FEBRUARY 21st, 2022

JEN I

It was a quiet morning. It’s only so because Andy’s still asleep. That doofus always woke up at the volume of ten trains. Everything was loud with him. It didn’t help that the walls separating our rooms were paper-thin.

My bed rested right up against the corner of the room, right behind my bed was his room. I sat up and stretched a second before lifting myself off the bed and I made my way to the window. As I pulled back the curtains sunlight filled the room and instantly I felt ten times more comfortable. Outside the blinding whiteness filled my vision of last night’s snowfall. It was so strange how I could fall asleep to a green yard then wake up to a white one. I shuddered at the thought of playing yesterday’s game with all of this snow out there. Heck, if it kept up there might not have been any school, but I knew better than to get my hopes up.

I walked out of my room and when I passed by Andy’s room I knocked twice, “C’mon, doofus! It’s time to get up.” I continued on. I might have added the responsibility of waking Andy up to my morning resume, but at least I get first crack at the bathroom. There wasn’t a feeling any greater than being the first one in the bathroom — nobody else was there to knock or hurry you up.

Once I finished I knocked on Andy’s door once more. It usually takes a couple of tries to get him up. Downstairs I heard the hum of the television turned on. Mom must be up — she’s usually up pretty early for work.

“Is Andrew up yet?” She asked.

“I knocked on his door twice and he didn’t respond. I think he might have been on that game all night,” I said, walking closer toward her.

“Boys and their games,” my mom said, shaking her head. “You go get some food and I’ll go wake him.”

“Okay. If he doesn’t get up right away can we do the water trick?” I ask.

“No, you cannot do the water trick.”

“Aw, come on.”

“No.”

“Ugh, fine. Go get him already,” I said, walking into the kitchen.

The water trick was a classic. I took out some cereal from the cupboard and poured myself a bowl. I took a bite and walked back into the family room and swipe the remote into my hand. I scrolled through the six channels we can receive, the same six. Two were based on reruns of old cartoons, two are sports channels (reruns again) and the last two were news stations for the different halves of Colorado.

Each state had their own separate broadcasts. We were a bit more standardized than some of the other places out here. We were lucky to be out here in the east. Reporter Jessica Taft was on the screen when the news came up. She was the most frequent reporter for Colorado East. Her brightly colored bangs hung low in front of her eyes. She was standing in front of a building I recognized — our local Technodome. It was owned by Technodome Entertainment — one of the fastest growing business chains in the city. It was full of all kinds of gadgets of almost any variety that still work. There weren’t many of them around the country, but there’s still enough of them to matter.

“People are still lined up for the popular new title, Elysium. It’s the Technodome’s most successful business ventures with partner and producer of the popular virtual reality video game, Adata! The popularity for this title was a first for many things, it’s bringing the dormant gaming culture back to the forefront, an attempt at escape, would be my guess,” she laughed, looking at the people waiting in line behind her. “My guess is also that people need to get themselves some real work, but I can’t really control others, can I?” she said, looking back again. “Waste of time or not, this game was heavily sought after for another reason, it the first technological invention compatible with Adata technology, the Adatech. Now I guess these people can truly escape into their fictional worlds.” Suddenly the tone shifts on screen — breaking news interrupted the normal news story for a headline that send me back against the wall. “4,000 dead in Virtual Reality Video Game?!” My eyes went wide. Abe Donahue — the breaking news anchor stationed back in Thornton was on screen talking about reports of kids and adults all around the state being found dead in their rooms from playing the hit new game, Elysium.

“Mom? Mom?!” I called out, scrambling for the remote to turn the volume up.

“What is it-”

“GET DOWN HERE NOW.”

She started to come down the steps, “-line. It was developed by Technodome Incorporated and Produced by Adata, both of which have not responded to the claims that the ever so popular virtual reality video game, Elysium, has had a casualty count of over 4,000. Players of this game are unable to log out or exit the game, our reporters are working hard to figure out why this is, but we have no information to report as of this time. We suggest all of those who know anybody who was currently inside of this game to make sure they are still breathing, and do not try to remove the helmets that they are wearing. The helmets seem to form some sort of cerebral connection to the players’ subconscious during game play. It was unknown exactly how long into game play that the connection was made, but we do know that interrupting this connection can be fatal to those inside of the game.”

“Mom, please tell me Andy’s okay up there,” I said.

She didn’t say anything, she’s frozen in terror.

“Mom…” I repeated, but I began running up the stairs.

He can’t be gone. He…he’s good at these kinds of games, right? Oh no, what if mom unplugged it while she went up?! Shit! Why couldn’t he just go back to the debate club and leave this stupid hobby behind? He was himself then. I ran past my door and throw open Andy’s door. He was lying in his bed, uncovered. My heart jumped for joy when I saw his chest rising.

The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

I ran to his side and stared at the helmet attached to his head like a leech. I moved his body over slightly and saw that there was a cord from the helmet running down and into his neck. It was fused with the skin.

“Mom…call the police, now!” I screamed. I fell to my knees and leaned myself against Andy’s dresser. The tears came and I didn’t stop them. I was out of breath and I heard my mom coming up the stairs. She walked into the room and picked me up in her arms. “Mom…that thing is stuck in his neck.” I said in-between breaths.

She nodded, pulled me closer and wrapped her arms around me, “It’s okay, the police are going to be here soon. There had been a lot of calls in the area so they’re doing they’re best.” she whispered. I let myself break in her arms.

~…~

The police arrived a few hours later. People all over the state are succumbing to a fate worse than Andy’s. They passed while playing Elysium, this game that was touted as an escape from reality. You didn’t need to escape, you need to stay here and be with us. We need you. Two officers and the chief of police knocked on our door. The chief was my best friend’s father, so it wasn’t any surprise that he felt it necessary to see how we were doing personally. The two officers began speaking with my mom and went upstairs to Andy’s room. Everything felt like such a blur I didn’t even catch their names.

My mom and I have been downstairs in our living room talking to Mr. Carroway, a spitting image of his son, Jake. Or the other way around at least. He had high, hardened cheekbones. “Jake said he would’ve been here if he could, but I didn’t want him to be close to a possible crime scene.” Mr. Carroway said.

“It’s okay, I’m not really in the right state to be seeing a lot of people anyway.” I said.

He nodded, “I am so very sorry for what has happened. I assure you that we are doing our very best to find out more to help those who are like your son now, trapped within this video game.”

“Do you think that we can relocate him to a hospital or something? I don’t know how well I can keep him fed with work and everything, he can’t sit there for too long,” My mom asked.

“I don’t personally know of any high intensive care units that aren’t filled,” he began, and with that I saw my mom droop from her seat. “…but I can work some things out that he does get personal care. A friend of mine who works as a nurse can take him in and make sure he gets the proper nutrients until further action can be taken,” he said, placing his hand on her shoulder.

“Really? Oh that would be wonderful! Oh thank you so much,” she burst into tears.

“Do you think I can go see him before you guys take him?” I asked.

“Honey…I don’t think that’s a good idea, the other officers are in there and we don’t want to be a burden,” My mom said, wiping her eyes.

I can feel my heart break. I can’t let my last time seeing him alive be me calling him a doofus. I can live with it if he’s perfectly okay, because he’ll call me “kid” right back and we’ll laugh. That’s how a brother is, he makes fun of you, but only because he loves you, and knows you’ll grow up and be able to make fun of him back. Oh God why did this have to happen? I can’t even believe that something this horrible would happen.

“I can allow it, who would I be to separate a sister from her brother in this sad time?” Mr. Carroway asked. “I can ask my men to step out so you can have a private moment.”

I nodded, “Thank you.”

“It is no problem,” he nodded his head in return and stood to his feet.

I took no extra caution as I made my way for Andy’s room. I had to keep my hopes up. He was going to be just fine and calling me kid again in no time. There was no way that he was going to let himself die here. I opened his bedroom door and stepped inside. I saw the faces of the officers turn as I entered. The one on the left — his badge showed that his name was Mendez — walked up to me (probably to tell me I shouldn’t be in there), but he stopped as he saw Mr. Carroway behind me.

“Are you and Carlson finished here?” He asked, fiddling a pen between his fingers.

“We just need a few minutes, sir. We’ve learned that the helmets connect to the brain, specifically through the cerebral cortex through the back of the neck to simulate the game’s images, sounds, and feelings into the wearer’s subconscious. It makes them believe they are really experiencing whatever is going on in there,” Officer Mendez said.

He looked as if he had been working in the bomb squad. His uniform was layered in a thick coat of sweat. Any on his face seemed to have run into and been absorbed by his thick mustache. Carlson, on the other hand, was working with a deft hand, his dark face working with a smooth precision. He stopped. There was something I liked about him more than Mendez.

“Do you think that could can wait a few minutes?” Mr. Carroway asked, and then motioned with his eyes towards me.

“Sir, I really think-”

“No problem. I understand that you might want some time with your brother here,” Officer Carlson interrupted. I knew it was something about him I liked more. Mendez jerked his head over to Carlson, but he only returned a dismissive gaze. Mendez sighed and nodded, “We’ll be out.”

Mr. Carroway walked out with Mendez and Carlson. I ran to Andy’s side. He lied on his back and his helmeted face was looking upward. “Oh Andy…I’m so sorry I didn’t stop you from playing that game. I just want you to come back, please make it to the end and come back to us.” I teared up, but I blinked to hold the tears back. I gave him a quick hug and kissed his cheek. I nod at Carlson and Mendez who return into Andy’s room. I walk down the stairs and sit on my couch, sinking into it and staring into the ceiling.

“Mom?” I ask.

She turned to me, her eyes wet with fresh tears, “Y-Yeah?”

“I hope he’s okay,” I said.

She nodded, sniffed, and then cried again.

~...~

7:13 pm

It was dark, the lights outside Andy’s room had just shut off. Mr. Carroway had him moved to a sort of interim hospital room where his friend, Miss Melanie Moon stayed to observe him and keep him fed. I have been visiting him for the past three days, checking up on him and the like. I’ve been the only one who has besides for Miss Moon. Mom was too distraught with absolutely everything. It was like I’m my mom’s Miss Moon. Any time that I’m not at work or cooking at home I’m here, watching over Andy.

It was hard to believe he could be so close to me, yet so far away at the same time. I guess it’d be the same if he were in a coma or something else. Except those who are comatose aren’t being held hostage in a virtual prison by some stupid helmet that hardwired its way into their brain. If I could just maybe shake him awake, and everything would be okay, like he just overslept or something. My mind was a whirlwind of questions, most, if not all that will never be answered. Some are like, “Dear benevolent deity that may or may not watch over us, why would you let something like this happen to us now? Why now of all times?” Others are simply “Andy, why couldn’t you just choose not to play the damn game this one time?”

I slinked over to the wall and sat down. “If only he would just wake the fuck up!” I had to hold the wall to keep me up. In between breaths I grabbed my bag from the chair I was sitting in and decided to head home for the night. I hated not being able to do anything to help. Before shutting the door, I looked back into the room, “Please come back to us…I miss you more than anything,” I said, letting the words fell flat as I shut the door behind me.