Free Opening Moves (The Gam3 Book 1) by Cosimo Yap

aerobatic maneuvers he’d been pulling off.
    To Alan's surprise, in addition to his agility, perception and endurance increasing, he’d also gained seven levels and a series of new skills. What sort of game didn’t require killing things or turning in quests to gain levels? If training was all it took, maybe he should become a hermit and spar with Kitana. She’d probably need some convincing though.
    As he was about to look more closely at his new skills, Eve said,  Thiago is calling. Accept?
    Accept.
    “Where are you guys? Why aren’t you back yet?” Thiago asked, sounding almost frantic.
    “What? We still have 20 minutes until round one is supposed to start,” Alan replied.
    “Alan, where do you think the hounds are coming from? Did you think that they’ll appear out of thin air? They are travelling to the bunker, and will ARRIVE in 20 minutes. That means they’re racing closer, probably from your direction, right now. They could be at your position in five minutes! Maybe sooner if they smell you out in the city!”
    “What!? But…” Alan said. Honestly, he had been thinking the hounds would spawn right outside the base.
    Then, off in the distance to the south, Alan heard the loud howl of an animal. A series of other howls joined it. Like clockwork, the timer for the start of the round shifted from 0:20:23 to 0:07:53.
    “Fuck,” Alan said.
    Panicking, Alan began thinking through his options. He could try to sprint back to the base with Kitana, but they’d likely be caught out in the open before they got back in time. It had taken nearly all his effort to get there in 15 minutes, and he was still exhausted from the sparring.
    Eve, I think we should try hiding in a building, do you agree?
    That seems like an acceptable option.
    Immediately, Alan began walking towards nearby buildings.
    "Alan, where are you going? What is happening?" Kitana asked, grabbing Alan's shoulder.
    Alan recalled that other people couldn't hear Eve.
    “Um, right, sorry, I think we should try hiding in a nearby building, as we won’t make it back before the round starts, and getting caught out in the open would probably be a bad idea,” Alan said to Thiago and Kitana.
    “If that’s what you think is best,” Thiago said. He didn't sound very happy. "Good luck.”
    Thiago ended the chat.
    Kitana nodded, then started looking around, trying to find a defensible location.
    The only open building they found was a convenience store. It looked like any other corner store, once selling snacks, liquor and groceries among other things. Alan motioned Kitana over.
    Upon entering the store, Alan noticed that all the shelves were bare. Someone had cleaned it all out a while ago. The cash register was still there, as well as a few old magazines and lottery tickets.
    There were two small aisles, and a door in the back. Alan tried the door, it was locked.
    "Well, I guess we should try to hide in here, they probably won’t find us,” Alan said.
    Negative, the scouting hounds of the Predecessors have already picked up your scent, Eve sent.
    “Um, actually, scratch that. Looks like we’re in for a fight.”
    Kitana took up a stance in front of the entrance to the store, shutting the door.
    “So, uh, well, what do you think I should do in this fight?” Alan asked.
    Kitana glanced at him. “Stay in the corner behind the counter and don’t get in my way.”
    Eve?
    That seems logical. At your level you are more likely to hinder than help.
    Oh, well if you agree…
    Alan climbed over the counter, standing behind the cash register.
    Huh, despite all the times I’ve been in a convenience store, I’ve never seen behind the counter , Alan thought to himself. There was a digital safe below the counter. Apparently there was still electricity within the city, as the safe made a beep when he pressed the enter key on it. Maybe it ran on batteries. Now if only he had the PIN…
    There is something inside the third magazine from the top, Eve sent.
    A pile