Chapter. 13

As the timer was almost up Vincent took his sword and stabbed his hand to lower his own health. "When the time is up the one with the most health wins."

Rebecca gasped at the act. "But you'll lose points!"

"I got plenty on me. Twenty points won't hurt me." The two returned to the real world from Rebecca's introduction to Brain Burst. "So what do you think?" Vincent asked as he rubbed his hand.

"It seems... I don't really know. I'm sorry." Rebecca noticed Vincent holding his hand. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah. Just some phantom pain from the game, the mind playing tricks with the body. It'll be good in a bit."

"We'll be hurt when we leave the game? Why is this game so extreme?"

"For the power the game gives us. Burst points, or BP can be used to speed up your heart rate so fast that to you it looks like time as almost stopped."

"Speed up my heart? Isn't that dangerous?"

"It's only for a split second, actually less then that. It's just like everything else, moderation. As long as you don't use it all day everyday you'll be fine." Rebecca nods. "We'll need to get somewhere public to show it off though."

"I'm still not fully sure about this."

"That's fine Rebecca. Give it some time and then you'll be able to make your choice to stay or go with a clear mind." Vincent glanced at the time. "Alright, I'll need to be leaving for now."

"Already?"

Vincent noticed a hint of disappointment. "I have an engagement in a couple of hours. Though I guess it wouldn't hurt if I stay longer."

"Okay!" Rebecca almost jumped for joy then lead Vincent to the sofa. "Come on, sit here!"

Sitting down Vincent looked around the house. It seemed well enough with some parts closely resembling his own home but with more furniture. "So are your parents around?"

"No. Both of them are doctors so they work a lot, but not enough that I don't see them. They're home normally four times a week."

"Okay. You got any siblings?"

"No. Just me and my parents. What about you?"

"My parents work in real estate though I see them every night. I have a little sister, Elizabeth. Smart girl, wants to get into the tech field."

"That's really cool. So what do you do as a hobby?"

Vincent shrugs. "Well, Brian Burst when I got it. Before though... Not much I..." Vincent started to reflect on his life to this point. All of his time was spent to better himself, to prove he stood above the rest. "I really... Didn't do much, my time was spent studying and practicing fencing when I got into high school."

"What are your friends like?"

Vincent glanced to the floor. "I... Don't have any friends." His chest felt hollow as he spoke to Rebecca. He looked to Rebecca and quickly changed the topic. "What about you? Friends? hobbies?"

Rebecca just hung her head. "I don't, really have a lot of time for that stuff."

"Nose to the grindstone. What a pair we are." Vincent lightly chuckled to himself. The mood started to sour around the two. Vincent thought back to the mall and tried a new approach. "Hey I saw you at an antique shop. You like old things?"

"Is that weird?" Rebecca didn't look up.

"No. Old stuff has charm, it's something you can touch. I might be the weird one since I like stuff I can touch."

"I completely agree!" Rebecca took a watch on a chain from her pocket, holding it out to Vincent to take.

"A pocket watch. The wind up kind. Now this is retro. You gotta pay a pretty penny for one of these."

"It's been in my family for seventy years."

"So it's got some history to it." Vincent examined the scratch marks on the watch. He opened the watch to find it was still ticking. "Still going? Built to last alright." Vincent handed the watch back to Rebecca. "So what else you got here?"

Rebecca lead Vincent by the hand to the dining room to see the grandfather clock form the antique shop. Vincent ran his fingers along the side of clock, feeling the wood grain. "This is cool." Vincent pulled his hand back and rubbed his finger against his thumb. "You're parents like this thing?"

"Well it wouldn't be in the dining room if they didn't."

Vincent smiled lightly. "My family call me an old man sometimes because I keep a lot of these kinds of things in my room."

"But it gives a house character. Makes it feel like a home."

"Exactly! You should see my house, especially my parent's and Elizabeth's rooms. So barren, they say its so they can use their neurolinkers to put whatever they want wherever they want. But it's not really there."

The two spent their time talking about the things they liked and compared what they found. Vincent's neurolinker chimed to let him know it was time to leave.

"Time to go. I'll be back in a bit, we'll go to a public area and I'll show you what you can do with the BP."

"Okay." Rebecca walked with Vincent to his bike. "Thank you. For coming over."

"Anytime. Here." Vincent set up his contact info for Rebecca to see. "If you got any questions just call."

"Okay!"

Vincent put his helmet and drove off. Rebecca waited till he was out of view before going back inside.

...

Vincent rolled up to the library, climbing off his bike to enter the building. Inside Vincent found an empty booth and took a seat to connect to the library network. Inside Vincent entered the opal palace to find everyone in the legion teaming up for the up coming fight against the sapphire legion.

As Vincent walked through the lobby the other players noticed him and shouted out to him. Vincent waved to the players as he walked by.

"There you are!" Vincent stopped cold and cringed at the sound of Catherine's voice. "It's not like you to be late like this. You getting scared or what?" Catherine held on to his arm.

Vincent ignored her and opened a menu to create a private room. Vincent pulled his arm free and walked in with Catherine on his kneels. "You ready to fight for your legion Vinny." Vincent still didn't answer. "Vinny?" Catherine stood behind Vincent, she wrapped her arms around his waist and placed her head on his shoulder. "You can talk to be Vinny. A parent has to look after their child."

Vincent peeled Catherine off of him. "I'm fine. Now leave, I need to focus."

"So I'm distracting for you? That's nice to know." Catherine lightly laughed. "Very well love. Do good and I'll reward you later." Catherine opened the door and left.

Vincent barely heard Catherine. His thoughts were on Rebecca and his time spent with her today. "Maybe giving her the game was a bad idea. I don't want an innocent wrapped up in this legion fighting mess. A parent looks after their child. It's too late now, I'll protect her."

The time had come. Vincent choose to fight one on one and the game started.

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