We go out onto the dark street. A limo sits parked outside the building, waiting with lights on.

“You didn’t mention your car was a limo,” I laugh. “You really have a different vibe going than when I left.”

Albert runs his hand through his hair. “I know. I decided I had to buy a car, and on an impulse bought the limo. It’s more conspicuous than I’d like.”

We sit in the back of a car, there’s a wall between us and the driver. Albert takes a deep breath.

“So. Where were you?” Albert asks.

“I’ll tell you how I think I remember it, but I don’t know what actually happened. It was May, Gerard had brought the kids to visit his parents. I was eating lunch, the sky looked like it split open and huge bugs poured out. One attacked me– I think I was dying. And then I was in the tutorial for Bug Hunting. Let me tell you, I now have opinions on that place. And then I was in a construction zone, that used to be my apartment. I wandered around a bit, realized I don’t know my husband’s phone number, then went to your apartment.”

“How long were you wandering? Where were you? You’ve been gone for months.”

“I think the months were in the tutorial. I got Magic Immunity, and the tutorial kept looping.”

“That– actually makes sense. The portal, it was originally designed to loop…” Albert trailed off. “I suppose I should fill you in on the past months, huh?”

“On May 18th, at 19:48 UTC, the sky split open. All around the globe, people saw a tear in the sky from which gigantic bugs pour out.” Albert says. “That’s the encyclopedic answer, anyway. From my perspective, I was just suddenly in a new location. I was standing when I had been sitting, and a voice was telling me to ‘Press space to attack.’ I ran through the tutorial, and once I finished returned to my desk. My notifications were going off, as you can imagine, since everyone who had played Bug Hunting went through the tutorial. It took a while to get the logistics worked out, but I got a team together and we went out and hunted a few bugs.

“I was busy that first while, eventually I figured I should probably put out some guide for the newly awakened, as I was one of the better informed about Bug Hunting. But first I felt I had to learn about the current situation, anyway, it distracted me for a while, it wasn’t until two days after that I realized you were missing.

“I texted you once cell service came back, but you didn’t respond to my text for a while, and so I tried calling, when you didn’t pick up I called Gerard. He didn’t know where you were, but at that time he had also just woken up.

“Once Gerard returned to your apartment he found the building had been attacked. Right at your apartment. He ran in, and looked around. He called me after, told me there was blood on the floor. I– at that time I feared the worst, assumed you were dead, maybe to the tutorial. But as I learned more I couldn’t figure out why there wouldn’t be a body, and so decided you must be alive

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

“But things you should know about how the worlds changed. I’m famous now. It’s now a job, being a Hunter, killing those bugs. You could do it in your free time if you want. Decent pay, I made sure of that. Gerard was a Hunter for a bit.”

“How is Gerard?” I ask.

“He didn’t take your death well.” he sighs. “We should go to his house, he’d never forgive me if I kept that you’re alive from him longer than necessary.”

Albert presses a button, and speaks over an intercom to the driver. “Can you take us to Gerard’s place?”

“Where is Gerard living now? I saw that our apartment’s under construction.”

“His parent’s place,” Alberts sighs. “Don’t be shocked if he reacts oddly to seeing you, he’s not been good with dealing with emotions.”

“I know.” I smile. “He doesn’t have much practice, he keeps them wrapped up tight.”

We sit in silence the rest of the ride. When we arrive, Albert takes out his cane and we head to the front door. He takes out a key and unlocks the door.

“You’ve got a key,” I raise my eyebrow.

“I babysit the kids occasionally.”

We head inside. Albert doesn’t turn on the lights, so I can’t see anything while my eyes adjust from the headlights of the limo outside.

“Gerard? You awake?” Albert asks. After no response, he whispers to me, “It might be better if you’re not right where he can see you when he wakes up, maybe hang out in the kitchen?”

“It’s dark enough that he won’t see me from here.”

“Okay.” Albert heads over to the couch.

“Let me sleep,” Gerard mumbles. I recognize his voice instantly, in the tutorial I had tried to remember his voice but never could.

“Gerard…” I whisper under my breath.

“This is important, Gerard,” Albert says.

“I finally got to sleep. And I get up early. It better be.”

“It is. Are you fully awake?”

“Awake as I can be.” Gerard says.

“Okay. I found Jessica.”

“Where? Her body?” Gerard is shook. I’d only heard him this distressed once before, when Carter almost drowned.

“She’s alive, she’s alive.”

Gerard stands up. I think he leans on Albert, but in the dark I can’t make out details.

“Where is she? Is she alright?” Gerard stumbles towards the entryway I’m standing on, and flicks on the light.

I blink from the sudden brightness.

“Jessica?”

Before I can respond, Gerard collapses to his knees sobbing. I sit down next to him, and we hug.

“I missed you.” I say. “There were so many times I just wished I could talk with you.”