Yvvaros: The Digital Frontier by Mulder Alex

Author:Mulder, Alex [Mulder, Alex]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub, mobi
Publisher: JP Publishing
Published: 2015-09-01T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 15

Luke was back in Ben’s room. It took him a while to adjust after he’d removed his headset, much longer than it ever had before. The fluorescent lights felt strange and artificial against his eyes, and his body was heavy and slow.

It’s only late afternoon, maybe four or five. It was nighttime… in Yvvaros.

“Man, we were playing for a while,” said Ben. “It feels…”

He trailed off, but Luke didn’t need him to finish the sentence.

“Weird. Yeah, I know exactly what you mean.”

Luke slowly stood up, stretching limbs that were on the verge of falling asleep. His mind was groggy, almost tired, but sleep wasn’t what he felt like he needed.

The game had been visceral, full of contrast and color, a stark difference from the drab grays and soft whites that decorated Ben’s room. He expected to see a status bar above Ben’s head when he turned to look at him. He realized with a start that it was scary to not see his own health and stamina meters in the corner of his vision.

“Jeez.” Luke shook his head slightly and stepped toward the door. “I think I need to clear my head.”

He looked over at Ben again and saw that his friend was moving toward his desk.

“What’s that?”

“You want to go get some food?” Luke’s stomach growled as if on cue.

“No, I’m good man,” said Ben. “I’m just going to…”

He was pulling something out of his desk that Luke recognized without the need to see more than its color. His pipe was already packed with a half smoked bowl of weed and ash.

“Oh, come on, man,” said Luke. “Don’t you want to clear your head, after-”

“What does it look like I’m doing?” Ben lit the lighter in his other hand and Luke had to turn away.

“Never mind, I’ll talk to you later.”

Ben already had the pipe to his lips. He didn’t answer.

This is starting to become a problem for him.

Luke made his way downstairs. Emily was in the kitchen, humming a little song as she pulled ingredients out of the fridge.

“Hey Luke,” she said. “How was gaming?”

He shrugged.

Does she really want to know?

“It was good,” he said. “There’s a surprising amount of depth to the game.”

“So I’ve heard…” Emily pulled out a bread knife and began cutting through a long baguette. “I take it my brother is upstairs having some alone time?”

Luke nodded.

“Yeah, he’s uh…” No excuse came to mind, and he avoided Emily’s gaze like a guilty defendant in front of a judge.

“It’s fine. I know.” She smiled at him, a bit of sadness seeping in from behind it. “He’s my brother, but there’s only so much I can do for him. Trust me, it was the same way for me back when the roles were reversed.”

Back when the roles were reversed? Did Emily…?

“Anyway, can I make you a sandwich?” she asked. “They say it's bad luck to eat alone.”

Luke grinned.

“Who says that?”

“They do!” Emily let out a breath of mock exasperation. “The anonymous, intangible they!”

How did she

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