Read Erebos for Free Online Page B

happened. Only the cursor blinked.
    â€˜I said – your real name.’
    Nick stared at the screen in disbelief. Once more he had the feeling that someone was staring back. He took a deep breath and had another go.
    â€˜Thomas Martinson.’
    Again there was no response to the name for a moment, before the game answered.
    â€˜Thomas Martinson is incorrect. If you wish to play, tell me your name.’
    There was no sensible explanation for it. Maybe it was a software glitch and the game wouldn’t accept any name whatsoever. The writing disappeared; only the blinking red cursor remained. Suddenly Nick got worried that the program might have crashed, or shut down at the third incorrect answer, like a phone after three incorrect PIN entries.
    â€˜Nick Dunmore,’ he typed, half expecting that the truth would be rejected as well.
    Instead the program whispered his own name in his ear. ‘Nick Dunmore. Nick Dunmore. Nick. Dunmore.’ Over and over again the words were passed around like a chant from one whispering being to another. The welcome greeting of an invisible community.
    The feeling of being watched was scary, and Nick groped for the headphones to take them out of his ears. But the writing was disappearing already, just like the voices, and an enticing melody began playing – a promise of mystery and adventure.
    â€˜Welcome, Nick. Welcome to the world of Erebos. Before you start playing, acquaint yourself with the rules. If you don’t like them, you can end the game at any time. Okay?’
    Nick stared at the screen. The game had caught him lying. Knew what his real name was. Now it seemed it was impatiently awaiting an answer – the cursor was blinking faster and faster.
    Nick typed ‘Yes’ with the vague feeling that everything would go dark again if he took too long. He would think it over later. Later.
    â€˜Good. Here is the first rule. You have only one chance to play Erebos. If you waste it, it’s over. If your character dies, it’s over. If you break the rules, it’s over. Okay?’
    â€˜Okay.’
    â€˜The second rule. When you play, make sure that you are alone. Never mention your real name in the game. Never mention the name of your player character outside the game.’
    How come? Nick wondered. Then he remembered that even Brynne, who had never been troubled by self-restraint, hadn’t blabbed anything about Erebos to him. ‘It’s incredibly awesome,’ – that had been it.
    â€˜Okay.’
    â€˜Good. The third rule. The content of the game is secret. Do not speak to anyone about it. Especially not to people who are not registered. You can converse with players around the fires while you are playing. Don’t pass information on to your friends or your family. Don’t post information on the internet.’
    As if you’d ever find out, thought Nick, and typed ‘Okay.’
    â€˜The fourth rule. Keep the DVD somewhere safe. You need it to start the game. Don’t copy it under any circumstances, unless the messenger asks that you do so.’
    â€˜Okay.’
    Nick had hardly pressed the enter key when the sun rose. Or at least it felt like that. The blackness of the screen yielded to a delicate red, which soon changed to tones of yellow and gold. Nick’s Nameless appeared as a shadow, slowly taking shape, just like his surroundings – a forest clearing flooded in sunlight, in which long grass was growing and through which a beaten track wound its way. It led to a mossy tower, with a door that was hanging by only one hinge. On a rocky outcrop a little to the left sat Nameless, with his eyes closed and his face turned to the sun. Nick felt a twinge of envy, as if he were looking at beautiful holiday pictures. For a brief moment he thought he could smell the resin of the forest trees and the flowering herbs all around the tower. Crickets chirped, and the wind moved gently through the