Page 48 of The Shade of Things
“All nonplayers are either vampires or shifters. They remain in-game the entire week, following the abductees.”
“I was right then,” Eli said. “It’s like a video game where once you’ve cleared a level and you go back, it’s essentially empty. That’s why we haven’t really seen anyone. I bet they assign people to patrol, looking for players who are trying to hide or not going fast enough.”
“I agree,” Laurent said. “That’s how I found the shifter in the first place. He was stationed in this section, but this isn’t like a first-person shooter game where players are constantly attacked. Sapiens couldn’t survive a continual onslaught so the organizers pick their moments.”
“They vary the types of trials they face.” I leaned back on my elbows. “Like this section with the shifting roads. Not knowing what to expect keeps them on edge.”
“Don’t forget the booby traps.” Eli scribbled notes in his book.
“Those feel secondary.” I smothered a yawn, forcing myself to stay awake long enough to finish this conversation. “Not every house here is rigged. Odds are—”
“We talked about you and odds.” Eli grinned at me.
Laurent frowned then smoothed out his expression, pulling up blades of grass like I had.
“Say I’m a player,” I said. “I survive the cemetery, grab a pack, and keep going, thereby avoiding the exploding house. I have to contend with the street rearranging itself otherwise I’m lost.” I gnawed on my thumbnail. “Lost in a retirement community. Makes me think of dementia.”
“It’s fight or flight,” Laurent said thoughtfully. “The tests could be stage-of-life dependent, but why put people through this? Why break the perception filter at all? For kicks?”
“Money? A secret game would attract high rollers wanting to bet on it,” I said. “Couple that with thrill of watching the hunt.”
“People are sick.” Laurent swiped his hand through the lawn detritus he’d created. “What do the players get if they win?”
Eli shook a pebble out of his boot and winged it against the house. “Fuck all.”
“They’re promised immortality,” I said, “which is why I assumed vamps were involved, but the one survivor we spoke to hadn’t been turned.”
“We don’t know if every game is offered the same prize. Another reason to find the Sapiens in this one.” Eli stood and offered me his hand. “We need to get some sleep and then push hard.”
Laurent didn’t move.
“Are you coming?” I said, accepting the help to get up.
“Go rest. I’ll keep watch.” Laurent’s expression softened slightly when I stayed put. “Go sleep, Miriam. You’ll need it for whatever’s coming.”
Uncertain whether he was speaking about the game or some reckoning between us, I almost sat down again and blurted out that I was sorry for keeping secrets and I’d tell him everything as soon as I could.
Laurent pushed to his feet, his gaze on me, almost like he was willing me to speak, but it was just wishful thinking because when I took a deep breath, he’d already loped off to do a perimeter check.
I stood there until he disappeared, wondering if there had indeed been a test, and whether I’d passed or failed.
