Read Game Alive: A Science Fiction Adventure Novel for Free Online

forcing him at last to relent. Des still shook his head dismissively, thinking how silly it would be to show up for a VR lacrosse game without having “bought” any equipment beforehand, but he let the matter drop.
    “I think it’s wonderful,” Kari continued, turning to tell Jake what she thought. “Look at me. I’m an elemental sorceress who’s also a noble-born princess. It’s absolutely terrific to be able to make up your own story sometimes!”
Chapter 5
    The party of three set out along the north road, with Jake leading the way a half-step ahead of the others. They admired the scenery, watching in interest at the scamperings of virtual animals through the hedges and over the fields lining both sides of the broad, beaten earth road. All the details Jake had worked so hard to include really paid off; Des and Kari agreed that the background detail was mind-blowing, and made the rest of the game even better. It was as if the world of Xaloria truly were real, so rich and exact were the details. From the variety and unique diversity of the flora, to the faint scents carried on a gentle breeze that smelled of the woods not long after a rain, this world was utterly convincing. Kari especially found herself getting lost in the wonder of it, and for long periods of time she would entirely forget that she was not physically present in this make-believe world.
    “Look,” Des said suddenly, when they had been walking along the firmly packed dirt road for several minutes. He lifted one leather-clad arm to point further along the road. Up ahead, a wagon lay on its side, surrounded by scattered piles of unusual objects which Jake and the others did not take in at once.
    Jake reacted first, breaking into a trot and drawing his sword even as he moved. It was a very basic, one-handed sword he’d purchased from Blacksmith Palon on his first foray into Xaloria. Eager as he was to replace the blade, preferably with some enchanted sword from the depths of a forgotten sorcerer’s tomb, Jake did feel an affinity for the plain, unadorned weapon. He had spent most of his session yesterday practicing in preparation for his friends’first visit. He carried it confidently now as he approached the overturned wagon, calling out in a loud voice.
    “Hello? Ho there, are there injured? Do you need assistance?”
    Des had followed close behind, and taken the unusual sling-shot weapon from off his shoulder. Kari came up on Jake’s other side, crouched forward slightly and holding her onyx staff in front of her chest with both hands. Jake looked from one to the other of them, and they each nodded to him that they were ready for anything.
    A keening moan sounded from the far side of the wagon, out of their sight. Jake licked his lips, thinking. It sounded like someone was hurt, but suppose this was some trap laid by bandits. Or worse, what if some other creature that should never be within a hundred leagues of Everheart had come to this region and prepared this scenario to snare the young knight of growing fame? The moan sounded again, and Kari started forward.
    “There’s someone there, alright,” she said. There was a trace of nervousness in her voice, but she approached the wagon cautiously nevertheless. “It sounds like he’s hurt.”
    Jake hurried to catch up to Kari, not willing to let her circle around out of his sight until he knew what was waiting on the other side of the wagon. That mind-tickling idea that something had gone horribly wrong had returned, and he gripped his sword tightly. Coming around the corner of the wagon, he was hardly aware of Des at his side or even Kari – who herself had come to a jarring halt when she saw what lay behind the wagon.
    “Bodies,” said Des in a gasping voice. “Jeez, there’s blood everywhere.”
    “Help me,” said a voice, the same voice that had produced the mournful, keening moan that had drawn them closer. “Please help me…”
    Jake pulled his eyes from the scattered carnage,