by Cheree Alsop
Breccan’s gaze slid to the window. Each empty level that passed made his heart feel tighter. They should have been packed with laughter and enjoyment. The avatars who normally swarmed the various floors had been vaporized or were in hiding from the terror that had taken over their world of escape. Nobody deserved to feel that way.
Breccan’s hands clenched into fists. He winced and glanced down at his hand. Worry that it wouldn’t heal while he was in the chair doubled at the sight of how much blood soaked the handkerchief, but there was nothing he could do about it in the Edge. He leaned against the window as lightheadedness rushed over him. He sucked in a breath and told himself it was because of the adrenaline. He was fine.
The elevator beeped at Gorge Thyself. Breccan motioned to the avatars. They hurried to the other side of the door from him and waited with their tasers ready. Breccan lifted a hand to keep anyone from moving before the Techsecs were inside. Their only hope if they were outnumbered would be the element of surprise.
When the doors opened, a single form ran into the elevator. The fact that he wasn’t a Techsec gave Breccan some relief, but he kept his taser ready and didn’t lower his guard as he studied the avatar’s back. Something about the man’s weapons vest and pointed ears struck him with familiarity.
“Bullshark?” he said in surprise.
Jonny’s avatar spun around. He spotted Breccan and grinned. “Hey, cous. Good to see you’re still alive.” He gestured toward the closing door. “It’s a madhouse out there!”
“What are you doing here?” Breccan asked. “You’re supposed to be sleeping!”
“I woke up in the chair and figured I’d come help you out as long as my brain works.” He lifted a hand. “I know, I’m expecting a lot, but I couldn’t leave you hanging.” His brow furrowed and he asked, “Why didn’t you take me home? It was closer.”
Breccan didn’t know how to tell his cousin that he had left the body of a man who had tried to kill him on the living room floor. He instead went with, “I knew the Edge needed us, so I figured it would be quicker this way.”
“Good idea,” Bullshark agreed. He shook his head. “I can’t believe how many avatars are already gone.”
“We’re going to have quite the fight when we get up there,” Breccan told him.
Interest showed in Bullshark’s gaze. “Where are we going?”
“Topton,” Jinx said excitedly. “We’re going to fight for the castle!”
“Great,” Jonny’s avatar replied dryly. “You couldn’t pick somewhere a little less conspicuous, could you?”
Breccan grinned. “I like a challenge.”
The elevator beeped and the sign for Topton lit up. As soon as the doors opened, the avatars around Breccan fell back.
The entire expanse from the elevator to the castle was filled with battling Techsecs and avatars. Breccan’s heart sank.
Bullshark spoke Breccan’s thoughts aloud. “There’s no way we can make it.”
“We need a better plan than rushing out there and getting ourselves vaporized,” Breccan agreed.
“But the castle is our last hope of defense,” Sneedle pointed out.
Breccan heard the anguish in the man’s voice and nodded. “You’re right, but we can’t rush into this. We need a place to regroup and come up with a plan.”
He was about to press the button to close the elevator door before they were spotted when a voice called out, “Gabe!”
Breccan’s head jerked up. His eyes locked on Jorie. She lay crouched on top of a coach that waited near the elevator. The stags at the front were motionless statues. Hope filled Breccan at the realization that they waited for the touch of someone who was invited.
“Is that your girl?” Bullshark asked.
Breccan grinned. “That’s her.” He glanced behind him at the other avatars. “I can’t take all of you,” he said. “It’ll be too dangerous and we won’t have enough room in the coach. As soon as I leave, close the door but keep the elevator up here. We might need to escape quickly.”
“Yes, Lord Game Breaker,” two of the avatars said.
The third mumbled incoherently from where he leaned against the wall. Breccan had seen him slam into a popsicle when running from one of the Techsecs. It was a good thing they wouldn’t be going.
Bullshark snorted. “It’s Lord Game Breaker now?”
“I’m pretty sure Black Jack started it,” Breccan said.
“Where is Black Jack?” Bullshark asked.
Breccan kept his gaze on Jorie. “At the Mainframe. She’ll contact me when she finds out who’s running the Techsecs. Until then, we have a battle to fight. Let’s go.”
“I’ve got your back,” Jinx said.
Breccan’s instincts beckoned for him to protect the little boy by leaving him. He had to remind himself of Jorie’s statement that nothing in the Edge was real. The boy could be his age in the real world, and he wasn’t putting someone at risk who didn’t know what he was up against.
“I appreciate it,” he told Jinx. He glanced at Sneedle. “What about you?”
“Ready and willing,” the man replied. He took off his blue top hat that had somehow miraculously made it through the fray and he set it carefully on the head of one of the other avatars. “Take good care of that. I’ll be back for it.”
“Will do,” the man replied. He ran his finger along the brim. “I’ve always wanted one of these.”
Sneedle grimaced and reached for it. “Maybe I should bring it along just in case.”
Breccan grabbed his arm. “Leave it. Let’s go.”
“Fine,” Sneedle replied with a sigh. “Off to fight the hordes and all that.”
Breccan stifled a laugh that was edged in hysteria. Another glance at the battle between where they stood and the doors to the castle showed how hopeless their fight was. He could only hope that the luck that had kept him from getting electrocuted when he plugged himself in would also protect them on their foolhardy mission.
“For the Edge,” he said quietly.
“For the Edge,” Sneedle, Bullshark, and Jinx echoed.
Breccan took off running the moment his feet touched the ground. Four Techsecs spotted them and surged forward with a red glow and outstretched scanners. Another four were alerted by their movement and turned to see what had caused the alarm.
Shots flew through the air as Breccan reached the carriage. At the touch of his hand on the coach’s door, the stags sprang to life. Breccan tore the door open. The others climbed inside while he helped Jorie down. They ducked into the carriage and slammed the door just before the Techsecs reached them. The stags leaped in their traces, jerking the carriage forward and throwing everyone to the floor. Scanner flashes whizzed overhead from the windows. Everyone silently agreed that it was safer to stay on the floor.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
“Jorie, what are you doing here?” Breccan demanded. Relief at seeing her alive and intact battled with the fear of what they faced.
“I was waiting for you,” Jorie replied. “I knew you’d need a coach.”
“How did you—” Breccan shook his head. “Never mind. I need you to stay in here.”
“No way,” Jorie replied.
Breccan held her gaze. “It’s going to be a madhouse out there. I can’t protect you.”
Jorie gave him a half-smile. “Like I protected you?”
A tight laugh escaped Bullshark. “She’s got you there!”
Breccan sputtered but couldn’t think of a reply.
The carriage slowed. He pushed up and glanced outside.
“If we hurry, we can make it up the stairs, but I don’t know how we’ll get through the doors,” Breccan began.
“Stags inside!” Jorie shouted.
The animals leaped up the stairs and the carriage bounced after it. Breccan gripped the window and the seat in an effort to remain upright. He saw the glaring gazes of several Techsecs, and then they were inside. The stags slid to a stop on the slick marble floor. The carriag
e whipped around, teetered on two wheels, then righted itself. Breccan glanced outside cautiously, then threw the door open.
“Contessa!” Breccan shouted.
He threw the taser he was holding and ran immediately after it. The taser struck the Techsec closest to the Contessa. When he turned to see what it was, Breccan leaped and slammed his knees into the man’s chest. He fell to the floor with the Techsec, pulled his second taser out of the waist of his pants, and slammed it into the Techsec’s neck with the button pressed. The Techsec stiffened at the rush of electricity.
“Game Breaker!”
He looked up just as a flash of light struck Jinx. The little raccoon boy vanished. A growl escaped Breccan. He shoved to his feet. Sneedle and Jorie were busy handling a small horde of Techsecs that thronged the bottom of the stairs. Bullshark had just taken down one Techsec and was fighting to keep another from shooting him in the face. Several other Techsecs came through the front doors. Breccan knew if he didn’t find a way to block the entrance, they would be in trouble.
He ran for the stags before giving himself a chance to decide whether it was a good idea.
“Bullshark, toss me a knife!” he shouted.
His cousin’s avatar tasered a Techsec, then pulled one of his throw knives from his vest. He tossed it in the air as Breccan ran by. Breccan caught it in his right hand and flipped it over. He sliced the traces around one of the stags, then threw himself onto the closest animal’s back. The creature froze in surprise.
“To the doors!” Breccan shouted.
The stag took off running. Breccan bowled over three Techsecs who tried to stop him. Two more stood in front of the doors. Breccan urged the stag forward. When the Techsecs dove out of the way, Breccan slid off the stag and used his tasers on the security enforcers. He then shoved his knife through the handles on the doors to jam them shut.
A glanced around showed that his small team had taken out the other Techsecs that held the inner castle hostage. Jinx’s absence made Breccan’s heart clench.
“Thank you,” the Contessa said with a breath of relief as she rose from where she had been sitting hostage at the top of the stairs. “How will I ever repay you?”
“You already did by having the Count give me these,” Breccan told her. He pointed at the horns on his head. “They got us here in the carriage.”
“I remember you. You beat the Battle Boss,” she said with a warm answering smile.
“And I promised not to go back and fight again,” Breccan replied. He gestured toward the room. “But the battle changed.”
The Contessa inclined her head. The bells hung among her regal antlers twinkled gently. “It’s a treacherous time for the Edge, I’m afraid. Even the Count has fallen.” She gestured to a set of horns left at the top of the stairs. “He had issues, to be sure, but we worked well together. I’m afraid that with everything falling apart, there might not be much left of the Edge by the end of this night.”
“You’re right about that.”
Breccan turned to see Sneedle holding one of the Techsec’s scanners. It was still attached to the Techsec by a wire, but Sneedle held the man’s body up with no effort. “Back away from her, Game Breaker.”
Breccan stared at Sneedle. “What are you doing?”
The avatar’s lips spread into a wicked smile. “We’ve been trying to break into this place for years. Who knew we’d need a newb like you to get us in? I should thank you.”
Breccan glared at him. The beep sounded in his head. He ignored it.
“Why would you turn against me? I gave you ECs and got you out of the Midlevels,” Breccan said.
“I’m sure Sneedle was grateful,” he replied.
Breccan shook his head, trying to make sense of everything. “But you’re Morty. We met at the Zone.” He watched the man closely. “You are Sneedle.”
The man chuckled. “I control the Zone. I can be whoever I want to be. And right now, I’ve chosen the shell of the man you showed favor to by granting him a whole crukload of ECs more than he should have earned in the Midlevels.” He ran his hand through his hair. “You made him different, trustworthy, a person worth tracking and murdering so that I could get into your head.”
“I knew you were behind this, Victor Cranfield,” the Contessa said. “I just haven’t been able to prove it until now.” She sniffed. “How could you?”
Breccan took a step back. The thought that the real Sneedle had died because he had been generous was too hard to believe. He looked from Jorie to Bullshark, hoping one of them would have a different explanation, but both appeared too shocked by Victor to speak.
“It was easy enough once I found my in, but it took some work,” Victor replied. He turned his attention back to Breccan. “I finally know who you are, Game Breaker. Your tattoo GBKR left me with a bit of a puzzle, but once I went through the records of newbs to the Edge and cross-referenced them with associates of Bullshark Venom and that weirdo in the orange shorts, it was easy enough.”
Breccan saw his cousin’s avatar lower his gaze to the floor.
The man chuckled. “After that, searching through your history was a piece of cake.” Cruel humor lit his gaze and made him look nothing like Sneedle. “It’s pathetic, really. You lose your twin brother in an explosion along with your arm? How does it feel to have a right arm again? No wonder you like the Edge so much.”
Breccan felt Jorie watching him, but couldn’t tear his gaze away from the man to see if she pitied him or loathed him for his secrets.
“Giving your avatar Garrick’s initials along with the scanty town you came from is a pretty desperate cry for help. How do you feel that none of your friends saw it as such?” the man asked.
Breccan’s hands clenched into fists. A flash of something familiar turned his head. His heart slowed at the sight of Garrick standing near the doors to the ballroom. His right arm tingled and then vanished. His gritted his teeth at the familiar feeling of being off-balance.
“Look at that,” the man said. “Your arm isn’t even dependable. The Edge is a fallible place, Breccan. We would be better off without it. I’ll make you an arm in the real world that would make your left one look like a lump of meat.” He paused, then grinned. “But it is a lump of meat with the bullet hole through your hand, isn’t it? Too bad you don’t know how to curl up and die when you’re supposed to.”
“What’s he talking about?” Bullshark asked.
“Don’t you know?” Victor answered. He shot a searching glance toward Breccan. “I guess he didn’t tell you. Breccan does take me as the protective type.” He sighed. “He was supposed to be eliminated to ensure that my eradication of the Edge went smoothly.” He shook his head. “But I made the mistake of relying on a single man to take down the Battle Boss destroyer. I thought it was luck, but I was wrong. Now I’m short a hitman and Breccan’s going to be short another hand.” Victor grinned at Breccan. “What will you do after that, Game Breaker?” he asked in a teasing tone.
Breccan tried to ignore his brother’s figure standing near the door. He fumbled for words, saying, “I don’t accept that—”
Minx’s voice broke into his thoughts at the word accept. “Sneedle’s a fake! He’s Victor Cranfield, Mathias’ son. The real Sneedle’s dead. Don’t trust him!” She paused when Breccan didn’t say anything, then said, “You figured that out, didn’t you? Clear your throat if I’m right.”
Victor Cranfield made his way across the room while keeping his weapon aimed at the Contessa. He pulled the knife free from the doors and opened them. Techsecs flooded into the ballroom in a great mass of red glowing men. They held avatars at gunpoint and shoved them into the room ahead of them. The sight of the avatars from the elevator made Breccan’s heart fall. He cleared his throat.
“Great,” Minx muttered. “If you’re with Victor, he’s probably already at the castle. How many Techsecs are under his command? If there’s more than you can fight, cough.”
Breccan coughed without hesitation.
<
br /> “What’s wrong with you, Game Breaker? Beat a Battle Boss but can’t handle a little cold?” Victor’s eyes narrowed. “Nobody gets sick in the Edge. What’s going on?”
“I just had something in my throat,” Breccan said. He glared at Victor. “Now that you’ve gotten to the Contessa, what’s your plan?”
“Good question,” Minx said. “Keep stalling. Contessa, if you can hear me, sniff.”
The Contessa sniffed. She met Breccan’s gaze. Her pale eyes carried a calm that helped Breccan center his racing thoughts.
“Alright, Contessa, I have a plan, but it’s probably a stupid one.” Minx paused, then said, “So I know Breccan is probably all for it. He’s the impulsive type, but I wanted to run it by you and I need your permission to communicate it to the other avatars so they’ll be ready.”
“Morty looked so real,” Breccan said. “Is that your true form? I was told we keep true forms in the Zone. If so, you’re my age. Why would you want to destroy the Edge?”
“Yeah,” Bullshark pressed, catching on. “This is our haven, Victor. You should want to rule it, not destroy it. I know you were sincere in the Zone when you said you liked a good adventure. All the best adventures are here.”
Victor narrowed his gaze. “Don’t pretend to know who I am. You’ve already lived out your usefulness. After I take out the Contessa, you’re both next. And I don’t mean just in this world.” His finger tightened on the weapon’s trigger.
The Contessa cringed. She looked so small standing on the steps by herself. The thought of Victor vaporizing her didn’t sit well with Breccan.
Garrick walked across the room to stand beside her. No one else acted as if they could see him, but Breccan couldn’t tear his gaze away. Victor’s vaporizing flash would strike both of them.
“Wait!” Breccan shouted.
Victor gave him an annoyed look. “What now?”
“Shoot me first,” Breccan said.
Garrick lifted an eyebrow. That used to infuriate Breccan because it was the one thing he couldn’t imitate. Garrick had once caught him practicing in front of the mirror, and then laughed at him for days about it. After that, it turned into a joke between them.