I thought about running.

I knew there were at least eight guards outside, probably a lot more than that in the house. Even with a weapon I didn’t stand a chance and that was if they were all computer characters. If the Shaman could be a player, then so could the guards.

“You aren’t the first person to see through this charade.” He reached under a pelt and pulled out a black dagger. Unlike the one Mei had, this one was curved and didn’t have a gem in the hilt.

“What happened to the others?” I picked the tooth up. I glanced around the room. In front of the door was probably the best place to make my stand if he came at me. I found myself wishing for Mei or Michael right now.

“I killed them.” He poked the tip of the dagger with his finger. "What’s the point of hiding if people know who you are?”

“I don’t want trouble.” I held up my hands. "I just want to get the credentials so I can go to the next zone.”

“You just want to go to the next zone.” He mocked. "You should have got your credentials years ago when the joke of a shaman still ran this town.”

“I couldn’t.”

“Too scared?” He laughed.

It was a deep creepy laugh. My heart started beating in my ears. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up. I started to explain, but he crossed the room.

At first I was scared. This man was a PK. He was going to kill me to keep his secret.

That’s when I got mad. He was a mouse, not a man. He thought that he could stop me from protecting my brother? I wasn’t going to let that happen.

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I threw the tooth at him.

His eyes got big. I could tell he thought I was going to be an easy mark. He thought I was just a defenseless girl that was scared of the bad man.

I wasn’t scared. Not of him. He was definitely creepy, but he wasn’t scary. My brother being alone in this game was scary.

The tooth hit him in the chest. He fell on his back, choking and gagging.

I jumped on top of him, pressing my knees on his upper arms. Wrestling with Billy had taught me a few things. I grabbed the dagger and pressed it against his neck. There were some other things that I was willing to learn.

“The credentials. Where are they?”

He eyed the blade. His eyes moved to the skull that he had dropped my hair into.

I stepped on his crotch as I got up. He howled in pain and curled into a ball. I kept the dagger pointed at him as I moved over to the skull. Inside were a dozen green coins. Each had an elephant tooth on the front and a wishbone on the back.

I took one out. "What do I do with it?”

“You witch!” He wheezed

I kicked him in the ribs. "How does it work?”

“Put it in the back page of your stats book.”

“I don’t have one.” I said

“Everyone has a..." His voice trailed off. "You’re new.”

I nodded. "They let me come in to find my brother.”

His eyes lit up. He rolled over on his knees. "The new kid is your brother?”

I nodded. "Do you know where he is?”

“I know how I’m going to find him.” He grinned as he hit a button under the table next to him.

Four guards rushed into the room. They pulled out their swords and blocked off the way I had come in.

“What are you doing?” I demanded

“Your brother stole something of mine.” He pushed himself up. "I’m going to send him a message.”

I back up to the window. I waved the dagger at the soldiers.

“Kill her.” The fake shaman ordered.