The morning of the Dreambreaker release, Ash finds me by my locker. “Raid on Saturday. You ready?”
“As ready as I can be, I guess.” I don’t want my nerves to show on my face. “Wish I was as calm as you.”
“You’ll do great,” he says, smiling. “You shouldn’t compare yourself to me, though. I have help.”
He’s high a lot of the time I see him now, but he’s not so angry anymore, so who am I to call him on it? If the weed is helping,then good. He doesn’t deserve to feel so much hatred all the time.
When I get home, my power cable sits in front of my chair at the kitchen table. Mom must have gotten curious about CoH and discovered today was an important date. A wash of affection and guilt hits me. Why did I get so angry at her? Of course she was going to give me the cord back. I hurry to my room and turn my computer on. Because I pre-downloaded Dreambreaker, I only have to wait for the installation, and then I’m sitting in the server queue, waiting to get into the game.
The lobby screen has changed with the new expansion. Emery appears out of the azure clouds of the Dream, wearing her blackTombstoneoutfit, her Peacemakers raised, and her face hidden beneath the brim of her hat. Behind her is another version of her, but wearing a sparkling black dress, with her hair floating around her head, also hiding her face. Her doppelgänger. It is difficult to tell which of them is more of a nightmare; by this point in the books, Emery is starting to lose herself to the pressures of the Dream.
While I wait to get into the game, I check the clan Discord. There are tons of active threads. Clan members ask for materials for crafting, look for groups, ask for help with quests. I’ve been added to a special raid channel I haven’t seen until now.
Zookini posted today at 2:35 p.m.
The raid will have something to do with this new nullifier mechanic
I doubt anyone will have to respec into the subclass, but we’ll need the right weapons
HundredKnives posted today at 2:42 p.m.
What time do we need to be online on Saturday?
Zookini posted today at 2:44 p.m.
Raid opens at 12 p.m. PST. Adjust for your time zone and get on an hour earlier.
So PST get on at eleven, EST at two, etc.
HundredKnives posted today at 2:52 p.m.
Got it
Leelea posted today at 3:01 p.m.
I’ll have pots in the bank Saturday morning
If you have requests, get them in soon
Faustus posted today at 3:45 p.m.
I need a couple Staminas. I’ll grab you the mats.
Leelea posted today at 3:57 p.m.
Thanks F
I’ll let you know when they’re ready
This kind of readying makes me think of a camp before a hunt. Packing up our supplies, sharpening our weapons. I have my prey in my sights. I already know I’ll be able to take it down.
The login queue moves quickly. When the game loads in, a new cutscene starts.
We pan down the face of an impressive skyscraper lined with burning purple lights: Van Der Gelt Tower.
A voiceover—Emery’s voiceover—begins.
Fenhallow Academy has a motto. Seeking order in chaos. As dreamhunters, we bring order to the world by defeating the chaos of nightmares.
