Surviving a near death experience really makes you think of life in a different way. Your steps are a little sprier. The park is less than a block away from AutoSoft, if we can make it there, we can make it to the building. A few people walk around, holding hands, looking at lakes that hold fake fish. A few people check out statues, examine artwork or play chess. I spot Kai and Daamin sitting on a bench with their heads covered. It might work if it was just Kai but hiding is hard for a giant lizard man. He might as well have tried hiding behind a statue or in a bush.

“Hey guys,” I approach them.

Daamin looks pissed, almost like an actual caiman. Kai, has tears in his eyes, a sign that I’ve fucked up and now I’m feeling bad. Any remnants of adrenaline have left my body in an instant. Maybe I should have let them in on my plans before I decided to go for it. Daamin gives me a shy wave and a look that says good luck when he spots me.

Kai rushes towards me, happy to see me. I open my arms for a hug, he’s a hugger after all. Instead his fist comes across my face forcing me to stumble.

“Do you want to die? Is that why you did that stupid shit,” Kai has never been this mad at me before. “Answer me, what is wrong with you?”

“I knew someone was planning to attack us.”

“So, you thought you would just take them on solo because we’re holding you back?”

“No, I just thought-”

Kai punches me in the face again, “you didn’t think. Do you think nobody cares if you die? Do you think we’re just going to keep going without you?” I don’t answer so Kai punches me again, and I feel like I’ve earned it. “That was the stupidest thing you’ve ever done.” Kai punches me in the face again.

At this point I wrap my arms around him in a hug. It doesn’t stop the crying but I can’t hear what he’s shouting. I just feel the warmness on my chest as he shouts into it and keeps crying. Eventually he gives in and silently hugs me back. The guy is a hugger, I knew it would work.

“Don’t ever do anything like that again without me,” Kai’s finally stopped crying but won’t let go now.

“If you romantic spat is over,” Daamin calls out. “I think we’ve got a problem.”

Kai finally releases me for us to realize the park has become overcrowded with people looking for us. We are severely out numbered. The only saving grace is that there’s a lot of low-level players. I don’t have any options coming to mind besides fighting and hoping we reach the tower before someone catches up.

“Alexandre, you’ve really shown me that you can be unpredictable lately. I hope you got one more idea in that head of yours,” Daamin backs closer to Kai and I.

I send Daamin’s sword back to his inventory, “you’re going to need that.”

“What’s the plan,” Daamin asks.

“I can’t think right now,” Kai responds.

“Alright, my plan,” I glance at Kai. “I’m going to do something crazy, is that okay,” I ask only half joking.

He wipes a few tears from his face, “yeah.”

“When I give the signal, we fight our way to AutoSoft. Anyone who approaches with guns out will be taken out by security there. We just need to put our guns away before we get close.”

“What’s the signal,” Daamin asks.

“Everyone knows that if you throw a chair, it’ll cause and all out brawl,” I respond.

“That’s stupid,” Daamin responds.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

“Trust me, the chair doesn’t even have to hit anyone.”

“That’s a stupid idea,” Kai responds.

“But you’re included in this one,” I snap my fingers and point at him with a smile.

Kai tries to keep a straight face, but cracks a smile. Great, at least when we die, Kai won’t be mad at me. I take the opportunity rush to one of the chess boards and grab one of the folding chairs before tossing it as high and as far as I can. The chair floats through the air spinning and gaining height as everyone watches. A chair made for sitting taking flight is an amazing thing to see. It calls back to memories of watching The Rock go to war with Steve Austin, Eddie Guerrero and Rey Mysterio, Kurt Angle and Jeff Jarrett. Maybe not Booker T and HHH but they were there. How could I ever forget Rob Van Dam, that man could throw a chair. I spot Daamin and Kai giving me confused looks, but I just give them a thumbs up.

The chair bounces silently on the grass, “Ooh, I’m mad,” one of the other player’s shouts before firing a gun at another player. For a moment there’s complete silence then people begin to brawl and fire off their guns. We’re still targets but they’re fighting over who gets to kill us now. I don’t want to kill anyone, so I choose a handgun and turn to fire as a woman rushes towards me. The firing speed on the handgun is welcomed as I fire off another three shots before I take off running. I almost drop to my knees as something smashes into my back, I turn to fire two shots at a man who had taken a swing at my back with a baseball bat. A shot to the knee for a tall lanky man and one to the head as he falls over. A man comes at me swinging a sword. He slices my first shot in half, but three in quick succession is too much for him to slow down. I duck a haymaker as I quickly reload, firing one into the genitals of my attacker. I actually feel bad about that one. A quick explosion goes off behind me. I turn to see Kai flying on top of the new combat drone flying. In my distraction a woman rushes over to kick my skull in, Daamin appears out of nowhere landing a big tackle on her, flipping in the process and rushing back into the fight. As she stands I fire a shot at her head before she can recover.

“Damn you virtual vagabonds,” someone shouts before a gunshot silences them.

A bo staff nearly takes my head off but I manage to avoid it. Someone with panda DNA takes two shots at me using the staff, the first lands on my shin, the next on my ribs. The third shot smacks my gun hand. A random player jumps on the Panda’s back and claws at their eyes. I take the chance to recover and fire shots at incoming players drawn to the madness. Panda man uses a big claw to swipe off someone’s face. For a brief moment everyone pauses before simultaneously opening fire. The Panda doesn’t fall until someone comes in with a flying kick. Soon I’m back to back with another person, firing guns and fending off enemies.

“Hey, I’m Joanne,” the person behind me says firing off a shot. “I really admire what you guys are doing with this virtual life thing. It’s so much better than my real life. If you need a 4th person to help rule the world, I’d love to help.”

“We’re didn’t actually trap everyone here,” I fire off three shots and switch positions with her. “We discovered how to get everyone home. The game creator is trying to have us killed before we do that.”

“You’re trying to send us home,” Joanne stops firing. I reach behind her and fire a shot at an approaching player.

“Yeah, we have to get back to the real world.”

Joanne turns to shoot at me, but I’m too close for her to get a clean shot. I kick her legs from beneath her and make sure to double tap before stepping over her. Kai does another bombing run of the field. I reach up and grab his hand he flies me over the once quiet park as I fire down taking out enemies. I watch as Daamin tries to cut through a man twice his size to no avail. I drop down with Excalibur and fire a few shots dropping the man. As if they read my mind, Daamin and Kai take off towards AutoSoft at the same time. Kai flies ahead taking out anyone in front of us as Daamin and I pick off the stragglers.

“Put your guns up,” Kai shouts as we reach the AutoSoft campus.

We rush through the gate no different than we would as tourist. Sirens begin to sound and red lights flash as players approach with guns drawn firing. We turn to watch as turrets and security drones take out player after player with automatic fire. I’m sure the players could handle it but they didn’t expect it and were caught off guard. After what seems like forever the sirens stop and the guns cease fire at the exact same time.

“Well, we made it,” I stare up at the sky.

“Remember when I say you didn’t know how to be spontaneous,” Daamin asks me.

“Yeah I remember.”

“Please stop being spontaneous. I much prefer by the book Alexandre. He never did crazy shit like this.”

“I think spontaneous Dre is fun,” Kai smiles.

“Not the way you were crying and smacking me earlier,” I respond.

“Playing with my emotions is like playing with my money, Dre. Stop playing with my emotions. I don’t want to have to fuck you up,” Kai balls up his fist.

“Don’t hit me, they’ll shoot you. No violence campus,” I point at Kai.

“Virtual Vagabonds, at it again,” Daamin laughs.

“Don’t call us that,” I start heading towards the tower.

“It’s catching on,” Daamin follows. “I heard people call us by that name out there. We’re a top gang, or corp.”

Kai laughs, “calm down Dre, it’s a no violence campus,” he mocks me.

“I’ll let you have that one,” I nod at Kai.