three of our brains. Does that make sense?"

  Johnson looked confused. "I think so," he replied.

  “Just give us a few more moments. Then we will involve you in the final decision. We need someone to tell us whether the plan makes sense or not. Th at when you come ".

  Johnson raised a finger in the air. "Oh I see. So I'll be kind of like the final decision maker?"

  "Yes. It is absolutely true," I replied.

  Johnson smiled and walked away from us. Yeah, the little idiot really believed me. I turned to Stevie and started to review the plan. "So we fight until our fake deaths, and then what?" How do you tie up who? "

  "Why do you want to tie up Johnson?" Stevie asked.

  “Don't say her name. I have to tie it up. I didn't come here for nothing. I have to take him back to his brother.

  "So we are going to share the reward?"

  "Are you serious right now?" I asked. "Why would we share the reward?"

  "Because I am helping you."

  “You are not helping me. You have already taken the quest and clearly failed. If it wasn't for me, you wouldn't even escape. You realize that, don't you?

  Stevie sighed. "Fine. I'll take just twenty-five percent.

  "Dude. You don't take the shit. I'm going to stay here and dance with you two before I give you twenty-five percent. You said it yourself, I'm your ticket.

  "Alright," Stevie replied. "You can have it all. Let's get out of here."

  I smiled. "Glad you came to your senses." So, I'm not leaving without him. And if I don't go, you don't go. So how do we tie it up and bring it with us?

  "We just have to tie him up before the fight."

  "But he will alert the giant."

  "No. You'll hold his mouth while I tie him up. Then I'll stick a rag in his mouth to keep him quiet.

  "Yes, but won't the giant hear her muffled cries?" I asked.

  "I hope. Then the giant can see what's going on. He can see the whole fight going on. Eve ntually, he'll check to see if we're still alive. It's just a natural curiosity.

  I felt a little stupid. The whole plan seemed so risky. There were so many things that could go wrong. Yes, the giant could check if we were alive. But how would we know? W hat if he just slammed the door and didn't even care to check? Or what if he untied Johnson and told him everything? Or worse yet, what if he tries to eat us? Shit. It was something I hadn't considered. "What if the giant tries to eat us?" So what would we do?

  “To eat us, he has to put us in his mouth. Right?"

  “Of course,” I replied.

  "It will not happen. I'm going to pull out my sword and stick it in his head.

  Stevie seemed way too confident for a man who dressed up as a rat every day. "How do we know it will hurt him?" What if it pisses him off and he kills us?

  "How do we know something? How do we know our hearts will keep beating? We don't. It's just something you have to believe. "

  Stevie's logic only made a little sense. I didn't want to argue because I couldn't say anything that would solve the problem. It was just a fucked up situation and I had to hope for the best. The truth was, it was dangerous. Guess the NPC quest giver wasn't kidding when he said that. I shook my head. "Guess that's the plan we're going with?"

  "It might as well be," Stevie replied.

  I ran my hands through my hair. "You might as well not waste time, right?" Do you have the rope ready?

  "Now? Do you want to do it now?"

  "Why not? I don't see why we should wait any longer. Do you?"

  Stevie started to look a little worried. The energy Nervou was growing in him. "I mean, we could wait a little longer," he said with a stutter.

  "For what reason? Do you want to get out of here or continue living your life like a part-time rat? What is it going to be? I want to go ahead and make it happen. Ge t your rope ready. All right? "

  Stevie pulled out a rope. "Are you sure?" he asked hesitantly.

  “Yes. I'm as sure as I ever will be,” I replied. “We'll just load it up and tie it up. I'll hold its mouth, and you tie. I'll turn around and start running. Understand?"

  Stevie held the rope next to him. I turned and looked at Johnson. He motioned to me. Damn, I almost felt bad for what I was going to do. But that feeling quickly left me when I realized he belonged to his brother . With sudden speed, I ran head-on towards Johnson. A nervous look came to his face. He darted from side to side like a squirrel that couldn't make up its mind in the middle of the road. I rushed forward and threw him to the ground. Her mouth opened, but I covered it.

  With remarkable speed, Stevie wrapped the rope around Johnson's small bony body and began to tie it up. Johnson struggled, but he couldn't escape. It didn't take long before he was completely tied up. It was official, we had tied up a man dressed in a hamster costume. Her muffled cries could barely be heard as my hands tightened around her mouth. “Put the rag in his mouth,” I said.

  Stevie pulled out a rag and stuffed it into Johnson's mouth. "Now what?" he asked with nervous eyes.

  "It's time for me to kick your ass," I replied with a chuckle.

  Stevie looked confused with my answer. Suddenly I jumped over to Stevie. "It's not a real fight, is it?" He asked.

  "Of course not. But we have to make it look real. Besides, we might as well have a little fun .

  I pushed Stevie to the ground and got over him. "Die," I cried over and over again, slapping her lightly on the shoulder.

  The struggle continued for many moments as we tried to make it real. Then Stevie yelled something. "Help me. He's going to kill me!

  Stevie grabbed my shoulders then slammed his palm against my chin. Damn, that hurts a bit actually. After that he hit me on the face. It wasn't a gentle slap, however. It was hard. Why was he so hard? I wiped my nose and noticed some blood on my finger. Did he bleed me? He was going to pay for it. I slammed my elbow against his face. "What the hell?" he asked in surprise.

  "What? You can hit me as hard as you want and I can't do the same to you?"

  "It was just a little slap," he replied. "Not a full-fledged elbow."

  “Oh come on,” I replied. “You hit me as hard as you can. Admit it. "

  I wrapped my arms around her neck and started to suffocate her. But then my grip relaxed. I looked to see if the giant was still awake. But he wasn't. "He's still sleeping," I say.

  “Scream something. Wake her ass up, ”Stevie replied.

  I didn't know what to scream, so I just roared as loud as I could. The roar continued until I heard the giant leap to his side. What is this mess? When was he going to wake up? We both started screaming as loud as we could. Within moments, the giant was awake. "What's going on ? he asked with a boom.

  Oh fuck. The giant was looking at us. Just for a little more realism, I hit Stevie's face very hard. “Die,” I shouted. "The whole world wants you dead."

  Stevie didn't answer. His eyes weren't even open. Shit. Is it that I hit him too hard? I started to shake it gently. "Wake up man," I mumbled.

  The giant st
ood up as I pulled Stevie's body to the far corner of the cage. With no other choice, I slapped Stevie across the face. “I said wake up.

  Suddenly Stev coughed. Then he came to his senses. “Dude, I think you almost killed me. What the hell?"

  “It was an accident,” I replied. "I just wanted a little realism."

  The giant's head hit the metal bars. "Stop it," he ordered. “You will both be bad for me. I want this now.