Chapter 2 - Entering Libertatem online

"This is the sixth time this has happened Jason, and I can't legaly do anything If you don't help me"

"Help me, help you!"

Officer Brooks Is always so kind towards me. I think he is somehow feeling responsible after finding me the first time outside my mothers house - I don't remember much from that night, except that It was very cold. His eyes is showing the kind of gentle concern my father used to have. He laid his hand lightly on my shoulder, and instead of flinching like I usually did If someone else touched me, I was soothed by it; yet I couldn't get even a single word out. I just looked at his desk. It was kind of messy actually; he seems to be working hard. Stupidity Is the only thing I could think of - who would actually work for this god forsaken government.

As if noticing that my mind was wandering somewhere else Brooks sighed.

"Well I guess I shouldn't keep you away from your part-time job if you're not gonna cooperate"

It's not that easy. Reporting my mother will only make it worse. It may even split up our family and I don't want to leave my little brother, I don't want him to be alone. As long as mother only takes her frustration out on me It's okay. I will deal with it myself - I will become stronger. These are all things I wanted to say but all I could do was nod. A quick nod and then I walked out of the police station towards the bus station; and by the bus station I mean a flying vehicle. Ever since since the third world war The World State decided to rebuild the remaining world on flying platforms since It was near impossible to live on what was left on the surface. Each platform was inredibly large though, some even spanning miles. In my city there were a total of five platforms. One for government-ruled institutions such as the police stations; one for commercial industries such as stores; one for the school, and lastly two for different residences. They say the residencial platforms are divided because of convienence but It's clearly to seperate the rich from the poor.

Entering the gaming centre, also my part-time job, I saw something that made my eyes almost jump out of their sockets. The line to the reception was so long I almost couldn't see the end of it. I've never felt claustrophobic before, but in this almighty swell of humanity I felt that It was definitely a possibility. People were happy, excited and probably hoping to achieve something of greatness in the promised world of freedom - in Libertatem Online. This atmosphere definitely helped me keep my mind off of my own life. I almost felt a bit excited too, not for myself, but for others.

"Don't just stand there Jason, come and help for goodness sake!"

Snapping me out of my own thoughts a man called out. He might have been handsome once upon a time, but his otherwise delicate feature are ruined by a long beak-like nose that has clearly been broken and reset several times in the past. He had a short-cut black hair and a stuble that clearly hasn't been probarly cut for some reason or another. It was my boss and co-worker, Ed.

"I'm coming"

I proceeded to lightly run towards the large reception, which was completely white and made out of marbles, in fact the entire gaming centre was made out of white marbled floor and columns - trying to replicate the roman empire to make it feel more medieval-like. Each column was linked to the next by a perfect archway and the celing was curved and inlaid with gold colored stone.

I entered the janitor clauset and put on a white shirt with a sign that said: Hi my name is Jason. And then proceeded to help the next customer in line.

"Did you fall down the stairs again?"

I heard Ed say from behind me with a voice that clearly spouted of hesitation. I turned around quickly and just nodded. There was no need for other people to know of my life. They would either pity me or try to help me; neither of which I would want. Then again lying about falling down the stairs may not have been the best lie, considering my mothers house do not even have stairs.

After working for hours we finally slimmed down the unending line of walking claustrophobia to only one customer left.

"I'm gonna be rich, thank god for Libertatem Online"

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

I heard Ed say with satisfaction; expressed by the slightest curve at the corner of his mouth and a somewhat youthful and light raise of the eyebrows.

"Don't worry about our dearest last customer, Jason. I'll take care of her. Go take a needed rest"

He said while throwing me a white and golden striped plastic card. This was the master card, the key that could unlock every room in the entire gaming centre.

"Go to the fourteenth suite"

There was something puzzling in those words. Ed has never before let me enter one of the suites, to not talk about lending me the master card, the key to everything. As if seeing my questioning look Ed sighed.

"Don't worry about It I'll come soon and explain"

With hesitant steps I walked towards the levitation platform. The platform was also made out of white marbles, probably so that It doesn't look out of place but considering that It Is a freaking levitation platform inside a roman-like building It wasn't very succesful. Stopping at the fourteenth floor I proceeded to walk down the aisle; It was a fairly wide path with doors on each sides laced by numbers and at the end of the aisle there was a room that was clearly larger than the rest of them; evident by It being located in the middle instead of on the sides - this was the fourteenth suite.

I couldn't really get a good look at the inside of the suite before Ed appeared behind me - still sporting that look of satisfaction.

"What am I doing here, Ed?"

"You're gonna play Libertatem Online"

There was definitely something strange about this situation considering he still had a grin that was slightly curved at the corner of his mouth. He was hoping for me to take the bait.

"What's the catch?"

"Always the distrustful one, huh. I want fifty percent of what you're gonna earn"

Everything from the way he held himself, to the way he spoke, to a look of unassailable confidence in his eye said that he believed in me somehow. It's still worth it. I can't even afford the capsule yet alone the game itself. But why Is he so confident in my abilities, except maybe ...

"I know who you are, or alteast who you used to be"

His comment was so out of character, so far from what I knew of him. Why did he know, or more importanly how could he know?

"I worked for the gaming company of your previous game, and you're Virtus - the second highest leveled player"

"I must admit you're a lot younger than I expected"

"So Virtus, are you up for it?"

This screams of suspicion. How can I possibly trust someone who has basically been stalking me ever since I started working here. Maybe even longer. As If knowing my hesitation Ed walked closer.

"I'll pay for your brothers tuition"

I flinched and almost jumped backwards as he was trying to put his hand on my shoulders. My mouth was wide and agape. All I could do was stare at him wild-eyed, as if I was a wild animal and he was entering my territory, my sacred ground.

"Oh right, no touchy"

We continued to stare at eachother; Ed's eyeslids started to slowly drop, probably because he hasn't slept much, as always. It felt like an eternity until I finally made my decision. It's for my brother.

"I'll do it"

"Good, I'm gonna go downstairs. I've been up here for way to long"

"I'll give you the rest of the day to play"

I nodded as Ed turned around and walked out of the room.

The capsule was a black metal box making it stand out in contrast to everything else. The metal itself had a very distinct feeling to it; smooth and shiny, yet hard. I opened it with a push of a button and then proceeded to lay down inside what can only be called liquid. The liquid embraced me as my mind quickly got dragged into the oblivion of sleep.

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Okay so I promised that we would enter the game in this chapter but I feel like I need some time to flesh out the gaming world a bit more. I need to somehow create a system which helps the story, and not the other way around. Anyway this time I actually promise the next chapter will be about the game, and only the game.

As always, please inform me of any mistakes or give me feedback!