Sam stopped suddenly and ran his hands over his scalp.

“Fuck.” Ethan heard his friend whisper as he rushed to catch up with him.

Sam looked panicked. He clearly had not wanted to be seen exiting the same bar Kevin had just left.

“Sam, what the fuck?” Ethan caught up to him and spun him around so they were facing. “Were you just in there talking to Kevin?”

He was livid. The rage he’d managed to bottle up just seconds ago now surged through him in a tidal wave of anger.

Sam just looked down at the ground as Ethan glowered at him.

“Yeah.” He finally spoke slowly as he looked at his guild leader, not making eye contact. “Yeah I was."

Shock. Betrayal. Rage. Negative emotions flooded Ethan. He knew Sam had been friends with Kevin, but when he’d left, Sam had sided with Ethan. He was so mad he couldn’t even speak.

Seconds passed as he wrestled with his inner rage demon, trying to decide if he should try to talk, yell, or just start hitting.

Finally, Sam broke the silence.

“Ethan?” He sounded scared. He wasn’t sure what his friend was thinking.

“Inside. Now.” He barked out the two words, afraid of saying anything else.

Ethan had never been to the bar he’d just entered before. As single minded as he was, he knew why as soon as he crossed the door. It was dark and dour. Unlike Tara’s bar, it didn’t have a welcoming feel to it. Only a few patrons were at tables, and as sunlike broke up the dark atmosphere they seemed to huddle closer together as if afraid of being seen.

Ethan walked directly to the bar. A short old man was wiping a dirty rag on a dirtier glass but looked up at him.

“Whiskey. And beer.” He ordered quickly, needing a hard drink for what he knew was about to be a hard conversation.

The bartender poured a large shot into the glass he’d just been “cleaning” and turned to get a bottle of beer. Ethan downed the shot before he’d returned. The harsh liquid burning his esophagus and causing him to feel flush, even through the red hot rage he was currently fighting back. The alcohol did nothing to lessen his anger.

“‘Nother?” The Bartender squinted up at him, his voice was as harsh as the whiskey he’d just served.

Ethan shook his head no, dropping way too much silver on the counter as he took his other drink. He turned to see Sam at a table in the corner fiddling nervously at the hem of his sleeve.

Ethan dropped his beer too hard on the tabletop and foam spewed forth. He sat staring at the man he thought was a friend as it dribbled in a puddle onto the dirty floor. Sam sat quietly.

“So?” Ethan continued glaring at him.

“Okay, so.” Sam paused as he considered what exactly he needed to say to calm down his long time friend.

“So after we wiped I was pissed. We all were.” Ethan nodded as Sam continued. “And I didn’t know what the consequences were going to be. Add to that I got Cleric three times in a row of leaping.”

He hesitated again and Ethan motioned angrily for him to continue.

“I was just so pissed.” He slammed his palms on the table and Ethan’s beer shook again. “That’s why I didn’t respond to anyone.”

He looked at Ethan as if that were his apology, Ethan just stared at him.

“Get to the point Sam.” Ethan crossed his arms as his impatience grew.

“Okay, so I got back to town and I ran into Kevin...”

“You “ran into him” or you messaged him?” Sam’s excuse was coming across flimsy already and it wasn’t calming Ethan down.

“No, I legitimately ran into him. Here actually.” Sam gestured at the dive they were sitting in. “You guys are always at Tara’s and sometimes I come here just to get shit faced.”

“So, I ran into him and he offered to let me join Knights of Ayther.” Sam looked ashamed as he said it.

There it was. Exactly what Ethan had expected him to say. But instead of fueling his anger even more, it left him feeling numb. He felt betrayed by one of the few people he considered family in this prison.

“And?” Ethan’s voice was soft but the anger was replaced by hurt. Emotionally, the rage was replaced by emptiness as a frozen knife carved a hollowness inside him. “Are you?”

“What? No.” Sam was shocked at that. He’d expected yelling and raging, maybe a thrown table or fist.

The icy emptiness warmed inside Ethan, like a candle in a dark room. Shining in just a small amount of hope.

“I was pissed, like I said. I had no idea what was even going to happen with Daniel.” He continued, taking advantage of the change in Ethan’s demeanor. “And, I won’t lie, I considered it. And even more when I got back to the guild hall and he was just there.”

Sam clenched his jaw and stared a hole in the table before returning his gaze to Ethan.

“But after we talked, I realized you were right. We are a family. And when we were with Miguel last night, and he was hurting over Tara, I realized I need you guys the same way.” For the first time since he’d run into Ethan, he looked him in the eyes. “You, and David and Leah and Tae-Won and Miguel and even Daniel are what keep me going here.”

Sam leaned back in his chair.

“I’m sorry I didn’t say something sooner. I should have.” He leaned forward again. “So today I messaged Kevin and told him to meet me here again, and I told him to go fuck himself.”

“I’m telling you now, I’m here. For us. For our family.” Sam leaned farther across the table and reached out his hand to Ethan.

Ethan wasn’t sure what to say. He’d known Miguel and David longer, but the guild he’d ran with Sam had been the most successful. They’d spent many nights after raids drinking together over voice chat replaying successes and critiquing failures. Kevin had taken several of the most skilled players with him when Ethan had kicked him. But he and Sam had stuck together and reformed stronger. The only reason more people hadn’t joined them in the Tower was the initial cost to play the game.

“Sam...” Ethan was hesitant as he spoke, still unsure of what he was going to say. He wanted to believe his friend, but he still felt betrayed. “If you... if you want to leave us, I’ll understand. But we want you with us.”

“Dude, were you even listening,” Sam waved his arms in the air in exasperation. “I’m not going anywhere. I’m here with you. And we’re going to keep making Kevin look like shit. Just like we always have.”

He reached his hand out to Ethan again.This time Ethan reached back and grasped his forearm.

“Yes. We are.” He looked solemn again. “But we’re also going home. Together.” Ethan chugged back his half spilt beer.