Page 56 of Our Final Game

Listening to my footsteps tapping along the stone puts me in a state of zoning out to the point I bump into a small figure in the town’s square.

“Oh, sorry!” I gasp.

“It’s okay! You helped me find my ball the other day.” I squint at the brown-haired boy. Ah, yes, I was waiting for Tyson to come down, and his ball bounced along the road right into my hands. I chuckle thinking about it. He and his mom thought I did the greatest act known to humanity, then again, NPCs.

“Demi! You’re off again with the ball bothering this Lancer.”

“No, no, it’s okay, he’s fine.” I smile as his mother finally catches up with him, the same as the other day.

“Ah! I hope he’s no bother. Oh, and did you find the town’s leader, you were asking about him before?” She smiles.

“Oh, uh, no, I didn’t, unfortunately. Still looking.”

“Really? That’s strange. Your friend didn’t find any information either? He had asked me as well that day.”

“Wait, you saw Tyson? You spoke to him?” I ask, standing up straight.

“Yes, he asked the same questions, if I’d seen the town’s leader. And then he was headed back to the inn.”

“Back … to the inn? Not to the town’s gate?”

Why would he have been heading back to the inn? Back to me. If he’d been offered a way out. The monster said he went to the clock tower and completed the quest. Now that I think of it, how did the monster get the key? What’s going on?

“Town’s gate? No, pretty sure he was heading back to the inn. He said maybe you’d have found some information after I told him you also asked.”

“Thank … Thank you.” I bite my lip to stop tears from falling again. I don’t know which is worse, Tyson leaving me behind or knowing something could be really wrong.

“Of course, dear!”

“Hope you find your friend!” Demi shouts as they walk back to their home.

Tyson’s disappearance has to have something to do with this mysterious monster. I had never seen the shadowy creature before accepting this quest. It could be a part of the whole thing, but it’s just all so odd. Maybe I’ll retrace Tyson’s steps. It’s the only thing I can do right now. The monster hasn’t even appeared again for me to investigate it. If Tyson had been talking to Demi and his mom, then he had to be standing right around where I am before heading back to the inn.

I turn towards the direction I just came in and walk slowly, retracing our steps. There’s another dark alleyway I never really noticed a few paces before the inn. It’s so small and honestly, a little menacing; I probably ignored it on purpose. But that monster seemed to thrive in places like this, and it’s the closest lightless place to the inn. I step into the small space, igniting a small flame with some MP so I can see where the hell I’m going.

Further into the alleyway, something crunches under my boot. My brow pinched as I crouched down to see; it’s a dagger. Tyson’s dagger … He uses it as a secondary weapon for quicker or combo attacks.

There’s something on it, dried up.

I would say it’s blood, but it’s … completely black.

My breath catches in my throat. The air around me feels thick and heavy. Tyson didn’t leave me. I realize now it’s the worst of the two options.

He’s in trouble.

Chapter 28

Rohan

Now that I’m mostly positive Tyson is still somewhere in the game, my heart feels lighter and a lot less like someone’s shredding it with their bare hands. However, every nerve in my body feels like they’re firing off all at one time. Because while he’s still in the game, something is definitely not right. It’s been almost four days since we’ve been apart. With my head now more level, I go check to see if I can locate him through our party interface again. The first time I tried, his location wouldn’t ping anywhere on the map, but maybe something has changed.

Nothing still.

Same as when I first checked, it’s completely blanked out.

The sun is almost setting at this point as I’m walking the stone road towards the weaponsmith. I should definitely prepare for whatever it takes to get back to Tyson. I’m glad I went ahead and upgraded my lance because I have a feeling whatever is going on will go way beyond what I can handle at my current level.

I may even have to employ some help.