Read Gamers' Challenge for Free Online Page B

floor and through the door at the end.
    ‘Wot just ‘appened?’ asked Zyra, as Tee joined them.
    ‘The VI took out an essential character,’ explained Tee. ‘I don’t think they’re allowed to do that. So, as well as the character being replaced, the VI was removed.’
    ‘Okay,’ said Tark slowly, trying to take it all in.
    ‘I don’t like this,’ said Tee. ‘There’s been too many
    VIs about. Why?’
    ‘We should get back to base,’ suggested Hope.
    ‘Agreed.’ Tee led the way out of the building.
    ‘Keep your eyes peeled for more of them.’
    They continued into the grounds and through the hole in the fence. They had barely started their journey through the City, when Zyra glanced over her shoulder and gasped. Three VIs were flying down past the smokestack to the power station.
    ‘Get down,’ ordered Tee.
    They all ducked behind a pile of rubble.
    ‘They’re searching for us,’ whispered Hope.
    Tee pointed to the right of the power station where another VI was making its way along a City street.
    ‘And over there,’ said Tark, indicating another two
    VIs on the other side.
    ‘We need to move quickly and carefully,’ Tee instructed in a hoarse whisper. ‘And load up, just in case.’
    Hope checked her gun as the others loaded theircrossbows.
    ‘How come ya gets one of ‘em?’ hissed Zyra.
    ‘I found it,’ answered Hope, flatly.
    ‘Guns tend to be used only by inhabitants of the Hill,’ explained Tee. ‘They’re difficult to acquire.’ He raised his crossbow. ‘Whereas these things are as common as muck.’
    Tee led the little group from the rubble to the nearest partially standing building, then along the City streets, keeping to the shadows wherever possible. As they rounded an almost intact courthouse, they came upon another VI. Within seconds, all four had raised their weapons and fired. The VI didn’t even have time to react. It burst apart with a louder than usual crack, and dissipated.
    ‘Well, that’s done it.’ Hope threw her arms up and glared at Tark and Zyra. ‘They’ll be all over us in moments.’
    ‘Oi,’ spat Zyra. ‘It ain’t our fault. Ya is the one with the noisy weapon.’
    Hope grunted.
    In the distance they could already see a VIspeeding toward them.
    ‘Follow me,’ said Zyra, taking command. Without waiting for an answer, she ran off down a side alley. Tark followed automatically.
    Hope looked questioningly at her father. Tee shrugged and the two of them also followed.
    Zyra led them down the alley, over a low chain-linkfence, through a garbage tip and towards a scorched park, the VI in hot pursuit. They crashed through a grove of dead, blackened trees, branches falling and disintegrating into ash around them. Another two VIs joined the chase.
    ‘We’re just collecting more of them,’ shouted
    Hope.
    Zyra didn’t answer, she just kept running - out of the park, through the rubble of one building and into the decaying shell of another. They emerged from the other end, dodging debris, and yet another VI joined the hunt.
    Tee spotted their destination. ‘Keep following her,’ he called to his daughter. ‘She knows what she’s doing.’
    They ran past more collapsed buildings before entering the graveyard, the VIs getting closer every second.
    ‘Perfect!’ panted Hope. ‘We’re going to die in acemetery.’
    ‘We ain’t gonna die,’ Tark shouted.
    Zyra put on a burst of speed and pulled even further ahead of the others. She headed for the door at the back of the Temple of Paths. She ground to a halt, slamming her shoulder into the wall between door and window, hands fumbling with the handle. As the others caught up she flung the door open, ushering them in. They ran past her and she looked back to see the VIs almost upon her. She threw herself through the doorway at the last second, and Tark slammed the door shut.
    ‘Oh great,’ complained Hope, as she looked about.
    ‘Now you’ve trapped us. You stupid -’
    ‘Well done,’ said Tee to