The smoke had mixed with the clouds, creating a thin layer of gray between the ground and the sun. Under it everything appeared monotone and grey. The buildings, the parks, the people. Everything had losed his colour.

Watching the city life from his window was a man, a much pale and tired man.

“What is going on?” he though to himself “where is the son?”

Hours latter news arrived that the city polution had reached critical levels, and everyone had to go to their workplace or home.

He looked at his room, a dumpster of things, food and drinks which was not clean or organize in weeks. The bed sheets were not made, the computer case had been open for weeks at this point and dust had accumulated, making weird balls that one can use to play football so dense were they.

His eyes glanced at the computer, a new email had arrived, it was from his father.

Things were not going well for neither of them. His father had to work nearly all day in order to sustain expenses. One of the most expensive things for him was he.

It was a normal boy albeit a bit strange and introverted, until he didn’t became eighteen years ago. Then he should have gonne to work, then his ideals should have changed, then he should have married, he should have. While his school companions went to work or university he went into a “rut” in reality it was depression. He didn’t want to adher to the adult world. His father who so cared for him was mad at him, and from time to time he would cut money from him. But it was fine, if he just scrape the barell, that was his life at that point.

This was another cut, hidden behind “I care for you child” and I” want only the best for you.” And with this he would have to live with a third of a worker wager.

He looked at the missing sun again and though that maybe he could live an adventure. He could go and find the sun, he could be a hero… no, that wasn’t possible for him. Other people will do it but no him. His costitution was weak, money was missing and he didn’t have something far more important than all those things, courage. He was a coward by nature.

Another message arrived, it was night, though he didn’t knew if he was closer to the sunset or to dawn. It was from one of his online friends.

“Oi boi it’s been a long time since the last time that we see each other in person, there is an event not far from town. I would love to see you there, would you come?”

He though why not?

And so the next day he was at the dogane, two policemen were checking him.

“Why do you want to leave the city?”

“I want to go to an event, is called Gamersquare”

The policemen looked at each other

“How old are you?”

“Twenty-two why?”

They looked at each other again with suspicious looks

“It’s fine you can go. Just be carefull out there”

And so he begun to walk on the road, he had no car and besides what would a car serve him here? There is so little road to do. After an hour or so of walking he came across a giant red tend, bigger than an olimpiunic stadium. Surronding it there were a number of people laying on the ground outside the wall.

When he tried to enter one of those people grabbed his arm “Please! Please, my nickname is Blade-” he said to him before a guard hitted his head with a cosh.

“Ignore them, they are lossers and toxics. They will only try to take advantage of you.” he paused “what is your name?”

After going through the much lenghtly procedure of entering the tend and answering far too many questions about personal health and relationship he was allowed to enter.

And to his amazement he saw...nothing. The place was in perenial dark, if it was not for some lights outside one couldn’t see a damn. The squares and streets were empty. The doors and public building closed. The only things open were bars, not normal bars but automatic bars. Practically places in which you pay and serve yourself on some table.

t was at that moment that he started to wonder what was this place and why he felt like there was something wrong.

A loud scream came from one of the buildings, he turned and suddently felt very scared. His phone ring, he had receive a message.

“I forgot to tell you that the room is the #2145 in the living quarters, see you there.

PS: Don’t remaing in the streets for too long, is dangerous.”

He looked at the various street signs and after much walk found himself in the living quarteres. A grid with tons of mini rooms inside, each one separate from each other, each one indipendent of each other.

He begun to scrool the rooms until he didn’t found the 2145. There was no bell, so he messaged his friend to open him.

A hand opened the door, a face that hadn’t saw sleep in much time appeared to him.

“How are you doing... it’s been a long time since...you know”

he looked at him in amazement, he looked like a ghost so skinny he was.

“What was the last time that you eat?”

“Hehehe...it’s a long story. Come inside I want to show you some things.”

The room was full of various consoles and videogames, in a little corner there was a sleeve and a pillow.

He felt confused and scared at the same time.

“So how it’s going with your father?” he asked him

“Oh fine, you know the usuall squabbles between son and father”

“Ah so the usual…” he holded his head “sometimes when I don’t drink enough I have those moment of tireness, you know.”

“I know.”

A brief silence followed

“Want to play together? I have so many new games, this month they have gifted Gates two!”

“I though that you would never ask!”

The two passed many hours between puzzles, cubes and strange charming talking macchine. Constatly interrupted by screams and strange sounds outside.

“You know, sometimes I wonder if there is something...you know, something deeper than this?”

“You mean that the elevator can go even deeper?”

“No it’s just… forget about it just some stupid thoughts.”

About half way into their playthrough and they were interrupted by a gunshot.

He became terrorized, the other seemed to have barely heard it.

“You know sometimes it happens?”

“It happens what?”

“You know you are really angry or sad or depressed, maybe a bit drunk and under substances too and you just… pull the trigger if you know what I mean.”

“Wait what?”

“If you live here long enough you will become habituated to it.”

After having finished their playthrough in one section with only very short breakes, for a total of eight hours. Both went to sleep.

When he woke up someone was touching his shoulder “do you hear me?” it was a policeman.

“Ye-yes... what is the problem agent?”

“Do you know where your friend has gonne?”

“My friend he was just” he turned around, he was missing.

“Why it’s so important?”

“Your friend is in grave danger, we need every information possible about him.”

He was confused

“Sorry agent I talked to him the other day, he was fine.”

The policeman seemed suprised “so he hasn’t tell you?”

“tell me what?”

“he is dying.”

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