Free Gamed (A Standalone Romance Novel) (Bad Boy Romance) by Claire Adams Page B

the Thralls do what we want," the Thief King was
saying. "I read about the possibility of a Thrall army. We can do that and
take on the Light Slayer."
    I recognized
Owen's player name. He was called Light Slayer because early on he had found
the Sun Sword. It was part of the reason he was able to become Dark Flag 's
first clan leader. Too bad others were catching on fast. I did not like the
sound of a Thrall army.
    I made it past the
camp and crossed the trail without being seen. Once I was amongst the redwoods
and pines again, I relaxed.
    It was a big
mistake since out of nowhere, a Cloaked Corpse appeared. Cloaked Corpses traded
the ability to speak for unlimited lives. They were not able to work together
with other players so they were often alone. But because of the unlimited lives,
they were impossible to kill.
    I had no spells,
only a Frost Sword. The Cloaked Corpse attacked and before I could think of a
plan, I had to fight. If I did not avoid its razor sharp nails, there was a
possibility my avatar would also become a Cloaked Corpse. They were the Dark Flag version of zombies.
    I was about to
give up and try to run when a bright flash of light obliterated the screen.
    "Don't worry,
Quinn, I got you," a voice said.
    Light Slayer
appeared, his Sun Sword sending out solar flares that blinded the Cloaked
Corpse. He did not even have to fight to chase off the other player.
    "Stop,
don't," I told him. "There's a new clan nearby. A Thief King."
    "His name's Balon ," Owen said. "If we let him get more
established, there will be bigger rewards when his clan falls." Still, he
sheathed his Sun Sword and told his clan members to go and spy on the rival
clan.
    We were alone in
the Pitch Forest.
    It was strange to
stand facing Owen's avatar. When he removed his helmet, I saw his avatar looked
exactly like him. Not many people chose to be themselves in the game, but there
we were, animated versions of ourselves.
    "I'm glad
you're here," Owen said.
    "Me,
too." I was about to tell him my quest when I saw his avatar pause.
    "Sorry,
Quinn, I gotta go," Owen said. He exited the
game and Light Slayer disappeared.
    I stood by myself
in the Pitch Forest.
    "Quinn? Can
you go get the pizza by yourself?" my mother asked from the top of the
stairs. "Your father had to make a phone call."
    He would have gone
with Sienna, but I was used to being sent off on my own.
    #
    I got in the car, my head full of Dark Flag .
It was easier than thinking about anything else.
    Owen's avatar
moved differently than any other player. He knew the commands and sequences so
well that his avatar moved fluidly. I was impressed – and more than flattered
that he had arrived just in time to save me. The game had notifications so a
message could be sent when certain players logged on. Owen must have added me. Dark Flag 's first clan leader saving
some novice human; there was going to be talk.
    I smiled to
myself. It was nice that there was a whole other world where rumors like that
were thrilling instead of awkward. I was wondering if I could handle the same
talk in the real world when a knock on the window made me jump.
    "I could use
a little fresh air," my father said, getting into the passenger seat.
    That meant my
mother was taking a down turn. "Fresh air" was my father's polite way
of saying he could not take the brunt of her blackening mood. He clipped his
seatbelt on and turned the radio off.
    "Should I
take the long way?" I asked.
    He nodded as I
realized I had no idea which way the long route was. I turned right out of our
driveway. My father did not seem to notice the world outside of the car. I kept
driving and he did not care. He studied his hands quietly until I wondered if
he had drifted off to sleep.
    "Sorry for
sending you out like that. I should have just gone myself," he finally
said.
    "It’s no
problem. I wanted the fresh air myself," I replied.
    My father opened
his mouth and then popped it shut. He scrubbed his chin a few times before he
said