"Where the hell are you?! And why haven't you picked up my calls?! I was worried sick!" his mom yelled.
So loud...
He frowned. "Can you stop shouting. Your voice is already annoying."
"Don't give me that bullshit now! Do you have any idea what's going on?! You heard that loud buzz too, right?! And now white fires are popping up everywhere in the city!" she yelled even louder.
So what happened to me is happening everywhere, guess that explains the police sirens.
Carlos's voice could be heard in the distance. "Yeah, things are getting crazy out there! You should come back as fast as you can! There is a lockdown order from the government so you better hurry!"
His mom shouted at him once more, "Exactly! Hurry back before something happens!"
The effects of failing the gate were still in effect. "I am already running home as fast as I can." he said, scratching his neck. "And something else happened to me too…"
She continued yelling, "What happened?! Are you okay?!"
He sighed. "Never mind. You wouldn't believe me until I come over and showed you."
Hearing this, she got angry. "Just tell me what happened!"
Damn her, she's not going to let this go...
He sighed again, heavier this time. "Fine, fine, I'll tell you…"
He explained what had happened to him.
...
There was a long pause… and finally a reply. "Yeah, you're right, you've gone damn lost your mind."
He thought for a moment. "Try saying 'Status Window.'"
"You think I'm that stupid or something?!" she was clearly angry.
"Just say it," he replied in a monotone voice.
"Are yo-" she was cut off, "Say it."
She sighed. "Fine! 'Status Window.'! Hap-…" There was a long pause, then a loud thud as she dropped her phone.
A voice was heard in the distance. "Carlos, Carlos! You got to try this!"
Max was approaching his home. He could never forget the lovely rundown shithole he lived in. He dashed inside. He saw his mom holding onto Maelle with Carlos standing next to her. Both froze when they saw him. His mom then covered Maelle's face so that she didn't see him covered in blood.
shit, I didn't think of her, I should have told them to put her to bed first before I came in.
Carlos was the first to speak after seeing how bloody he was. "Dios mío, what the hell happened to you kid?!"
he rushed over to him and looked him over, "Are you hurt anywhere! I don't see any open wounds, but your pants and hoody look like they have bite marks on them?!"
he's a lot nicer then my mom, that's for sure.
Carlos continued with a star struck look on his face while pointing at his waste, "Also, is that a sword and shield?" Max had a lot of explaining to do.
Max replied in a quiet voice, "Its alright I'm fine, did you not overhear? Then let me explain…" Max's mom took Maelle to their room.
Carlos was in clear panic mode when interrupted him. "Ah, yes, but first you should change." Max looked down and nodded.
...
After he finished explaining, Carlos didn't say anything. He kept rubbing his head and glancing at something in the air. Not knowing what to say next, they both sat down on the couch to look at the news to see what else was happening.
The headline at the bottom stated that there was a lockdown for all citizens until further notice. The news anchor spoke, "Police and rescue teams are busy taking care of all the car crashes that happened on the freeway tonight, and the white fires that all appeared at once don't seem to be spreading. The army and national guard have also been deployed to help with the situation."
Are things really that bad on the freeways? I guess it's more to contain the public from rioting.
The other anchor stuttered, "Really? Ah, w-we now have c-confirmed reports that what we all just heard was not only heard across the nation but also around the world. We also have reports that white flames have appeared globally too."
Around the world? What the hell is going on? I guess there must be a god after all, I mean, how else would you explain this… Well, that's a scary thought now that I think about it.
His mom came back into the room. Everyone sat down in silence as they watched. The same anchor continued, "We would like to remind everyone to stay indoors and keep away from the white flames until further notice from the government. If you hear this outside of your home, stay where you are or find shelter nearby. Don't go into the streets, as it may be dangerous. Stay tuned in as we continue giving updates."
It cut to commercial break.
Really?
His mom lit a joint while clearly being agitated by what was happing and what she learned. "Seriously?! They're playing a commercial now, of all times? It's the goddamn apocalypse!"
They probably need time to organize and call there family's, and... Is she not going to say anything about me being covered in blood and the whole game like system?
Carlos looked at her sadly, which made her furrow her brow. "What?! Don't you see what's happening on TV?! and what Max also said about some dogs ripping him to shreds but later comes back unscathed and alive?! I-I mean, what the hell right?!"
Mom…
Carlos got up. "Jules, this is the last thing we need right now. I have no idea what is going on or if what Max said was all true, but one thing that I do know is that we need to keep our heads clear." He took the joint from her.
It is true, and the Status Window proves it, but I guess its hard for them to take it in. If I were in there shoes, I would put my feelings aside as well and wait to see what happens.
Max agreed with him, "He's right, Ma. If we need to evacuate, we can't do that while high, right?"
His mom got angry and snapped. "Are you kidding me?! After all I've done for you and given what is happening you still…" She stopped.
She breathed out heavily and put her hands on her face. "You're right…" She started to tremble and cry, prompting Carlos to sit next to her.
… What am I thinking, its obvious she's in shock, I can't expect any rational thinking from them.
Carlos then looked up at Max. "Can you check on Maelle for me, please?" Max noticed he was shaking too.
Was he just trying to be strong for her? Also, why am I so calm? Is it an effect of losing in the gate? or am I just like that naturally?
"Ah, yeah. Okay." Max walked toward their bedroom. He opened the door slowly and saw her on his computer, looking at the news. It was showing a massive car pile-up on the freeway.
"Hey, you're too young to be looking at this. Also, I told you not to go on my computer without my permission." He patted her head. "Go on, get on the bed and go to sleep." There was a mattress on the floor and another on a bed frame. She got on the latter, and he laid down on the floor mattress.
Max heard a quiet voice. "What were they talking about, what happened to you?"
"Nothing, don't worry about it." The last thing he was going to do was tell her what happened.
There was a long pause. "Max… are we going to be okay?"
Max didn't know what to say, he never really talked to Maelle much. He waited a bit, then replied, "Yes. All the bad stuff is over now. They're just doing the cleanup." He lied with conviction. "Nothing bad will ever happen to us here."
Maelle stuttered, "B-but I saw people saying it was the apocalypse online, a-and all those cars with p-people in them, also the white fires…"
Max scoffed. "You know better than to believe what people say online. Also, car crashes happen all the time, it's just life. As for the fires... well, there not spreading so there's nothing to be worried about"
I don't think that was the right thing to say, but I don't know what else to say...
Maelle was quiet for a moment, then replied in a sleepy voice, "You're right… but… what about this status window, its like from a game, right?" She pointed lazily into the air.
damn, she overheard that?
he looked hard for an answer, but he didn't have one. "Huh? Oh yeah, that's, uh… magic! Yeah. I mean, how else are you going to explain it?"
Maelle's voice perked up and she joked a little. "Magic? Does that mean we're wizards?"
I know she's joking, but that could be a good sign that she is taking this well...
Max gave a fake chuckle. "Yeah. Now go to sleep… Good night, Maelle."
"Yeah. Good night, Max."
...
Max stayed up for hours unable to sleep.
Here's what I know: loud buzzing sound, then white flames appeared, and that they are tutorial gates. In gates, you're given a challenge that you must complete. Killing monsters and completing gates gives EXP. Get the required EXP and you level up and get five stat points...
He realized something,
wow, I can't believe I just accepted all of that like it was an everyday occurrence... That reminds me, I leveled up, didn't I?
Max whispered, "'Status window.'"
-----------------------------
[STATUS WINDOW]
Name: Max Carter
Level: 2 30/75 EXP
Condition: Healthy
points available: 5
Strength: 5 /\
Agility: 6 /\
Endurance: 5 /\
Intelligence: 7 /\
Passives: [The First to Challenge – 164 hours – Unique]
Skills: none
-----------------------------
He stood up, went over to the weights in his room quietly, and picked up the heaviest one. He lifted the 40lb dumbbell.
Oof. Alright, now let's put all the points into Strength.
Max hit the button five times and immediately noticed the difference.
Jesus, this feels like nothing now.
Max lifted it up and down with ease.
He pondered and scratched his neck.
If it's this much of a difference, then going back into one might not be a bad idea. People are going to figure this out eventually, and when that happens, all hell will brake lose once people can become superhumans from just a few gate runs…
He placed down the dumbbell.
I can't go into the gate that I was just in, but maybe I can try different ones. But I used up all my ammo, and the rest of it is in Ma's room, and the last thing I want to do is to explain what I'm going to do to her… but maybe now, with this new strength it would be easier, and I know for a fact that I wont die anyway…
Max opened the bedroom door quietly and picked up his sword and shield on his way out the front door. He took a deep breath.
I know where this is going, once people start to level up and get to levels were the police can't control them, shit will hit the fan fast. So, if I want to make sure that I can survive that, then I need to take this chance now.
He ran off into the night.