Chapter 34

As the scene faded, Hert crossed his arms and looked at Ava. “So, your behavior got you killed in the end, just like your friend said.”

Ava said nothing as a new scene unfolded in front of them. Leon glanced around. They were on a cruise ship. So this was the memory of his death. He felt cold and put his arms around himself. He watched his memory-self order shots of vodka at the bar, and his old friend, Sarah, walked through the corridor that led to the area, clad in a cardigan and her hair pulled up in a ponytail. She smiled.

Leon looked away from the scene and approached Ava, who lay with her knees and hands on the floor by the doors leading to the outside of the ship. He touched her shoulder, and she stiffened.

“Rise. What’s in the past is in the past. There’s nothing you can do about it.”

She shook her head as Sarah reached the bar, but Leon grabbed her shoulders and heaved her up on her feet. He gave her a hug.

“I know it’s painful, but it’s just a bit more, okay?” Leon pointed outside the boat. “You can see the stars, if that’s any comfort. No moon though.”

Ava pushed him away and pulled a sleeve under her nose as she sniffed. “I shouldn’t have died. I should still be alive.”

“And you will be, when we reach the top of the tower,” Leon said. “But for that to happen, we need to clear the first floor. There’s not much more to go. Here they come. Run!”

Leon pushed Ava behind him and took out the sword and dagger. The eleven wolves ran as a pack through the white corridor.

“Hey, I didn’t expect you to be here now,” Sarah said to the side of them. “I’ve heard that the first night is always the least busy, because people are tired from journeying to the port.”

“I’ve slept.”

Sarah looked around. “You’re here alone?”

“Yeah.” Memory-Leon started walking away from the bar as the one of the first two wolves came into Leon’s reach.

He slashed out and jumped aside, hoping Ava had the mental space to follow his command. The wolf snarled at the gash in its shoulder, and the others changed their course toward him. Leon risked a glance over his shoulder and saw Ava crawling up on a chair by the tall table at the corner of the room. He turned away just in time to dodge another wolf, then ran toward the bar where Hert had crept up. He stood on his knees, hammer raised.

“Get higher up,” he said.

Leon sprinted to the side, but the wolves didn’t take much time to shift direction again, and as he leaped toward a bar stool, a wolf hit him in his back. He fell and bent his arms to protect his neck. Fangs tore into his shoulders and legs, and a wolf yelped as it bit down on the sword. Leon screamed as the creatures pulled on his limbs and tried to thrash out to get the fangs off him, but he couldn’t move his body. He’d been so stupid. He knew there were eleven wolves coming, and he hadn’t even thought about how to battle them. Only to get Ava out of her paralyzed state. Blood spilled out on the floor from his wounds and he got a message that he’d started bleeding.

“Oh, don’t be like that.” Sarah said through the noise and pounding in Leon’s head. “Let’s have a drink. Catch up on some things.”

Memory-Leon breathed in deeply. “Sorry, but I have somewhere to be.”

Sarah chuckled. “On a cruise ship? I mean, there’s nowhere to go.”

“Load level up!” Leon coughed.

A box popped up.

Levels cannot be activated on this floor.

A thump above him released some of the weight from his body, and another one lessened it more. Leon didn’t dare move his arms from his neck, and held fast even as the wolves tugged on his elbows. He turned his head to the side, and a big shadow rose beside him. A smack, and a wolf let go of one arm.

“Ah!” Hert screamed as a wolf jumped from Leon to him.

Leon could finally kick out, and he used all the strength he could muster. A weight fell from his leg, and he took the chance to lower an arm from his neck to the floor. He pushed up, and the wolf on his back fell off. Leon’s leg twisted in a second wolf’s jaw, preventing him from turning.

It took him a second glance to see the scene. Hert held off five wolves with his shield a couple of feet away, and one had bit his leg. He probably couldn’t hit it without losing his protection against the others.

Three wolves had spotted Ava, and she’d crept up on the table, where she stood with her face in her hands as she cried, and the wolves jumped toward her. They didn’t fully reach, and since the table was nailed to the ground, she was out of harm’s way for now.

A wolf at his elbow, one biting into his leg, and one just off his back. He tried kicking out again, but the wolf didn’t let go.

Memory-Leon smiled. “I’d love to catch up, but maybe another time.”

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“Fine.” Sarah narrowed her eyes. “You’re not up to something illegal, are you?”

Memory-Leon looked at her. “No, I don’t think so. There’s just this thing I need to do.”

Leon pushed his free arm under himself, kicked out once more, and used the movement to turn to the wolf that bit his right arm. He clenched his jaw and struck upward with the dagger. It left an open wound in the beast’s chest, and though it didn’t die, it yelped. Through the blur of pain, Leon knocked the harmed elbow into the creature’s head. The wolf he’d knocked from him moments earlier landed on his back, smacking him onto the floor again.

He couldn’t die in the memory that played his suicide. He just couldn’t. Yet, his vision flashed before him and he got a message of low health. Hert was close enough, but Ava, no chance. She was safe on the table. She had to be. Ava only had to stay there, and he’d kill the monsters once he wasn’t bleeding out. Leon opened up his inventory and pulled out the camp. The tent popped up.

“What are you doing?” Hert shouted.

Seeing his goal, he summoned his strength one last time, pushed up, and elbowed the creature standing on his back. He tugged at his leg, but the wolf still didn’t let go. With the wolf off him again, he pushed himself onto his knees and slashed out behind him. The fangs loosened for only a second, but it was enough. With a grunt of pain, Leon kicked the floor and stumbled into the tent.

His vision flashed in red as he crawled onto the leather and collapsed.

*******

Ava lowered her hands in time to see Leon dive into the camp. He left her. Of course he did. She’d thought he’d actually cared for her, but here she was, left to die. The scene froze around them just as the blond girl missed snatching Leon’s arm. Ava should have known it would end up this way, really. People just kept disappointing her in this world; though Leon had been useful to her at times. She let out a deep sigh.

From the moment she saw him on the street from her sleeping place, she knew he’d want to climb the tower. He was bound to get injured sometime, and it had happened earlier than she’d expected, providing an opportunity to meet him. She’d supported him, been nothing less than a fan girl. Ava wiped the angry tears from her cheeks and bit her lips as Hert finally slammed down the hammer on the wolf on his leg, pushed his shield into the wolves ahead, and sprinted into the tent.

And here she was, in the tower, stuck with the monsters. She’d been stuck in the Slums for a year, and when a player came by and somehow saw value in her class, she’d thought she’d found her way out. He wanted the help of a Cleric, and he was a Warrior.

She’d even washed dishes for Margaret to show him she wanted to get better. Done everything to further her life in this world, wanting to get back. For him to take her to the top of the tower. She’d been sweet, she’d been humble, she’d been caring, she’d been selfless. What more could she do?

Her face burned, and the tears sprung up again. Goddamn reaction. She slapped herself. No matter how she’d tried to control her blushing, even when alive, she couldn’t. At least she didn’t have to pretend it meant other emotions when alone.

One wolf jumped up to snap at her foot, and she kicked out. The shoe hit the muzzle, and it yelped—more from surprise than anything, since it dealt no damage. Why did she have to be stuck here with the worst class?

Ava folded her hands behind her back and leaned against the wall, watching the wolves try to jump at her. She was too far up, and they only caused themselves harm when they tried jumping higher and slammed into the edge of the table. Stupid creatures.

Ava looked at the camp and the memory, weighing on her feet. Well, they’d had fun at times, even if Leon sucked at a lot of the things he tried. He always fell over or hurt himself in one way or another, but his motivation to get stronger pulled him through every time. That’s why she’d believed in him. Once again, she’d die for trusting someone a little too much. Wanting a little too much. If Leon laid dead in the camp right now, and Hert was the only one to depend on…

She sighed again, crossed her arms, and looked around. What or who had killed him in real life? He was too nice for his own good, so no one would have a grudge against him. A slip and fall? That was more likely, considering his clumsiness. Maybe he’d take drugs and—She snorted. Vanilla boy wouldn’t even have thought about doing something like that. She’d almost been surprised to see the vodka.

A box popped up.

Hey, little mouse. Are you bored?

“No.”

Are you scared?

“No. Stop asking stupid questions.”

Oh, you have changed your tune?

Last time we met, I thought you might have changed. But you never will, will you?

Ava stood quiet, looking at the wolves still jumping toward her. Shouldn’t they bore soon?

No?

Well, you seem to have found someone to rely on, but you disappoint me.

“You said it yourself, Ai. That you didn’t get why a person like me got a class that’s focused on helping people. How can you still get disappointed?”

I think I figured out the answer to that, actually. You’d been depending on people your whole life, so you got a role that reflected that.

One year, and you still haven’t learned your lesson. How many have told you this before?

“How can you write to me in here? I thought the floor guide didn’t like you.”

She doesn’t like me butting in to have some fun, and only wants to head toward the goal.

We’re still watching.

“Then make these wolves go to sleep, won’t you? They’re really annoying.”

So are you. Maybe I should make you sleep instead?

Ava’s heart jolted, but she was careful to keep her face placid. “I thought you wanted to have fun? That you don’t enjoy seeing someone die quickly.”

True.

A minute passed.

Fine.

He’s too good for you, you know. It will be too interesting to see how it plays out.

A flash lit up the room, and the wolves fell.

“You didn’t have to put those Z’s above their heads. And could you bring me my staff?”

No answer. Ava sat on the table and jumped down on the carpet of sleeping wolves, almost losing her balance. She hopped from it to the floor and straightened her skirt. Then she walked to the camp and lifted the flap.