CHAPTER TWO Kaz entered the silent room to see his friends sipping empty sodas mindlessly, a look of sorrow on their face. He sat down sadly.
⌠You got the message then?■ Kaz whispered. They nodded and looked up to him quietly. Kaz answered their silent question. ⌠It turns out my connection gave up on the game a minute after they did. We▓ll have to port to this spot on the map and trade around with the locals to get transportation there.■ ⌠Are you sure this is even worth it?■ Tom asked. He slammed down the cup his empty soda was in. ⌠Look at this place! Even if we found something good, no one would know! Let▓s face it, Kaz, it▓s over!■ ⌠Stop it, Tom! You▓re just confused about what we should do. Kaz, I▓m going to go back and look through my brother▓s old cards. Maybe I can find one of this forest,■ Sarah smiled.
⌠But what about your match?■ Kaz asked.
⌠It was with Klay, but he▓s gone now. Thanks for remembering though. I▓ll be back later,■ Sarah whispered, leaving the group. The guys then looked around the table.
⌠So, it▓s the waiting game. Do you want to have a match while we▓re waiting?■ Peyton asked.
⌠Nah,■ Kaz and Tom whispered.
⌠Come on! We▓ve got to do something! Kazzy? Major Tom?■ Peyton begged. Kaz sighed and stared at his map.
⌠What do you think the rock formation really is?■ Kaz asked.
⌠A rock formation, just like every other rock formation in Perim!■ Tom exclaimed.
⌠Whoa, dude, chill,■ Peyton said quickly. ⌠I think it▓s what you said, a castle. Are there any other maps or pictures?■ ⌠I already checked the archive, but no one has ever been here, which surprises me because there are no danger zones for miles around the formation, and the fact that the hikers never scouted it out,■ Kaz replied.
⌠That is strange,■ Tom whispered. ⌠Oh, wait, they left before they finished. People kept challenging them because they ran out of people to challenge, so they quit to avoid hits to their stats. Next question please.■ ⌠You▓ve changed, Tom,■ Kaz said sternly. ⌠I remember a time when you were eager to do everything with anyone, as long as it had something to do with Chaotic. Now that you think it could be over, you treat it like it already is. Tom, without Chaotic, you would lose your best friends, and yet you▓re pushing us away. Why are you doing this to yourself?■ Kaz asked angrily. ⌠Because I▓m grieving, Kaz. You▓re right, it is over, and I might as well give you all a reason not to miss me,■ Tom whispered.
⌠But Tom, I want to miss you. You▓re like my bro, dude! I▓d even miss my enemies if I knew I could never fight them again. Let▓s face it, we have to stick together now more than ever,■ Peyton smiled. Kaz sighed.
⌠Do you still want to have a match?■ Kaz asked. Peyton nodded and looked to Tom.
⌠We can always find someone to play Major Tom,■ Peyton smiled, trying his hardest to get Tom away from the table.
⌠Alright, I▓ll go, but┘I choose who I battle. The last time you set me up with someone I got creamed,■ Tom exclaimed, a tiny smirk forming on his face.
⌠See, this is exactly what you need, bro! Hey! Everyone! Who wants to battle Major Tom?■ Peyton called over the room. People looked up, but no one answered. Tom sighed.
⌠Everyone▓s gone,■ Tom whispered. He sighed and walked away from Peyton and Kaz.
⌠Tom, wait!■ Kaz called. Tom never even paused to turn around. Kaz sighed and turned back to Peyton. ⌠We▓ve lost him this time. Come on, let▓s find the emptiest drome to battle in.■ ⌠All of them are empty,■ a voice whispered from beside them. The low tone surprising came from a Gothic girl with spiked bracelets and a choker necklace. She was wearing a black tank top with a skull and crossbones on the front and a black mini skirt. Her legs were covered from top to bottom by tights and platform boots.
⌠What do you mean ▒all of them are empty▓?■ Peyton asked.
⌠Like I said, all of them are empty,■ she replied. ⌠The last match of the day was cancelled when Klay and Kristalla announced their resignation, and now more people are resigning. People are disappearing. We can▓t do anything to stop it, either. Maybe if you two battle, everyone will watch and stay longer.■ ⌠Great idea, um┘um┘what▓s your name?■ Peyton asked.
⌠I go by Raven here,■ she replied. ⌠Now go get Chaotic!■