The thudding of footsteps echoed across the stairs. Florence climbed up one step at a time. Next to her, Aisling heaved, inhaling and exhaling. The arms wrapped around her back as she carried Yuze and Stella.

Sam meowed in a low pitch every second, standing on Aisling’s shoulder.

“I wish this was an actual video game instead of being real life,” Aisling said.

“What is a video game?” Florence asked.

“I’m gonna be honest here. You sound like my grandma… or was it great grandma?”

“I am… not that old.”

A sudden bright light flashed, spinning Florence around. Her stomach twisted and twirled. She slipped, cracking her skull to the floor.

Her eyes adjusted. Now, no longer trudging up the stairs. Instead, she found herself in a tunnel. She pushed herself up with the crushed rocks poking her palm. A dim light flickered above her on the ceiling as muffled screams ran along the pipes. The bile rose up her throat, exploding out of her mouth. The vomit projectile soared through the air, splattering onto the wall.

“You’ll eventually get used to it,” Aisling said.

“Pardon me, how much longer till we get to the Walled City?” Florence asked.

“What do you mean? We’re already here.”

“But this is where we enter that haunted or that candy wonderland?”

“Yup, and we just got closer to the Walled City.”

Aisling breezed away, getting deeper into the tunnel, carrying Yuze and Stella.

“Wait a minute.” Florence threw her hands up, slamming her palm to her thighs. She trudged, following Aisling. “How do you know we are close?”

Aisling smiled, holding her abdomen. She shrugged, winking at Florence.

Florence scuffed. “Is that supposed to be a yes or no?”

Sam tucked his tail, slapping Aisling on the face.

“Bad cat,” Aisling said.

“Bad Player,” Sam said. “You got me fired, pleb.”

“Honestly, I’m kinda surprised you didn’t get fired earlier.”

“Aye, what did you say to me?”

“Great, now you’re acting kinda deaf.”

“I’m not deaf, pleb. You are.”

Florence cleared her throat, holding her knuckle close to her lips.

“What now, pleb? Speak up, aye,” Sam said.

“Could both of you and Aisling calm down? Take in deep breaths,” Florence said.

Aisling and Sam turned their heads towards Florence. They glared at her with an intense stare that could murder someone.

Florence raised her hands up. “Sorry, do not kill me.”

Silence rang throughout as no one spoke a word.

A moment later, they exited the tunnel’s maw. Aisling grabbed the edge, climbed up, and rolled over. She then helped Florence, Yuze, and Stella climb to the platform.

Their feet slapped across the dust-caked floor as they approached the elevator doors. The button clicked, flashing red.

“If I have to guess, this is the elevator to the Walled City,” Florence said.

Yuze smirked. “The underworld.”

“Don’t listen to her,” Aisling said. She nudged Yuze on the side. “Isn’t that right?”

Yuze shook her head.

“That means yes, by the way,” Aisling said.

Florence folded her inflamed forearm. “How are you certain about this?”

“Yup, because I’m always right,” Aisling said.

“Always wrong,” Yuze said.

Aisling smacked the back of Yuze’s head.

Yuze shut her eyes, groaning and smirking.

A ring echoed from the elevator. It winded to life, sliding the door open.

Aisling stepped inside, and it wobbled up and down. “Time to go.”

Florence, Yuze, and Stella followed. The door slid closed behind them, and the gears screeched, elevating them higher.

Aisling scratched her chin, tilting her head. Her face paled, and the twinkle in her eyes flickered. Then Yuze hugged and patted Aisling on the back.

Florence slumped against the wall, gliding to the floor. “Aisling, do you feel well?”

“Nothing in particular,” Aisling said. “Just got some questions that need answering.”

“What is it?”

“First of all, I’m gonna be honest here… please don’t punch me.”

“Why would I punch you?”

Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

“I forgot to bring our masks.”

“What does that have to do with anything?”

“To hide our identity. Even though I’m kinda surprised that they didn’t kill us back there.”

“What? I am a bit lost here?”

“Let’s just say most do and some don’t. Also, does Buttercup seem a bit strange? And one final thing…”

“What is it?”

Aisling reached into her hooded shirt’s pocket, pulling out a fresh lily. Her other hand contained a photo of a smiling lady with pale hair and skin in a white dress standing on a harbor. Her eyes were red, and she stared straight at Florence.

Florence pointed at the lily. “Is it me, or does that seem slightly too fresh?”

Sam hissed. “Of course, it does,” he said. “Do you even have a brain, pleb.”

“Probably, someone somehow managed to sneak past the haunted part of Wellor Tower and place it in that room,” Aisling said.

Florence raised her eyebrows. “So, how is this concerning to you?”

Stella yelped, hiding her face behind the four packaging boxes.

Aisling lowered her head. “Well, this photo… I wish this girl in the photo wasn’t the one I’ve in my head.”

“Who is she?” Florence asked.

The screeching of the gears as the elevator came to a stop. The door slid open. A burst of air poured into Florence’s lungs.

Florence, Aisling, Yuze, and Stella stepped outside, their footsteps echoing throughout the street. The night sky loomed over them, watching their movement closely. The skyscrapers towered over everyone. The walls on each side squished them tight. However, steel and glass on certain parts of the building went missing, as if NPCs had carved them out.

Florence scanned her surroundings, but no one was spotted except Aisling, Yuze, Stella, and Sam.

Sam slapped Aisling’s face while standing on her shoulder.

Aisling smiled, clenching her fist white. “Sam, I’m gonna send you to an adoption center if you do that again.”

“Try me,” Sam said. “I’m quite sure it’s the other way… pleb.” He slapped Aisling on the cheeks.

“Nice to see you guys again,” someone said from behind Florence. “Didn’t expect all of you to be here now.”

Florence wheeled around. Here, Jack and Feno stood behind Florence.

Jack placed his palm on his hip. “How was my daughter doing?”

“Is it me, or does Jack not look like Renee?” Florence asked.

“Yup, she is doing fine,” Aisling said. “At least she didn’t get hit by a truck this time.”

Jack gave a thumbs up. “Thanks.”

Florence raised her eyebrow. “Pardon me, why... I do not know where to begin?”

“You,” Yuze said. She pointed at Jack and Feno. “Money where?”

“I’ve already given your salary,” Jack said, crossing his arms. “You just have to wait for the next one.”

“It’s not gonna be enough to pay for our expenditures,” Aisling said. “That’s not including our debt.”

“Yes,” Feno said.

“Aisling, how much are you getting paid?” Florence asked.

“Around ten thousand dollars,” Aisling said. She thumbed at Yuze and Stella. “Same as them.”

Florence slapped herself on the face. Her head sank.

Aisling tilted her head. “What’s that for?”

“How are all of you alive?” Florence asked.

Aisling shrugged.

“Pardon me, does anyone else live here?” Florence scanned the surroundings. “Where is everyone?”

“They’re behind you,” Feno said.

Florence looked over her shoulder. Again, it’s a narrow street with no one else in sight. A knock on the stomach pushed her tumbling backward. The world around her blurred and spun. The bile rose up, burning her throat. She splashed onto an oily liquid substance. She blinked, clearing up her vision. The stars shone, twinkling on the night sky with brush strokes painted across it. An intense swirling pattern rolled high above her like waves. Still, a layer of oil paint ranging from red, blue, and green covered the skyscrapers for some reason.

Aisling kneeled down next to Florence.

Florence puked, cupping her mouth. “I am getting really sick of this,” she said. “Of course, there absolutely has to be a haunted place here. At this rate, I am not surprised.”

“Yup, that’s nice to hear from you,” Aisling said. She smiled and pulled Florence back to her feet.

Florence glanced at the glass panel of a skyscraper covered in oil colorants. She spotted an exact portrait painting of herself from the corner of her eye, waving her hand. And the reflection did the same. She flinched, taking a step back. The painting of herself was inches away from her.

“Don’t worry about it,” Aisling said, placing her hand on Florence’s shoulder. “It wouldn’t bite.”

“Absolutely, but it follows what I am doing,” Florence said.

A thump echoed across the street with a splash. Florence spun to the sound source. A ball bounced on the pavement towards her feet. In front of her, a boy NPC with compound eyes froze with his hand outstretched.

Florence picked up the ball, trudging towards the compound-eyed NPC boy. She kneeled down and handed it over to him.

Out of nowhere, a fist cracked on Florence’s face. She jolted back, falling backward.

The boy wheeled around. He slammed his feet across the ground, fleeing with each step, creating a splash.

“Pardon?” Florence covered the spot where she got hit. “What did I do wrong?”

Feno scratched her back. “Yes, you did.”

“Pardon me?”

“For being a Player, that’s all.”

“But I was only trying to help.”

“You do realize that doesn’t change anything. You’re still a Player.”

From the corner of Florence’s eyes, a shadow flickered in an alley. She spun around, but the silhouettes disappeared into thin air.

“Gosh, do all of you wanna chit-chat about this stuff now.” Aisling smiled, grabbing Stella’s hand. “Let’s keep on moving.”

“But… I mean, if we go… I think we shouldn’t go there,” Stella said, clenching the packaging boxes. “I think… I mean, we should head back home.”

Aisling breezed forward down the street, pulling Stella along.

“Hey, wait a minute. I think this is a bad idea,” Stella said.

Yuze clawed her left thigh with the bite wound, limping to Florence’s side. Yuze winked, smirking as she wrapped her arm around Florence’s shoulder.

“So, you ain’t what to go or something, Florence,” Jack said. “Don’t you?”

Florence shook her head. “Absolutely not, I am fine. I guess you could say.”

Florence and Yuze moved across the pavement together, following behind Aisling, Stella, and Sam.

As they got deeper into this oil-painted city. Human skeletons with worn-out clothing popped up in several places, hanging above their heads. The eye sockets of those bones glowed red, watching them closely.

Stella trembled at the sight of what could be assumed to be the remains of those Player adventurers.

“Don’t worry about it,” Feno said. “It’s just a decoration for the vibes.”

Florence sighed. “Absolutely… Wait, what are the vibes?”

“Yup, by the way, I’ve no idea where I’m going.” Aisling hopped ahead, swinging her arms. “I guess I’m gonna wish good luck to us.”

Stella yelped. “I think you should slow down,” she said.

“I’ve zero clue how to explain what vibes mean to you, Florence,” Feno said.

“Should I be surprised at this point,” Florence said.

“At what?” Aisling and Feno asked.

“Not peace,” Yuze said. “Only death.”

Florence dipped her head. “Not surprised about everything.”

A high-pitched scream rang between the skyscrapers.

A brown blur flashed past Florence, blowing her hair aside. She blinked, rubbing her eyes.

Feno slammed her feet with a splash across the pavement. At lightning speed, she turned on the corner of a street.

Immediately, Jack dashed after Feno. Aisling dragged Stella, sprinting toward Jack.

Sam hissed, clinging to Aisling’s hooded shirt.

“Could you slow down?” Florence asked. She trudged with Yuze limping beside her, chasing after Feno and Jack.