The Game: Enter the Darkness of your mind

Part One: Just a game? Reality Now CHAPTER 2

    Outside, the trio walked down the street from Matt's house.

      Wendy asked,  "Why did you do that Denny?"

      "I don't know.  I guess Pyro was spookin' me.  Tonight's game was a little weird.  I can't explain it."

      "I know what you mean.  It was getting to me too."  Pete replied.

      "Who is this Pyro?" asked Denny.  He continued, "No one knows about him.  He is just some computer generated figure who loves death.  Did you see him tonight?  He cut off the ears of the beasts, just like the serial killer across town.  Could he be the one doing the killing? It was too weird for me tonight." The others agreed, not making the connections until now. 

      "What happened to Matt's father?  Did he and Mrs. Nightshade get a divorce?" wondered Wendy.

      Denny shrugged and looked to Peter, who had been Matt's best friend for a long time, longer than anyone else.

      Pete began to explain the detailed story to Wendy and Dennis.  "From what I heard, he disappeared." 

      "You mean he ran off with another woman?"  asked Wendy.

 Pete gave her a disgusted look and continued, "No you airhead.  Matt told me the story, and it's not juicy at all, mysterious.  That's it ... mysterious."

     Wendy looked disappointed.  Denny gave her a push, as the trio continued walking down the street.  Dark clouds were boiling and rolling in.  The darkness turned into blackness.  The street lights cast eerie shadows upon the ground, making Peter's tale more macabre.  They sat down on a curb to listen to the tale.

      "You know Mr. Nightshade is the creator of the virtual reality game of the Realms?  The two listening shook their heads.  "Well, Matt said that his father had just finished creating the game and was getting ready to sell the idea to a big company.  He was going to start the sequel to the game.

Then it happened."

      The duo listening, looked confused.  Pete reassured them the story would be worth it, if they would just listen.  "One day while Mrs. Nightshade and Matt were shopping, an accident occurred involving Mr. Nightshade.  Something happened to his computer lab.  Something that created an implosion."

      The duo's look of confusion returned.

      "An implosion is like an explosion, except the blast doesn't go out.  It goes in.  That's what happened.  Something caused the house to collapse in upon itself.  Mr. Nightshade was trapped in his lab.  Neighbors reported that they heard screams and strange unidentifiable noises emanating from the basement.  Then all the noises stopped.  The rescue teams found no body in the basement.  Nothing was found that could have caused the noises.  Mr. Nightshade was gone.  He vanished." 

      Peter was so caught up by the intensity of his story that he didn't notice the stillness in the air.  He looked at his audience.  Wendy and Denny were staring awed at Peter.  Their mouths agape.  He realized he had to liven the group up again.  So he added, speaking like Arnold Schwarzenegger as the terminator, "Asta la Vista Baby!"  He sang, "Shanna-na na!  Hey! Hey! Hey!  Good-bye!"  The group laughing and dancing, continued on their way home.

      Denny looked at Wendy and said, "Dang that story was better than any of your soaps."  At the next intersection, they went on their own separate ways.