Pulling up outside the building and it’s instantly recognizable as a jail. A large futuristic looking jail, but that’s still a jail. I’ve never been eager to go into a jail and that’s why I’ve never been. I’m not even eager to hang around with police. I always feel the need to be on guard around them, can never tell what they’re up to. The first flow is full of cracked concrete floors, blood stains covering peeling walls, police reports spread across the floor and pipes dripping various colored liquids and goops. Still it’s setup as a lounge with vending machines, couches and televisions. Several players sit around resting and discussing what they’ve seen in the game. Large neon signs of pink and green lead us through the ground floor of the jail.

There’s no speaking, we’re all deep in thought as we make our way through the jail. We could really die here. I’m sure I’m not the first person to think about taking a one-way ticket out of life. Kai and I used to joke about it all the time as teens and even in our early twenties. But that was a long time ago, and this is different. If I do this, I might die; if I don’t I still might die. It’s a die or die situation. I think that’s weighing on everyone’s mind as we walk through here.

“I just thought of something,” Daamin breaks the silence as we walk.

“What’s that,” Kai asks solemnly.

“This is just The Maze Castle from Yu Yu Hakusho. They went to the castle maze to retrieve the three artifacts,” Daamin laughs.

“Wow, in the face of death you still manage to be a weeb,” Kai seems shocked.

“Oh Kay, I do love your pop culture references,” Daamin looks to Kay lovingly.

“I’m going to be sick,” I walk ahead of the group.

“Do you want me to hold your hair,” Kai follows knowing I don’t have any hair to hold.

We come to a stop before a massive set of steel doors that won’t push open. Blue boxes appear before us, a reminder of just how far we’ve come since we got trapped in the game. Kay seems to be surprised as if this isn’t part of her doing.

No more fun and games, it’s do or die now

Reboot is death

Enter at your own risk

A large metal clanging sound echoes through the hallway as the door unlocks. We all know the stakes but none of us move to open the door first. Thoughts of morality can really put a freeze on any momentum that you’ve all gained.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

“Alexandre, Kai, we’re men,” Daamin speaks in an unusually deep voice. “Risk is what makes men, if you risk nothing, then you risk losing everything.” Daamin kicks the large doors with a straight sending both doors flying open with force.

“Are you okay,” Kay asks Daamin.

“You wouldn’t understand,” I step up next to Daamin. “If you don’t take risks, you can’t create a future.”

“What could be more beautiful than doing work that puts your soul at risk,” Kai asks from behind us before stepping forward. “Because that’s what’s it means to be alive!”

“Guys, I think we should go back. This is serious and something is going on with you. You’re just going to die if you go forward right now,” Kay pleads.

“Don’t underestimate me,” Daamin shouts at Kay. “I don’t quit, and I don’t run.”

We rush forward into the maze without letting fear cloud our judgement or block our way. That comes to a stop as a flamethrower shoots flames directly in front of us before the first split in the maze. The three of us stop and stand still as Kay catches up. Flames are never as hot as when they’re life threatening.

“What the fuck was that Kay,” I ask?

“There’s traps along the way,” she says without looking at me.

“Not only do we have to fight other players before we get to the bosses, we have to watch for traps too?”

“I told you there was difficulty curve, what did you expect,” Kay acts as if any of this is normal.

“I’ve disabled the traps,” Kai responds before I can say anything else.

“How did you do that,” Kay seems shocked.

“I did still your debug remote you evil little witch,” Kai smirks.

“Can you get us GPS to the keys,” I ask.

“Absolutely can,” Kai keys in a few commands before a pulsating purple line appears on the ground directing us to the left.

“Give me my remote,” Kay shouts. “You’re ruining the sanctity of my game!”

“Come take it from me you little witch,” Kai gives her the middle finger before following the line.

Daamin attempts to calm Kay down as we move through with no trouble. His efforts aren’t going well as Kai and I continue to laugh at her fits. Our path to the next floor is blocked by a group of four men, mid lever players. The second has a bald head, black t-shirt, bad tattoos, an expensive fake watch and sweat pants. The third is also bald but bright red and sweating profusely as he wears a polo that is obviously too tight. The third has a receding hairline and dresses like every social studies teacher that gives conspiracy theories too much time in class.

“Hey, we just need to get to the next floor,” Kai says with his hands up. “We’re not looking for a fight.”

“Hey, they’ve got a woman in their group,” the bald guy with bad tattoos speaks up. “That’s irresponsible. You can’t be responsible for something that doesn’t listen to you, you can’t be responsible for a dog if it doesn’t obey you, or a child if it doesn’t obey you, or a woman that doesn’t obey.”

“Yeah, I see what you’re saying, just speak more, I won’t cut you off,” the second bald guy says. “I’m just here to make sure everyone can voice their opinions.”

“You are not going to silence me,” social studies teacher shouts. “You are not going to silence America. The majority of frogs in most areas of The United States are gay now.”

The four of us just look at each other with confusing stares. Kai’s mouth is agape, Daamin keeps running a hand over the scales on his head and Kay is listening as they talk with wide eyes. I wish I had a mirror so that I could see my face.

“I would really like to test my new shotgun,” I voice my opinion to our group.

“I see no problem with that,” Kai replies.

“I always thought your shooting was great,” Kay adds.

“I’ll get whatever is left,” Daamin draws his sword.

I quickly fire off three shots with Excalibur II. Daamin takes a quick stab at social studies guy who refused to die without telling us more about gay frogs. I’m aware that I probably just committed a murder but all of us can agree the world would be better without all three of them.