Keller drove his silent electric-powered BHD-12 a fully automated cruiser that was one of the sleeker designs released that year. It came with an automated noise canceller, tinted glass, a heat regulator rather than an Air-conditioning unit, solar power engines, and an auto drive.
In contrast to the silence of both his car engine and the interior Keller's mind was in turmoil. The wind caressed his face and fluttered his wavy blonde locks.
Even if Carmella had refused to give him info on whatever happened Keller wasn't dumb. Atleast not dumb enough to not be able to put two and two together. The fact goddamned annoyed him.
Each day he had to remember the day when he felt like the most useless of fathers. The call, his beating heart when he got there that very night.
Her eyes had been clouded and distant, lost to far-off places. A look he learned, later on, meant her mind had shut out the experience for her while his wife cried as she kept their daughter covered with the sheets in the room.
The screams had started after that faithful day. The arrested rested the three boys and his wife sticking to their daughter's side like glue.
He?. He could only watch, scared to go close for fear of the gaze in her eyes when she saw him. Saw any male.
Each day he had to curse the law for working under the fingers of the rich aristocrats. To this day he couldn't understand if he should have been relieved that he was stopped from murdering the boys and going to be jaiembarrassedassed by it. Keller could feel his fingers biting into his palms as he gripped the steering tighter with each resurfaced memory. A look at his rear mirror gave him a glimpse of his little girl tucked in like a bear into his wife her face covered by a hoodie ignoring his presence.
His blue eyes met with Carmella's amber ones with a questioning gaze, one that got him a reassuring smile in return.
That was all he needed. If Carmella said something would be fine, then it would be fine. Right?. There was a reason for his children's use of the words 'mother knows best'. The man exhaled a breath he didn't even realize he had been holding all this while before pushing all the bad memories of the past two years away and focusing on the road.
The electronic and holographic billboards shot past as they drove through the roads of Berimon City 0pp⁰000. Keller watched as electronic cars shot past on the other lane silently, above on a magnetic field road connecting to another side of the city, a construct that he would never claim to understand the basics for, rode a Dame-5H Train. More popularly called the Da5, the fastest train of the current era. It shot past at overwhelming speeds that made it a woozy blur to most onlookers' eyes.
A few moments later, his BHD shot past leaving their district and into the third city layer. The Business Zone. Filled with companies and others, buildings here were tall monolithic structures that threatened to pierce the clouds.
Keller could already remember two such buildings just in their city that had already made attempts to cross the clouds. It was like humanity fulfilling its dreams to live in the heavens.
He watched as his BHD pulled into a garage in a tall building, while not as huge as most of the other structures in the district. it still gave its sense of dominance in the area it stood.
Keller parking the BHD sat back making himself as small as possible with the car seat while Carmella roused the sleeping Helen. He watched with sad eyes as mother and daughter gathered their things.
Carmella got out first and then Helen. Just as she rose off the seat Keller noted the imperceptible stretch of a forced smile thrown his way. while her eyes looked anywhere but at him.
The door shut even as the man barely breathed. It was forced he knew, it was not nearly enough but it was something. As important as the hand on his shoulder the previous day. Keller could work with that. He'd not deny his fear of Helen's relapse into her worse days back then. But it seemed all wasn't lost.
He exhaled a sigh of relief before getting out of the car to follow.
The hospital was a huge place and getting through the garage and up to the elevator was a long walk. The got out on the fifteenth floor the familiar sight of white and blue everywhere bringing memories to him. Whilst some were good enough to grace his features with a smile and others were just so bad they almost trumped the good.
*****
The continuous drone of the numerous healthcare workers inside the hospital grounds created a wave of nausea within Melvin. The white walls, the holographic signs that covered some parts displaying some medical information, and then the various aiding A.Is that shimmered with their blue holograms whenever someone walked through? them.
He hated this place. It reminded him of too many things. His losses and pains in this life. His griefs and his heartbreaks. All within the white walls of such a place.
Melvin sighed in a bit of relief as a nurse approached him.
"Mr. Mostrano?" the dainty lady in her forties asked as she held a clip in hand, huge window-like glasses sliding down her nose as she tried continuously to push them back up.
Melvin nodded to her with a forced smile before rising, his 6ft body towering over her. A gulp was visible rolling down the nurse's throat, one he noted.
Melvin followed the nurse's gait forcibly lumbering as he tried to match her steps. He could just leave her behind and stride ahead but well, he had manners and the view was worth the lag.
Melvin kept his gaze alternated from the path to the nice swing of the hips that the pair of blue pants helped to shape out. Just as he was gaining more interest in following the traces the nurse halted and moved to the side.
His eyes instantly moved up catching her knowing gaze while her hand hugged the clipboard to her endowed chest. Clearing his throat he walked past and into the now-open door they had stopped at.
Melvin made a little smile at the nurse who did not attempt to reciprocate just staring back at him with a bit of redness on her cheeks.
"Never get enough of those ehh," a male voice asked as Melvin shut the door. A groan escaped him as he turned to see the busy Oriental sitting at his desk and casually typing on his device. The laptop before him displayed a hologram of a screen on the wall opposite where he stared as he typed.
This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.
"Nice to see you too Anderson. " Melvin took a seat and adjusted his black suit.
Anderson seemed unbothered by his presence for a few moments before the man shut his laptop down the holographic screen flickering off before he turned to face Melvin.
Compared to Melvin, Anderson was average. Gray hair more from stress than age, he was a leaner man compared to Melvin's bulk. His brown pair of eyes hidden behind his glasses accessed the stoic man before him.
"Is it time for your monthly checkup already".
Melvin's stormy gray eyes quivered a bit before he inhaled deeply then exhaled and shook his head.
"I'm here for the other thing".His words made Anderson pause. His eyes narrowed for a moment unseen by the blur his glasses gave.
"It's too early to attempt another Melvin. You know this. You've known this for a while. Making a scan now will need you to be prepared to..." Anderson froze as a realization hit him.
Melvin detecting his secret was out sighed.
" I can't wait anymore, Andy. It's been .."
"Not long enough. " Andy whispered. He tightened his fist under the desk.
"You can't just up and decide this. Not yet. Not when everything is this close to perfection. We know, you know we can't have another interference".
Melvin groaned.
"It's taking time".
Andy seemed surprised at his words. "It's barely been a week. Give it time. " Anderson frowned before he sighed a solemn look appearing on his face. The Asian man abandoned his chair walking around the table to lay a hand on his best friend and long-time partner.
"He'd want it too, but we all know it's better this way. That and we need her verdict and you and I know that she always does things systematically.".
"... always does things systematically. Yeah I know". Melvin completed the statement with Anderson and then sighed.
He knew he'd lost the argument even before he'd left his home. Yet it had been worth a try. While the procedure was something he could undertake on his own Melvin felt like it would have been disrespectful to Anderson and also dangerous to perform alone.
The man sighed as he relaxed further into his chair eyes distant as memories played within his head. Far memories of a time long gone. Anderson could only sigh with a head shake his hand still patting Melvin's shoulder while he looked out the window to a pair of women crossing. One in a hoodie was held by an older beautiful lady with black hair as they walked past the hall.
His mind made a quick analysis of where they might be headed and could only shake his head. It seemed everyone had a story of some sort. The world was filled with pain, too much pain. It only made him feel like their thoughts were justified though he didn't deny the hint of doubt in his mind.
A look at Melvin and his blank gaze was enough for him to shake off such doubtful thoughts.
'It just has to be.' he assured himself.
To Anderson, all it took was a decision. And in the situation where the individual was blind. A leap of faith, one filled with risk but faith nonetheless was important.
'There's nothing to lose anyway'.his eyes moved to his dear friend. 'At least not when you'd already lost it all'.
****
The doctor's office was a comfortable place. Unlike most other offices it looked more like a home than a place of work. Helen felt it had more to do with the fact that Doctor Zoyla lived here.
The woman though would never admit to this.
A transparent bowl of candy sat at the center table where Helen's hand constantly shot to, grabbing as much as possible and stuffing it into her mouth. An electronic pod showing the date and time sat on the table.
July 17th, 2258. 11:38 AM.
Both women one sitting across on a comfortable couch just as them while the other sitting beside her watched her like an experiment.
"This feels like bringing your mum to school day. Only I'm getting reprimanded for my bad habits rather than having fun" Helen muttered while looking anywhere but at them. Of course, her gaze was trained to not look in a certain direction. Something that Zoyla noticed.
Clipboard in hand she blew on a piece of her brown hair that blocked her vision catching Helen's slight smile before asking her first question.
"How've you been Helen?"
"Goody. Been alright. Mostly on my games and books."
"Anything interesting these days?"
"Yeah. Definitely. The new game that came out you know it. Creator Online. Can't say much 'cause it's a big secret in a way. But it is good". A smile lit up her face as she popped more candies into her mouth.
"I'm glad you enjoyed it that much. Guess I'll try it out. I know you to be picky with games." Helen shrugged.
" True. But the game is good. You might want to get your Beta slot though before it runs out if it hasn't already. The alpha slot has certainly filled up by now that's why I'm not even mentioning it" A nod of her head ended that statement. Zoyla looked at Carmella with a side eye before focusing back on Helen.
"So, you have a great game now. How's your sleep been like?"
Helen paused before nodding. "It's been good. I'd say it's too early to judge but it's great for now".
"Glad you're honest about that evaluation." Zoyla praised.
"It's my health, no one wants to get better more than me" Helen whispered back head hanging while still munching her candies hair covering a part of her face. Carmella went to work moving it away.
"Your mum said you had a near relapse, actually she nor I are sure yet if it's a complete or near relapse but we're hoping".
Helen kept silent.
"I checked what I could on the game Helen. From what I know. No player has met the other". Helen frowned. The words echoed in her head.
'No player'.
'Did that mean the player hadn't thought it wise to mention having a girl faint from seeing his avatar's good look or something? While it wasn't his fault still not mentioning it, what was he playing at?'.
"Helen".
"Yeah. "
"Can you tell me why you got out of your pod screaming?"
'Straight to the point there Zoyla. Always honest '. Helen groaned mentally.
"I saw a cute guy." Zoyla couldn't stop the raising of her eyebrows. Keller's eyes narrowed dangerously. While Carmella sighed mentally. Normal girls usually liked seeing cute boys but her daughter had to be terrified of seeing one. It felt, unfair.
"A player?". Zoyla asked.
"I, don't know. Just reacted. Kept trying to calm down but it felt like my body just..."
"It's okay Helen. We don't blame you. Infact it'll be strange if you had reacted otherwise at your first male meeting with a guy in a while".
Zoyla blinked a bit before continuing, leaving the generally unsaid definition of a while as unsaid.
"You do understand it's not your fault right?" Zoyla pressed. It was imperative to remove any guilt from her patients. Guilt and shame at times were far more dangerous a damage to a person.
She watched the raven beauty nod her head without waiting. Smiling, Zoyla then prodded on.
"So, Helen, what will you do now?" It was time to take the initiative. Zoyla had wanted to do this for a while but felt it too early but now it seemed correct. The fact that the girl was able to sit with her father in one room showed her growth.
Zoyla could still remember the screams back then when even the older brother attempted to enter the hospital room. It had been more severe in his case. Probably due to him being closer in age to the perpetrators.
"What do you mean?"
Zoyla paused, her mind seeking the best way to answer the question.
"You found the boss Helen. And you reacted. You probably lost. But you went back and slew it. " Helen's face showed confusion as did Keller who looked at the doctor like she was going off-topic. Only Carmella seemed to get it as her eyes showed worry.
"I'm not good..." Helen was saying this before she figured out what the doctor was asking.
"I, don't want to stop playing. But I also don't know what to do when I see him again".
Everyone got confused. It was like she was sure she'd meet this player or whoever.
"What do you mean?" Zoyla asked.
Helen pouted before making a rough breakdown of what was going on. Though she left key facts out it was enough to make them understand. The place this player had been in was somewhere she had to go to progress in the game.
"Well, Helen. I don't know much about games. But I think it's a good example. You players have lots of uhmm.. what its called assignments or ..."
"Quests"
"Yeah. That. You players get them and have to complete it. You put your all in to do it ".
Helen didn't like where this was going. Was this even normal therapy? Her eyes moved to Carmella who smiled back at her. Helen frowned in response.
"What are you saying exactly?"
"It's a boss Helen".
The girl frowned. 'A boss? He was a player, not a boss'.
"He's a player, not a .."
"He's a boss Helen" Carmella spoke this time. Now even Keller was confused. First was the doctor getting off-topic now his wife too.
"Uhmm.. she said.." a glare from his wife had him coughing. Funnily Helen looked at him and he found himself caught long enough to spit out the same thing. "..a boss. He's a boss".
Helen blinked, the confusion still apparent on her face, yet the term was now ingrained in her mind. 'A boss'.
*****
The maintenance crew done with the fixing of the pod left while Dester watched from behind his arms folded and his expression colder than ice.
The boy felt like smashing the pod knowing it had brought more pain to his sister than it was supposed to fix. A pod he'd brought for her. Even as he had the thought it changed to another.
'No. It's the player. The male she saw. He's the one to blame. They all are. The game's too dangerous but it can't be helped. I'll have to catch up fast.'.
His mind wandered to the great beast he'd have to fight just like Helen had. He shivered at the thought of how he'd be able to pass that point and make his world.
He'd seen her stream and so was expecting something as much even though he didn't understand how her enemy was more powerful than the recent streamers showing less powerful creatures. More like variants and stranger versions.
It didn't matter though. He'd get there soon enough.
'There should be a point when the creator players manage to meet. I'll have to be strong enough in the game to keep her safe from those pervy eyes'. Determined he patted the pod and sighed.
"Hang on, big bro is coming." Dester was gone from the room ready to grind in the game. His mind bent on getting past whatever the game threw his way, no matter what.
The familiar tone of the system voice welcoming him filled him with both excitement and challenge even as his senses dulled and left his body.
"Game on" His words echoed in the vast expanse of what was his universe. He barely acknowledged the two elder administrators of his five before he focused on the huge drop of silver liquid floating in mid-air. Above and below it were two more liquids. One golden and the one below red.
The drops were huge taking up more than eighty percent of his universe space.
His universe form.
A frown grew on his face as his body moved past the membrane of the silver liquid and then he fell.
Dester experienced his first Descent.