Chapter 15: Let's Go Home

I walked down the bridge that enters into the city. It's so quiet. I feel nostalgic just being here. Why does it feel so dead though? There's no sound, no wind, no people.

After what seems like hours of walking into the city. I've found a trail of dead bodies into this one street. I observe each one of them and saw that they are Viruses. I recognize their armor and evil eyes. Did a Hacker do all this? Could it be General Necro?

I hurried up the pace and followed the trail. It ended with a body right in front of this tea shop... Wait... Is this the tea shop that Charlie was talking about? Is this really it?

I step inside the tea shop. It looked comfy and inviting even in the dark. I heard something moving in the back that I was startled. "I'm sorry that I've left such a mess behind." said no other than Charlie's voice. When he stepped into the light he brought over two tea cups. "Those Viruses were quite a pest."

I've noticed he was wearing his Hacker Armor. It's yellow, silver and black. He's drenched in black blood, but there's this large red spot in his left side. "Did you got hurt Charlie?" I said.

"Oh this? Yeah, I kind of... messed up a little out there." He took a sip from his tea, "It's quite nostalgic being in here. I miss home so much. Go on try the tea. It's different from the one before."

I hesitated but I did drink it. It's just as good as the first one.

"It's going to take a while before the other Hackers get here." he said, "I'll... probably won't be around when they do though."

"What? Charlie we all have to get out of here together! We get still make it!"

"Heh heh, that's the spirit, Mark. You're going to need it especially dealing with Carroll."

Suddenly blood started to pour out of his wound like a waterfall. He stumbled and lost his balance. "Charlie!" I drop my cup to catch him in my arms. I put pressure on the wound to stop the bleeding but it's leaking through around my hand. "Everything is going to be okay Charlie! Don't worry I'm going to get you outta here right now!"

"Mark." he struggled to say as he grab my shoulder. "I must tell you before I run out of time. There are memories that Dr. Money took from you. It's the one that was most important so you wouldn't figure out so easily."

"Charlie what do you mean?"

"I got them back for you. It was hard but here."

He took out a flash drive and put it in the hand that was trying to put pressure on his wound. "Everything here around you is a lie. I wish I was stronger to fight alongside with you... I'm more sad that... I'll won't be able to take you to my real tea shop."

"Charlie stop talking like that. You're going to pull through even if I have to make you stay alive."

He laughed as he said, "Thank you Mark." He suddenly started to slowly turned into code, "It's time for me to go back to reality. Truth is Mark I'm already dead, but the brain stays active after 5 minutes."

I started crying as he finally said, "Try to get back home, Mark... Let's all go home."

He disappeared completely from my arms. Like if he wasn't there in the first place, but his blood has stained my own armor and hands. I looked at the flash drive Charlie gave me. He died getting this for me. It contains my stolen memories. What did Dr. Money stole from me?

The gem in the middle of chest revealed a USB slot when I held it up. Weird but I put it in, and suddenly these memories that were stolen were played out in my mind...Wait... Presentable Liberty?! ALL THIS TIME I WAS IMPRISONED IN A FUCKING GAME?!

I walked out of the tea shop into the rain and shouted at the top of my lungs, "DR. MONEY! GET YOUR FUCKING ASS OUT HERE!"

"Whoa what gotten you all grumpy?" said Dr. Carroll who showed up down the street. His eyes are a mixture of blue and purple. His armor is different from the Viruses. No that's not armor, it's just a uniform. It's black, blue, and purple. He wears a long coat with a shirt that goes up to his neck, pants that has two swords attach to his hips, and the boots are steeled toed. What's most shocking is that he's carrying someone. It's not natural either, he's got his arm right through the stomach of this person. Who is that?

"Did you killed Charlie?" I said.

"You mean that weak Hacker? Yeah I did."

"You son of a bitch you're going to pay for that!"

"Neh, people say that until I'm the one who get's the better of them. Such as this Glitch here."

"...Charlotte?"

"Bingo."

He toss her over to me as she slipped out from his arm. "Charlotte!" I caught her in my arms. "No please not again! Charlotte?! Charlotte?!"

She opened her eyes slightly as blood trickled from her mouth. She said, "I'm sorry, Mark. I'm sorry I couldn't get you out of here. I tried..."

"It's okay Charlotte. You were never just a game character to me you know?"

"Heh... I'm actually not a-,"

She suddenly disappeared. She didn't turned into code so what happened to her? "Charlotte?!" I looked at Dr. Carroll as I said, "What happened to her? Did she-,"

"Died?" he said, "No she's a special case that one. One of Dr. Money's personal favorites. Sorry that I had to cut your conversation short, but I couldn't let her spoil everything."

"... I don't get it. There was a gaping hole through her stomach, how was she even alive?"

"Like I said. Special case."

"Bring her back!"

"Sorry, Mark. No can do."

"Do I really need to force you to listen to me?"

He burst into laughter, "Do you have any idea who you're talking to kid? Well yeah I may not be one of the top big villains, but I'm one of the most dangerous Viruses Dr. Money recruited."

"Blah blah blah! Just shut up already!"

I transported to get closer so I can attack him with my sword. He blocked it with just his right arm! "What the hell?!"

"You really got a lot to learn rookie."

He pushed me away like if I was nothing. "Go down nice and easy okay?" In a blink of an eye he grab my face and slammed my head against the ground. Pain throbbed horrible in my head. When my senses came back I got away from him by transporting behind him and attack again. Finally I was able to give him a gash!

"GAHH!" he got on his knees as he said, "What?! My armor was never pierced before! What the hell did you do?" He stand up but I didn't give him a chance to attack. As I swung my sword at him he caught the blade in his hand. How the hell is this even possible?!

"I hate it when my patients disrespect me."

"I AM NOT YOUR PATIENT YOU PSYCHO!"

I kicked him away and attack again. He blocked it with his own sword and drew the other as he stabbed me through the stomach. Blood spurted out from my wound and I coughed some up. "You wanna know what happens if a Virus's blood enters into a Hacker's body?" He asked, "Let me show you."

His own blood took life of it's own and went into my wound. As he pulled the sword out all of a sudden I have no control of my body anymore. "It's been a long while I've haven't done this." He said, "I'm going to enjoy every minute of it."

He moved his fingers to force me to drop my sword. "Let's play a game. If you can answer my questions truthfully. I'll won't have to break every bone in your body. So, dating back to one of my most curious questions. Who's Coraline?"

"Really?! Why in hell you want to know my personal life?!"

"Better answer quickly before I break a bone. There are 206 bones in the human body."

"That's quite enough, Albert." said a 12 year old blonde boy with orange eyes who happened to be walking down the street. Wait that kid. He's the boy I've met at ComicCon! The boy who calls himself Ryan walked up to me as he said, "I must apologize for Albert's actions. Sometimes he get's a little carried away."

"Tch, speak for yourself." said Dr. Carroll.

"You're Ryan." I said, "I've met you before."

"Of course, I could never forget that moment. In Presentable Liberty I'm known as Dr. Money. As for Charlotte, well heh. I didn't think my darling girl would developed feelings for you."

"Your girl? What is that supposed to mean?"

"In time you'll understand, but not now. Blue Rose Prison was just a beta test for you gamers until Game Over Prison is complete. You all pass the Virus, now it's time for the real test.

"Put him under standby, Albert. He's ready to move on."

As Ryan walked away the black blood within my body suddenly shut me down. My armor disappeared and I ended up passing out. Is this really it?

... (Carroll's Narrative)

After Mark blacked out Ryan told me, "Gather up the rest of the prisoners before the Hackers arrive."

"Right away sir."

"Oh and by the way. That girl you mentioned before. Who was it again?"

"Coraline. I wanted to know who she was to Mark."

"Coraline, Coraline... Why does that sound familiar?... CoreZero!"

"What?"

"There's a YouTuber who's just as famous as Markiplier. Her name is Coraline but she's called CoreZero. I guess she never gotten my gift."

"Want me to go back to reality so I can get her?"

"No, even though she might prove to be a great asset. I have a feeling she didn't get my gift for a reason."

... (Coraline's Narrative)

In the middle of taking apart this Oculus Rift I've received not too long ago. I was startled when it sort of exploded this black stuff that came from these tiny syringes around the head area. "OH COME ON!" I shouted in great annoyance that some of this black stuff stained my favorite shirt. "YOU STUPID PIECE OF JUNK I WILL DESTROY YOU!"

"I think you've already destroyed it by taking it apart." said Edward chuckling while watching the news on our 70 inch wide plasma screen T.V.

"Oh ha ha! Dude whoever sent me this wanted me to be under a coma like those other YouTubers. This black stuff is the problem."

I went to the sink to wash my hands and when I turned around I've noticed Edward was eating some chocolate mint cookies. I sneak up on him behind the couch and steal a cookie from his fingers. "Yoink!"

"Hey!"

I ate it and jump over to sit next to him. "You could've asked you know."

"Nah stealing it is better."

"Oh that reminds me about the YouTubers. Isn't your friend Mark in a coma too? Are you going back to Cincinnati to visit him?"

"I know it's wrong of me not to, but if I do I'll only cause trouble. Besides, my father is keeping tabs on how he's doing. He did give me some good news about his condition. While Mark was still asleep, he actually moved a little."

"Maybe he's fighting back. Hey make sure you saved all that black stuff so I can analyze it later. Whatever it is that caused them to go into a coma, might hold a cure."

"Ookie dookie."

Man it's been a while I've haven't seen Mark. If he is fighting this he's putting up enough effort to at least move. Soon enough once we find a solution, I'll see him again.

TO BE CONTINUED

Oculus Rift: Operation Gaminator | Rewrite