“Oh my god, they were right about you being a zombie head, hello? anybody there? Can you log me out now?”
“Well, umm, the thing about that i-is…” Should I tell her or not? Oh god I don’t know…
“Is-is-is… what? Just speak clearly!”
“We can’t logout, or at least I don’t know how to, and we would probably be better off here anyway, to be honest,” my words hung in the air.
“…”
“…”
“…”
“Excuse me? Is this a joke…” she snapped, stink eyeing me, “…this is abuse, you realise that, right? Sexual abuse!”
Did she not watch the news or something? And if she doesn’t think this is real…
“Why’d you login in the first place?”
It’s all my fault really… “I’m sorry, again, I didn’t mean to send you that text…” the words choked in my throat.
A look of bewilderment struck her face, “…what text?”
Our eyes met for a second and I felt my heart ignite, before looking away, “The address details, the one with the IP address? The whole reason you spawned in the same area as us.”
This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.
“I never got your text… oh—my—god, it had to be my little snot nosed brother! Errgh, I’m going to kill him!” she rage stomped, “Whatever, just log me out already?! Like, isn’t there a distress button or something.”
“No, no, this is real…” my voice threatening to collapse, “…i-if someone dies in this world, they’re dead, as in real-dead.”
She turned pale and her eyes froze open, “It’s a joke right, haha, you’ve trapped me on some weird virtual date.” She seemed set on this narrative life boat. “Well, I’m not some dumb dating simulation girl, I have human rights, and you’re violating them!”
Bilbron, the Demi-Racoon, interrupted, “Looks like a lot of rain coming soon, best watch out for [Water Slimes].”
“Try taking a deep breath.”
“Excuse me, are you seriously trying to tell me what to do?!”
“Please, just humour me, and take a deep breath… Do you think that’s air you’re breathing now?” Did I just pull off the Matrix quote?!
She took a deep breath, and my face flushed.
“Yeah, so what?” her lips pursed.
“Umm… okay, well, Immersive Virtual reality games haven’t developed the technology to feel the air in our lungs and the heat in our hands… or the pain of a cut or from turning… into… stone…” I closed my eyes and winced.
“Okay… I don’t know you, I don’t why you’re doing this, its psychopathic, don’t come near me, don’t follow me, I’m going to the police.” the doorbell clanged behind her.
I swallowed the lump that was developing in my throat, before calling out “Wait! What about your shoes?”
Perhaps, I should follow her, but she explicatively said not to, I guess being a nerd has its benefits, we can adapt to ‘mind effing’ situations like this. But gods, she hates me now… I saved her and she hates… why do girls never go for nice guys and instead go for the jocks, like Toby… it’s probably because they’re big and strong, and not nerds… Alright then… I will become strong, I will become so strong it’s impossible to ignore.
Bilbron looked up at me for a second before scribbling something on a map.
What’s with this weird racoon guy anyways? Is he real? Or just some synthetic creation? Or, like a golem? It’s not like this weird change can just bring NPCs to life, can it?
“ .”
His head was in his maps again, “I’m sorry I can’t answer that question right now, perhaps you can try again once you have joined the Adventurer’s Guild.”
“I’m a level 7 Commoner, how do you expect me to go out there and slay level 30-somthing slimes?”
He looks up at me completely deadpan. “If you lack the necessary strength, maybe try hiring some assistance over at the Mercenary Guild.”
Right, so I was in a make-believe world come to life, but the NPC mechanics were still integrated. Their little games would have to be played for now, but first new gear was in need, and a place to sleep to take stock of the whole situation.