A cool morning breeze blew the black smoke of the high chimneys into the small apartment. With a cough Luca sat upright. He grudgingly got up and closed the window. He smeared his drool across his cheek and cringed in disgust. He glanced at the Spanish flag in his room his father gave him for his birthday.

“Ugh.”

Kicking his little sister's leg to wake her up, he left his room and went to the kitchen where his mother was already cooking breakfast.

“Good morning Luca, how are you today?”

He ignored her.

“Morning mom, morning Luca!” His little 4 year old sister came skipping into the kitchen, planted a kiss on her mothers cheek and went to sit at the breakfast nook. “Can I have an orange juice today mommy?” She hopped in her seat with excitement.

Ugh, this positivity is nauseating, Luca thought to himself. Can I just get out of here?

“Say please, Carla, we have talked about this.”

“Pleeaaasseeee,” She dragged it out annoyingly long.

Their mother finished dishing up for them and he took his food to eat on the balcony. As far as he could see there were just factories and clouds of smoke filling the horizon. Pumping toxic gasses into their lungs. His father was somewhere out there, busy working his hands to the bones to provide for them, while he had to sit here and do school. Why can’t I just move out? My friends have done it at my age. 16 isn’t that young in this day and age.

The world was turned into a mega factory by a group who call themselves the elite, led by Dr. Chang Jr. Many years ago they took over the world in an economic war and established a global government. But mostly it was Dr. Chang and his circle of trusted advisors who ran the show. Their only goal in life was to be richer than their forefathers, so what did they do? They enslaved the entire population to do factory work and man their spaceships as they harvest gas from other planets to fuel their mega factories here on earth.

When Luca finished his breakfast he went back to his room, where he flipped the red DND sign and slammed his door shut. Why do I have to be subjected to what the Elite has planned for my life. Can’t I do what I want? Luca, as a young boy wanted to be a wildlife conservationist as he watched the TV shows about all the animals which once roamed the earth. But as he grew older, he saw the world for what it really was. A dreamkiller.

His father, Rodney, was a factory worker. A maintenance mechanic and so that was generally what Luca’s life was planned towards. He hated the idea of being a factory worker, doing the same thing day in and day out, watching everyone around him grow old and miserable about what they were unable to achieve in life. Besides selling their souls to the Elite. No, that is not for me. He told himself. He switched on his computer which booted instantly in the corner of his room and sat down. He scoured the internet for the newest articles on the Virtual World of The Shadow Domain. Oh how he wishes he could play The Shadow Domain. It was everything in a game you could dream of. But to play you needed a GlassOS, which was a pair of glasses which communicated with your brain and pulled you into the virtual world as if you were really there. Apparently you could feel the grass, and smell the air. AND it smelt FRESH, unlike here where it is just smoke and gunk.

Streamers and professional players made millions every month and Luca was sure he could achieve it but his parents believed you have to contribute to the world. To which he always said, why give to a world which has nothing left to give back.

Sure, he could become a mechanic like his father and work unearthly hours, but think of all the people he will provide to with entertainment if he could stream his gameplay or partake in professional tournaments. He could already see himself stand in front of millions of cheering and adoring fans. And security guards having to pull off the fan girls from him. He smiled at the thought.

Just dreams. And what worth does a dream have in a dream killing world?

His parents seem to get in the way of everything, sometimes he hates them for it. I wish I could just do my own thing, just live my own life. Even though the Elite has planned a mechanical future for him, it is not guaranteed as there are no jobs available and always much more experienced people to fill in. What if his dad dies early in an accident or something, what if he has no references?

He shook his head clearing it of depressing thoughts and tried to focus on the game on his screen.

“Hey!” a voice said over the headphones. “How are you today? Ready to slay some noobs?”

Luca launched the first person shooter game. “Yes sir, ready for some action.”

“Hello Na’tan!” They always called him by his game tag, and a chorus of 3 other voice also greeted him excitedly. He could also see his private messages of his IM program filling up as people started to realize that he is online.

“Right, are you taking top or bottom this round?” TheBlackKnight894 asked, “I am feeling top, I’ll support you.” He bought his weapons through a slew of menus, naturally finding the shortcuts to purchase then at an impressive speed.

“Yeah alright, let’s go top.”

The five players split up and went their discussed routes, TBK on his tail as they aimed around every corner for an early push. Na’tan was a specialized lead assault player and he has gained respect in the position as one of the best players in the country. He was also seen as one of the up and coming talents in the whole of Europe.

“On your right,” TBK said, focussing his firearm to the right. An enemy player appeared and TBK quickly downed and finished him. Luca saw someone crouch behind a stack of crates and rolled a grenade his way. They took cover and it exploded, sending body parts everywhere. Luca smiled at the killmail showing up on his screen, sending endorphins through his brain.

“Na’tan’s still got it!” A voice cheered over the call. “Lets go!” Another said encouragingly. Luca rushed the bomb site, check all corners,

“Bombsite clear. Come now, switch, switch, switch.” They ran back to the spawn point and ran past their teammates, as the other three had the bomb and had to plant.

Luca scratched his eyebrow quickly and focussed back onto the game. Out of the corner of his eye he saw them switched as well and ran and cut them off through the middle, he was quick enough, engaging in a split second firefight with one, downing him in three quick successive headshots, then switching to his pistol and killing the other. He quickly took out his knife and finished off the first downed player.

More cheers echoed on the voice chat. This is what he lived for. The boy searched the underground tunnel, quickly finding the sneaking player who was trying to keep his weapon until the end of the round. Often called ‘saving’. He snuck up behind him, and finished him with a quick stab to the neck.

Victory.

As the rounds stats came up there was a knock on the door.

“Be right back guys, I'm going AFK(away from keyboard).” The pause screen popped up and he appreciated the gesture.

—---------

Luca’s mother, Nadia, opened the door and he could see from his room’s door it was two police officers. He couldn’t quite make out what they were saying, besides “Mr Diez, your husband has passed away in an accident.”

For a moment his world went into a standstill. He didn’t know what to think. He walked towards his mother, “Mom?” Who turned to him with tears in her eyes, “Go to your room son.” Her voice was trembling. This confirmed he had heard correctly but did not want to make assumptions. He called his sister from the couch who seemed oblivious to what was happening around her and for a moment he wished for her innocence.

“Come to the room Carla, do you want to play a game?”

“Yeeesss!” Her eyes stretched wide with excitement and she yelled and jumped off the couch to follow her brother. Luca glanced back at the door where his mother was now being hugged and comforted by the policemen while her shoulders were shaking.

He typed a quick ‘GTG’ in the chat and left the game, putting on something for his sister while he went to sit on his bed.

What felt like hours later, his mother came into his room, her eyes red and swollen. “Children, come sit with me.” His sister, who was enjoying playing the game because she was never allowed to touch his computer, complained.

“Now Carla,” she said sternly with a break in her voice.

“We just received some bad news, news which I’m unsure about how to convey to you two. But your father has passed away in a factory accident.”