“Daddy?”

“Don't call me that!” The black man shouted at me. 

“Don't talk to our baby that way!”

It was all a dream, I was sure of it. No one could be that unlucky. First, I got a neurotic mom then, stupid pets and now I got a psychotic dad. And why was that game bent on giving me a family? I was freaking out. Goosebumps broke out on my arms. I sat on the ground taking deep breaths. 

“See what you did!... Poor baby, it's okay. Mama's here. Daddy won't hurt you.” If Maron thought she was comforting me, she had another thing coming. I hyperventilated. 

“What a sissy!” 

“Shut up! You're scaring him!” Maron embraced me while she screamed at the man.

He humphed in annoyance. He paced back and forth in front of us. 

“I need to transfer the Unas.” I was totally going to ignore the elephant in the room. If I started thinking about that man, I would start panicking again. Better change the subject.   

They both looked at me like I lost my mind. I didn't care. Kill me or not. Either way they would do whatever they wanted without asking me. I got up and made my way out of this place. If I thought clearly, I would have used my skills to leave. But I wasn't thinking straight. I walked away in a random direction. The cave I was in gave way to three tunnels. I took the one in the middle. 

“Baby?” Maron called me. I didn't answer.

“Oi, Brat!” I didn't answer either. 

“See, you broke him!” Maron hit the man and came after me.

I shook my head at their nonsense. After a while, they totally ignored me and talked to each other. Who could believe that a few hours ago they were fighting over me? They chatted amicably and were even holding hands. Maron told him everything that happened. He was suitably impressed, not that I cared but what he said next brought me to a screeching halt.

“As expected of my son.” I turned back toward them and glared at him in disbelief. He tried to kill me and now, he was claiming me as his own?

Was I the only sane person in the world? Or was I the problem? I went back to walking deep in thoughts. I tried to analyze everything that happened to me.  In all the years I heard about VR games, no one talked about those kind of crazy situations that I always found myself in. 

There was always talk of grinding, dungeons and epic quests. I had the epic quests down as I got 2 high-leveled quests that needed to be resolved. But the grinding and dungeons weren't even on the map and I had been playing for weeks now.

I hadn't even killed anything yet. It was not for lack of trying though. I always got caught up in whatever crap could and would happen. But enough was enough. VR games were the best way nowadays to have fun. And dammit, I would have fun! I want to have fun playing games. Enough with the drama! 

Having made my decision, I stopped walking. I looked around. I was still in the tunnel and it had no end in sight.

“Hey! Do you know how to get out of here?” I asked turning to the pair of loving birds that were following me. 

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

“It's not 'hey', it's daddy.” Did that guy seriously expected me to call him that? Yes, his expression was too serious to suggest otherwise.

“Daddy, how do I get out of here?” 

“Go through the wall, you're a spirit in case you've forgotten.” I hadn't forgotten but since I became a god, my spirit form had changed. From being invisible, I became visible to all. I hadn't actually checked if I became touchable too. Before, no one could touch me, attacks went right through me. But now I didn't know. I took on my true form and tried. It worked! 

Pff. I didn't need to run in the first place. I was dejected. If I knew no one could touch me I wouldn't have run away from the wolves or from dear dad. I went through the wall for I don't know how long. I didn't see anything other than dirt. 

“Hey, you sure I can get out that way?”

No one answered. I looked at them. They were both staring at me waiting for something.

“Daddy, are you sure I can get out that way?” I repeated my answer with the suitable name in it.

“Of course, but first you need to not go deeper into the mountain.” He answered with a smirk.

“Why didn't you say it sooner? We've  been walking for hours.”

“You looked like you liked it.” I stared uncomprehendingly at him. I retract what I said. The guy wasn't psychotic, he was an idiot. 

“I wanna get out. Daddy bring me out... please.” If he was showing the way, he wouldn't let me get lost again...right?

“Oh! You just have to ask.” He took me by the arm and the next thing I know we were back inside the forest. 

I gritted my teeth and endured. I wasn't going to yell. 

“We should leave, the wolves are too strong.”

“About that. I might have done something.” A vein was throbbing in my forehead.

“What did you do?”

“I might have created an illusion or three.”

“Illusion?” I had a bad feeling about it. “You're a mara.” I stated my suspicion.

“Of course.” He said with a huge smile. I had been deceived.  Pissed, I hit a tree. For long agonizing minutes, the only sounds around were my heavy breathing and the thuds my fist made on the tree. I spent all my pent-up anger.

“Okay, I need a nice place to call the Unas over.” I took a deep breath and went in a random direction. 

No one said anything. It was better that way because I wasn't sure I wouldn't have blown a gasket if they'd said anything. I walked for hours until I came upon a large clearing. I looked around. There was nothing dangerous. I went at the center of the clearing.    

“Come Unas.”

Pieces of light came out of nowhere. They brightened until every last one of the Unas appeared. 

“Hello guys! Welcome to Forgotten Soul!” 

Previous/ Next