With Jacob gone and Devorah’s glasses on the desk, there wasn’t much to do but wait until he came back. Though Jacob couldn’t perceive Devorah in any meaningful way, she was still glad for the time to herself. Yes, Jacob couldn’t see her, but that didn’t mean Devorah felt comfortable having her breakdown in front of him.

And so, Devorah allowed herself space to cry and moan and even uselessly hit at the furniture. Every time she felt close enough to a charge being activated, Devorah stepped back. Breathed in, out. In and out again.

And once she felt calm enough, Devorah let the emptiness and rage battle within her again.

Eventually, Devorah calmed down. There was still something simmering under the surface, under the heavy layer of ice that encased her everything. But she could focus again. Work like something close to a person, again.

Since Jacob still hadn’t returned, Devorah decided it was the perfect time to check her messages. Since she was in such a good emotional state and was capable of making super rational decisions, obviously.

Sure enough, Devorah had received a reply from this Riley person. She wasn’t sure what to make of them, exactly. In her own game, Devorah never had a chance to communicate with anyone behind the scenes. As a normal player, there wouldn’t have been a reason for that. Only the champion had contact with the outside world.

On a few occasions, there would be major sponsors who would reach out to players while they were in the game. It was pretty rare for that to happen, though. Devorah supposed that this definitely confirmed that she wasn’t considered a normal player this time around.

But did that mean she and the other ghosts were staff? Or just setting?

Devorah,

Thank you for your thanks! I am acknowledging that you took the time out of your busy day to contact me.

Devorah rolled her eyes. Busy day? Please.

However, I must ask that you do not contact me save for any emergencies or urgent questions. Emergencies and urgent questions consist of situations such as:

Any questions about sponsorship brands!

Questions about how to better represent sponsorship brands!

Ideas about how to better incorporate sponsorship brands!

Any ideas for brands that you think would be ideal sponsorship brands!

Emergencies do NOT include:

Oh no! Sally is dying!

Oh no! Tom is murdering Sally!

Oh no! Tom murdered Sally and is having sex with her corpse! (Unless Tom is doing this near a sponsored product. In that case, please notify me immediately.)

Also, my day is going GREAT! Thanks for asking. I think I might actually be securing that deal with Spucci. They have a new jewelry collection that would look great with one of our player’s costumes.

-Riley

Brand Partnership Manager

Champion's League

Uh…? Wow. Devorah had been looking for a distraction, and she certainly got it. For a moment, she was so dumbstruck she couldn’t even remember to be depressed. Where to even start?

Riley,

This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

Thank you for the speedy reply. Best of luck getting that brand deal with Spucci, that would certainly be a step up over Azazel Weapons, who I think were the biggest sponsor in my games? At least based on the amount of Azazel brand skinning knives that Anna found.

I know you said not to bother you, but I have a few questions concerning my role in this game. Why am I here? Why only two charges? Our other notification mentioned my role and the amount of charges may change- when will we be getting updates on that?

Thanks again, Devorah

A reply came seemingly in just seconds.

Didn’t I just say those weren’t the kinds of questions I’d be answering?

And don’t get me wrong, Azazel is still sponsoring this game too. Obviously. Which is good for a game about society and the lengths people will go to for their own survival.

You mostly outlined how I should not contact you were I to witness a murder.

Similarly, you don’t need to play the PR Agent with me, Riley. You may be the one selling it, but I know this game intimately. We both know it isn’t intellectual musings on the nature of society and the human psyche that draws viewers.

Have you considered that maybe I’m trying to change that?? Huh?? Spucci will bring real class to this game.

I’m sure it will, Riley.

As a historian, my suggestion would be to play into the history of the brand. The long, long and luxurious history. It’s a perfect tie-in to a season that seems to be focused on bringing in players from different points in Earth’s history.

You think I’m not working that angle? You think I’m an amateur? There’s a reason the league is paying me the big bucks. I have worked bigger gigs than the Champion’s League. This shitthole is lucky to have me and they know it. You should be treating me with more respect too.

Dammit. Devorah was really screwing this up. There was a reason she left the sweet talking and persuasion to Anna. But she was alone here. Unless…

You’re right, and I didn’t mean to insinuate otherwise. Were you the one who secured the deal with Space Starbucks in my game? Markony with his endless lattes was hilarious.

It was me, yeah! Haha, it was pretty funny, wasn’t it? And Space Starbucks loved it. Lattes are usually pretty big sellers, but it really helped bolster the release of their new helium cold brew lattes. The waver made a lot of people nervous to drink it, I think, but they actually taste fine and stay cold for a pretty long time. And the way Markony kept guzzling them down? Perfect! That’s a guy who knows his comedic timing.

Hilarious. But I bet you don’t want to be funny with Spucci, right? So what about this- you know Eugenia? Now a ghost, but definitely a weapon in your marketing arsenal? She wears fine things very well, and as a poet she knows how to weave words together. What about draping her in some Spucci jewels? With her being a ghost, you can also keep in contact with her much more easily than any of the players.

That… Actually isn’t a half bad idea.

Got them.

A fancy ghost would look great online, too. And she’s already historic too, being from Earth’s nineteenth century… Yeah, I’ll keep that in mind.

I’ll let you think that over! In the meantime, do you know who I could contact about those questions I had earlier?

Normally I’d say the host, but she’s a bit… busy. Haha. Uh, the champion wants to be really involved. Like, way more involved than champions normally are. And these players move fast! Not naming names, but the third murderer is on the move. And it’s only been a few weeks?

I’ll let the new analyst know you want to talk. It’s an AI so it can do a few things at once.

Wait, so did that mean that the host wasn’t an AI? That weird doll thing? That was a real person? But it had been able to turn back time! Or was that a ruse? Devorah and the other ghosts were just code, so maybe it was like the host had hit an undo button?

Devorah needed more information. Something didn’t feel right about that.

That sounds perfect. Please let the analyst know I’ll be awaiting their message. If you could also let the host know I would like to speak with them when they’re free, that would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much for your help, Riley.

I’m not a personal assistant you know? But I’ll pass on the messages in exchange for a favor.

Devorah didn’t care for that. But she would do it if she had to.

What can I do for you? I'm a bit limited in my current situation.

Nothing now, haha! But I’ll let you know when the time comes.

-Riley

Brand Partnership Manager

Champion's League

Ominous. With a sigh, Devorah closed out of the messaging system. Thankful that Devorah could only get brain-murder headaches and not normal, stress induced headaches, she allowed herself to recline on Jacob’s bed.

Messages handled, all she could do now was wait for Jacob to return. Hopefully, he would be back soon. Devorah didn’t want to be alone with her thoughts again. That path only spelled trouble.