Page 55 of Our Final Game

And my chances of making it out on my own just drastically decreased, if not depleted completely.

I dash at the first monster, summoning my blade, but it dodges away. Not only are they a lot more powerful, but I don’t even have the MP or items to support my lack of level. More monsters appear out of the dreary darkness of the halls. I float back away from the gathering creatures.

“Looks like someone has escaped.”

My blood runs cold in my veins.

The boss-level monster has returned out of the shadows.

“I’ll have to teach you a lesson. A deal’s a deal.”

“I didn’t make a fucking deal with you.”

“But your friend did. So you’re mine.” It thrashes around frantically, whipping at my body. I dash back just in time, but my cheek stings, fresh blood beading at the cut it’s made.

“I don’t fucking believe you! I don’t belong to you!”

“Your friend abandoned you! So you do!”

Before I can even register its movements, it feels like time has frozen around me, us, everything. Like the game has halted. I cough, shadows spilling from my mouth violently.

What the fuck is happening to me?

“All you had to do was listen,” it says. “If only you’d listened to your father and been a good son.” My vision blurs; blinking, I see my dad standing in the hall. When I blink again, I can’t.

My eyes won’t open.

I use my last breath to get out the only thing on my mind, “Rohan…”

Chapter 27

Rohan

Three full days and Tyson still hasn’t returned to our room. I pull my legs up to my chest. I should be so much angrier than I am, but it was so short-lived. Like a flame being snuffed out by a torrential downpour. I think deep down I thought he would walk through the door, we’d have a stupid fight, then we’d do that weird making up thing we do.

Maybe he was tired of it?

He tired of me quickly…

Or maybe I really was slowing him down. Maybe he figured he could get out faster without me. The floor creaks under my heavy steps as I get out of bed and swipe everything on the small desk off onto the floor. I grit my teeth, the skin at my nape burns so badly it stings. I change into my armor and pull the door open, my chest heaving with labored breaths.

“Ah, I was just coming to ask if everything is okay?” Marta asks, warily.

I’m scaring her.

Letting my muscles relax, and my mind come back down. “Oh, I’m sorry, Marta. I just…”

“It’s okay,” Marta says, patting my cheek. “He’ll come back, alright?”

“Will he?” I pinch my brows.

“Of course, why don’t you go into town, try asking around today, take a walk to clear your head.” She smiles, “He’ll turn up.”

“Yeah, I hope.” I bite back a smile.

Marta steps aside to let me walk down the steps through the lobby and back into the bustling town. The same as ever. It’s almost driving me crazy how same it is every day.

I sigh, sucking in the morning air. At least the weather is consistent here. I don’t know what I’d do if it just started pouring or something. The dread I feel is already too fucking much. I still don’t even know what to believe. Or what to do. Because either way, Tyson is gone, and so is this stupid town’s leader.