by Paul Bellow
“Really?” I asked. “How is that even possible?”
“Magic,” Captain Skids replied.
With a skull for a head, I could never tell when he was smiling.
“Okay, so we go through the portal and back to the tower then go through the portal for one-four, and we’re back here? What happens then?”
“Then I can sail you to Gracoria,” Captain Skids said. “Easy.”
“What about Eric?” I asked. “Where will he spawn? Did he come through this way?”
“No,” Captain Skids said. “Since he died, he’ll spawn on the next level as an NPC.”
“Yeah, but where?”
“Depends where he spawns,” Raven answered.
While I didn’t know her well, I trusted her more than Captain Skids. Thoughts of Charlotte and all her betrayals crossed my mind.
“Anything else we should know about level one-four?” I asked.
I’d heard many things over the last twenty years from people trapped on the penalty level, but I wanted to hear more recent news.
“The next nine levels are the game are all on Gracoria,” Derringer said. “And there’s no time-shifting or anything crazy. Well, not most of the time.”
“Guilds are big on Gracoria,” Raven said. “We’ll need to join one.”
I glanced over at Captain Skids. He continued leaning against his desk, watching us.
“What else?” Josh asked.
“The continent is split into nine zones,” Raven said. “Travel from one to the other still requires finding a portal to the Tower of Gates then going through the next. It’s the same principle we used when making the one on this ship.”
I nodded.
“Why’s it need to be so complicated?” Josh asked.
“It’ll make more sense once you experience Gracoria,” Derringer said.
Raven turned to Captain Skids. “Are you dropping us on Willkommen Island?”
“That’s the only place they’ll let me near to drop people off,” he said.
“What’s Willkommen Island?” Josh asked.
“A powerful guild has level one-four locked down,” Raven said. “They keep players on an island off the main continent to make sure Magi Inyontoo doesn’t sneak through to find the Warp Zone.”
“This is getting crazier,” Josh said, stating the obvious.
“Guilds have been fighting for control of the portals on Gracoria since the Warp Zone went up,” Derringer said. “Find that isn’t going to be easy even if we get off Willkommen Island.”
“This is all too complicated,” Josh said.
Derringer looked over at him and smiled.
“You’ll have stuff to smash, big guy. Don’t worry.”
“I’m just happy to get back to Gracoria,” Raven said.
“Me too,” Derringer added. “These lower levels are nice, but there are so few human players anymore, it’s a bit surreal.”
I stayed quiet while watching the others express their opinions. Did Captain Skids have more information? I decided to question him more.
“Anything else we should know?” I asked.
He straightened up, glancing to the left before answering.
“No,” he said. “That’s about it.”
“How many people are on the higher levels?” I asked.
No one ever seemed to have a factual answer.
“I’ve got no idea,” Captain Skids said. “Over ten thousand at least.”
“And they all know they’re trapped in the game?” I shook my head. “This is all so crazy.”
“Everyone knows,” Raven said. “There’s some smart people on the higher levels. I’m betting someone’s figured a way out of the game by now.”
“Has anyone defeated all twelve levels on the first floor of the Tower of Gates?” Josh asked.
“I know of a couple, but they’re still up there,” Derringer said.
“You’ll learn more as you go along,” Captain Skids said. “Having Derringer and Raven along will be helpful for you two newbies.”
“Where’s the portal?” Raven asked.
“Below deck.” Captain Skids motioned for us to follow him. “Right this way.”
We left his room then traveled to another. A ladder led down from a hole in the floor. Captain Skids climbed down first. I followed close behind. The bowels of the ship had been plated with heavy metal. I wondered briefly about all the adventures the skeletal captain had been on over the years.
“Do you want to join our party?” I asked after stepping off the ladder.
The skeleton captain chuckled, shaking his head.
“I’ve got me own work to do,” he said.
Josh, Derringer, and Raven all came down.
“This way,” Captain Skids said.
He walked toward the bow of the ship. Near the very front, I saw the familiar glowing portal that would take us back to the Tower of Gates. Maybe we should go back to level one-one and wait it out? I glanced at the others in our small group.
“Are we sure we want to do this?” I asked. “Wouldn’t it be better to stay on a lower level where we know the terrain and it’s safe?”
“Seriously?” Derringer asked as he shook his head. “What about Eric?”
I sighed. “You’re right. We need to find him. After we do, maybe we’ll come back.”
“I doubt it, but anything’s possible in here,” Derringer said, smiling.
Captain Skids cleared his throat. I wondered briefly how he could talk without a larynx or vocal chords. The answer would have to wait. We had work to do—an epic scale job.
Magi Inyontoo had been vanquished, but he’d be back as an NPC and eventually a PC. When he respawned, he’d want a piece of us. I needed more power in the game. It had taken ten years to gain as many levels on my own, but with the help of the party I’d be able to level faster. Josh stepped toward the portal.
“Are you ready?” Captain Skids asked.
“Yes,” I said then walked through the portal.
* * * * *
The stone floor and walls of the Tower of Gates greeted me on the other side. I watched as the other three stepped through. Derringer headed down the hall.
“Where are you going?” I asked. “The portal to one-four is right here.”
“I’m checking the terminal,” he said. “Maybe we can pinpoint Eric’s location.”
“That didn’t help much last time,” Josh said.
What’s he talking about? I’d died and been turned into an NPC when they went through the portal the last time. Had I missed something?
“Terminal?” I asked.
“Come on,” Josh said. “It’s pretty cool.”
I followed them down the hallway where Derringer stood next to the inner wall. He touched a few stones but nothing happened.
“Something’s wrong,” he said, frowning as he turned toward us. “It’s missing.”
The gamemaster walked toward us with his hands behind his back.
“Having trouble?” he asked.
I hated the way his smile looked—too big for the rest of his face.
“Where’s the terminal?” Derringer asked bluntly.
“The one you’re not supposed to be using? Now that you’ve cleared the newbie levels on the first floor, you should expect to not be given so many opportunities to cheat.”
“What are you talking about?” Derringer asked. “I’ve had access to the terminal no matter what level I was on at the time.”
“That’s good to know,” the game master said, nodding his head.
“Are you guys sure there’s not a way to attack this runt?” Josh asked.
“Don’t try.” I put my hand on his arm briefly. “We need to ask him some questions.”
“Ask away,” the gamemaster said. “Doesn’t mean I’ll give you answers.”
“How can we quit the game?” I asked. “We want out.”
The gamemaster cackled and shook his head.
“Maybe I want you out of
here too,” he said. “You ever think of that, dumb brats?”
“Watch it,” Josh said, stepping forward.
The gamemaster waved his hand, the sleeve of his star-covered blue robe falling down his arm. Josh stopped in his tracks, growling.
“I need that experience,” he said.
“Don’t mess with the GM.” The game master turned to me. “If the Tower of Gates wants you to escape, you will escape.”
“And if not?” I asked, not wanting to hear the answer.
“In that case, you better learn to love the world you’re in.”
He turned and scurried down the hall and out of our view.
“Where’s he even going?” Josh asked. “We should follow him.”
“Don’t try it,” the gamemaster called over his shoulder.
“What was the terminal?” I asked, still confused.
“A physical interface to the game,” Raven said. “Or, rather, a virtual representation of a physical interface to ToG.”
“We used it to find you on level one-three,” Josh said.
“I found you guys,” I said then laughed.
“We should go,” Raven said. “Because of the time difference here in the tower.”
“She’s right,” Derringer said. “Off to Vilkomen Island once again.”
“I don’t see how they can force new players to stay on a small island,” I said.
“You’ll see soon enough,” Raven said then turned and walked toward our portal.
Level one-four. Only nine more to go. Something told me we’d find a way out of the game at or before level one-twelve. A hunch, but I desperately needed to feed what little hope I had left.
Derringer followed Raven. Josh turned to me.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
I nodded. He didn’t need to know the truth.
“We’ll get out of this,” he said. “Then sue the pants off the company that made the game.”
I smiled politely then shuffled down the hallway. Josh walked by my side until we reached the shimmering gate. I stared at it for a moment. How could something so beautiful be so evil at the same time?
Raven stepped through with Derringer close behind. Josh turned his head to look at me then followed the others. I took a deep breath then stepped forward, through the shimmering, liquid light.
Chapter 36
Good to Have You Back
Sarah
“Took you long enough,” Captain Skids said as we appeared back on his ship.
“Sorry,” I said. “Gamemaster stuff.”
“Uh huh,” the skeletal player said. “This is as far as I take you.”
“What do you mean?” I asked, somewhat alarmed.
“I’m banned from Willkommen Island,” he said then shrugged.
“You can take one of my rowboats ashore. I won’t charge you.”
“Too kind,” I said, adding the sarcasm on extra thick.
“You’ll be fine,” the captain said. “Good luck.”
“We’re going to need it if any of the stories about this place are true,” Derringer said. “I’ve heard some crazy stuff about this level and the Warp Zone.”
“Don’t be too forward in your quest,” Captain Skids said. “Trust me.”
I looked at our ragged group, wondering if we had what it took.
“Thanks,” I said, not sure if I meant it. “Everyone ready?”
“Let’s do this,” Josh said, slamming a meaty fist into his other hand.
We went back up to the deck then walked over to a rowboat hanging on the side of the bone ship. I sighed in relief as I saw it wasn’t made from bones.
“Good luck,” the captain said as we climbed in. “You’ll need it.”
His men lowered the boat to the choppy waters below. With the boat in the water, Josh and Derringer took the oars, rowing us toward a sandy beach. How far away was the mainland? Should we try to sneak through without going to Willkommen Island?
“There’s someone on shore waiting for us,” Raven said, pointing.
I looked to the beach, unable to make out any details.
“Welcome committee most likely,” Derringer said.
As we got closer, I saw a menacing wall towering over the beach. The mossy stones looked impenetrable from a distance. I noticed several other people standing on the beach. Were they newcomers too? How long had they been waiting? I hoped we didn’t have any trouble. Unlike the first three levels, Gracoria felt different somehow.
I couldn’t put my finger on it exactly, but I think it had something to do with so much about it being unknown. On the first three levels, we’d stayed in the same land during different time periods. Derringer and Raven claimed to know about the higher levels, but could we really trust them? I couldn’t believe Bernard had gone with Axelrod.
“Get ready,” Derringer said.
Josh hopped out of the boat, dragging it to shore.
“Wait,” I said. “How are we going to get this back to Captain Skids?”
I turned out to the sea and saw him sailing away.
“Guess he doesn’t want it,” Josh said. “It’s not much.”
“Yoohoo, over here!” an annoying voice called out.
I looked past Josh and saw a man dressed in yellow robes waving his hand. Two human male warriors and a man dressed all in black with his face covered stood by him.
“Let’s go,” I said, walking over. “Let me do the talking.”
The others followed as I walked up to the garishly dressed man.
“You need to register,” he said as I stopped a few feet away.
“Okay,” I said. “Sorry. We’re new.”
He laughed. “We know. Don’t worry.”
I hated his smug face and the sound of his voice, but I kept my cool.
“We need entry to Gracoria,” I said.
“Everyone does, darling. What makes you special?”
I’ll show him who’s special, I thought, my anger getting the best of me as I raised my hands to cast. Derringer and Raven both grabbed my arms.
“Whoa,” the former said. “Hold on. Calm down.”
“She’s new to this level,” Raven explained.
“Then someone needs to tell her what happens if I’m attacked,” he said, tilting his head back slightly. “The Golden Guild will not tolerate such behavior.”
“I’m sorry,” I said. “We’ve had a long trip, and I’m hungry and tired.”
“Can’t you give them a break?” the man in tight fighting black clothes asked as he walked up. “I’ll take them under my wing.”
The man in yellow frowned. “I don’t know.”
“Should we take it up with our superiors?” the man in black asked.
“No, no, we shouldn’t go that far. Let me check. Hold on.”
As he walked away, I turned to the stranger.
“Thanks for the help,” I said.
“No problem,” he replied. “I’m on a quest for the Warp Zone. Maybe you could help me?”
He stared into my eyes and winked twice like Eric always did.
Was it him? Already? Did the game realize how much he meant to me?
“Eric?” I asked in a low voice.
The man smiled. “Can I join your adventuring group?”
I smiled. We were stuck, but we could make the most of the experience. The Tower of Gates only won if we bended to its will. I’d vowed more than once that I wouldn’t bow to the game, and I hoped I had what it took to keep that promise.
“You might want to let me in,” Eric said then lowered his voice. “I have some clues on where to find the map to the Warp Zone.”
“Oh?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.
Eric smiled.
“Your new character is so strange,” I said.
“We should find a place to camp for the night,” Raven said, turning to Eric. “Unless you can get us in the city?”
“Don’t worry, I’ve already got a few connections here,” he replied. “After dying, I to
ok the same deal as you, Sarah.”
He looked at me, smiling in a way that made me sure it was him.
“Great,” I said. “What are you?”
“Level twenty assassin,” he said, bowing slightly.
“Nice,” I said. “Next time I want to kill you, should I ask you to do it?”
Derringer chuckled.
“Raven’s right,” he said. “We need to get out of the elements. It’s getting dark already. Day and night are both shorter on this continent.”
“Figures,” I said. “About what you would expect from the Tower of Gates.”
We headed back to the gate to see if Eric could talk our way in.
Epilogue
Magi Inyontoo
After goading Eric into battling the brownies on level one-one, I slipped away, anxious to find Josh and Sarah. By infiltrating their group while posing as Eric, I could finally sneak onto level one-four and find the Warp Zone. They couldn’t keep me trapped forever. I smiled as I waited for the gamemaster to appear in the Tower of Gates.
He showed up, right on cue, a few minutes later.
“I told you it wasn’t possible to live forever,” he said, smiling.
“Maybe I enjoy my new character more,” I said. “He’s already leveled up all the necessary skills I need for my new plan.”
“What new plan?” he asked.
“You’d love to know, wouldn’t you?” I smiled, loving torturing the AI. “Don’t you worry about me, old man. I’ll be out of your grasp soon enough.”
“No!” the gamemaster said, the intensity of his voice startling me. “You cannot leave the Tower of Gates!”
“I can leave, and I’m going to leave. You can’t stop me.”
The smug smile slipped from his face as he saw me acting calm, cool, and collected. Why did he hate me so much? Out of all the players in the game, he always seemed to pick on me for some reason. None of the things I’d done in the game were that much worse than what others had done over the years. Why did he have it out for me?