Arcade Manna by Tyler H Jolley

Author:Tyler H Jolley
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Jolley Chronicles
Published: 2022-05-10T00:00:00+00:00

028:

The crowd parted for him, and he felt like he was about to receive some great reward or some great punishment. Never had so many eyes been on him at one time. As a child, Fenna had read Bastian many stories about princes being crowned as kings, men being knighted, and criminals being executed. He felt like all of them at once.

He dragged the pole his empty IV bag hung from behind him. Its wheels squeaked, the only noise on the street. When he reached the steps, Callum scrambled down them and lifted the pole for Bastian. The two climbed the steps slowly, and Bastian scratched the back of his neck twice. He hated the feeling of eyes on him.

“What are you doing?” Odette hissed. She appeared next to him. “This could kill you, Bastian.”

“I’m with the old lady on this one,” Callum said as they passed Thayer on the steps. “I don’t think this is a good idea.”

“I owe it to Simon,” Bastian said. “Besides, I’ll wear the gloves, so I won’t get burned again.”

“It’s not the burns I’m worried about,” Odette said, glancing down at his hands. “It’s the shock. If it’s powerful enough, it could stop your heart.” She grabbed Bastian’s wrist, and he nearly made a move to pull away from her, but surprisingly, she didn’t try to stop him. She continued walking beside him.

“I’ll be fine,” Bastian said. “Somebody needs to do this. Clearly, no one else in the town is willing.”

“I’ll do it,” Odette said. They’d reached the top of the steps, and Callum opened the doors to the Arcade. They stepped into the air-conditioned room, his head spinning slightly from the sudden, intense temperature change.

“No. You’re the doctor now. The town needs you. And,” he continued as Callum opened his mouth to object, “I’d be a coward if I let you do it instead of me.”

Odette squeezed his wrist. Her mouth was twisted into a frown like she was about to cry, and even Callum seemed taken aback by Bastian’s words. Before either of them could respond, the doors swung open again, and Thayer stepped through, a line of citizens following him.

“I don’t know about this,” Thayer said as hot air blasted Bastian. “But I’m so desperate, I’ll take any volunteer.” He motioned over to the Blissful Grocer machine, then headed there himself, his sandals smacking the ground with each step.

Bastian followed him as the Arcade continued to fill with people. The last time he had been electrocuted, he’d had far fewer witnesses. Maybe it was a good thing more people were here for this. If it worked, then they’d soon have food, and everyone would be happy. If it didn’t, they’d all see what happened to someone who touched a game they weren’t connected to. Maybe then they’d understand the solution wasn’t so simple.

Bastian sat down on the stool. The marquee for Blissful Grocer flickered. He’d nearly failed to realize it, but this was his first time sitting at an Arcade game. The seat was surprisingly comfortable, and the monitor seemed so much bigger from this perspective.

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