Chapter 88
More Than a Twink
By the time I entered Kenzo’s–what was it exactly, it was clearly so much more than an office–base, everyone had claimed their beds. One of them was absolutely enormous to fit Dowser. Yet, he wasn’t in it.
Netta was. She waved at me from the center of the massive bed, her head barely visible from a mountain of pillows and how the bed was almost devouring her with its cloud-ness.
I died laughing.
“Why are you in that one?”
“Because I’mn a princess, didn’t you know?” She giggled like a madwoman.
I looked for Dowser, quickly finding him in another bed, much much smaller. His bulky body about flattened the poor bed. But he was all smiles for some reason.
“You know, you wouldn’t expect it, but this is still comfortable as fuck, man.”
We all laughed.
“You know, I’m sure Kenzo could make you a bigger bed with the snap of his fingers,” I said.
“You mean clap of his hands?” Stephen said, and more laughter erupted.
“Nah, it’s cool. I actually love this,” Dowser said, getting comfortable and pulling up his blanket.
“Are you sure? I know he wouldn’t mind.”
But Dowser just waved his hand and closed his eyes.
I took up the bed beside Netta’s.
“You know, if you get lonely feel free to jump up here with me!” She said, giggling again.
“I’m good, but thanks. I still can’t believe you took that from him.”
“I can be very persuasive.” She winked and then she too cuddled up under the covers and turned away.
That just left Stephen and I. He was in the next bed over, sitting in the middle of it, crosslegged, just chilling.
“Are you still sleepy?” He asked.
“Exhausted,” I lied.
Stephen smiled. “Night, Darcy.”
“Night, Stephen,” I said back.
He bundled up under his covers and then there was just me, wide awake, listening to the snores of, not Dowser but Netta.
Yeah, that was a shocker for me, too.
#
I don’t know how long I tossed and turned but eventually sleep caught up to me and beat me into submission. It was nicer than it sounds.
All I mean to say is that I got a great nights sleep in. Which was good because, at about ten in the morning the next day… the call came in.
Fuck.
#
I awoke to a loud ass beeping, piercing my head and waking up everyone in the room.
The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
Stephen bounded out of bed, a beam sword in his hand. Dowser lifted his hands behind his head and flipped himself up right on his mattress, his fists turned toward the sound. And Netta… just kept right on snoring.
“Where is that coming from!?” Stephen shouted, one hand on his ear.
“Me,” I said, calm and slow. “I think it’s time.”
“Fuuuuck,” Dowser said, lowering his hands. “Are you sure?”
The Skull mask bounded from my inventory and screamed, “IT’S TIME FLESHBAG!”
“Pretty sure,” I said. My bad jokes were continuing, apparently.
“I’m up!” Netta exclaimed, her hands glowing with magic. “I’m up.”
“I’m glad we weren’t in any danger. Really slow reaction time there, Netta,” Dowser said, shaking his head.
She glared at him but otherwise ignored it. “Is this what I think it is?” She asked.
“YEP!” The mask screamed. “It’s time for the main event: Fishbowl Head vs The User Killers!! Who will win!?”
The mask darted for me and bound to my face, the icy fire covering me and bringing me to my knees.
Stephen was at my side instantly. “This can’t happen yet, she isn’t ready. Give us a few more days!”
The mask chuckled. “No can do, daddy-o! She is desired NOW!”
“It’s okay, Stephen,” I strained to speak through the ice burning every inch of me. “It’s enough. We leveled me up a hell of a lot yesterday. I can do it.”
That did nothing to quell his worry. “Let me go, too. Please.”
The mask made me shake my head. “No can do! No more talking! THE CHOSEN TIME HAS ARRIVED. BEGINNING TELEPORTATION!”
And just like that my body started to vanish, from my feet upwards. All three of my friends crowded around me, the same worried expression on all their faces.
“It’s okay guys. Really. I got this. I’m bringing Sam home.”
“Be careful,” Netta whispered. “Give them hell.”
“You know I will,” I said, smiling.
“Don’t fight fair,” Dowser said. “Kick them in the fucking dicks if you have to.”
I laughed. “Thanks for giving me permission.”
And finally, with just my torso left, Stephen said his final piece.
“I know you can do it. You always come through. Just do your usual badass stuff and bring Sam home.”
I grinned and put out my fist. Everyone slammed theirs together, a group fist bump for the ages.
My laughter was cut short as the last of my body vanished and I stepped onto the battlefield.
The fight for Sam had begun.
#
And there you have it, folks. With that, we have linked up with where this tale started. Did you like that first chapter, by the way? I thought that was a much more action packed way of starting than me beating myself up for how worthless I was. You probably wonder what happened between that fist bump and where BigNutz found me. Not a whole lot, actually. They threw me right into the thick of things, very little pre-show fan fare. So, instead, let’s pick up the story from after the fight. If you need a refresher, go back and read the first chapter.
I bested the User Killers, would the Masked Man keep his word? Let’s start there…
#
[ YOU WIN! ]
The words exploded onto my screen immediately after I sent the streamer back to whatever gamer den he lived in. I cleared the message and the world was wiped away, like those etch a sketch things, one shake and we returned back to a white screen.
The Masked Man appeared before me. He was actually smiling.
“That was quite the show, Fishbowl,” he said.
“Where’s Sam?” I said, jumping straight to the point. “I beat your little game.”
He chuckled. “That you did. I’m going to honor my deal. That, and I’ll stay away from you for a while. But your victory makes you even more interesting to me so do not for a moment think this will be the last time we meet.”
“I knew I wouldn’t be so lucky.”
He laughed again. “You’re really something, Fishbowl. Where the hell did you come from? I’ve looked you up. A Statistical Anomaly. Twenty-five years of nothing then,” he snapped his fingers, “just like that you’re a force to be reckoned with. What changed?”
“I found a path that worked for me. I admitted I had a problem and met someone who helped me move forward.”
“That spikey haired redhead, huh?”
I nodded.
“Just one person to believe in you was all it took, huh? You’re going to be even scarier after today.”
I cocked my head to the side. “What do you mean?”
“After today, you’re going to have a lot more than one little twink in your corner. The whole Interverse is currently watching what you just did. I’ll be watching too, kid.”
He held his hand out to his side and a circle of light appeared. A familiar tiny cage slid up into existence. He nudged it with his foot and the door swung open.
“MISS DARCY!!” Sam roared as he burst out of the cage, tears streaming down his face.
I dropped to one knee and scooped him up, hugging him as tight as I could without breaking his little body.
Tears streamed down my face too. During the fight, my body had been so tense. I couldn’t relax or let my guard down for a second. As I held Sam, the mission fully complete, I became a sobbing mess.
The Masked Man gave me one last glance and then waved his hand. The world shook again and he vanished. And then the white void was gone too and I was back at the foot of my bed at Kenzo’s.
All three of my friends had been huddled together in the giant bed but when they saw us they shouted with joy and rushed for me.
Stephen and Netta made it there first, wrapping their arms around me. And then Dowser appeared, hoisting us all up into the air, squeezing the air out of all of us.
I just kept crying.
Against all odds, I'd saved Sam.