Chapter 6: Game Night Rules Part One

From a slight distance, I saw it—Guitar Slasher, a fusion of music, rhythm, and zombie carnage.

I love this VR game.

It helped me lock in, and I knew its immersion would cut through my troubling thoughts. Best of all, I could get in some much-needed wizardry training time.

It was no secret.

Even novice magic users would tell you perfecting timing was crucial to spellcasting.

It required the alignment of words, thoughts, willpower, and hand movements—the more in sync, the more charged the spell.

And this game was all about being in sync with the body and mind.

I grabbed the AXE from its station and slung its strap over my shoulder. The game’s guitar was in the shape of an actual axe.

I fitted on the VR headset, selected Continue, and sank into a zone.

Zombies, blood, and music flooded my perception. A selection of thirty subgenres of rock and metal—each with unique killing powers—were at my disposal.

The game’s isekai storyline made me feel like I had transformed from a low-level human into a god. Just my AXE and I, staving off a large hellish invasion.

Everyone worshipped me and prayed for me to save them. It felt like my destiny was to be their savior.

The NPCs’ reverence sharpened my determination to play flawlessly. It steeled my focus, and I crushed through the next-to-last stage.

After the stats of the previous battle scrolled off the screen, I entered the final stage.

Sweat beaded on my forehead, and I felt carpal tunnel pain biting at my wrist.

Surprisingly, I found myself unable to access the metal or rock songs. Then a gentle introduction from a neoclassical metal song played.

Frak!

I had unlocked the neoclassical subgenre, and it was the only music playable!

The intricacies of these guitar riffs had to be performed with god-tier precision.

The accuracy in my fingertips started to scratch at the surface of their limits.

Can I keep up? Oh, God, I think I’m going to crash.

Before I knew it, I had become one with my AXE.

“Holy shit, Billy! You made Assy Jana’s So Me page.”

And with Gene’s boisterous interruption, my virtual avatar was eaten alive.

I coolly removed the VR helmet as the whole crew surrounded me. Their facial expressions were twisted like thirsty emojis.

“What?”

Gene pushed his phone into my hands and pointed at the image on the screen.

“Look at this. You’ll like the type of magic she can do.”

He wasn’t wrong. Her inviting smile did what every magician desired—to captivate the viewer.

She was in bed on her elbows and knees, looking directly into the camera.

One handheld a sheet covering only the lower half of her bare breasts.

And the body part that earned her the nickname “Assy” was tipped into the air. Its apple shape popped out of her tiny white-and-teal-striped v-string panties.

Underneath the photo: Who can help me find Billy Bramwell-Gates? I owe him an apology. Love, Jana xoxo #magicfail #sorry #letsmeet.

After I read the caption, Nate swiftly snatched the phone from my hands.

“No way. Gene’s right. Holy effing shit, Billy. You have the number one ‘creative’ nude model on campus seeking you out.”

Jammer nudged her way in to see the fuss. “Damn, Billy. You should be contacting this one yourself. Look… she’s got cute stuffed unicorns surrounding her.”

“She! She messed up my spell. Do you know how hard it is to materialize fire? I get that movies and cartoons make it look simple, but I’ll have to recharge for two full moons until I can try it again.”

“And…sent.”

Nate announced dramatically and continued.

“I just gave Jana Billy’s address. And I may have texted, Come on over.”

Remember what I said about Nate being a troublemaker? At that moment, I had become the subject of his ‘Let’s get mayhem started.’

“Don’t look at me like that, Billy. I’m one of her platinum members. It went straight to her private DMs.”

“Sounds like you arranged a meetup more for you than for him.”

Weird Nikki finally joined us.

Amused, she instantly inserted herself into the Jana drama.

She had an uncanny talent for not being present when something happened, but once she had entered, it was like she had been there the whole time. Crazy!

“Yeah, and he can deal with her if she shows up.” I said dryly, annoyed with Nate’s chaos-baiting theatrics.

“Oh, I’ll gladly deal with her. Come on, who isn’t excited to get her here in the flesh?”

Nate’s body language was pure motivational guru, pumping everyone to invest in his gold plan. From the way they lit up, I knew he’d sold all my friends—except Weird Nikki.

Nate noticed, too.

“Weird Nikki—détenuediabolique? I’ve seen that username in Jana’s platinum. You should be as happy as I am. Smile.”

Weird Nikki took her index finger and pulled the corner of her mouth into a strange smile.

“Yeah, Nate, I see you in chat too. For a broke dude, you’re very tip-happy.”

Gene hid behind me and chuckled as Weird Nikki continued in her soft, mellow Belgian accent, tinged with dark delight:

“And sure, I‘d love to meet her. Did I ever tell you that I made a little effigy doll of Jana? I used to stroke its silky hair and imagine her feeling it.”

She paused and pursed her lips. “But as nice as it sounds, I’ve learned that meeting your fantasies is a bad idea.”

Maybe now it’s crystal clear why she has the endearing title of Weird?

Weird Nikki looked over at me, smiling. I could tell she wanted to keep talking about Jana, but she sensed my awkwardness.

So she did what she always did best—rescued me.

“Are we ready to effing game or what?”

***

Everyone regrouped in the gaming area.

Besides a few snide remarks and laughs about Jana possibly showing up, the topic died.

There was no way in hell a girl like that would show up. Not for me.

But I couldn’t let go of the weird feeling she’d given me. And the fact that my magic went haywire around her made it all stranger.

Was Jana the reason?

Most of all, it perplexed the crap out of me. Why would she want to meet me?

I didn’t feel like talking, so I busied myself setting up—laying out drinks and snacks.

Glancing around the room, I saw Nate and Gene chatting, waiting on Weird Nikki’s instructions.

She was stationed at the head of the gaming table, laying out her GM throne.

Myles, like always, had wiggled his way out of any duties.

His OCD clashed with Weird Nikki’s OCD. So instead of helping, he sat in the adjoining area with Jammer, adjusting his rogue wristbands.

I noticed Jammer had loaded Aura of the Titans; its title sequence flashed across the TV screen.

It was funny—Jammer never missed a game night, but she only tagged along to access my RPG PC collection.

In the past, after the high school purges of The Nameless One, JR, and Becca, we’d offered her a spot at the table.

She declined, stating: “That’s too hardcore for me. Your miniatures are cute, though.”

We didn’t even use miniatures!

All of our adventures were played on a state-of-the-art holographic table with AR glasses and automated cDecks—digitized character sheets. Once powered on, our characters, environments, and monsters virtually came to life.

I’ll admit, the first edition’s graphics were rudimentary, but we were in the fifth edition with AI graphics simulating anime.

Jammer still wouldn’t play. She loved her RPGs. At some point, she’d shout, “I’m feeling an epic drop tonight!”

Happened every game night.

Before I moved deeper into reminiscing, Weird Nikki redirected our focus, flagging us to open the table.

Our game table—one of my designs, not to brag—was the centerpiece of our gaming experience.

A black oak revival table laced with scrolling acanthus.

The sweet extras were the carvings of medieval demons on each corner.

Gene and Nate moved to opposite sides of the table, almost ceremoniously lifting large planks from the tabletop to reveal an inlaid holographic screen, the ultimate accessory for The Lords of Omni.

As I worked on my tasks, Weird Nikki barked a few orders at Nate and Gene. She shot a sharp look at me but said nothing.

Watching her, it hit me—she took that song about painting it black as law.

Her nails, lips, eye shadow, and clothes were all flawlessly black. Only the purple woven in her braided hair and the tinge of gunmetal on her accessories broke the monotony.

I really had no place to talk—my closet reigned in black.

She giggled to herself, and it made me wonder…

Did she just read my thoughts?

My serious eye jab revealed nothing. She simply re-busied herself at her post.

With no additional instructions, I moved on to the final act before the game: getting into character.

Even though the AR gave us the likeness of our characters sitting at the table. We were geeks, and we loved using accessories to spice up the role-play.

I kept it minimal. A hooded cloak and a magic bag.

Rifling through my pouch, I noticed Weird Nikki unloading a stack of The Lords of Omni rule books onto her station.

Where did I put Rules of the Black Arts for Advanced Users?

A quick spot check of my surroundings—

No backpack.

A wave of fright washed over me.

My eyes darted across the game room, but I didn’t see it. Oddly panic-stricken, I frantically started a search for the book.

I am a creature of habit. I always put my bag in the same space, but it’s not there.

An unwelcome emotion quickened my heart rate.

Why was I suddenly so invested in finding a book that wasn’t mine?

But honestly, more importantly, how had I forgotten about it?

For some reason, asking my friends if they had seen my backpack seemed like an interruption. Besides, I started to have a nagging suspicion that one of them may have taken it.

Where did I stash my backpack?

I quickly narrowed my probe to the entryway, anteroom, and gaming areas. I nixed everywhere else because I knew I hadn’t roamed with my backpack.

I tried to retrace my steps, but it was murky. All I could see were mental images of me gossiping.

The backpack was not in the role-playing area. Not by the snack bar. I checked several other spots, including the stairwells.

I haven’t gone upstairs.

I casually walked into the adjoining PC gaming space. I took a few nonchalant glances around the entertainment center, couches, and loveseats.

Urgh.

Jammer had her headphones on and was deeply into her game, but Myles, sprawled out on one of the love seats, took notice of my movements.

“Looking for something, Billy?”

“Naw, just doing a little stretching before the game.”

Why did I lie?

I did some weird jogging-in-place motion, making my magic bag drum against my side. Convinced I’d sold my lie, I darted into the anteroom.

I hurriedly checked a few tables, but still nothing. Closets? No. I briskly moved on, feeling silly as my cloak swished behind me.

Did I leave it by the door? Nooooo! Where is it?

I moved to a central point where I could see most of the other rooms. Unfortunately, my backpack was nowhere in sight. At that point, negative thoughts hit me.

Had I dropped it somewhere on campus grounds? Which one of my friends would have taken it? I’d have to start questioning them!

As the words almost fell from my mouth, I remembered—the restroom. I’d gone there after I had spoken with Gene and Myles.

I swiftly moved there.

Upon entry, I saw nothing. Then it hit me, a whisper. Maybe my inner voice.

Maybe instinct.

Whatever it was, I felt drawn to close the door.

There it was, slumped in the corner.

This can’t be where I left it.

I hoisted it off the floor and examined it. The zipper was loose.

Has someone been rifling through my bag? Oh no, is it gone?

ZIP.