Surviving the Lock Keeper's Game

011: The other human

'There is another human?' the question was still hanging in the air, while Corey subconsciously rocked the little girl in his arms, back and forth. He thought he was the only human in the game. Although he didn't look human.

NewAge: SEE FOR YOURSELF, COREY. SHE ON THE BOTTOM FLOOR, THE DOOR ON THE LEFT.

Corey almost wanted to ask NewAge how it got this information, but he rationalized that the ability was glitched as hell. It could do much more than he was currently aware of, and he couldn't wait to break into it and unleash its true potential.

For now, he needed to see this human. He first went to the ruined body of the seer, well what was left of it anyways. The drisian laying next to him, only groans his pain. His gut pierced by the bones of the dead man. The only part of him that, shockingly survived, were his eyes. Corey knelt to grab them, placing them in his inventory. He swabs the sticky green blood of the seer off his hand and onto his pants.

Corey takes the route NewAge gave him, still carrying the scared girl. He thought to put her down, but her grip on his jacket suggested that would only make her more afraid. He found several locked doors as he made his way to where the human is being held. He heard nothing, figuring that the walls were made soundproof. Disgusting pigs, Corey thought. He was glad though, he hadn't planned for this, but he couldn't be blamed for anything. As he didn't kill anyone. And he had a mask on.

He would change it once he returned to Eleanora, just to be safe.

He stopped at the door to the left, finally at the floor beneath the one he had come through. Corey leaned back, striking his foot out and breaking down the door. It shook off its hinges, falling with a heavy noise. Corey bent, letting the little girl stand on her feet.

He thought of a key that could unlock any doors and saw it come to life.

"Here, go and free everyone, okay?"

She stared, drifting between him and the key just floating in front of her. "You're helping me?" her voice was timid, and small. Corey bottle the clench in his heart.

He saw a little of himself in her. Only, no one saved him. No one protected him. Now he didn't need those protection, but it still wished- maybe it was the broken child in him- that he had someone there for him.

"Yes. Go now, release as many as you can. Then go to the roof. More help is coming."

She reached for the key, clasping it in her tiny fingers. Then she gave him a look. "Thank you."

"You didn't see me here, got it?" his tone was empty, so she didn't flinch. It was soft, although deep, but just the kind she needed to hear. Not one that would scare her poor mind.

she nodded, holding the key and Corey's jacket. The little girl have him one last look- "Your secret is safe with me." she says before leaving to go and free her sister.

He rose, digging into his pockets. A small breath of air before he stepped in. On the end of the room, next to a barred window, with chains holding her arms up high, was a woman Corey never thought he would see in person.

He mused in shock, about how many questions he had. Questions about this demented down, and who really started the abuse train, the seer or the people.

He had questions about the elves, where they were divided into north and south. He had a million questions for the game, and rising to the top just in this moment, is one he knows he might not get an answer too.

'Pamela?'

NewAge: YOU KNOW HER?

Corey was baffled. She was the missing girl on TV. The engineering genius whose brain had impressed his empty soul. How.... how could she be here? And why?

'Does she have the same ability?'

NewAge: NO, SHE'S AT A LEVEL ONE AND HAS NO SKILL SET OR ABILITY. SHE DOES HOWEVER, FALL UNDER THE BUILDERS SIDE.

No explanation was needed for this. Pamela noticed the bright light, she kept her head down. Refusing to look up and see the next asshole who was going to come and beat her. Her red shining hair, coated her skin like a blanket.

Where people say a suffering woman, Corey saw an opportunity. Pamela is a great engineer. If he boosted her rank, got her some tools, she could help him when the time was right. And with her knowledge and skill, he wouldn't have to think of a weapon.

She could study their surroundings and figure out what would be best for him to use, while he focused on training and completing quest to increase his rank.

He was slow, and tactical, making his way to where Pamela kept her body curled. Her feet bare and bleeding. Corey knew the two weeks of her disappearance must have been hell for her, especially if she ended up here.

"Just get this over with." she huffed, blowing her breath against the strands covering her face. Corey was reminded of how beautiful she was, in the physical department. But her intelligence was the attraction for him.

He moves for her chains instead, holding them for a minute. He copied what the noble had done to him, the burn melted through the metallic cuffs.

Surprised, Pamela crawled away from the man as soon as the cuffs fell to the floor. She gave him a look he had been getting alot.

His mask scared her, but she noticed something unexpected.

"BG? As in, best gamer from CLASH of THUNDER?"

He didn't answer, he wasn't sure to say. How did she know him?

Pamela, ever so smart, released the biggest sigh of relief. "You're from earth! Oh my god." she sobbed. "I thought I was the only one. I don't know what happened." her palms pressed to her eyes, trying to stop the busted dam of tears. "There was this man yelling at me to make him something, and then I got myself into a quest by accident. And dear god, I ended up here yesterday. They said I was weird, and started whipping me. What the fuck is this place?!"

NewAge: COREY, THEY ARE ALMOST HERE. GRAB HER AND GO, OR LEAVE HER HERE.

That wasn't an option. Corey jogged towards Pamela, grabbing her by the forearm and tossing her over his shoulders.

She was still in her university hoodie and pants.

Pamela was too weak to kick and scream. And besides, she told herself, who would I scream for? Those creepy old men.

She shuddered at that thought. This was BG, her friend back in her world was a huge fan of him. Kat Deluca was her name. And Pamela missed her friend so much. She was curious about the gamer, and how he ended up in this death trap.

Corey ran for the nearest exit and left, sprinted out of the building. NewAge helped him find his way back to the road Corey had ended up in. But now there was a new problem, how to get back to the forest?

NewAge: SEE THAT FOREST PATH, JUST WALK THROUGH IT. IT'LL LEAD YOU BACK TO ELDRIS EYES, AND THEN BACK TO WHERE YOU STARTED.

'Okay.'

Pamela laid on his shoulders, counting the times his feet almost stepped on her hair. Her arms were tired, but she made forced them to move. Grabbing her hair, and holding it away from Corey's foot.

The palm trees didn't come for Corey this time, they smelt something in him that kept them away and closed.

When Corey appeared back where it had all began, he relaxed. Eleanora leaned off of Greta's talon.

She perked up to greet Corey, until she saw the person on his shoulders.

"Corey, who is that?"

The teen rolled Pamela off, and held her by the waist until he was sure she could stand on her own. Her legs were just as tired as her arms. She hadn't gotten a good wink of sleep since she tried to leave her campus and woke up here.

Where humans, did not exist.

Eleanora wasn't too happy to see the red haired. She was pretty, and she didn't want another pretty girl around Corey. Though if asked, she wouldn't be able to explain why.

"Pamela, meet Eleanora-”

"His dragon mage." she added, walking over to shake the outstretched hand of Pamela. Another weird name, she thought briskly.

The lady didn't look like a demon, or anything creature she was fully aware of. Which left her distrustful of Pamela.

"Nice to meet you. Do you know where I can pass out or clean up? I haven't had a bath in- I don't even know how long."

Corey rubbed shoulder reassuringly. Pamela is vulnerable, she needs a friend, someone who can help her and keep her safe. And Corey had an additional plus, for being from earth.

He helped her walk to Greta, the dragon trusted whoever Corey brought around. Annoying Eleanora, because if she had brought a stranger, she was sure Greta would turn their skin into fried meat. She had done it once.

'I can't wait for Corey to teach me how to control her.'

Corey continued to help Pamela, he knew she couldn't mount a great Dane on her own. Even if Greta trusted him, touching one of her sensitive scales is a death wish.

They were settled on top of Greta larger saddle, before Corey felt his both slump into a relaxed ease. He had what he needed for a map. He glanced to his left, Pamela had fallen asleep the second her head touched the sleeping bag.

They needed a place to camp, and hunt.

"Eleanora?"

"Yes, Corey." she answered in a rush.

"Can you take us to a safe place to camp? It will be dark soon."

"I know a place."

That was all he needed to know. Once he made the map, he would think of the place to start. What quest could make his rank move faster?

'I will win this game. The Lock Keeper better watch out.'