Chapter 7: The end?
"Well well, what have we here?" a voice calls out. If I weren't afraid for my life, I'd almost be inclined to laugh at the stereotypical nature of the opening line my assailant has chosen to go with. "Took ya long enough, bar keep."
"Who- Do I… know you?" I struggle to speak, but force the words out. I try in vain to crane my neck to face the man.
"Aw, what, my voice ain't doin' it for ya?" he asks, walking up to me. "Here. How's THIS?" He lifts my head up by my hair and we lock eyes. It's difficult to make out in the darkness of the cave, but the dim light from my torch, now about a foot away on the ground, flickers with just enough life to paint a clear enough picture.
In front of me stands, or I suppose kneels, the man who'd told me about this place. I then feel a wave of embarrassment wash over me. How dumb ARE you? I ask myself. I mean, of course. A secret log out location? Glitched wall? Admin console? A coward like you could NEVER get so lucky.
"Awww, left you speechless did I?" he laughs a villainous, almost over-the-top cackle. "Well friend, I'm glad to see you actually remember me." He glances me up and down. "And you kept the poncho! Heh… it's almost poetic." He drops my head and pulls himself from the ground. I half expect him to go on some diatribe, talking my ear off with some unhinged plan for "cleansing the server" or how he was "wronged" in some way in the past. Instead, he just draws a sword and points it to my face.
"Listen kid, I hate to do this to ya, I really do. But they paid me a hefty sum so… I ain't gonna turn this down. And we ain't talking col either." He cackles again, more sincerely this time. You can tell he is genuinely enjoying himself. "I'm gonna be rich. Thanks kid."
He lifts his sword, and I can't help but wince my eyes shut in preparation for what is to come. This is what a coward like you deserves.
In a split second, the sound of a whoosh followed by the sound of a player dying play, and I assume I've just heard myself die. Only, my hp gauge doesn't hit 0. All I see is my HUD still blipping the small [PARALYSIS] stat next to my health.
"Hex?" I pause, unsure if I'm dreaming. Slowly, I open my eyes.