Into the Game

I tried to push down Michael’s arm.

It didn’t budge.

“What’s a necromancer?” I asked

“A dark mage that uses the power of the dead.” Michael kept his bow trained on her. "Most are PKs.”

“PKs?” I was pretty sure that he wasn’t talking about the PK that I knew.

“Player Killers.” Mei answered. "Most players are easier to kill than the higher tiered monsters that give the same strength of souls.”

“Walk away.” Michael ordered

Mei pulled out her dagger. Unlike when she had pulled it out of the goblins, the hilt didn’t stop glowing. “If I was going to kill you, I would have done it before I healed your friend.”

“She’s not going to hurt us.” I pushed on Michael’s arm again. This time the bow dropped a little.

“You can’t trust her.” Michael lowered his bow.

“I think I can.” I tried to walk around him, but he stepped into my path.

“Michael.” I glared at him. "Go get my sword. It’s stuck in a goblin back there somewhere.”

Michael cast one more glare at Mei. He turned and headed off to get my sword.

“Sorry about him” I apologized. "He’s a little protective.”

“He’s possessive.” Mei turned to the next hut

“No.” I was confused. I couldn’t think why Michael would be possessive, or why he would need to be possessive right now. “He’s just worried about me.”

“It’s your life.” Mei jammed her dagger into the next hut.

“What are you doing?” I asked

“The graveyard collects the power of all the monsters that are killed. The power is stored in these skulls.”

“You’re harvesting the power?”

Mei nodded. "It’s easier than being a PK.”

“About that...” I took an involuntary step back

“I don’t kill players.” Mei stated. "Not unless I have to.”

“Oh.” I kicked the dirt waiting for her to elaborate.

“What are you doing here?”

“I need a tooth so I can so to the next zone.” I said

“You haven’t done that yet?”

“I’m new. Just got here yesterday.” I said

“They don’t put new players in the game.” Mei stated. "It throws off their numbers.”

“They had to.” I sat down net to the fire. It was starting to get cold. "My brother fell into one of their tanks. He’s trapped in here, so they let me come in to protect him until the game is over.”

“You’re Billy’s sister?”

“You know Billy?” I asked

“I was on a raid with him last week.” She pulled the dagger out. "He’s a good kid.”

“Do you know where he is? How is he doing? Is he making it okay?” The questions started pouring out

Mei laughed. She reached into the hut and pulled out a tooth the size of a brick. She tossed it to me. "Let’s talk.”