Klent’s PoV

Ding! Ding!

The ear-piercing ring alerted my drowsy senses.

“And don’t forget to finish page one-eighty-two for extra-credit!” Ms. Jamie’s shrill voice echoed throughout the room, forcing me to get up.

As I packed my belongings and started for the door, I heard the familiar tone of the girl I was unsure of my feelings for.

“Klent, I’ve been trying to get your attention all throughout class.” The girl, Kate, laughed off her scolding as a joke, but I felt as if she were genuinely disappointed by my ignorance. I just wish she would understand that I can’t be with her 24/7.

I sighed while thinking up a half-assed excuse.

“Sorry, I was just trying to study for next week’s test.” I flashed a smile while turning around to face my partner. Something told me my excuse held water, so hopefully Kate would understand.

“It’s alright. I just wanted to ask you if maybe you could join me and Beth to the movies?” The red-haired girl looked gorgeous even here under the dim, artificial lights shining down from the bulbs above. It was no wonder why I fell so quickly for her.

“Well, um, how about…?” I pulled Kate to the side away from the gathering crowd of exiting students.

“How about just you and me? Why does Beth have to come? She’s not my girl, you are.” I truly didn’t mind Beth as a person. Sure, she was a bit too hyper, but her heart was in the right place.

Kate seemed offended by disapproval of her best friend coming with us, yet she looked as if she had swallowed all fighting words as she spoke.

“Oh, okay. Well, just meet us at the theater if you change your mind.”

As she left with everyone else, I was left alone to deal with my own girlfriend choosing her friend over me.

After most people had fully exited school for the day, I decided to follow suit.

When I had arrived at the bench outside of school, something was off.

The usually early-bird Charlie was nowhere to be seen. Normally, I couldn’t care less where he was, but over these past few days I had become friendlier with Charlie like I used to.

For the first time in a long time, I actually enjoyed the company of another person. Most of the people I hung out with were pompous jerks too full of themselves to ever take anyone else seriously. Charlie was different. He was witty, yet intelligent. He took credit for what he did, but didn’t brag to others about it. In short, he was the shining example of an ideal student.

While lost in my own thoughts, I didn’t notice my phone bing until a few moments afterwards.

The message was from Charlie, asking me to meet him at his place in ten minutes. I knew it was an emergency because I had seen Charlie’s inner perfectionist one too many times, and it wouldn’t let him abbreviate minutes to min.

After finally reaching his house to see what was so important, I made my way to the front door.

When I was about a split-second away from ringing the doorbell, I heard my name being whispered from beside me. I looked over to find that the bedroom window, situated not too far from the front door, was open. A familiar head was hanging out of the opening, and I immediately knew who it was.

Charlie?

“Psst. Klent, over here.” He whispered from the window.

“Charlie? What are you doing over there?”

My good friend did not look to be in the mood for questions, so I went to the window sill as he had beckoned me to.

“Get in.” He said while moving out the of the way so I could climb in.

When I had finally slung myself into the room, I promptly plopped my tired body on the bed.

While I rested, I listened to Charlie explain his reasoning behind the whole “window entrance”. Apparently, his father didn’t take kindly to strangers, which is what I was.

After Charlie had finished speaking, he sat down on his desk chair and blanket for a moment, just silently staring at nothing in particular.

I knew that he was contemplating a matter of great concern, but I didn’t have the slightest clue of what that could be.

I had only seen Charlie in such a state of disarray once. The very first time I met him.

It was the beginning of ninth-grade, a little over a year ago, when I was walking home from school. I don’t remember much about what happened during that day in class, but I could never forget what happened after.

The air was sticky, humid, and hot. The seasons were caught in a short grey area between Summer and Fall. I was walking home, trying to escape the blazing rays of the sun, something Kate, my then-new girlfriend, seemed to actively seek out, when I heard the taunts of two tenth-graders.

From where I was standing, it looked as if two large older kids were picking on one scrawny ninth-grader. Now, this fact doesn’t rest easily upon my conscience, but I almost kept walking.

My mother had threatened to whack me across the head should I misbehave, and if I entered this squabble that was none of my business, then there was a chance that I would get punished along with the bullies.

An internal battle broke out in my head as two options laid before me. I could either help this kid and risk trouble, or just keep walking.

It took longer than I would like to admit, but I finally decided on helping the poor kid when I saw the first bully swing at him.

Luckily, I was cunning enough to form a plan before charging in head first.

As much as I hate how aware I was of my popularity, it was all but fact that I held major influence in the school’s social politics. If I could use this to my advantage, then maybe the bullies would hesitate and back off, knowing that I could ruin their school lives.

I whistled first to grab their attention. Both boys simultaneously turned to me and the second grunt started to threaten me before realizing his mistake.

“Hey, move along, pa- wait! Joe we gotta split it! That's Klent!” They then began to pander and apologize as they made excuses for their sudden leaving.

I paid the boys’ attempts at pity no mind, and extended my right hand toward the kid on the ground before introducing myself.

“Hey, man. Sorry for taking so long in getting those boys away.” I told him.

Stolen novel; please report.

The kid had a scared and confused look on his face. It was as if he was confirming that I was trustworthy before he even thought about taking my hand.

Ever since that day, Charlie and I have been good friends, but never best friends. I blamed that on our differentiating lifestyle, but after hearing about his father’s harsh rules, I reached the conclusion that maybe the two of us weren’t so different after all.

Forcing myself back into the present, I saw that Charlie was thinking about how to tell me something.

“Charlie, whatever it is you want to say, just remember that you don’t have to tell me. I understand that some things aren’t meant to be shared and-“

“No. You need to know this.”

I nodded at the persistence of his request.

Confirming that I was listening, Charlie began.

“Yesterday, I was playing “War and Swords”, and went on a dungeon raid with my usual party.”

Some of the terms were unknown to a newbie like me, but I was getting the basic gist of the story.

“But before we set off for the dungeon, one of our members, a kid named rod, apparently wasn’t feeling well. Said he had a headache. Well, something was definitely wrong with him. The rumors are already spreading, and I don’t know if any of them are true. What I do know is that something bad happened to Rod. It also can’t be a coincidence that today, I got a message from Roadbrook Industries requesting me to meet them at their main complex for “educational opportunities”. And that’s why…” Charlie’s voice trailed off to complete silence.

“And that’s why, what?” I asked him, trying my best to not make it seem like I was pushing him.

“And that’s why… I want you to come to Roadbrook Ind. with me.”

Two days later, here we were. The great building towered above is as we prepared ourselves for the meeting to come.

Before we left, I had done some light research, but that’s all it took for me to understand the main business of the company Roadbrook Ind.

These guys are the developers of the V.I.H..

Noticing the continuation of Charlie’s unusually sour mood, I tried to break the silence.

“Sure is big.” I said, nodding while looking up toward the intimidating structure. He himself nodded in return to my comment, but did not utter a word.

Then, I was finally able to pinpoint the problem, the reason why we hadn’t yet mustered the courage to enter through those glass doors merely seven-feet away.

“Come on, man. No need to be nervous. Whatever happens in there, I’m sure everything will turn out reasonably.”

An, “I guess.” was all I got in return.

When we finally walked through those crystalline glass doors, the interiors beauty made me regret not doing so sooner.

The marble walls looked cleaner than most dishes, and the fresh oak wood which served as flooring gave off an enjoyable scent.

Charlie seemed to care less about the glamour. Instead, he was busy identifying himself to the receptionist.

“I’m Charlie Ernest. I booked an appointment with Dr. Hart for educational opportunities.”

The woman at the desk seemed disgruntled by Charlie’s to-the-point attitude, but she still did her job required checked him in.

While we were waiting in the lobby chairs, I thought about something that would probably upset Charlie should I choose to tell him.

I’m not dressed well enough for this place.

After throwing that thought to the sharks in order to keep my head attached to my body, I decided to grab one of the magazines lying about the lobby.

“Let’s see what we got here…” I mumbled while flipping through the pages.

Charlie’s PoV

“Mr. Ernest? Mr. Ernest!”

Charlie’s unfortunately brief nap was interrupted by the screams coming from the receptionist.

“What… what is it..?” The half-awake Charlie stuttered.

As he opened his eyes slowly, he noticed a tall figure dressed in a pearl-white lab coat.

“Who are you?” Charlie asked as he finally regained full consciousness.

“Ah, Mr. Ernest. You might not recognize me, but I’m almost certain you’ve heard of Dr. Hart?” The man spoke in an almost suspicious tone. Charlie, who was known for his ability to excellently read the motives of anybody, could not determine what sort of goal lay behind those stout glasses of the man before him.

Charlie had been been too focused on what the guy wanted to listen to what he had asked.

“Oh, uh, do what?” Charlie asked while trying to make his “person reading” less obvious.

“I asked if you knew who Dr. Hart was.”

Dr. Hart? Wasn’t he the CEO of Roadbrook? Wait a minute, would I be meeting him today?!

Charlie got his question answered much quicker than he could imagine when the man with the lab coat pulled something that looked like a computer mouse from his breast pocket. He then proceeded to enter a complex set of numbers into the little screen situated on top the small device. What happened after that shocked even Klent, who had just awoken from his slumber as well.

The lab coat donned by the old scientist vaporized and was drifted away by the AC. In its place appeared an elegant tie and suit. His features changed to look noticeably younger as well. Immediately, Charlie recognized who this man truly was.

“You’re… Dr. Hart!” Charlie somehow managed to spit out despite his shock.

The doctor let out a warm chuckle and spoke, “Right you are. I am Dr. James Hart, and I would like to speak with you and you’re, ahem, friend.” Dr. Hart’s gaze turned cold as he looked over to the now-back-asleep Klent.

Charlie lost all traces of breath as Dr. Hart continued.

“First and foremost, I need you to follow me to the lab for a moment. It’s about the educational opportunities of which Roadbrook Ind. can help you with.” Charlie noticed that Dr. Hart put an uneasy emphasis on educational opportunities.

Nevertheless, Charlie understood that if there was any chance he could get away from his father, his skepticism would have to be put second to his curiosity.

“Okay, yeah. But do you really think your corporation could provide me with a future?” Charlie asked.

Dr. Hart seemed to be contemplating something, but he then said, “Of course I can. Remember, I control the inner workings of this place, so if I want to make you an offer, then nobody else gets a say on anything.”

The cynicalism rooted within his voice made the doctor seem more like a dictator than CEO.

Unfortunately, Charlie was left with no other choice.

If there’s even a chance that I can change my life here, then I have to take it.

Charlie proceeded to follow Dr. Hart towards the laboratory.

When they had been walking down the similar white halls for about five minutes, the doctor ditched the whole “nice guy” persona.

“It must have been pretty disturbing, eh?” Dr. Hart asked, clearly changing his tone to that of something more maniacal.

“Huh? What are you talking about?”Charlie responded, a sinking feeling made itself known to him.

The next sentence cleared up any confusion belonging to Charlie.

“I’m surprised you don’t understand. I think it would be at least a little scarring to watch a kid’s mind give out in person, don’t you, Mr. Ernest?”

Klent’s PoV

This is way too strange.

Three hours ago, Charlie had left while I was barely awake. The receptionist, who’s name I had learned was Nessy, said that the CEO of Roadbrook had taken him away to discuss some things.

Upon inquiring further, every question I asked was met with a strict “It’s classified”.

If I stayed out any later, my parents would bring the hammer down, possibly forbidding me to even meet with Charlie, who they knew and liked.

I racked my brain while trying to come to a ‘fix all’ conclusion. Once again, two options regarding Charlie laid before me. I could either leave and try to explain my abandoning him tomorrow, or I could stay a bit more and get punished by my parents.

I eventually decided to stay, for there was no sense in leaving at this point. It was already dark and punishment would be issued no matter what, so I stayed.

About an hour later, around eight, my phone alerted me of a new message. As I pulled it out, the number revealed itself, and I immediately recognized who’s phone this text was sent from.

It’s Charlie’s number!

After exclaiming silently to myself, I read the message.

If a person named Klent is reading this, know that all is not well. You probably own a V.I.H., so I have a request for you. Log onto the game “War and Swords” and look for a player named Julius. Although I cannot reveal much information, just know that your friend may be in grave danger. Please hurry.

Knowing that someone’s life could be in danger alone made me queasy, but knowing that a friend’s life could be in danger nearly made me fully lose consciousness.

Something wrong is going on in Roadbrook Industries.