Read Otherlife Dreams: The Selfless Hero Trilogy for Free Online

had an appeal.
    Yelling through the gag at him, Runner realized his eyes might have hugged her curves for a bit too long after all.
    “Oh shut up. You’ll wake the idiot. I have no intention to carry out the crime your cohorts were clearly planning on committing on her. Besides, is that even possible? You’re a damn NPC for crying out loud!” Runner explained. “I mean, I know they have certain NPCs flagged for that, but I didn’t think they’d be out wandering the woods. Or did that patch change far more than I give it credit for?”
    Runner let his mind wander, thinking deeply on the subject, his vision becoming unfocused. Blinking rapidly after a little time had passed, he came back to himself. “Sorry, I can zone out pretty fast,” he apologized. “So, I’m going to remove that gag now, you’re going to tell me your name, and we’ll proceed from there.”
    Waiting for a response he stared at her.
    “Mmmph.”
    Assuming she’d behave by the response, he reached over and unwrapped the cloth from around her mouth, pulling the gag loose. Sporting a grimace, he set the drool soaked wad of cloth to the side. Looking to the thief, Runner watched as she attempted to work some moisture into her dry mouth. Runner could only guess she was thirsty. Deliberately but firmly, he eased her head up with his left hand, and caught her eyes with his own.
    “You can help me, and open your mouth as I pour, or you can get a bath,” Runner explained. He scooped up one of the foraged pods of water with his right hand. Wasting no time, he popped the lid of it off, and moved to pour the contents into her mouth.
    She stared at him hatefully but complied, her mouth open. Watching carefully, he waited till it filled halfway and stopped. Closing her mouth, she swished it around and then spit it into the grass. She must have been thirsty considering she swallowed the next two mouthfuls, rather than spit it out. Runner watched the water fade out of existence as its last charge was used. He fixed his attention on her again, the back of her head cradled in his left hand.
    This all makes very little sense. An NPC shouldn’t be experiencing fear of being assaulted, or have a need to clean out their mouth. Very advanced game it may be, but still a game. Nothing makes sense right now. Just how much did the patch change? Can I no longer rely on the few memories I have of video games in general?
    He wondered just how much might be different as he stared through the Thief’s face, seeing her not at all. So deep was his reflection, that it was as if the sound and area around him no longer existed.
    He came back to himself suddenly, his mind jolted back to reality when the Thief shifted her weight around. The Thief was breathing heavier yet had not attempted to move from his grasp. With an an abrupt smile he tilted his head to the side, his hand tightened in her hair. “Feeling chatty yet, Thief?”
    He waited for her to respond to his question, she looked to be at a loss. Visibly mastering herself, she gradually built a mask into a controlled expression of neutrality. Hesitating, she licked her lips before finally speaking in a clear, crisp, voice.
    “Yes, I’ll speak with you. I’m not sure what you want, though. I swear, if you do anything to me I’ll kill you in your sleep.”
    “How about we start with your name, rather than threats? I hope it isn’t Thief,” Runner said. Smiling he quirked a brow at her.
    The thin mask she had put up broke apart as her face contorted with anger. Jerking at his hand holding her hair, she tried to lash at him with her forehead with little success.
    “No, my name isn’t ‘Thief’ you bastard, so stop calling me that. I have a name, it’s Hannah. Hannah Anelie.”
    “Holy shit…you have a surname? That’s different for an NPC.”
    “Yes I have a surname, damn it. Why wouldn’t I? Wouldn’t it be more strange if I didn’t have one? What the fuck is an NPC?”
    “Right, Hannah Anelie it