by Matt Moss
Standing with hands behind his back, he gives a slight bow. “Of course. If it’s worth anything, I think you’ll be a great leader, sir.”
I nod my appreciation, and he sees himself out.
The timer I set when the mark was given to me is now down to less than twenty-four hours.
It’s a strange feeling, knowing that death is fast approaching. Knowing that today is the last day of my life.
My path is set, and I’m not going to die. But I wonder what a person would do if they didn’t have a choice. What if they were young in life like me, and had a death clock of their own?
What would they do, knowing it was their last day? Eat all the food? Go skydiving? Snorkel in the Caribbean? Do all the drugs and have all the sex?
Would they pray? Would they cry? Would they laugh? Perhaps just get drunk?
And then I wonder if any of it would even matter.
In the end, you will be forgotten to the sands of time, and even your family won’t care to remember your name after a couple of generations pass by.
Even men that shaped the world, like Alexander the Great, are nearly lost to memory, saved only by the textbooks that they teach you with in school. Nobody cares that he almost conquered the world, his zealous reach and ambition narrowly missing the nations as they slipped through his grasp.
The kings and queens of old are long forgotten, though they may have done great things. It all blends into the historical records and the memory of the few, becoming uncommon knowledge to the world today. History only known by the very few who really care to learn.
Nobody sings their praises or chants their names anymore. Their time is gone. And the world goes on.
Such a peculiar thing it is, to die.
To fade away.
Back in Eden, I sit at the fountain and wait.
A new player spawns, but Deakins doesn’t appear. Neither do any of the other Gamemasters.
Strange. They’ve always appeared to welcome the newcomers to Alterlife.
The female elf that just spawned looks around in amazement and confusion. She turns to me for help.
I give her the best advice I can muster. “Welcome to Alterlife. I know it’s a lot to take in at first, but trust me, this world is pretty awesome. You can be anything you want to be, do anything you want to do.” I stand and take a step towards her. “This is the town of Eden. And over there is the bank, the tavern, and the inn,” I say, pointing.
She’s eager to meet me. “You’re Ace, aren’t you?”
Her words catch me by surprise. “What?”
“I’ve seen your avatar on the forums. All over social media. It is you. You’re a legend!”
I stare at her in wonder as she gazes on in admiration, nearly swooning, like I’m some sort of big time Hollywood actor.
“I can’t believe you’re standing in front of me right now.” She steps close to me, wanting to reach out but she doesn’t.
I rub the back of my head, still unable to get a grasp on it. Am I really that famous? “Uh, I’m sorry. It’s all still kind of new to me.”
She touches my arm and laughs awkwardly. “What? Being a legend?”
I step back and break away. “Yeah. Anyway, over there is Eldra’s. You should start there. She’ll guide you on what to do next.”
“Is that what you did? Did she help guide you when you first started?”
I smile, thinking back on the time. “Yeah. She did.”
The elf grins like a sophomore in love. “Then that’s where I’ll go first. Thank you, Ace. I hope to see you around.”
I sit back on the fountain and stare at the ground in front of me, thinking.
Stop thinking.
Deakins appears, sitting next to me.
I nearly jump out of my skin. “Judas priest! I’ll never get used to that.”
He laughs. “I like to do that to the newcomers that join Alterlife, especially on Saturday nights. They always seem to have a different reaction to a man suddenly materializing in front of them on that particular night.”
“I’d wager that half of them may be drunk at a party and decide to try virtual reality out, either by a dare or by curiosity.”
He nods. “A good possibility.” His eyes go distant, staring off into the clear blue sky. “But it’s the others I try to console after I see their initial reaction. I’d say a good deal of those newcomers that join on Saturday nights are lonely, trying Alterlife out of desperation. Either they’re looking for an escape, or a friend, or something else, I don’t know. I just know that helping people is one of the most rewarding things about my job here.” He meets my gaze. “And I’m truly going to miss it.”
Silence sits thick between the two of us as the fountain babbles behind us, the townsfolk running about in all directions, talking and trading. Unaware of the fact that the world is about to change.
I look up to the sky and notice a storm cloud brewing overhead. And for the first time, I really take notice of the weather in Alterlife.
It’s changed.
Before, it’s always been clear blue skies and white puffy clouds from what I can remember. Odd time for the change in weather considering what I’m about to do.
It must be done.
“I’m sorry, Deakins.”
He nods, knowingly. “I knew you would do great things, Ace. Ever since I first saw you, there was something different in your eyes. I told Eldra that you would do great and impossible things.” He laughs in recalling the conversation. “She didn’t agree with me and said that you could barely hunt rabbits, let alone be anything that resembled greatness.”
I laugh and feel a lump creep into my throat.
His laughter fades. “And I also knew that you would come back for me after our last meeting.” He turns to me and meets my gaze with kind eyes. “Ace, I want you to know that I understand. And I won’t try to stop you.”
You can’t stop me. I cannot be stopped.
I take out the picture of my family that I loaded into the game last night to show Deakins. I show him because I feel horrible for the act that I’m about to commit and I need him to understand. “This is why I do what I do. Everything I do is for them. They’re my life. My love. My soul’s purpose. They depend on me to take care of them, and I’m not going to let them down. I can’t leave them.”
Deakins takes the picture, his lip quivering ever so slightly. “You have a beautiful family, Ace. I understand your want and reason to protect them.” He hands it back to me and frowns. “Though, I wish you were in it. I would really like to see what you look like in the real world.”
“I’m nothing special.”
Deakins stares at the mark on my hand. “I know who betrayed you,” he reveals.
I stiffen with anticipation. “Who? Tell me, please.”
He looks up at me and grins. “Let me live and, together, we’ll hunt him down and bring him to justice. I also have it on authority that the murderer is working with the man who gave you that mark. Using the proper methods of persuasion on the accomplice, I bet we can get the man’s name who gave you that curse and pinpoint his location as well.”
The death clock is within four hours.
There’s not enough time.
I shake my head. “There’s not enough time. If we had another day, maybe it would work. But we don’t. I’ve only a few hours left.”
Deakins turns his head to the side, knowing he’s out of time.
“Tell me the poisoner’s name, Deakins.”
Pausing to reply, he turns back to me, slowly, and gives an apologetic smile. “You can’t have everything, Ace.”
I clench my jaw and equip both of Thal’s swords.
“Just do me one favor. A man’s last request.”
“Anything.”
There’s a twinkle in his eye as he says the words. “When you’re gone, make sure you leave this world a better place than when you found it.”
My jaw clenches tight, and I can’t stop the tears from welling in my ey
es.
It’s never enough to say sorry. Something like this… words have no meaning. There’s nothing I can say that will…
JUST KILL HIM!
Goodbye, Deakins.
I keep my eyes open as I deliver a death-dealing blow with both swords. He dies as if his hit points and strength were but that of a beginner and, in his final throe, makes the sound of wind rustling through the autumn leaves on a tree. His body falls limp on the side of the fountain, blood running red to mix with the water. I wait for his ghost to appear, then remember what Deakins told me. He doesn’t get another chance. He’s dead in the game and in real life.
Remorse and regret immediately fill my soul. I look down at the mark, demanding my reward for paying such a price. Demanding justice.
The mark remains. It didn’t work.
“NO!”
As rage racks my soul, Deakins’ body disappears into a mist-like form, dissipating into the water, into the air, and blending into the sky. I look back at my hand and see the mark disappear and fade away with him, into the water, into the sky.
Joy fills my heart. Thankful to be alive.
Thunder rolls in the distance as the storm grows stronger and approaches Eden.
I close my eyes.
Thank you, Deakins.
Back to reality in the bathtub, I raise my hand to find the mark gone.
“Oh, thank God. It’s over. Thank you, Deakins. Your sacrifice will not be in vain.”
My thankfulness is replaced with a sudden need to throw up. I rip the tubes from my body, roll from the tub, and lurch my guts into that yellow-stained toilet bowl.
My body is shot. I feel like hammered shit, and probably look worse.
I need to see my family.
It’s time to go home.
18
HEART’S DESIRE
I come rolling up the drive and can barely put it in park before jumping from the truck. My wife and kids run out of the trailer to meet me.
Carla runs to me. “Daddy!”
Ben and Jenny are right behind her.
I keep my sunglasses on so they don’t see my darkened, strained eyes. “Oh, my babies. Come here!” I squeeze them tight, holding them like it’s the first time. “I’ve missed you all so much.”
My wife has tears running down her face and I pull her close, kissing her lips as we embrace. She sighs in my arms, and we share the moment.
“I’m so glad you’re back home.”
“Me too, baby. I promise, I’ll never leave you all again. I couldn’t bear to do that again.”
She laughs with joy and pulls back to look at me. “Sweetheart, you’re skin and bones.” She raises my glasses to reveal the truth. I look like a fleshy skeleton, bones sunken into my face, my skin thin and pale. Fear and questions fill her eyes. “What happened to you?” she gasps.
I place both hands on her shoulders. “I’ll explain in a bit. Please, let me enjoy this moment, right here, right now. With you and the kids.”
It’s not enough. She puts a hand to her mouth and her joy turns to fear. “John. Tell me now. What’s going on? Where have you been?”
It’s not what it looks like. Trust me.
“Jenny, I’ll tell you everything. But for now, let’s put some coffee on. And maybe grab a bite to eat. I’m starving.”
She serves us sandwiches for lunch. Fried bologna.
Kids are in their rooms.
“You act like you haven’t eaten in a week,” she says as we sit at the dining table.
I haven’t.
I drop the food. “Jenny, I haven’t been honest with you.”
She adjusts herself in the chair, hurt by my truth and ready for an answer. And knowing her, she won’t take this easy.
“But trust me when I say that I did it for you and the kids. And, in a roundabout way, I was working.”
Her hand slaps the table. Fiery, ready to defend her honor. “Damn it, John, you know me. I’m not one to be lied to or cheated on. What are you talking about? Quit talking in circles and tell me what’s been going on. Where have you been?”
What can I say? The audacity almost makes me burst out in laughter to even think about it.
Just say it.
“I’ve been playing Alterlife.”
She furrows her brow in confusion. “Is that some sort of a game? Are you serious right now?”
I stand up and take her hand. “Not just any game.” I pull one hundred thousand dollars out of my satchel and lay it on the table.
Her eyes go wide and she looks at me for an answer. “Oh, John, what did you do?” She slaps my arms, crying. “No, John, no. Stop lying and tell me what you’ve done,” she begs, then slaps the money away from the table, scattering hundred dollar bills all over the floor.
I grab her by the shoulders. “I know I look like hell, and you could suspect anything at the sight of me right now. But baby, I’m telling the truth. And I can show you.” I run out to the truck to get the NueView. Back inside, I show her the console and tell her the whole story, leaving nothing out. She still doesn’t believe it. Who would?
“Trust me, I had a hard time believing it myself. I mean, how can someone make that much money in a game, and then transfer it all into a bank account here in the real world?”
She shakes her head incredulously. “Just hearing you refer to it as ‘the real world’ sends a chill down my spine. There’s only one real world, John. This world.”
I take her in my arms. “I know. But this fake one—this video game world—that’s what makes the possibilities endless. It affects this world and is intertwined with it. You have to trust me.”
She still doesn’t fully believe it.
I squeeze her tight. “I’ll show you. In a few weeks time, we’ll be living the life of our dreams.”
She laughs at the madness of it all. I laugh with her, tears filling both our eyes.
“Promise you haven’t done anything wrong?”
“I promise, Jenny.” I wipe the tears from her face.
“Okay, baby. As with everything, I’m with you,” she says.
I bring both of her hands to my head, thankful that she's with me now.
“Believe in me, baby. Life’s not always what it seems. I’m going to make our dreams come true.”
Three more weeks pass by. I’m still alive, and wonder if the mark would have even killed me or not. Was the old man lying? Was it all some part of the game?
It was real.
I don’t care. I’ve made a million dollars since then. And my wife finally gets it.
My boss, Mr. Lee, has been calling, wondering when I’m coming back to work.
It’s a Tuesday. Why the hell not.
With Jenny by my side, I stroll into the job site. Inside his office, I tell Mr. Lee that I’m not coming back to work and wish him all the best. I drop ten grand on his desk and thank him for being a great boss. He sits there, dumbfounded, speechless. He shakes my hand and wishes me the best.
Outside, I toss the asshole foreman a thousand dollars that’s rolled up in a rubber band. “Here. You need this more than I do.”
He misses the catch, then scrambles to pick it up from the mud, and gapes at me in confused awe.
My wife and I go to the bank.
Then we roll up to the Chevy dealership and drop seventy thousand dollars on a brand new Tahoe—my wife’s dream car. The salesmen can’t believe it.
“Make sure you detail it good before you bring it out,” I tell him.
Afterwards, we take the kids shopping. I tell my wife to buy whatever she wants. “You deserve it. Especially for putting up with my ass for all these years.”
She laughs as she turns in the mirror, admiring the fur coat and seeing how it fits.
Beautiful.
“I’ll have us out of that rental in no time, Jenny. Buy a nice house that you deserve. Just like we’ve always talked about. Hardest part is going to be picking out the one you want.”
Later, we go out to eat.
<
br /> “When’s the last time we sat down at a nice restaurant, huh?” I ask the family.
“I don’t even remember, dad,” Ben replies with a mouthful of steak.
“This is lovely,” Jenny says, reaching to touch my hand.
I look down, admire the new diamond on her ring finger, and meet her smile with my own. “Yes. Yes it is.”
I still can’t believe it. This is more than anything I could ever imagine. More than I could ever want. All because of a video game.
The waitress brings me another beer. As I put it to my lips, my eyes lock onto the television in the corner. I pause. “Excuse me, could you turn that up?” I ask the waitress.
“No problem,” she says, and moments later has a manager increase the volume.
I watch the news as a woman reports a recent death in Knoxville, Tennessee. “Jessica Greer was found dead in her apartment early this morning. Autopsy reports are still ongoing, but the first responders say it’s unlike anything they’ve ever seen.” The camera goes to one of the first responders as the news reporter listens to his testimony.
“She was lying on the ground, motionless, and I thought she was passed out or something. I immediately went to check her pulse. That’s when I noticed her veins glowing red, all throughout her body. And there was a glowing mark of some sort on her hand.”
“Was she alive at the scene?” the news reporter asks.
He shakes his head. “There was no pulse. She was dead on arrival.”
“Were there any signs for the cause of death?”
“The apartment was pretty much empty. Didn’t find drugs or alcohol either. The only thing of note was the NueView system on the coffee table. And some game called Alterlife. The headpiece of the system was lying on the floor beside the victim.”
“Thank you for your time.” The news reporter turns back to the camera. Looks me straight in the eye through the television. “An unsolved mystery in the death of a young woman here in Knoxville, TN. Back to you, John.”