Chapter 1 Fight or Die
Arriving just minutes before 10am, I see Julie standing in front of her drive way, wearing a black top that stops just above her belly button, black hip hugging pants, and a red button up sweater, tho it was open and unbuttoned revealing her stomach, along with a black set of heels open toed, with a beaming smile. She is also carrying a black purse that is more a bag than anything, but female fashion, what can I say right? I get out and go to the passenger side and open the door for her, upon which she says “My, what a gentleman”.
“It is only proper, and I must say you look great”, I say with a slight bow.
She smiles looking pleased with me,” why thank you Scott”.
After she gets in, I close the door gently and then head back to the driver side.
“Did you wait long?” I asked her curiously.
“Nope, I knew you would be right on time, as expected of Scott Smith the War Hero” she replies with a giggle.
“War Hero? Where did you hear that nonsense?” I asked somewhat perturbed. But then I begin to smell her perfume, it was intoxicating and quickly changed my mood.
“Oh, the neighbors talk you know, it is rumored that you got severely wounded while saving your platoon and single handed took out an entire army in the first gulf war.” She says seriously now.
I sigh and shake my head thinking how stories get blown out of proportion. “No, I am no War Hero, yes I got wounded, nothing serious, a graze while carrying one of my wounded buddies. And as to the taking out an entire army, well that is total fabrication. What really happened is I went for a piss and came upon about 150 Iraqi Soldiers, who all raised their hands to surrender. It was one of the craziest scenes ever, here I am with it hanging out and these guys just walk up and surrender while I am taking a piss”, I laugh as I recall that scene many years ago.
“So you are a Hero then, you captured 150 soldiers with your penis eh? She laughs jokingly “that must be some monster you have there HAHAHA!!” She bursts out laughing so hard that tears start flowing.
I take at glance over at her and laugh with her. Did she just use a penis joke? Wow, ok, I can go with the flow here I think to myself,” You have no idea!” I say while laughing.
Speaking of monsters I change the subject quickly “Hey Julie did you watch the news about the Monster attack in New York City?”
Julie still laughing “HAHA What? you can reach all the way there?” She still has not calmed down from the previous discussion “That is quite some distance from Kopeke, New Mexico all the way to New York City HAHA.”
I was amused that she was having fun at my expense over the Iraqi incident, but I think she was thinking I was going to add to the joke, time to correct her.
“No seriously, 6 monsters attacked the people in New York City, a reporter had her head bitten off on live TV” I tell her with a serious voice.
She stops laughing, then a little uncertain, “Really? When did this happen? Monster?”
“Yeah about an hour or so after our run, I was eating breakfast when it happened and watched it live”, I informed her.
“Are you joking?” she asks, while turning on the radio, switching channels, till she gets to one broadcasting the news. After a few minutes, her face goes pale and she says “Wow, that really happened? I hope those poor people will be ok and no more monsters are lurking about. Those poor families.” she just kept on going realizing I was not joking.
“Yeah that's something alright. I could not believe it at first, I thought I was watching a horror movie” I said recalling the scenes.
“I bet, wow to imagine real monsters? What were they like?” She asks curiously.
I go into details about the monsters and what transpired without sounding too gory. Also how it reminded me of a monster from a fantasy MMO I played, upon which she excitedly discussed online gaming with me, about how she played a magic type character with a support type role.
Our discussion went on until we finally got to the mall, and parked the vehicle. Getting out, I go over to the passenger door and open it for her and offer my hand to her, “Thank you kindly sir!” she says with a genuine smile, looking at me with those beautiful green sparkling eyes.
We enter the mall which had 2 floors and spread out for a good distance. The mall entrance we came into was from the North side of the Mall and had an entrance on each side North, West, East and South.. Shops lined on either side as we entered, all the way to the center where the 4 paths met. In the center was a fountain that was spurting water to music, while little kids were hanging from the sides trying to catch the water as it flew thru the air to other side of the fountain. Parents were grabbing hold of their kids to ensure they did not fall in.
Escalators were on either side of the fountain transporting people to and from the second floor
“So where to first?”, I ask.
“Hmmm, lets see, how about that one over there” she points at a shop in the distance.
I look and nod my head and begin to head towards it. Suddenly I feel a small hand inside of mine, I quickly look and see Julie had taken my hand into hers, “Do not want to get separated right?” She says while lightly blushing.
Go with the flow, go with the flow I repeat to myself inwardly and smile. As we walk towards the shop, I can see other guys looking in our direction with lusty eyes and wanting to be in my place. Yeah, that is right, she is with me I say to myself proudly.
We enter the shop and are greeting almost immediately by a sales clerk. “Hi there, can I help you with anything today?”, she says with a smile. An overly friendly elderly lady, about in her early 60's greets us and proceeds to talk fashion with Julie. I tune it out almost immediately, and look around seeing a few other customers in the store browsing, then I notice the section of lingerie not too far from me. Hmm, now this is an interesting development I think to myself and grin.
“Scott? What are you grinning at?” Julie asks with a slightly raised eyebrow. Crap busted, better make this a good one, “uhh nothing was just thinking about you laughing in the truck” I lied.
“Yeah sure, I bet you were looking at the lingerie over there and wondering if I was going to ask you to pick something out for me?” she says with an evil grin. When did we become this friendly, in almost 2 years we have never spoken like this or even gone out. No wonder I am single, I can not figure this shit out.
“Well now that you mention it........” I leave it there with a wry smile.
“And a dirty old man to boot, HAH!”, She laughs and shakes her head “ well come on”, she grabs my hand and pulls me to the lingerie section, “pick something out!”, she demands and then smiles again that evil grin.
Now I am nervous, holy hell, what do I do here, I honestly do not know what I should even pick out. Ok, I am not a virgin, nor am I not unfamiliar with the opposite sex, but in all my life I never really paid attention, or gotten serious with anyone to be truthful. But something about this woman compels me, makes me into a stupid teenager. Frantically, I look around and see some black lingerie and take it from the rack. It is a 2 piece bra and panties with intricate designs and virtually see thru.
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Already regretting my choice, I look at Julie who smirks and says, “Getting pretty bold there Scott?” she laughs and takes the lingerie from me then glances at the rack.“
“You have no sense of women sizes huh?”, she puts the lingerie I picked out back on the rack, then pulls another set of the same type from the rack, “I am not a D cup, sheesh” she says laughing.
That is what I got wrong? Wow, ok she is pretty forward here, go with the flow go with the flow.
“Ok come with me, I will try this on” she takes my hand and leads me towards the changing area. I take a seat and wait as she enters the room. I look around, but it seems we are the only ones here. As I sit and wait, I imagine what she will look like in that lingerie. Now I was getting a little excited, come on, this is a beautiful woman for Christ sake. How can I pass this up?
“Scott?” I hear my name called from the changing room.
“I am here” I reply.
“SCOTT??!!” she is now screaming my name with a scared voice.
I jump from my seat and head towards the door and hear Julie scream. I open the door and am met with a sight not only confusing, but horrifying. In the room I see a naked Julie clutching a sword stuck in her stomach, looking at it with disbelief, holding the sword is a green, 4 ft looking creature, wearing ragged leather clothing, sneering with saliva drooling from its mouth. A goblin? I think. Without thinking, I grab the wrist of the beast and squeeze with all my might while punching the thing in the face with my other hand. It releases it's hold on the sword, I then drag it out of room.
Startled, the goblin howls. I shove it away, then get into a defensive stance. I eye the goblin to see if it had any other weapons. The goblin looked around with wild eyes checking out it's surroundings, then set its eyes on me again. I make the first move, and send a kick towards it mid section catching it off guard, sending it flying towards the near wall. Stunned the creature does not react right away, I move quickly taking its head in both my hands and twist as hard as I can breaking its neck with a loud pop.
A Blue Screen appears in front of me with a message.
Welcome!Congratulations! You have earned the skill Gamer!
From here on out you will start your new life and adventure.
Beware, for many dangers lurk about. As a Gamer you will
acquire skills, professions and titles, as well as levels.
To level up you will have to vanquish the monsters and enemies
you will face and gain experience by doing so.
As you go up in levels you will receive career choices.
Be careful, there is no going back or undoing those
choices. For your first kill you have been awarded level 1 Adventurer.
Oh and one last note, do not die, as there is no re-spawning in this world.
Please stand by, acquiring stats................................
I look dumbfounded at the screen, wondering what is going on.
Stats Acquired
Stand By,Character Resetting
I feel a sharp pain thru out my entire body, feeling like it is on fire. I double over from the intense pain and cry out loud “AHHHHHH!”
After a moment the pain is then gone, laying on the ground a new screen appears.
Character reset is now complete.
You can call up your status at any time by saying status, or thinking it.
You can also hide various things like profession and skills. But stats will always be shown. Please enjoy your adventure. You will now receive Notices.
Christ, I do not have time for this I must get to Julie I think to myself and dismiss all messages. I get up and hasten to the changing room to find Julie lying on the floor naked with the sword in her stomach still, blood flowing from the wound.
She then weakly looks up at me with tears in her eyes and says with a sad smile “Please do not look at me like this whoever you are”.
I am stunned, whoever you are? I then look at the mirror hanging on the wall and again I am stunned. I see a handsome, 6' 2” slightly muscular man with darkened Blonde hair, blue crystal eyes with a chiseled chin staring back at me, looking about 18 to 19 years of age. Where did the old man go? Why do I look like my younger self again?
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Edited 11-6-15