《The Games We Play》The Third Chapter
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Their bodies were almost completely decomposed when they were found. Mold had already started growing like tufts of cotton along the rims of the barrel their bodies were found inside. One could barely even believe they had once been human. At first, my dear Co-workers thought it was only one body, stuffed into a barrel that once contained some sort of liquid, but when they discovered a second skull in the decaying heap of flesh and liquid that had formed, they had no choice but to accept that it was, in fact, two former human beings.
The barrel in question was located under a rather small bridge placed above a running stream. The stream was weak, so the barrel hadn't dislodged and the whole crew of police and forensics could stand on the sides without any problem.
My Brother was, as most others on the scene, rather disgusted at this exhibition which showed what forms a human could take if they just put their minds to it. I had half-expected them to be found earlier, but I suppose, like all great liquids, one must wait for them to ferment in order to get the best out of it.
The rain was pouring down with great and unappreciated vigor, soaking most of the police and civilians there in its gift of life. My Brother and I were both draped in a black overcoat each. They were the same brand and the same sort, making us almost identical. If people constantly confuse one of us for the other, why not make it just a tad bit harder for them? The only difference between us was the fact that we had slightly different hats. He wore a black Bowler while I wore a black Trilby.
This time, unlike last nights little ravendouz, we had several witnesses. It would seem a group of kids around the age of sixteen or seventeen had been out partying, as kids do, and while drunkenly stumbling about the bridge one of them found the barrels and consequentially dared another kid to open it. Poor kid, their reaction must have been quite something. How sad I couldn't be there to witness it in person, but then again, I had rigged a camera to film their reaction, so I suppose that makes up for that.
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The camera was hidden on one of the many birches that surrounded the bridge, in a crevice just under one of the many branches. It was stationed perfectly as to catch exactly what the witnesses had seen. The camera was small, black and almost invisible unless you knew it was there.
With a knowing smirk, I turned my head slightly to the left and let my eyes search for the camera which I would come back to grab later tonight. My eyes traveled from the base of the tree, went along the tree itself, examined the branches, and found nothing. “...huh...” I said, talking only to myself. In confusion I let my eyes wander once more, with a bit more focus this time. Nothing. The tree was empty, and the hidden spot where my camera had been oh so carefully placed was empty. My mind started to race. Had someone found it? Had the rain knocked it down? Had I perhaps never put it up in the first place? After a few more moments of stressed examination, my Brother must have noticed the strange expression that stained my face. “Are you alright, Brother? You look distressed,” he almost whispered, but to me, it was like a shout, and with my eyes still stuck to the tree as if with glue, my head turned to my Brothers with an exaggerated, almost comical motion. “Yes, Brother, I am quite alright. I was simply looking for a rare bird I've heard lives in these kinds of trees,” I said, nodding to the birch I was examining with more focus then I had on making a believable excuse. “I didn't know you were interested in birds, is that a new passion of yours?” he inquired, to which I responded, “No, Brother, I simply read an article in the news. It would seem, however, that no birds dwell in this particular tree.” my mind really was someplace else, whatever I was saying was barely coherent enough for even my Brother to understand. He eyed me up and down, head to toe, before muttering “huh,” and turning away.
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I forced my eyes to leave the tree, and with a quick glance concluded that no other Birch contained the camera. I knew for a fact that I had placed a camera, so I concluded that someone must have found it. Who this someone was, however, I did not know. Whoever it was, they had yet to turn it over to the police, as I could see no one fumbling around with my modestly expensive camera.
The detective on the scene, a Mr. Anderson, must have finished question the witnesses as he left them alone while he walked over to the forensics dusting the barrel and taking tests of the liquid it contained. As usual, the forensics had found nothing. I knew that very well, gloves are very useful for this kind of thing, and I had been very careful to use them constantly, even wearing gloves under the gloves so as to not get fingerprints on the gloves. Who knows, they might just transfer to the bodies I touch.
Rather safe than sorry, no?
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8 156The Infinite Labyrinth
(Story complete - Book 1 "Shanghaied", 2 "Shortcuts", 3 "Secrets" and 4 "Sanctions") It is the 19th century, and war smoulders between England and France. Any hope for a quick end to Napoleon's rampage across Europe ended when the Great Gates opened in 1800. For a fortunate few, the strange world of the Infinite Labyrinth offers opportunities, strange descriptors popping in their minds, informing them of growth, and status beyond that of a mere mortal. The materials and power crystal they bring back foster a new age, both military and civilian. Aether-powered Skyships prowl the skies, as all the great nations blessed by the Gates try to turn the blessings of the Labyrinth into immediate advantages. But for Jonas, an apprentice leatherworker, his friend Ira, and so many Londoners, the fabled ones that walk the Labyrinth are distant heroes, seen from afar. They fell short when their Potential was measured, and they fill their mundane lives with distant dreams. One man wants to break the stalemate. The Tyrant of the Dominion of France, Napoleon Bonaparte, has a plan. Eighteen years after the world changed, he will force it to change again. And when civilians are caught in the fallout, the unthinkable happens. Six people, unqualified, forbidden to ever enter the Labyrinth, find themselves stranded in a distant zone, forcefully turned into Professionals. They know little of what that means, but they have to figure out the rules that are now their lot, for they have little hope to escape their predicament otherwise. They need to understand what the descriptors in their minds mean, what each of the strange piece of gear waiting in treasure chests behind terrible guardians can bring them. They have to become Professionals on their own and rejoin the Empire. They will figure out their new lives one way or another. But will there be an Empire waiting for them when the Gates re-open? Caught in a clash of empires and high tiers, they will do what little they can. They will step up and do their best. One way or another. The Infinite Labyrinth is a slice-of-life litRPG adventure set in a real historical setting. It's a hard, crunchy litrpg. Expect blue boxes everywhere, and the system itself is very mathy. It started life as a serial. I prepared some proper worldbuilding, with enough details and background for lots of different potential story arcs, but as I wrote, I realized the main story needs to have a definitive end. So, there are four books in total, for a bit under 1500 pages, plus additional side stories, and even maybe a sequel one day. The Gore tag was added as a precaution because there are a few scenes with some light gore.
8 179Hazard Frontier
Before the shutting down of a VRMMO after five years since it started, an assassin and a priest battled together and fought against a thousand players. The battle was recorded and uploaded online, turning into a legend.The assassin decided to move on to a another game called Hazard Frontier Online.Afterwards, the priest also decided to play the game.Allen, the priest in that legendary battle, will embark in a new type of adventure where he would be pitted against the strongest beasts and players!How will he do in this new world where the rules are different from the previous game he had played? Will he be able to rise up to fame and become a legend once again? Will he be able to meet up again with the assassin he paired with and how will their meeting be?Will he be able to earn money to pay his rent?Find out in Hazard Frontier!
8 169Into the Sun
Planetary economic struggles consume independent laboratories, militaries collide to shape the new world order, and a boy and his community struggle for survival amidst collapse. [participant in the Royal Road Writathon challenge]
8 139nocturna | dreamcatcher ff
in the land of the night lies seven sisters,a bond so close none can lull their fantasy,truth be the lie and let lie be the truth,none will know what the heart desires.when a day comes when one has to rule,power set aside the love they once nurtured,sacrifices were made but greed were paid,innocents lost and power stand victorious.this is a story of betrayal between sisters.[an adaptation from Dreamcatcher's 'Deja Vu']
8 103Never let you down ✅
A Story of bond between Mahi, Virat and Rohit. Which also includes other ICT members.
8 143