A young man in his early twenties, average build, maybe a bit skinny, with short brown hair, stood inside his room. It was a normal room, nothing fancy. His trembling hands were clutching a wrinkly letter. If possible, his darting eyes would have already ground the ink into dust, as he read it several times each day. Every time he did, his face got covered in a huge grin. Today, like everyday, he talked with his pet, a Hercules beetle.
“I’m so excited! Today, this new game called 'The Swarm' comes out, and I won a free copy. It even includes the extremely expensive capsule! Yep, that's right; it’s a Virtual Reality MMO. My first time ever trying one out. Though, I tried searching for the game and found nothing, except some website that said it’s coming out soon." He observed the beetle’s reactions. Same as usual. None. He tapped the glass terrarium with a fingernail.
"Not impressed? Well, it’s about being an insect emperor or something. You know I always wanted a proper insect colony god-slash-sim game, right? This might just be the thing! You can sit on my shoulder as I play, like you normally do. Perhaps you will see some interesting female bugs, eh? Ah, wait, it's a VR game, not a normal desktop game; you can't enter the capsule with me. Damn. I hope you aren’t too upset. Tap, tap, you even listening in there? Come out from your castle. Well, I did spend a lot of money on it, so I’m glad you enjoy playing there, but I never expected you to spend all day in there… I rarely see you these days.”
The beetle bug reacted more to the sound of him tapping on the glass, than the talks about the interesting game.
“You just wait here; gotta go to work now. They said they would be here in the evening, so I can still go to work. None of that 'we will come between eight and four' crap they usually pull. Still, if they come earlier, can you open the door? No? Well, worth a shot… So yeah, see yah later, Hercules!” The man waved goodbye to the beetle, grabbed his backpack, and left, heading to work.
Hercules watched his owner leave the room, and only then did he crawl out from the castle. He started his usual routine: ram into the barrier! While he did, angry thoughts spun in his small mind.
...Where else would I be? You keep me in this weird box. No matter how much I push at the strange edges, they won't budge nor break! Who cares about your stupid games! Every time you play those stupid games, you force me to sit on your shoulder! I can't even sit on your head, like I want. Waste of time; you should find a good mate instead. Speaking of a mate, where is mine?! You can't keep me here all alone! Just because you can tug your front tail whenever you want, doesn’t mean I can! Yeah, that’s right… I can see you perfectly fine from here… Why do you think I’m hiding in my castle?
Hercules, a majestic Hercules beetle, around sixteen centimeters in length, with a large horn on his head. He lived in a transparent glass box, had plenty of food and toys to play with, and even some things from his natural environment. Very pricey stuff, but hey, only the best for Hercules.
However, even though Hercules lived in a one cubic meter large box, safe from all dangers, it was still quite small, and most definitely boring, for a creature like him. One that liked to move around a lot, go on adventures, meet pretty beetle ladies. His owner sometimes put up posters of female beetles for him, but those did more harm than good… So, Hercules spent his days complaining. Not that anyone could hear him. Perhaps he spoke to himself, in an attempt to stave of some of the crippling loneliness.
Perhaps that was the same reason his owner kept talking to the bug that could never respond back.
***
Meanwhile, the man reached his job.
The old manager heard the door open and looked up from behind his newspaper. So far, the day had been calm, not many customers. “About time you showed up, boy. Get to work!” The old manager shouted with anger, some spittle flying onto his newspaper, making small wet marks.
“Hey, Carl, don’t be so hard on him. Can’t you see how he’s covered in sweat and panting like our old dog? He clearly ran here as fast as he could.” The old lady spoke in a kind, soothing voice, and smiled gently towards their only employee.
Carl, a man about seventy years old, still stubbornly working at his business. Not just by own free will, but also thanks to the recession. Almost everything besides VR gaming got hit hard when people realized they could have everything they wanted, in the virtual world.
He and his wife, Agatha, has run their small corner shop together, since forty years back. He lost the hair on the top of his head a long time ago, the rest was a mix of white and grey. He used to be quite the bodybuilder when younger, using steroids like candy. After all, back in his days, the side effects were not really known. The long-term use of those, especially an experimental type he used because it was cheaper, created a change of personality, making him turn to anger more quickly.
That change stuck, even after he stopped using them. Maybe it had to do with the fact that a big and angry muscular man got his way more often in life, than a kind and meek person did. Anyway, when Agatha spoke, his anger usually vaporized quickly enough. He lost most muscle mass with time – age cannot be outrun, or out lifted in this case – but for his age, he was still strong and healthy; more than enough to invoke some sense of fear in their only employee.
“Yeah yeah, I know, Agatha.” Carl waved off the comments from his wife. “You know what to do, boy.” He readjusted his glasses that the small fit of rage knocked off slightly. If marriage taught him one thing, it was that arguing back did not help. Best to just smile and agree.
Agatha, a kind old lady, close to seventy years old, with white, grey short and curly hair. She wore a white buttoned flower dress. She liked to pamper their only employee with homemade cookies and knitted clothes, of course, only as long as he did his job properly.
“Hey, do you want a cookie before you start your shift? Oh, and I just finished a new pair of socks for you. Winter will be coming soon, so I’m sure it will be helpful.” Agatha might be smiling like an angel, but her eyes would not take a 'no' for an answer.
Unable to say no, the man shoved two cookies in his mouth, then grabbed the socks, nodding once as thanks. He continued on towards the 'employee only' area to get changed, eager to start his shift. As he put his clothes in the locker, he looked at the new socks he got. Pale yellow and thick. Made with great care, but unfortunately, they always made his feet itch something fierce. With a sigh, he put them in his backpack.
Maybe if its get really cold, I can wear two pairs of socks to avoid the itchiness?
However, Hercules needed a high temperature to survive, so Hell was more likely to freeze over than his apartment. Which did not help with the heat bills…
Oh god, the bills...
Just thinking about them made him feel sick and the two cookies in his mouth flew out on the floor. “Ah, crap! Can’t let her see the crumbs on the floor...”
Five boring hours later, and his shift finally ended. Since he had something important to do in the evening, he quit a bit earlier. He waved good-bye to the married owners and headed back home. The young man, carrying a backpack, was so eager to get home that the brisk walk soon turned into a jog on the sidewalk. Darkness had arrived and the street lights turned on.
***
Meanwhile on the road...
A woman, behind the wheels of a blue eighteen-wheeler, exhausted after many, many hours of driving. She was almost at her destination, and within fifteen minutes or so, she could finally sleep. However, her focus wavered and her mind wandered.
Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.
So...tired... Could probably fall asleep in a second if I closed my eyes. Nah, that can’t be right; it’s more likely about five seconds, or maybe even ten. No! Bad thoughts! Need to stay awake… Radio? Agh, terrible music, and that one was a commercial… Forget it. My phone! My savior in need! Ooooh, a new update on my favorite web novel! Hurray!
Within seconds, she had fully immersed herself in her reading.
***
Meanwhile, on the opposite side on the road...
A middle-aged man drove a white, two-seated car. His height made it cramped and uncomfortable, with the knees regularly interfering with the steering. But, he had no choice. Why? Well, this car saved gas money!
How is this even possible? How can I not be there yet? How much further is it? Stupid maze-like city. Would have been home thirty minutes ago if it weren’t for this stupid city always changing… Better check that damn map again. Hmm… What?! This can’t be right... I’m driving in the wrong direction? Again?!
The middle-aged man wrestled with the map inside his small car, cursing the city for the tricky roads… He drove down a straight road, with only a single distant headlight on the opposite side.
***
Meanwhile on the sidewalk...
On the sidewalk, on the same road, the backpack carrying man had changed from a jog, into a sprint. His mind was fully consumed by thoughts about the new game he was about to play. The Swarm! Just the name made him tingly from toes to eyebrows. Still about thirty minutes until the delivery truck would arrive, and at the current pace he would be home at ten. However, he wanted to take a shower first, wanting to be fresh for the game, so he hurried home.
***
Once again, meanwhile on the road...
The woman in the blue truck sat with the phone shoved up in her face, a big grin on her face.
This is really funny. Can’t stop reading it! The next chapter! Refresh! Argh! Refresh! Damn. Hmm, what was I doing before reading….
“OH SHIII---!!” She stomped down on the brakes, creating a screeching sound that definitely woke up the neighbors.
***
For the last time, meanwhile on the opposite side of the road...
Damn this map… What does 'ɥʇɹoN' even mean? Sigh, never should have moved here. Really liked my hometown. It was small, sure, but I could see everything, from anywhere. But this job… It was just too good to pass. Greed never pays off. Wait… 'ɥʇɹoN'? Oh god dammit, had it upside down all along! No wonder I couldn’t figure it out! Kept turning the map in all kinds of directions. From now on, it will be completely different. Tomorrow, I will be like a new man! Let’s see here.. Ugh, such a big map, hard to turn over with just one hand…
The middle-aged man let go with both hands of the steering wheel, and tried to quickly turn the map around, but the sides kept falling over, and he fumbled for a bit.
“Success!” He exclaimed. “Hey, I was on the right path all along… Hey, what’s that screeching noise?”
Right in the middle of him celebrating the conquest of the map's logic, everything suddenly went bright. He panicked, realizing something was horribly wrong, and threw the map to the side, grasping the steering wheel again.
It was too late.
He saw the gigantic headlights, staring him right in the eyes, almost blinding him. They belonged to a much larger vehicle than his own. His last thoughts went towards his family; the wife and daughter waiting back at the house in the beloved hometown, that he left for this job. Then, everything went black.
***
Uh... One more time. Meanwhile on the sidewalk...
A loud screeching noise, followed by what sounded almost like an explosion, woke the running man with the backpack up from his thoughts. He tripped on his feet, falling down to the ground. A burning tire flew by, right where his head used to be two seconds ago.
“Wha-what just happened? Fire?! Oh shit! Car crash! Holy shit, I almost died there! Would have sucked dying before I got to play my dream game. Or well, don’t know how good it is, of course...” The man rambled in his slight state of shock.
Anyone alive? Should I check? But, it’s burning and in the movies cars always explode… I, I better get out of here, before I get caught up in all this. Don’t wanna be late for my delivery!
The cowardly man convinced himself, and checked for any injuries. Thankfully, he was just fine, maybe a bruise or two by tomorrow. He took off in a run again, fleeing the scene with a clear conscience, eager to get away before any emergency personnel came, asking drawn-out questions.
***
After getting home, he took a shower. He felt sudden hunger, and remembered he never got his lunch today, since Carl would not let him have both lunch and quit early.
Ding!
The thing he had waited all day for finally happened, but now he was in the middle of making a sandwich. After a moment of confusion, even thinking someone saw him at the car crash and followed him home, he finally remembered what that doorbell meant.
“Ah!" He looked down at his half-finished sandwich, shaking his head. "YEAH! I’M COMING!” The man shouted as loud as he could. He absolutely did not want them leaving, thinking no one was home. He ran over and ripped the door open so fast that he surprised the delivery guy on the other side.
“Umm… Are you Mr-” Was all the delivery guy managed to get out before being interrupted. He held up a clipboard with a paper attached.
“Yes! Yes! That’s me! Come on in. Oooh, right, signing that thing. There, done. Come in quickly. Put it in here.” The man pointed at a large empty space in his living room. With no TV nor couch, he had plenty of space.
Three men came in, carrying the large capsule. While they worked, the man watched, intrigued by the process, until the hunger made itself known to the world with a growling stomach. He returned to the forgotten sandwich, with half-melted butter and sweaty cheese. Transporting and installing the capsule took around one hour, and after that, the crew left without a word.
“Huh, they left while I ate my sandwich. Oh well, time to try it out. Can’t wait. Hmm, looks like a coffin or something. And what’s up with these huge metal strap things? Does it really need to be closed that securely? Never played a VRMMO before, so what do I know. Heard they are awesome and really life-like. And that’s all the info I need!”
The man could barely contain his excitement and rapidly clapped his fingertips together. Finally, he had enough and decided to log in and play around a bit before reading the manual. He carefully got inside the coffin capsule, which was surprisingly comfortable, and saw a button that said 'close hatch', so he pressed it. The lid closed automatically, and those metal straps made clanking, rattling sounds as they sealed the capsule tightly. Not even a soul could escape from this containment.
[Starting up…]
[Connecting to game…]
[Game starting.]
Everything went white and he found himself in a white room. Standing there, he could see and touch his own body, and it felt just like in real life. He felt enormous joy over this, and jumped up and down, ran back and forth, even doing acrobatic things he could never do in real life. Mostly out of fear of hurting himself. But here? Even when falling on his face, bending the neck, he felt no pain! This was the most amazing thing ever. Suddenly…
“Welcome, I have expected you for some time. Will you lead the Swarm to victory and glory, or will you fail and be forever forgotten?”