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In the city that never sleeps a fancy and brand new PC Cafe had just opened the glowing sign reading "Gamerz Hive" just over the main entrance and the glass windows that showed three rows of brand new computers with other commodities inside.
But the store was out of place graffiti covered the walls and sidewalks of other buildings around, and even the parking lots were covered in a myriad of trash and other items and substances.
Yet the PC store remained unmarked and installed even the sidewalk outside the store seemed immune to being tarnished by the filth all around the store.
In fact, the store had appeared out of thin air weeks ago and many a small time hoodlum had observed the store and tried to rob the place and all had simply walked out.
When asked by friends or partners what had happened they would be unable to recall and refuse to go inside again for an unknown reason.
So after these events, the store that had mysteriously appeared had been left alone by most of the occasional bribed friends or brave robbers the only ones to ever try entering the café's doors.
But today was different for the close sign on the door that had been ignored by all those who entered before was now flipped m to open for the first time and the café would have its first customer.
A young man stared at the supposed haunted building he had heard the rumors and stories but never put much stock into ghost stories but now faced with the actual haunted building he froze.
The only thing stopping him from turning around and going home was his acquaintances and the real repercussions of not going inside so he reached for the door and opened it and stepped inside.
Much to his surprise nothing happened and the store looked exactly like it did from the outside with three rows of computers next to the large windows looking out to the street, as well as a small area in the corner with empty tables with three vending machines and four arcade machines.
The walls were deep purple and covered in pictures and posters of what looked like gaming memorabilia, but he didn't recognize any of it even the arcade machines were unknown to him.
"Hello you are my first customer," someone said the voice sounded male, and the young man turned and found a man standing in a threshold he hadn't noticed before.
The man looked normal he wore jeans, boots, and a sweater but he couldn't tell the color since none of the shop's lights were on But the young man suddenly took a step back as he tried to make eye contact and found himself looking into two glowing exes in a sea of darkness.
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Some moments earlier...
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I stood looking out my window at the sunrise the morning dawn of the city filling my view I felt my heart beating hard in my chest and I kept having to stop myself from tapping my hands or feet on any surface.
"So how are the preparations are we open for business?" I asked my eyes never leaving the city slept.
"Yes everything is set up and in place," said a feminine voice and I smiled and turned towards the door of my room.
I took a moment to feel like I was back when I was a child reading comics on my grandparent's carpet reading comic books while watching cartoons on the TV.
Now I stood in a world where my childhood heroes were real and many of their journeys have only just begun or yet to start.
I passed by my computer set up its three monitors and powerful PC off for the first time in a long while, as I reached the door and quickly made my way down the stairs that lead to a threshold.
But to my surprise, I saw someone already standing and looking around my shop.
They looked like a human teenager wearing a hoodie and t-shirt with ripped jeans and sneakers.
'I haven't even activated the system yet,' I thought as I watched him look over the amenities.
"Hello you are my first customer," I said as I looked over my first customer a screen appeared in my peripheral.
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[Stats]
Name: Michael Cole
Age: 15
Level: 0
Strength: 6
Perception: 7
Dexterity: 7
Constitution: 6
Agility: 7
Intelligence: 7
Wisdom: 7
Charisma: 5
Luck: 4
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'Whoa, this kid's stats suck!' I thought only to see the kid take a step back and he looked like he was about to bolt for the door.
"Hey I don't bite sorry if I scared ya kid," I said showing my empty hands that got the kid to not take off but he still looked a little rattled by something.
'Oh maybe because the lights are off,' I thought and I held up a hand and shaped my fingers, and instantly all the lights and electronics came on.
The sounds of Galaga and Pac-Man and other classic arcades filled the store making me smile as nostalgia took me back in time, but the sudden noise and lights surprised the kid and I noticed a few other kids take off running outside.
"Ummm...do you know them?" I ask pointing out the window where the kids are running down the street, but the kid doesn't answer only stares after the group and then looks down at the ground uncomfortable.
We stood there in silence for a few moments and I was completely and utterly confused about what was happening when I heard a soft muttering coming from the kid.
"Did you say something kid?" I asked and I heard the muttering again but it was still completely inaudible so I took a few steps closer.
Only to notice tears dropping onto the kids' shoes and noticed the kid had the hiccups.
"I'm so sorry *hic* they forced me *hic* please don't call..." he said barely restraining his emotions so I decided to look at the kids' other information.
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[Profile]
Name: Michael Cole
Species: Homo Sapiens/Earthling/Human
Level: 0
Disposition: Neutral
Origin: Orphaned a year ago by a drunk driver now lives with his uncle and aunt with three cousins.
After moving in he found himself bullied at his school and now said bullies forced him to enter a supposed haunted building only to be confronted by the owner of said haunted shop and abandoned by the ones who forced him into this situation.
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Just as I finish reading the info I sigh and put a hand on the kid's shoulder getting him to stop muttering apologies.
"How about we calm down and get a drink of water and you can tell me what's going on ok?" I asked and the kid nodded his head and we made our way to a table.
And soon Michael is spilling his guts out to me about his life basically everything I got from my scan of him but far more detailed.
He talked and I listened giving the occasional nod to show I was paying attention I had no reason not to be and it went against my nature to do so.
Until his story came to an end with him downing the paper cup of water in one gulp his body sagged in the chair waiting for my response.
"Sorry you had to go through all that kid really I am so how about I give you a free try of one of my games," I asked and that seemed to interest the kid as he seemed to forget where he was.
"Wait seriously you'd do that?" He asked looking at the rows of computers and instruments and nodded.
"Sure I haven't had time to get a real beta tester to play them and as I am the creator of said games my opinion will be slanted so I need someone to play them and give me their thoughts," I said and snapped my fingers.
*Wrrrrrr*
One of the computers came to life and I walked over to it the kid hesitated only for a moment before walking over.
"So I have a proposal for you kid you play my game give me your thoughts and I'll let bygones be bygones," I said pulling out the chair for the kid who quickly sat down and looked at the screen.
"How did you do that turning on the lights and electronics?" He asked getting comfortable in the chair.
I smiled and held one finger to my mouth "Secret" is all I said, and typed in a guest login on the computer and on the screen were only two game icons.
The kid looked at me skeptically "You only have two games?" He asked and I shrugged he stared at me for a few seconds before turning back to the screen.
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[Games]
• Sonic adventure
(Single player, platformer, action-advnture)
Rated: E
• Infamous
(Single player, action-advnture)
Rated: T
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The kid looked over both games before glancing at me but I gave no indication of what he should pick and after a moment he chose [Infamous] and a new screen appeared.
(What way would you like to play?)
And under it were two options VR and Regular and without even a moment of hesitation he picked VR and took the headset next to the computer screen and put it on his face as the screen changed to a bar that slowly began to fill.
"Hey, where are the VR controllers?" He asked and I smiled as the bar filled to 100% and the kid's body went limp.
I wonder for a moment whether I should personally observe his reaction then I shrug "Hey Iris make sure the kid doesn't go crazy in there alright and record his playthrough for me," I ask and a small feminine hologram appears on the desk.
She wore a black skin-tight one-piece catsuit black thigh-high boots and a helmet that enclosed her entire head with neon lines going up and down across her entire body.
The helmet broke into multiple pieces before disappearing letting long and smooth black hair fall to her lower back and revealing a very pretty young woman with smooth skin unblemished face with blue eyes that seemed to almost glow as she smiled up at me before disappearing.
I got up from my seat and moved to the counter next to the front door sat down in the chair behind it and opened a new screen and immediately frowned.
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[Store Stats]
Name: Gamerz Hive
Level: 1
Locations: 1
Customer count: 1
Regulars: 0
Patrons: 0
Sponsors: 0
Reputation: -25
Ratings: None
Income: 0
Defenses: 1/3
Offenses: 0/3
[Skills]
-None-
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"Why the fuck is my store's reputation in the negative!" I shouted standing only to remember I had jusr sent Iris to watch over the kid.
I thought about calling her back but decided against it when I remembered the kids' description from early as well as his story about how he was forced to come in.
I looked at the alert log of the store I had left Iris to handle most of the setup while I handled the design and building of the stores system but once that was done I focused entirely on making and converting games for my customers to play.
So as I read the logs and saw the multiple attempted robberies, break-ins, and vandalism I couldn't help but sweat drop as realization hit me.
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[Store Stats]
(Defenses)
• Amnestics Spray vent
- When an intuder enters the store this vent will spray an amnestic causing the intruder to lose their short-term memories.
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I looked up and saw the vent right above the front door and I put together that all the intruders had been immediately hit by the amnestics and forgot what they were doing and walked out again.
"Looking at the logs I can see how after some many times of that happening the haunted shop rumors started going around," I said to myself leaning back in my chair and thinking of ways to get my reputation up.
I could lean into the rumors maybe make a few horror games maybe even reopen in October and I considered doing it, but one look at the calendar and seeing it was the middle of March I decided against it.
"What about some kind of ad?" I asked myself the idea popping into my head and I mulled it over.
It wasn't a bad idea hell all businesses had some kind of ad to get people's attention so why can't I the only problem is what kind of ad can I do?
Anything regular mortals do is out considering I had no mortal money at the moment.
Then I got an idea as my eyes played upon the limp form of my first customer and I felt a smile form on my face.