The Deep End
Chapter 1: Arrival of the Swarm
The Dungeons and Dragons Role Playing Game. That was the life for Garrett Norsan. Garrett played the game since he was eight, seven years in all. But just a game wasn't enough for him. He grew tired of just sitting at his computer for hours at a time typing endless messages and actions. One cold February morning as Garrett was thinking of things for Victor Praetorius, his RPG character, to do with the huge amount of cash he'd earned, an idea popped into his head. Why is he sitting here, trying to act like Victor and have a real life, when he could do the exact same thing in real life? All he would need was a bit of equipment, a way out of the city, and a reliable place to stay. Not too hard for Garrett, of course. He had tons of people he could trust. As soon as he knew that it was possible, he started planning it, from the armor to the arrangements.
Within a month he had it all set. He knew exactly what to do, exactly where to go, but there was one thing missing. What good is a medieval warrior without a sword? Garrett found the perfect one in a brand new antique shop close to his home, a titanium blade. Without a second thought he bought it and started for home. Halfway there, he saw something strange, a black streak and a hissing noise in a dim parking lot behind a closed store. He stopped to look, but couldn't see anything and didn't have any intention of getting any closer to it. With an uneasy feeling, he started walking again.
As soon as he got home, he made the final preparations: putting on the armor, grabbing any extra cash he could find, and waiting until 11:05 p.m. Without making a sound he crept out the front door and took off towards his close friend's house in the next county. About an hour after leaving home, he saw another black streak, but this time something else was there. Something sharp hit the dumpster behind him and made a few sparks. Immediately he thought of street wanderers who would do anything to mug someone for a bit of money. Garrett drew his new sword and crouched down, taking a look around him. He waited for a long time, and saw nothing. Uneasily putting his sword back, he continued along the sidewalk. Not long after, a distant light shined brightly from the direction he was coming from. Feeling extremely strange, he went on. A few houses later, a loud hiss came from the roof. Something dripped onto his boot, and he bent down to touch it.
"What in the hell?? What's this shit? Spit?!" he wondered. Looking up at the tiled roof, the bright moon glinted off of something, then disappeared. Still watching for movement, Garrett continued. Fortunately, he made it to his friend's house without further incident. As soon as he came in the house, his friend was completely pale.
"What's wrong, Kevin?" he asked. Kevin shook his head.
"You didn't hear what just happened an hour ago? The power plant near your house got leveled. Your house went with it. And the thing that did it was just a fast, shiny black animal."
Chapter 1: Arrival of the Swarm
The Dungeons and Dragons Role Playing Game. That was the life for Garrett Norsan. Garrett played the game since he was eight, seven years in all. But just a game wasn't enough for him. He grew tired of just sitting at his computer for hours at a time typing endless messages and actions. One cold February morning as Garrett was thinking of things for Victor Praetorius, his RPG character, to do with the huge amount of cash he'd earned, an idea popped into his head. Why is he sitting here, trying to act like Victor and have a real life, when he could do the exact same thing in real life? All he would need was a bit of equipment, a way out of the city, and a reliable place to stay. Not too hard for Garrett, of course. He had tons of people he could trust. As soon as he knew that it was possible, he started planning it, from the armor to the arrangements.
Within a month he had it all set. He knew exactly what to do, exactly where to go, but there was one thing missing. What good is a medieval warrior without a sword? Garrett found the perfect one in a brand new antique shop close to his home, a titanium blade. Without a second thought he bought it and started for home. Halfway there, he saw something strange, a black streak and a hissing noise in a dim parking lot behind a closed store. He stopped to look, but couldn't see anything and didn't have any intention of getting any closer to it. With an uneasy feeling, he started walking again.
As soon as he got home, he made the final preparations: putting on the armor, grabbing any extra cash he could find, and waiting until 11:05 p.m. Without making a sound he crept out the front door and took off towards his close friend's house in the next county. About an hour after leaving home, he saw another black streak, but this time something else was there. Something sharp hit the dumpster behind him and made a few sparks. Immediately he thought of street wanderers who would do anything to mug someone for a bit of money. Garrett drew his new sword and crouched down, taking a look around him. He waited for a long time, and saw nothing. Uneasily putting his sword back, he continued along the sidewalk. Not long after, a distant light shined brightly from the direction he was coming from. Feeling extremely strange, he went on. A few houses later, a loud hiss came from the roof. Something dripped onto his boot, and he bent down to touch it.
"What in the hell?? What's this shit? Spit?!" he wondered. Looking up at the tiled roof, the bright moon glinted off of something, then disappeared. Still watching for movement, Garrett continued. Fortunately, he made it to his friend's house without further incident. As soon as he came in the house, his friend was completely pale.
"What's wrong, Kevin?" he asked. Kevin shook his head.
"You didn't hear what just happened an hour ago? The power plant near your house got leveled. Your house went with it. And the thing that did it was just a fast, shiny black animal."