by J E Reed
“Tell us about yourself Kiuno,” Elliott said.
Startled, she found all eyes staring. “I-I’m not really sure what to say.”
He turned to Kikyo. “What about you?” Blue eyes rose for a moment, but drifted as if uninterested. Elliott sighed. “Kids. They make things so difficult.”
“Why don’t you tell us about yourself?” she offered.
Elliott leaned back. “Not much to tell. Spent a few years in the military and have a daughter about your age, but retirement is boring. I spend most of my time in the basement modeling airplanes.”
Kiuno laughed. “Modeling doesn’t seem your style.”
He shrugged. “I needed something with a slower pace to occupy my time.” Kiuno tried to envision this authority figure sitting on a stool while wrestling with a glue gun. “Your turn,” he encouraged.
She twiddled her thumbs. “I don’t know. I like to paint.”
“Professional?”
Kiuno shook her head. “Not yet. I’ve had a few people interested, but it’s hard to let my pieces go after spending so much time on them.”
“What’s your style?”
“Landscape.”
Elliott looked around. “You’ll have plenty of inspiration once we get home.”
“No kidding.”
Elliott rose and made his way to the water, splashing it along his arms. She took the opportunity for revenge. Sneaking up behind him, Kiuno planted her foot in his backside and shoved him headfirst into the water.
She was thrown in next, and several more joined in their merriment. Elliott broke the surface laughing, and she tried to swim beyond his reach, but he caught up, dunking her under the surface.
They wrestled and splashed one another for the rest of the afternoon forgetting about the worries they would face tomorrow.
When she finally climbed onto the bank Kiuno removed her shoes and wrung out her hair.
“Vengeful much?” Elliott asked, still laughing.
“I had to repay the favor.” She grinned.
Tired, yet refreshed the group made their way back to the village. Kiuno’s clothes were damp, but they would dry by morning. The only thing that would be soaked for a while were her shoes. She carried them, opting to walk the woods barefoot.
They were welcomed back once again, and Elliott divided the remaining fish between the children and those in desperate need of substance. She hoped Elliott was right about more food tomorrow. Perhaps with full stomachs their minds would clear.
Kiuno made her way back to the wall and collapsed on the blanket. Kikyo claimed they wouldn’t work with the bow for a few days. Her body had to acclimate to the usage. Truthfully, she wasn’t sure she’d be able to lift her arms tomorrow anyway.
“Hey.” Elliott slumped against the wall beside her, looking just as exhausted.
“Hey.”
After spending the day with him she didn’t feel as awkward in his presence.
“Kikyo’s warmed up to you.”
“He was surprisingly patient.”
“I figured.”
She tilted her head, curious. “What made you so sure?”
“Kikyo, like the rest of us, is stressed for obvious reasons. His manifests into aggression. If I’d paired him with one of the other boys, a fight would have broken out, therefore I put him with you. I figured nothing more than verbal aggression would come of it, and even then, he’d feel guilty for it later.”
“He was better after we entered the forest.”
Elliott nodded. “What we’re going through is nothing short of a disaster. People handle such extremes in their own way.”
“How would you say I’m handling it?”
Elliott cocked his head to study her. “Denial.”
“What?”
“You’re still hoping this isn’t real and that hope is preventing you from acceptance and panic.”
Kiuno opened her mouth to argue, but closed it again when she realized he was right. She was still hoping for it to be a dream.
Feeling the need to keep conversation going Kiuno switched the subject. “A lot of people approached you when we came back.”
“They want to help. Come morning I’ll have everyone check their snares and send a few of you fishing. If everything works out, we’ll be having a feast by noon.”
“You think so?”
He nodded. “It’ll help take down a lot of the aggressive behavior.” Elliott sighed. “They’re scared and have every right to be. Feeding this many will be a challenge. Kikyo is heading out to hunt bigger game tomorrow.”
Her demeanor fell as night settled. “How long do you think we’ll be here?”
He leaned forward to unlace a boot. “Honestly, it’s hard to say. We know what we need to do. That’s enough for now.”
Silence settled around them as the last bit of light faded. Nothing seemed real. As if she’d been thrown into a fantasy. Once they were home, the excitement would fade, and it’d just be another story. Hopefully one she’d soon forget.
REALM: 1
DAY: 5
Good morning.” Elliott’s voice woke her, and she cracked one eye to find dawn had barely risen. She groaned and rolled over.
Everything hurt.
He laughed. “Rise and shine we have work to do.”
Maybe he should poke at the people who hadn’t pulled their weight yesterday. Her body felt like a lead weight though the others probably felt the same.
Huffing, Kiuno rolled to her feet and trudged behind him as they made their way to the gate. He waited, still laughing at her and handed her a blanket that would serve as their bag.
“Where’s Kikyo?” she asked.
“Hunting.”
“Oh.” Kiuno chewed her lower lip. Did he go alone?
Once they reached the trees Elliott stepped aside. “After you.”
Kiuno was afraid she might not remember the path, but those fears were put to rest when they came upon the first trap.
A rabbit dangled from its back leg and struggled harder when they approached. She’d always had an affinity toward small furry things and had to turn away when Elliott ended its suffering. This was necessary. This was survival. That knowledge didn’t stop the guilt from welling in her gut.
The next few traps were empty, and she hoped they weren’t the ones she’d set. Elliott simply bent the trees, replaced the sticks and moved forward.
After a few successes, the two stopped before a scattered mess of fur and blood.
Elliott knelt. “Seems predators got them.”
“You don’t think they’re still around do you?” She looked between the trees.
“I’m sure there’s nothing to worry about.” He stood, wiping the sweat from his brow.
“I’m more worried about Kikyo.”
She ignored the smirk playing on Elliott’s face. “No need. He didn’t go out on his own.”
An hour later their bags were full, the traps reset, and Elliott led the way back to the open meadow; the heat of the day rising fast.
A small crowd welcomed Elliott through the gate and he picked people to help skin the rabbits under his guidance. Kiuno’s stomach twisted during the demonstration and she vomited, much to Elliott’s amusement. He sent her away with the assurance that she’d get used to it. She scoffed at him, it wasn’t as if she’d be here long enough. They’d be back home with a microwave and frozen food soon.
With the meat over a fire two more surprises arrived. The group of boys sent fishing returned with several pots full, while Kikyo walked through the gate dragging a deer.
Unable to assist in preparing the large animal, Kiuno helped with the fish. She had plenty of experience in that at least.
While working, Kiuno glanced around and smiled. Strangers were finally talking and sharing stories. Bouts of laughter echoed across the yard as everyone helped prepare dinner. Elliott had been right.
Later that afternoon, she sat beneath a porch, thankful to be a thoughtless shadow. Those that�
�d previously attacked her paid no attention with full stomachs. It was the first time they had the chance to relax.
Kiuno watched Elliott introduce himself and speak with everyone. He seemed genuinely interested in their thoughts. Maybe getting to know them was his way of keeping control and meeting their needs.
That evening he joined her in their usual spot and fell against the wall in exhaustion. Kiuno expected him to comment about the day and express how much they’d accomplished, but he stayed silent.
“Something bothering you?” she asked.
Elliott waved one hand across the area. “Everything. No matter how hard I try to piece this together I can’t come up with anything reasonable.” He let out a long sigh before continuing. “Something was brought to my attention today, but…I don’t know what to think about it.”
Kiuno leaned forward. “What is it?”
“Does the name Chronopoint mean anything to you?”
Chronopoint—A real-time strategy game that focused on building a fortress and defending one’s territory with the help of an alliance. She was the leader of one alliance, and one of the best in her chosen realm.
With the help of her allies, they’d spent two years building to be the strongest. People once thought of as friends had grown to become like family. She couldn’t imagine the chaos they were facing now. Maybe they’d called for a stalemate with rival alliances due to her absence. She was sure her phone was blowing up back home.
“It’s a game.”
“Something you played often?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“And you used the name Kiuno?”
She nodded. “But I use that for everything. What does a game have to do with any of this?”
“Some feel they’ve only used their given names for that game in particular.”
Kiuno laughed. “Are you trying to tell me we were kidnapped because of a game?”
Elliott couldn’t hide his smirk. “That’s what these kids are trying to tell me.”
“That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. Did you even play?”
“I dabbled with it.”
Her smile faded. “You used the name Elliott?”
He nodded, and she looked out over the area. “I knew a lot of people in that world, but I don’t recognize anyone here.”
“Would you be able to recognize them by their face alone?”
She thought about it and shrugged. “I guess not, but I haven’t heard any names that ring a bell either.”
“No sense in getting worked up over a theory then.”
Silence fell between them, and she wondered how much merit he was giving to the assumed theory. Was it possible to track people through a mobile game and if so, how had they been transported?
“There’s a few people interested in starting a search party.”
“Kikyo?”
“No, he’s our best hunter.”
She sighed with relief. “When are they going?”
“Probably tomorrow afternoon. If they don’t find anything in a few days they’ll come back, fill us in and head in another direction.”
Silence fell between them as she watched the sun sink on another day. Homesickness had set in hard. She wanted her bed, to cuddle with her cats and eat cold pizza while watching T.V. She wanted to see her husband and forget this whole mess ever happened.
TWO TEAMS of three set out the following afternoon. One group headed north while the other moved south. If she’d managed a few days on her own, surely, they wouldn’t have any trouble.
Everyone bid them farewell and waited.
A week crawled by.
Then another.
By the third, people were restless and another group, this time with five, headed north.
They never returned.
Kiuno stood by the gate staring into the trees as the sun faded once again. It’d been three weeks, and she wondered how eleven people could disappear without a trace.
Despite the worry that clawed at their minds, the rest of them were forced to move on. They had a shaky routine that comprised of hunting, fishing, and collecting water. No one wandered far though she felt Kikyo pushed the limits. He was always watching at the top of the gate. A guardian statue waiting for news to break through the trees.
Two days in a row she woke with Elliott already gone. Curiosity got the better of her, and she followed him. If nothing else killed her, boredom certainly would.
When she rounded the gate, he was stretching.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“Figured in light of the situation it would be best to get back in shape.”
“Care if I join?”
He laughed. “Knock yourself out.”
The two made three laps around the wall, and she could finally see the back side of the meadow. The trees wrapped around it in an almost perfect circle.
He outran her, which came as no surprise, but when Elliott told her he wanted to get back in shape she’d assumed he was out of shape to begin with. She tried her hardest to match his pace, but she’d never been much of a runner.
After their run, they went straight into exercises which again left her quite displeased with herself. She collapsed after their final set of pushups.
“How well are you able to defend yourself?”
She took in a shaky breath. “At the moment?”
Elliott laughed. “In general.”
Kiuno sat up wiping the sweat from her eyes. “I never really thought about it.” She’d like to think she’d be able to handle herself, but after being attacked for a piece of fish it was doubtful.
“Do you want to learn?”
“It’s not like I’m doing much else.”
They started with the basics, and she quickly realized her lack of knowledge. They spent time on how to throw a simple punch then moved into reading an opponent. It made her wonder if this whole experience was part of some life lesson to not take things for granted.
Every morning thereafter she worked with Elliott, only to regret it when Kikyo came for her. Both men seemed inclined to turn her into a fighting machine.
“So where are you from?” She tried for the third day in a row. Kikyo always ignored her questions and pointed to the target, much to her disappointment.
“Georgia.”
He speaks.
“Anywhere close to Savannah?” She’d been there occasionally on family vacations.
He pointed to the target again when she turned to him. “No, I’ve never been to the coast.”
“You lived that close and never visited?”
“My father wasn’t fond of it.”
“Do you still live with him?”
He nodded, and she fired another arrow. It struck too low.
“He taught me everything I know. My brother left for college last year.”
“What about your mom?”
He fell silent which made her turn to look at him again.
“She’s been gone a long time.”
Kiuno’s heart clenched. “I’m so—”
He cut her short. “I worried about him being on his own.”
“Is he in good health?”
Kikyo nodded and let out a small laugh. “He’d scold me if he knew the reason I stayed.”
She let a few more arrows loose and hit the target though they were still off center.
“You’re getting better, but I can see your arms shaking from here.”
“I worked out with Elliott again this morning. He’s teaching me to defend myself.”
“Good. You could use it.”
Kiuno glared at him before remembering his cheek, and her face flushed. “I never asked you to intervene for me back then.”
“You expect me to let a group of men beat up a defenseless girl?”
“No, but if you’re going to be chivalrous then don’t blame the victim.”
He smiled. “Fair enough.”
They took a separate route on the way back, and she wondered if
Kikyo were mapping the area or looking for new hunting grounds. He appeared comfortable among the trees and moved as if he were one with the forest. She made so much noise in comparison.
Watching the ground, Kiuno tried to mimic his steps. She avoided dead debris and sticks, but still felt as if the ground resisted every movement.
“Close your eyes.”
Just as her head rose, Kiuno was spun around and almost tripped before Kikyo pulled her into his chest. She raised both hands to put space between them, and disappointment flooded her core. That wasn’t the way Elliott showed her to react. Maybe knowing it was Kikyo prevented her from striking him. When did he move behind her anyway?
“Ki—”
“Be quiet,” he whispered.
Alarm bells went off. His body was too close, but that wasn’t what had her worried. His breathing came out in rapid gasps, and through his shirt she could feel his heart pounding.
Kiuno stilled, and a scent like the forest overwhelmed her senses. She couldn’t think or wrap her mind around what he might be staring at. She tried to steel herself and push against him again, but he tightened his grip.
“Let go.”
“Be still.” His voice shook. So unlike Kikyo. He’d been angry when they first arrived not afraid. She tried to listen. His head shifted from side to side, and his grip tightened even though she hadn’t moved. He was much stronger than she expected.
“What’s going on?”
“We need to get back, but you have to keep your eyes closed.”
“Why?” The unknown was paralyzing as her mind envisioned the worst of scenarios.
“Just trust me.”
Though reluctant she nodded once, and he tentatively released his hold. One hand pushed at the center of her back while the other wrapped around her wrist.
“Are you going to tell me wh—”
“Step,” he ordered. She did so, and he pushed her forward ignoring the rest of her questions. When she tripped Kikyo wrapped his arm around her waist to hold her steady. It felt like forever before he gave her permission to open her eyes again.
The forest had thinned, telling her they were almost to the meadow, but nothing seemed out of place. Kiuno tried to look behind her, but he pushed her forward.