Congratulations Rocky !

You've been chosen to be a test subject in the New  Metro Real Life. Please retrieve your virtual download card from the nearest gaming location items from your nearest store. 

Happy Game Play,

The Metro City Team

Omg! Omg !

I danced with my letter. I signed up  months ago. Right when I saw the commercial for the new game. You can experience Metro City For Real. I sat on the computer all day purchasing draft tickets.  We'd mailed it in that day. But I hadn't expected to win. It was a once in a lifetime chance.

Rocky, what are you dancing about mom shouted from the kitchen.

Mom I won, I screamed I won I won I won.

I ran in there and Jumped on the kitchen table.

Rocky Middleton, Get down from there. She yelled. Dinners Almost ready.

Mom, look. I showed her the shiny red ticket.

She looked at it uninterested. "What is it"?

I get to be one of 400 kids to play 'StarCity For Real."

Great, Mom said.

Mom you don't understand. This is a once in a lifetime chance. 

"Okay, son. Calm down." She smiled. I get your excited but lets eat first.

I set the table for her. Dad arrived from from work shortly after. Briefcase in hand.

"Smells Delicious, he said. 'What's cooking?"

Lasagna , Mom said.

Dinner seemed to last forever, as I took the Lasagna and shoved it down my throat. I grabbed the keys from the table, once I saw that every one was done.

" Got to go," I shouted.

"I can't see how a game is so serious", Dad groaned.

"Games have evolved since you were a kid dad".

"It hasn't been that long" Dad smiled defensively.

"Yeah, try a hundred years", I teased before running up the stairs.

I ran to my computer and started up my Laptop.

The helmet came with a few directions.

Place the helmet on before logging unto your server. Make sure you place the goggles completely over your eyes.

I launched unto the website and followed the direction, placing the goggle on before logging into StarCity.

The Helmet blocked out all noise. The goggles turned my world completely black. I wondered how I was supposed to see to click on the play button.

My problem was solved seconds later when I could see the computer screen inside my helmet.

This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

Nod To Launch. It read.

Was it really as simple as that, a nod of the head. I did as told, I nodded my head.

Your server is loading. The screen in my helmet said.

The world spun colors, green and red and blue. Twisting and turning making me dizzy.

I wanted to close my eyes, scared I'd miss something.

But a moment later, those mixed array of colors, were now clearly aligned houses , and roads.

My body was made of pixels and data, and I was unsure of how to move. The sky shone bright blue. I stood in awe, and smiled. This was awesome.

Red Words popped up in the air as if hanging by a invisible thread.

YOU'VE BEEN AWARDED 10,000  CITY COINS TO SPEND AS YOU LIKE!

Awesome!

The first thing I bought was a skateboard. Blue and orange. It hovered in the air as soon as I made my purchase ready for me to grab.

I snatched it from the sky. As soon as I did, a boy crashed into me. His hair purple and blue and trimmed like a Mohawk

I came tumbling to the ground. My skateboard falling on top of me.

"Dude what the heck"!

"Sorry", he said. He was about my age. At least I thought he was. It was  Metro City so who could tell.

"Why are you so in a rush", I yelled.

"Haven't you heard what's going on?'

"Uh no," I said confused. Sitting up and rubbing my head.

"Try to get out", he said.

"What" I asked?

"Try to get out of the game", he repeated again. He reached down to help me up. When I stood the kid was twice my size.

I brushed my pants off. Not that there was any dust in Metro City

"How do I get out", I asked?

"Exactly".

"What are you talking about", I said annoyed. I was anxious to explore the game, and this kid was in my way.

"When did you log in", he asked?

"About 10 seconds ago".

He sighed.

"You should of never logged on".

"What Why" , I asked confused.

"Because there is no way out".

My heart started pumping way to fast. I lost my breath, and had to remind myself to breathe.

"What are you talking about?", I snapped.

"There is no way out" He repeated.

I tried to take the virtual glasses off. Putting my hands up to my face. And pretending to remove them. It didn't work.

'I've tried,' he said. "Doesn't work."

"Follow me," he whispered softly. "I know a spot."

This couldn't be real or true. It had to be some kind of prank. There was no way we could be stuck in the game for real. That was virtually impossible. Our mind and bodies were still seated in front of our computer screens.

Mohawk boy led me through a back alley. It was filled with characters. Some strolling by without a care in the world, and some running around in utter confusion.

The games been on already for one hour he said, but it isn't like the other games we've played.

"How so", I ask.

Besides the the fact of this being a virtual world with no exit. There's been bandits in this game dressed in blue.

"Blue bandits", I say trying not to smirk at this guy's nonsense. "What do these blue bandits do exactly", I asked. Trying hard not to laugh.

"They steal your energy" he said. "You might find it humorous now. Until you come across one of those nasty creatures holding a purple lazer". "There are at least 50 players in the hospital right now". "All they can do is rest and wait for the energy to be restored. You've come into the game late".

"Yeah I said scratching my head". "My mom kind of insisted I help her with dinner". 

The Mohawk kid nodded. "I wonder how many other kids haven't logged on yet".

I looked at the kid suspiciously. " Don't you think you guys are overeacting a bit". "I mean it's been what a few hours"? " Maybe we just have to wait until time runs out".

"Maybe", he shrugged. "Until then, better safe than sorry".

I realized we were at a small house with a red door. It was the same standard home you received when playing Metro City. Three seconds later someone answered the door. A giant block figure. The guy was huge. He must have spent all of his entrance money on his figure. It reminded me that I hadn't bought anything but the skateboard. True I had only been in the game for five minutes, but that was beside the point. I would have to work on that later.

"Who is this"  The giant mass of block figure asked?

"Um, what's your name again", Mohawk asked.

"Rocky", I said for the first time.

"Nice to meet you Rocky". "This here is Sam" , he said pointing to the giant block figure.

The giant guy called Sam looked unamused.

"We can't take anymore Cole, we're full".

"He just logged on". Cole said.

"So", Sam shrugged. "The house is full".

"We have room for one more", Cole wined.

"No we don't". "We need that spot".

"In case what", "we find your brother. He's not coming".

"Besides, Cole exclaimed, he's only been here for ten minutes". "You know what that means". "He's got money", Cole whispered. "And he hasn't been assigned a job".

Sam's eyes lit up, fine come ...

Before he could mumble out the last word. I was shoved out of the way by Sam. I noticed Coles eyes glaring heavy at something behind me.

I turned to see a giant blue figure staring at us. Its face completely covered with a blue mask. It stood about 7.5. A rounded looking object in hand, something between a sword, and a wand.

"A blue bandit" Cole breathe out. Partly in awe partly in fear.

The blue bandit raised its sword high in the air , and then it swung at us.