Page 35 of Love in Development

Chapter 10

Still flying high fromgraduation, I couldn’t wait to meet my online friends.I dropped both bouquets on the kitchen counter along with my keys.

“I’ll take care of those,” Mom said.

“Thanks.You’re the best.”I gave Mom a kiss on the cheek and headed to my room.

I could take a little while to indulge myself in a little fun.Gaming fun.Besides, earning loot could make me money, as long as I didn’t run into RogueStriker again.The IRL meeting had only increased my dislike, though he’d been staying quiet both online and at DragonByte.I hadn’t seen hide nor hair of him or Dragon Stephanie since.

I quickly changed into a T-shirt and running shorts, then settled in at my desk, booting up and sliding my headset on.

Our group met up at the spawn area in the city and fast-traveled to the town closest to where the clues led.It took us some time to find the right cave opening and clear it of mobs.We came to a room straight out of an adventure movie, with carved tiles on the ground and arrow holes along the walls.

“Molly, I brought you a snack.”

“Thanks, Mom.”She set a plate of vegetable sticks with ranch on my desk, as well as a jar of flowers.I paid little attention as she left but crunched absentmindedly on a sweet carrot.

There was some discussion about the different shapes of the carvings, and VerdantArcher took a shot across the room.His arrow fell short, but only slightly.

VerdantArcher: I have long shot.I think I can hit that button on the wall with a bang arrow, and it should depress the button.

IvoryKnight: Are you sure that’s what we’re supposed to do?

VerdantArcher: We’re about to find out.

We all held our breath and waited, weapons ready, as he carefully aimed and released the arrow.Slam.It hit the button head-on and poof, the minor explosion went off in sequence, using the momentum of the shot and depressed the button.I laughed.The door opened—on the other side.But we were still on this side.

ScarlettSaber: Well.Great job, hero.How do we get through it?

ShadowImp examined the arrow-hole traps.VA pouted in the corner.IK must’ve been thinking through the possibilities.

IvoryKnight: Let’s try this sequence.I remember seeing these symbols on the walls of the cave.Follow me.

IK led the way.SI followed without a pause, trusting his leader.I went next with VA bringing up the rear.Landing directly on the symbol was tricky in spots, and if anyone touched a stone that had the wrong symbol, it crumbled to dust and fell away into the darkness below.

ScarlettSaber: How do you know the order?

ShadowImp: IK has a photographic memory.

IvoryKnight: Don’t listen to him.I took screenshots.

It was still impressive that he’d thought to screenshot the cave walls, assuming they weren’t just decorative.We finally got to the other side with just a few close calls.

VerdantArcher: Don’t say a word.Not a single word.

ShadowImp: Okay, hero.

Blood rushed to my cheeks, warming them.Apparently, I had given VA a new nickname.We entered a pitch-dark room, and we all pulled torches out of our inventory.The inhabitants of the room scurried along the floor and walls.

The scent of lilies—out of place—distracted me.Mom had put the jar filled with flowers from the purple bouquet in my room.I hadn’t wanted to keep it, and now it was here, reminding me of a charming smile when I should concentrate on killing and not getting killed.

VA cried out, the sound resonating in my headphones, and I jumped.A giant centipede, twice our avatars’ height, had attacked him from above.The smaller bugs and insects surrounding us also attacked in unison.