Del and the group traveled into the next building which look like a kitchen mess hall. The lights were on and it looked like the people had left in a hurry. Food and drinks were on the tables.

“Okay guys, let’s spread out. You two move to the back kitchen. If you see anything, call out. recruit, be careful. Don’t get yourself killed. We haven’t seen the aliens yet.”

Del followed the soldier towards the left and moved toward the back area. They pushed through a set of double doors. He saw an opened area with a large wood table for preparing food and a large five burner stove and grill. Everything was stark white and clean. Food implements, cutting knives and utensils were laid out on the table. On the right side was a gigantic white refrigerator. There was a partially cooked scrambled egg in a pan. The fire was turned off.

The marine next to him said, “Be careful. Watch our backs. There might be something still here. Check your sensors. It should work in this building.”

Del checked his sensors and didn’t see anything moving beside the marines.

The marine said, “You don’t have the latest sensors. Look at this.”

The soldier showed him his sensors which was attached to his arm. It showed the area around the kitchen with its furnishings and food implements in 3D and also footprints and handprints. Del didn’t have these sensors.

The marine said, “Don’t worry about that.”

The soldier went over to the cutting board and peered at the cut tomatoes, celery and lettuce. Del moved closer to the marine. He saw on the soldiers 3D screen a set of footprints like six in all on the table as well as the floor and walls.

The marine pressed on his comm. “Hey, we’re inside the back area by the kitchen. We found some unusual prints.”

He heard garbled static and silence. They both moved back into the dining area. Del saw fresh blood splattered against the tables and on the walls. Several of the soldiers were gutted dying on the floor. Del was surprised at the level of detail in this game. The dead soldiers and blood looked so real.

He saw something in the corner of his eyes. He couldn’t see it. It moved too fast. Del wished he had the upgraded sensors because he couldn’t see it register on his screen. Del took out his gun started to shoot. He saw something along the walls and shot at it. He hit something. The marine next to him yelled. The soldier was gutted and then decapitated.

Del turned to see a large creature rise up before him. It was blurry as if the alien was in a static field. The last thing Del saw before he was killed was a large claw striking at him.

Then on the screen it read. “You died! Game over. Play again? Yes or No.”

Del shook his head. What the hell just happened? He hadn’t died in Strike Blast in a long time. He sat back in his chair. Del was tempted to go back into the game but then he saw a timer on the screen. He forgot about the timer. Only newbies saw this. He cannot start a new game until another hour. Del shook his fists.

He saw the time. It was seven pm. He was playing for hours but it felt like only one hour. Getting up from his chair, he stretched. He needed to get something to eat, but he looked in his wallet to find the two business cards he was given last night. He took it out and scan the card, he saw the phone number. Del almost grabbed his cell and dialed the number. Yet, he decided to wait. He wanted to go to a bar and get some drinks.

He changed his clothes and moved out of his motel room and went toward his car. He went to a fast-food joint and decided to eat inside instead of going through the drive through. Inside of the fast-food joint called the Happy Hamburger, he was greeted by a cute brunette behind the counter. Del ordered a cheeseburger and soda. The sales lady smiled at him. Del couldn’t tell if she was interested or just doing her job.

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He took a seat near the back of the food place. The brunette sales girl at the counter kept looking at him as she worked and talked to the other customers. She called his number for his food and he stood and got his tray.

She said, “I’ve seen you here before.”

“Yes, I usually go through the drive thru,” Del said.

“My name is Jill.”

“I’m Del.”

There was an awkward silence between them.

He said, “It was nice to meet you.” He felt somebody was behind him. It was another customer. Grabbing his food, he walked back to his seat. He thought about his wife and daughter. Del wasn’t sure if he should just sign the divorce paper work.

He finished his food, and he thought about getting a beer. The alcohol was calling him. He knew across the street he could buy some more beer and hard liquor. Nothing really mattered to him really right now except the alcohol. He took his tray and walked up to the trash can and threw away his discarded wrapper and cups.

Jill smiled and said, “I hope to see around. I get off later around ten if you want to get drinks or coffee. Whatever.”

Del looked at her. She was cute and very young. He didn’t like to think how young she was.

“Another time, Jill,” Del said, “I got some things to do tonight.”

Del walked out without listening to her response. He felt terrible that he did that to her, but he had to get his marriage back and find a job. Walking outside, he took out his cell phone. He really needed at drink tonight. He saw a text from John.

“Hey, I played the new area, and I got killed. What are you doing?”

“Having dinner. Do you want to get some drinks?” Del texted back.

Del waited for him to text back. Sometimes his cell phone provider was sketchy and he would get his messages later. He walked through the parking lot and opened his car door. He heard a notification that came from his phone.

A response came. John texted, “Sorry, I got some plans today. Maybe tomorrow?”

“You have a date?” He text back.

Del sat in his car. He looked across the street and saw the liquor store. He lowered his window and wondered if he should wait for John’s text, but he was getting thirsty.

Del’s phone dinged. “Yes, with the Sandra. You should hit up the other girl, Cheryl. I can get her number.”

“Nah. I need some rest.”

“Ok.”

He drove onto the street and into the parking lot of the liquor store. Del scanned at the alcohol behind the counter. A man stood by the cash register. He was short with dark skin.

Del bought a one liter of diet soda, a pint of cheap rum and six-pack of beer. The sales man looked at him skeptically.

“Hello sir, is that all?” the man said in a slight Indian accent.

Del paid for his purchases. He had seen the clerk before and he always looked at him with sadness. He walked out. As he walked back to his car, he thought he saw somebody watching him in the alleyway. He peered into the darkness but he didn’t see anybody there. He shook his head. Rushing toward his car, he jumped inside. He locked his door and drove away.

He walked into his motel and felt like somebody was here before he came home. Del looked through his clothes, belongings and laptop. Everything looked like to be in place. Drinking his beer, he was thinking what he was going to do tonight. He lay in his bed and flipped the channels on the small TV. Thinking about the young girl, Jill, at the burger joint reminded him of his wife. It was a way she looked at him like Marion used to look at him. He shook his head.

Tomorrow, he thought, he would find a job and get his wife back. He looked at the rum and soda. He fixed himself a drink, he heard the fizz of the soda as he poured the rum in a plastic cup. He took a swig of his drink and like the bitter taste. He made it strong.

Then he saw it, he knew somebody was in his room. He saw a letter, propped against a small table next to his bed. His name was printed in spidery handwriting. He broke it opened with his finger. The letter was creme colored. He read it quickly.

“You have been invited to try our new prototype game. Please we extend every courtesy for your response.”

It was not signed but the logo of the game was embossed on the paper. Del took out the business card. It was still in his wallet. Why not he thought?