Page 94 of Made of Steele
The laptop screen had gone dark.
Jabal skirted around her and woke the computer. “I’ll load the menu so you can choose your weapon.”
Right. She needed to pick the method that if she lost this level, he would use to kill her.
She would likely do best in the game with a handgun or rifle, but that would mean immediate death if he told her to run like he’d done with Vito. Same with the bow and arrow, though she would lose the level much faster as she’d never shot one. He would have to catch her to use a sword, hatchet or the claws. He could throw the hatchet, though.
Listen to her. Evaluating the best way to die. Or not to die, which would be far more preferable. Hysterical laughter threatened to erupt. She swallowed it down.
Jabal waved the gun. “Pick one now, or I’ll pick it for you.”
“The sword.”
“Select it with your controller.” He gave her a quick lesson on how to move in the game. He was thorough and answered her questions almost as if he wanted her to survive the level for longer. It probably gave him more of a thrill.
“Could I have a practice session?” she asked.
“No. We go live now. Press the red button.”
She took a breath and focused on the screen and hit play. Enemy foes came at her with swords. One. Another. And another. She had to concentrate to battle them off. She lost track of everything around her. Of time. Of space. And played her heart out.
Moving forward through the medieval world. Slicing her opponents. Gasping when blood gushed from them as if real.
“Yes. Yes.” Jabal’s satisfied voice seemed far off.
Gretchen was right. This was an intense and violent game.
Teagan’s stomach revolted, and she swallowed away the bile.
“You’re great at murdering people.” Jabal sounded so impressed with her skill.
She lifted her shoulders. Seriously? She cared about what a serial killer thought of her?
She lost focus. Just for a split second.
A guy came out of nowhere. Sword in hand. Sliced into the air. Cut off her avatar’s head. Her avatar dropped to the cobblestone. Bleeding profusely.
Laying lifeless.
Her heart sank. Her hand was slick with perspiration on the controller and cold panic seeped in.
Would she suffer the same fate in real life? Would she lose her head?
Drew raced around a corner. The shadowy figure of a man stood in the road. Drew slammed on his brakes. Skidded on the damp pavement. The man looked up. Drew yanked the wheel right. Narrowly missing the guy.
The car slid to a stop. Drew jerked open his door. “You all right?”
“Dylan? Is that you? Man, I’m glad to see you.”
“Vito? I’ve gotta go. Teagan’s in trouble.”
“I know.”
He what? Didn’t matter at the moment. “Get in the car and tell me what’s happening.”
He lumbered to the passenger door and climbed inside.
“Buckle up and talk.” Drew pressed his foot to the pedal as Vito told a story of Jabal taking him captive outside his favorite bar and bringing him to Smiley’s house. Jabal made Vito play a video game that Jabal challenged him to before he tried to kill Vito. Blood and Sorcery. Teagan and the earthquake saved him.
