Chapter 5: Chapter 5: Catastrophic

The white floor reflected the bright lights above. Blue paint coated the walls, and paintings of smiling people appeared on signs and the walls alike.

It was silent.

Henry swore the painted people watched him.

Henry drove them down an aisle. Billowing pillows on one side, bed sheets on the other. A cage of exercise balls drew near.

Riley squirmed beside him. "I don't like it here. We need to find an exit."

Princess released a low whine of agreement.

"I couldn't agree more," Henry said. "What do you think I've been doing for the last fifteen minutes?"

Riley looked at him sideways.

Henry shook his head. "They even removed the bottled water. And the ice. It doesn't seem right."

"Yep. Seeing that this is an MMO, I think I know what they're doing."

Henry slowed down, turning right to follow the outer wall. "What's that?"

"It's to form a raid of some kind. You want food and water? Then you'll have overcome some kind of danger in a specific area."

"I should have gone to the woods, gancho," Julio said.

"I think you would have been crushed before you made it."

"Maybe. How about you share some of that drink of yours?"

Henry bowed his shoulders. "I don't think hard alcohol hydrates."

"Aye, gancho, you want it all for yourself!"

Henry tightened his grip. "It's not that." He had sobered up from earlier. Now he was beginning to feel tired. He lifted his watch.

11:21 P.M

"It's getting late," Henry said. "Maybe we should find shelter before we attempt this raid."

"But I'm so hungry," Riley whined.

Henry ignored her. "Any ideas where we could take shelter?"

"What about the boss room?" Julio asked. "It is a separate area, you know."

"That's-"

"Are you kidding?" Riley interrupted. "Where do you think those Faceless are coming from? Plus there could be an actual boss."

Henry sighed. "Then what's your idea?"

"The bathroom."

Up ahead, too light grey doors were set into the blue wall. Bathrooms.

Henry slowed down before them. "Not a bad idea."

"Most bathrooms have a lock," Riley said. "It's great for keeping people out."

Henry looked at her. "I appreciate your suggestion."

She nodded once, it felt like a mock gesture.

Henry navigated the forklift display, finding the option to dismiss the vehicle. It disappeared near instantly, Princess falling into his open hand. A little forklift icon appeared on his visual hud.

Henry approached the door first. The other two seemed to expect him to take the lead. He opened the door. A light flickered inside. No blood smears. But...

"Holy mole," Julio said.

They'd found the entrance to another area. At the end of the bathroom was an open door. The space beyond was dark. Neon pink and blue lights glowing beyond. Some kind of super-conjoined arcade?

Henry raised a finger to his lips. He carefully made his way forward, cringing when his shoe crunched ceiling material on the floor. He continued onward toward the exit.

He arrived at the end and peeked out the way. It looked like two dozen arcades had combined to form a much larger space. The ceiling was twice again as tall as Megashop's had been, and there were numerous restaurants. Henry turned left and froze.

A hundred yards away, one of the pizza shops was active. Faceless workers moved about, cooking pizzas. A Hungered One sat on the floor nearby, devouring meal after meal. Dozens of discarded pizza boxes accumulated next to it.

Henry tip-toed back the way he'd come.

Riley looked reasonably worried. Julio still looked disappointed that they wouldn't attempt the food raid sooner. Well, at least they had water. He turned a sink handle. Nothing came out.

"Let's try the other bathroom."

Henry opened the door they entered from. He held it open for them. Something moved in the corner of his vision. He turned.

It was a person and yet it wasn't. It stood, face stuck in a permanent smile, the light catching their features wrong. Because they were flat. The cutout of a dark smiling woman twisted, revealing its 2D shape, and it disappeared behind the aisle.

Henry stepped forward, fist clenched. He spotted the person again, only this time they were seamlessly painted onto a sign.

"Dude..." Riley whispered.

Henry blinked. "We're not alone."

Riley muttered to herself.

Henry hurried his step toward the lady's room. He paused, clearing his throat.

"Oh, come on," Riley said. "I know you've always wanted to have a look in there."

"I'm not a pervert," Henry said.

Riley walked past. "That's what they all say." She pushed open the door. This bathroom didn't have a back door. They went inside and locked the door behind them. Henry looked at himself in the mirror. His clothes were stained with black blood, Princess shivering in his big hand. He took a good long look at her.

"How are you doing?"

Princess whined. Something moved beneath her fur. It traveled like a small wave. He nearly dropped the animal but recalled how she had stepped through that black puddle the monster had left behind.

"Something's changed about you."

Princess made no indication. Henry petted her little head, which the dog reluctantly accepted. Henry felt watched. Riley had been looking at him. She looked away, fiddling with the hem of her too-high skirt.

Henry assessed the floor. Would have been nice to have a blanket.

***

Riley curled up in the fetal position. It was how she slept. They could both stare all they want, she didn't care. She shifted her body, the cold floor chilling her skin. She peeked out of one eye.

She groaned. "What?"

Henry looked away as if he hadn't been looking at her again. Did he think his constant scrutiny was stealthy? She could only imagine what assumptions the large man was conjuring up now. He acted all pure. Riley knew better.

"Your bracelet," he said. "I just wondered who made it for you."

She frowned, lifting her wrist. The numerous bracelets clanking together. "Which one?"

"The one that spells your name."

Riley relaxed. She spun the little cube that had the letter R. "I made it. Made it with my mom when I was a kid. She has one just like it."

"I imagine hers says: mom."

Riley smiled softly. "Well yeah, duh."

Why was he being so nice to her? He probably wanted inside her pants like all the rest.

"Did I say something wrong?" he asked.

"No," she snapped. "I just really could use some rest."

Riley rolled over to sleep in the other direction. She decided that yes, he wanted to sleep with her. All she was was a nice body. No worth beyond that. Her writing was awful, that much was certain.

Riley pushed down slightly, causing her pink skirt to ride up a little. Let him have a nice view. By tomorrow, he'll expose his intentions.

He would prove that once again she was worthless.

***

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When the clock ticked midnight, something changed. Howling shouts echoed beyond the walls. Heavy steps passed near the door. On one occasion, something even knocked.

Henry rested against the wall. Riley lay curled in a ball and Princess lay in the crevice between his thighs. Julio with his cowboy hat over his face.

The two of them had fallen asleep before the clock had struck midnight, and they'd stayed asleep. That left Henry feeling alone. A boulder to weather the night's storm alone. Alone with his thoughts. He witnessed the Hungered One chewing through that woman over and over in his mind.

His quaking hand held the silver flask. He fought for an hour to resist the urge to drink. All he needed to do was fall asleep.

He won that small fight.

***

Screams woke him. Pounding on the door outside.

"Help!" someone screamed outside. Princess yelped repeatedly.

"Aye!" Julio said.

Henry stood to his feet, Riley remained out, drooling on the floor. She was a deep sleeper.

The door handle shook from someone trying to turn it. When Henry neared the door, he placed his hand over it.

"Who's out there?" he asked.

"There's three of us," the woman said. "The monsters are coming. Open the door now. Please!"

Henry's thumb felt the lock. Something roared beyond. A man shrieked and there was an awful tearing sound. The woman beyond the door cried.

"Don't let it in, gancho," Julio said.

Henry squeezed his eyes shut. He needed to help her!

"There's another door!" Henry said. "Why don't you use that one?"

"It's jammed. Please, just let me in."

The urge to do so rose within him. Something thumped the wall to his right and a roar trembled the walls. The woman screamed for her life.

Henry could hear the others. It wasn't just one monster, but many. The woman's terror shifted from fear to pain. She was dying. His hand slid free. He slouched with defeat.

Riley stirred from her sleep. "What's going on? I thought I heard..."

Henry made a silencing motion. It was silent now, save for the deep rumbling growl just beyond the door. There were these strange voices too. Like the overly positive sound of someone speaking in a commercial. Yes, they were speaking like an advertisement. Was that the people of the walls?

When the thumping steps faded away, Henry backed away. Blood pooled beneath the bottom of the door. He turned around, putting his back to his failure.

Riley held her big gun in her lap. Julio had his pistol at the ready. Had the man acquired more ammo?

Henry crept over and sat down next to them.

Henry tried to sleep but his consciousness wouldn't let him. Instead he listened to the sounds of the monsters, sometimes recognizeing something new, something different that they hadn't yet encountered.

The ceiling lights buzzed with a burst of light at 8 A.M. Approaching this hour, the sounds of the monsters had steadily declined. Now it was silent.

The pool of blood beneath the door had long since dried. Henry stared at it numbly. "We need to get up," he said.

Silence and snores.

He shook Julio by the shoulder. "Get up."

"No offense, gancho. But screw off." The man pulled his cowboy hat lower.

"Guess I'll leave you behind then." He kneeled by Riley, gently shaking her awake. She frowned at him, then looked at the door. At the blood.

There was no avoiding it now. Henry would have to face who he had failed. He walked over to the door, grabbed its handle, and pulled it open.

A dead woman slumped onto the floor.

Riley went pale like she was looking at a ghost.

Henry blinked. "What?"

"No..." Riley said, voice breaking. "Mom?" Riley ran over to grab the woman's hand.

It couldn't be that. Please, god. Riley sobbed, begging for her mom to wake up. The woman's vacant eyes stared up at the ceiling as Riley's tears fell upon her.

Henry strode out the door to leave them behind. He paused about ten paces away. "I could have let her in."

Nothing.

Henry turned back to look Riley in the eyes. "I could have saved her, but I was too much of a coward."

Riley blinked through her tears. Slowly she understood what his words meant. He could see it on her face. "Don't go," she said.

Henry tightened his fists. Why wasn't she screaming at him? What was wrong with her! "The next time it will be your life that I fail."

Henry walked toward the men's bathroom. He gripped the handle. With a slight push, it unjammed, letting him inside. He raised his flask to his lips, and drank every last drop of that whisky. About seven shots worth. Not nearly enough.

The light flickered above. Henry faced the dark expanse beyond. He had become his father, hadn't he? He clenched his eyes shut, releasing a growl. "No!"

He would rather die first. It was the only redemption that remained for him now. He walked through the exit and into the shadows. Colorful lights flashed. A cacaphony of arcade machine sounds.

His gaze followed the thick black wires of the machines. They all flowed in one direction. On the black painted wall there was a fire alarm. And a red axe too. Henry shattered the glass with his fist and pulled the axe out.

With a sway to his step, Henry made his way to the Faceless pizza workers. The Hungered One was nowhere to be seen.

Henry paused behind the counter, heaving through his chest.

They ignored him, cooking pizza after pizza, the take out counter stacked about ten high. Henry gripped the axe. He went over and swung at the boxes. They went about like nothing had happened.

Henry reached over the counter, grabbing one of them by the collar. He yanked it forward, slamming its forhead against he corner of the counter. He did so over and over until the white stuff oozed from its skull. One last jerk and its head popped off.

Every single Faceless turned in his direction at the same time. They came walking over calmly. Henry sank his axe into one's chest. With a kick he sent it flying back.

Back inside the shop, a manequin grabbed the fallen one's decapitated head. Another Faceless grabbed the body. Henry climbed over the counter.

He struck the ones that attempted to help. They liked collecting limbs did they? Henry chopped off their arms.

They slammed into him with their armless bodies. Plastic heads pushing against his face as if to suffocate him. Henry grabbed one of them, tossing them behind. He did the same with the other and the dead one.

Henry stormed around the counter. Why hadn't they killed him yet? He needed more. He made quick work of the remaining ones, stacking up their plastic limbs and bodies in a pile. A dozen more Faceless approached from varrying distances. Good. Henry tightened his grip on the axe.

***

Henry choked to breathe. A plastic forearm pressed against his neck, a dozen plastic heads looming over him as stiff hands held him still. He layed on pile of corpses. It had taken a surprising amount of them to bring him down.

It was at that moment Henry realized he did not want to die. He began to laugh. A choking sound. It was simple. If he finnaly accepted his selfish nature, then this entire challenge would become trivial.

He would live, no the matter the cost to anyone else!

A red bar filled at the top left of his screen. His Strength of Passion bar. Likewise, his Essence bar was at 99%. Henry reached his big hands up to clasp the skull of the one that held him down. He growled, muscles popping out. His thumbs sank into plastic and its skull cracked like a raw egg.

The blue bar brightened, swirling with potential.

Prestige point acquired!

You can use prestige points to level up Unique Traits, or strengthen your Specialty.

Henry gasped as a plastic knee landed on his chest, dozens of arms pulling his limbs outward. Henry placed the prestige point into Machine Operator. He quicly navigated his HUD, finding the option to summon the forklift.

A plastic fist fell upon his lip, drawing blood. Another one tore his shirt free. A hologram of the forklift appeared in the air above them. Henry moved it just to the left. He mentally clicked summon.

Another fists knocked his skull, making him see black for an instant. But he did see the forklift falling through the air. It landed with crunch, killing five of them instantly. Henry rose with a roar, swaying for balance atop the five foot high mound of Faceless corpses, neon blue light enshrouding him as his muscles bulged like a hulk. He released his fists in a flurry. Crunching skulls. Cracking them against one another. Kicking others to fall down below.

The forklift rolled down the side, forks jamming against the floor. The vehicle looked different. Henry hopped into the seat. The seat felt different too. He pulled the first lever while slamming the gas. The forks slowly raised, wheels spinning out White Blood as they sawed through Faceless bodies. At last the forks raised high enough for him to drive forward. He sped about, laughing. It wasn't happy laughter. Not with the madness around the edges of his eyes. He spun around an arcade machine, clipping the side of it.

Then he was slamming into manequins. He accelereted to 20 MPH, swerving to run over enemey after enemy. 22 MPH. The rpm began to approach the yellow, then the red.

A Faceless froze under the head lights. Henry grinned. He took his upgraded machine to a full speed of 25 MPH. His forks slammed into its chest with enough force to split it in half, head and torso smacking the hood and tumbling over the top. The vehicle bucked as it rolled over the top of the legs.

Henry paled. He was out of space to drive. At the last second he went to slam the breaks, but he was too late. He slammed into edge of a low wall. It edjected him from the vehicle. He saw the red, blue and green of a play center. He landed in a ball pit, knocking his head against the far side.

Darkness.

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