Author's Note: Keep in mind that the characters in this story seem to have gotten their mail a fair bit later in the day than John & co. did.

I could tell Robert was feeling really repentant, because he didn't give me a word of "Talk to Derek your damn self"; all he said was "I'm gonna have to hang up on you for a while." "Just don't click on anything until I'm back on the line," I said. He was silent for a second. Then he said "Oh, right, sorry, I forgot you can't see me, too. I'm nodding. Don't worry, my hands are staying off the mouse." "Great," I said.

He hung up.

Still shaking a little bit from the reality of what we were doing, I started to slit open the brown paper "SERVER" envelope with my finger. The edge of the paper sliced my fingertip. "Ow, fuck," I muttered under my breath, letting the small pool of blood soak into the edge of the paper. As good there as anywhere, I thought, since I didn't keep tissues around in my room. My finger dried up quickly, and I started to pull the green-patterned CD out of its envelope. But just at that moment, I heard footsteps coming up the stairs.

My mom. Without thinking, I slammed shut my laptop and stuffed the server disc and envelope underneath it on my desk - all on instinct, before it occurred to my rational mind that I had completely destroyed a wall of the house. The wind, picking up, was blowing straight in, whirling my papers into the air and blinding me with dust again when I turned to look at it. This was extremely serious. I should have gone to her anyway, my life could be in danger - really, it had been childish to keep playing this game. My mom just wanted to keep me safe, over all, and now I guess she could.

The door opened.

I don't think I quite know how to describe my mother's expression as she walked through that door, because I think she wasn't quite sure what expression she was trying to make. She had obviously heard the ungodly sound made by my bed smashing through the side of the house. I don't know if she had seen what had caused it yet, but in the second that she saw that gaping, dusty, windy crater in the white wall, I could swear her face was flickering between fear, relief, confusion, and fury like an old-fashioned TV. Finally, she opened her mouth, and then closed it again. Her eyes were watering. "You're okay," she said, like a question and a statement of pure relief. And then "Get down here immediately!"

I mentally chastised myself for the slight reluctance I felt as I came down the stairs after her. I - we were dealing with potentially life-threatening powers. This was absolutely no time to be sulking over being found out. It's not like it would matter that I had been grounded, once I explained to her what was going on. If... if she believed me.

Which was something I had not considered until just that moment. Would she really believe this outrageous story? What I would I think, as a parent, if- but it was too late now. My mom was sitting in front of me, looking at me expectantly. I started talking.

I tried to explain to her about the game- she looked like she was about to speak when I mentioned sneaking the game upstairs, but I just kept talking and she didn't say anything - and about the invisible cameras, the controls, and the bed flying through my wall. "So there's definitely something going on. I think it's really serious," I said weakly, and then I stopped. She waited quietly for a couple seconds, still looking deeply concerned, as if she thought I was about to start up talking again. Then, realizing that I was done, she spoke. Her voice was trembling. "Honey, do you- do you really expect me to believe this? I'm at least as intelligent as you, young man, don't think you can talk your way out of this one with that kind of nonsense. Now tell me, what have you been doing up there? You can trust me," she added, almost like an afterthought.

I gawked.

"I'm telling the truth! Is that not visible to you?" I practically shouted. My mom just shook her head.

I didn't know what to say. I felt torn: Was it even possible to convince her? "I'm not... lying to you," I said slowly. My mom opened her mouth, and my phone buzzed in my pocket. I felt a weird mix of panic and relief. "Don't you dare answer that!" she said, her voice rising as I grabbed the phone out of my pocket, and, seeing Robert's name, answered it. "Hello?" I said. He said "Danny, I-" "Don't call me that," I snapped on instinct. Then I remembered what we were doing and I shut up. "Dude, whatever! I'm up on my roof right now, and I think-" his voice faltered. "I think we're completely screwed," he said. It sounded like he was about to cry. "What is it?" I practically shouted into the phone. "J-just connect to Derek. Do it right now. I want to make sure he's okay," he said. The call ended.

"Goddammit!" I shouted. My mom was looking absolutely furious, and she was standing up and advancing on me, but it didn't matter right now. I didn't know what Robert was talking about, but somehow, the game had gotten worse.

I raced up the stairs two at a time, leaving my mom storming up behind me. I ran into my room and slammed the door. It was totally futile; there were leaves and insects sprinkled all over the floor by the opening in my wall. Without pausing, I reached under my laptop and grabbed the game disc I'd stuffed under there.

I pulled out the disc and looked at my laptop. The spinning spirograph logo was still going on the screen. I decided it wasn't worth it to find out what would happen if I ejected the client disc.

My phone was ringing again. Robert again. "What is it?" I said as I answered, hurrying back down the stairs as I answered. "Dude, you have to get out of the house! I don't think I'm gonna make it out of this, but if you-" the call cut off abruptly. He had been openly crying, not even hiding it anymore. I immediately called his number back; it rang ten times before going to voice mail.

Had he- died? No no no no no, I couldn't even think the word. I didn't try to call him back again. His, maybe, definitely not last words were "Get out of the house" - I knew there was only one thing to do.