“I’m sorry Sam.”

Bang.

Never in a thousand years would I have imagined killing my own best friend. Hell, if it weren’t for this guy I wouldn’t even be alive right now. “The least I can do is escape from here for you.”

I noticed a battered American flag covered in blood hanging from the flagpole in front of me. Sam was a real American hero. He’s the one that helped design the teleportation systems used in our defense bases throughout the world. Now those systems would be the only thing keeping me from being exposed to the same poison that turned him into a zombie. Sigh. “I can’t even look at your face without tears running down my cheeks. I know this flag meant a lot to you. Goodbye, Sam.”With that final farewell, I laid the flag across his chest and continued down the hall to the emergency elevator leading to the war room.

“Looks like you’re all I have left, Mustang and Sally. You’ll have some fun once we make it downstairs.” These M1911 pistols have killed many men. As long as I point in the right direction, they do a pretty good job of finding a target.

The elevator doors opened. Gosh. I can smell the stench of death all over these walls. There are blood stains, broken glass, and the bodies of agents that made a last stand. “The Pentagon has been compromised…” As soon as I stepped out of the elevator a zombie lunged for me. I instinctively grabbed my pistols and let off a few rounds into its skull, just like I learned years ago in basic training. The sound of the guns alerted the other zombies. I dashed straight for the teleporter switches and fought through waves of the undead. “My magazine’s almost gone!” After I pushed the button for the teleporter, the system directed me towards the presidential room. When I started running towards the room, a group of zombies rushed me from behind. I threw a few grenades in their direction and shot into the crowd. “Die!” There were a few feet separating me from the teleporter. I continued to hold off the zombies and move into the room until…

“Agh!” One of the zombies I hit with the grenade must’ve crawled towards me while I was shooting at the group. It wrapped around my left leg and bit me until I bled. I shot at it until it ceased to be a threat. My leg was hurt pretty badly. By now, the zombies were closing the distance between us as I limped towards the teleporter. “Almost, there…” I fell into the teleporter as zombies converged on my location. When I looked at the zombie that bit my leg, I saw a rusted dog tag dangling from its hands with the name “Sam Stevenson” written across it.

Everything turned black. I heard a voice calling my name. It was Sam’s voice debriefing me about his recent teleporter success: four years earlier.

The following is a narrative from the perspective of the pig in the video game “Save The Sheriff”

link to the game:  http://www.primarygames.com/arcade/adventure/savesheriff/

————-

I may be dirty, smelly, and gross; but hey I’m pink. That should count for something, right?

Regardless, I won’t let the human stereotype of pigs hold me back from saving my master. Not only have those scoundrels taken all of the town’s money, they have also taken hostage my town’s beloved sheriff.

Now the robbers will have to face my wrath. The wrath of a small, some would say cute, little pink pig. I am the sheriff’s number one pet and I know I am his only hope; especially since the Humans are currently consumed by panic and disorganization.

Where could those bandits have taken him?  … Only time and adventure will tell.

The Colorado sun is hot and unforgiving. I wish the desert had mud pits, like in the village valley, but any sort of water is painfully absent. My daily mud baths will just have to be put on hold during my search. Apparently my appetite will have to suffer too. I see barley any vegetation for miles and my stomach is already starting to grumble with hunger. In the rush to catch the bandits I forgot to pack a lunch. How uncharacteristic for a pig to forget food! The absence of my master must really be affecting me.

As the day progresses the afternoon heat becomes more intense and the obstacles of the dry desert become ever more present. My stomach is still growling with hunger but I must ignore this discomfort and keep an alert mind. At this point finding food is the least of my concerns.

Frogs and snakes, creatures I already find most abominable, become more vicious and a main enemy in my quest for justice deep in the desert. However, I am no weak individual. With one clean swoop I can eliminate any predator. The element of surprise is the only tactic an attacker can have against me. With every valley I jump, every mountain I climb, and every turn I make, there – waiting for me – are the attacks of villainous desperados.

Even with careful caution I am poisoned by snakes, hit by frogs, and attacked by bandits. I am left paralyzed, to die. But, my will for justice is strong. I will recover and continue my journey into the unknown to prove my loyalty to my town and to my sheriff.

Come with me, to Save the Sheriff.

————-

I regained consciousness; although I wish I hadn’t. I should be dead. No one could survive an explosion like that and live. One by one, I became aware of my senses as they observed my surroundings. Assessing your situation was somethin the academy taught us, rather than let experience be the teacher.

Taste. I can taste the blood in my mouth. It had a sort of metallic taste to it. I could barely gather up the energy to spit it out.

Touch. Every part of my body hurts. My nerves are alerting me to cuts, scrapes and bruising in all kinds of places. However, I don’t feel any broken bones. The snow that I am half buried in acted like a giant ice pack. Some of my nerves are still a long way from waking up.

Smell. The chilly air blew the scent of blood and burned flesh up my nose. I am not the only victim of this tragedy, but I may be the only survivor.

Hearing. The sound of snow being shoveled flowed into my ears. How? An explosion that massive should have killed everyone on that train. As I listened closely, I heard gears grinding. Rather than footsteps on fresh snow, I heard a wheel rolling over it.

Sight. I slowly opened my eyes to the sight of an orange robot shoveling snow. He was the shape of an inverted pyramid and rolled around on one wheel. Frankly, if it were not for the immense amount of pain that I was in, I would think that I was in the afterlife.

Once my “savior” took notice of me, he waited for me to gather my strength, and get to my feet. I had no idea where we are headed, but anywhere is better than a pile of snow and blood. I could barely make out what the robot was saying, but I did recognize one name that he mentioned: Handsome Jack. It was that bastard that gathered all of the best treasure hunters in Pandora. He wanted all of us dead, so he could have the treasures of the vault for himself.

There is no point in even thinking about the vault until I get off of this cursed glacier. My only guide is this silly little robot. A booming roar echoed throughout the cave he brought me to. I froze. By instinct, my right hand reached for my belt. My gun must be buried back in the snow along with my sanity.  A giant four armed monstrosity slid into the cave. His eyes locked on to the robot.

“The gun! Get the gun in the cabinet!”

The monster proceeded to rip out the robot’s only eye and exited the cave as quickly as he came. The damage was not too severe as his speech function (or ramble function as I consider it) was still operational.  He told me the Bullymogs were native to this wasteland. I heard a woman’s voice. It sounded like it came from inside my head. This was not the first time I heard her voice. She spoke of four vault hunters before me who changed the land forever. If I am to get any closer to finding the vault, I have to return the robot’s eye back.

Following fresh tracks on snow and ice is never easy. The ambushing pack of smaller Bullymogs did not seem to have much pity for us. I had to babysit the robot, as well as be his eyes. I took aim down the sights of the pistol and shot each of my enemies multiple times. They succumbed to their wounds. Frozen in blocks of ice were extra magazines and health vials in case I get injured.

As we approached a frozen wall of ice, the familiar roar rang out. This time, I had a weapon at my side. The great beast jumped over the wall and charged me. I was able to doge his frontal attack just barely. These fractions of a second I am off balance are going to cost me. As I aimed for him, he hoisted two boulders over his head. They were flung through the air directly at me. I shot twice and managed to break one. The second caught me on my left arm. Reloading is now going to be much harder with a bruised arm. My last three bullets seemed to hit their mark as they hit him in his head. The knuckle dragging eye sore fell at my feet as one of his four arms loosened, and the robot’s eye rolled out. Once we get off this glacier, I can make my way to the vault.

For this week’s assignment, I wrote a narrative from the perspective of my character in the video game Torchlight 2. Torchlight 2 is an action RPG game where your character seeks to stop the Alchemist, a mysterious figure responsible for the destruction of Torchlight, and is now stealing magical energy from mystic beings called the Guardians. My narrative starts from one of the game’s missions where you must fight a monster called the King of Masks.

The mysterious man’s words echoed around me.

“The King of Masks awakens“.

Could it be? The beast of myth and lore, rising from its age-long slumber? The creature of three disfigured and horrific faces, forever concealed behind its masks that grant awesome power? Could it be?

My reverie and wonderment was shattered by the earth rumbling around me. The desert sand shifted between my feet as the world split in two, revealing a spiral staircase that wound down into impenetrable gloom and darkness. Every fiber of my being told me not to do it.

But I had no choice. I knew that if I was to find the Alchemist, the shadowy figure behind the destruction of my homeland, my path would have to go through the King of Masks. The mysterious man had told me so, moments before he vanished into thin air.

I took a deep breath. Touched the twin pistols that hung on my hips and took my first step into the gloom. As I descended, the air grew stale and dusty. No one had breathed this air for many, many years. The darkness was stifling. I could barely see a yard ahead of me, but I pressed forward, my footsteps echoing through the cavernous lair.

I had been underground for almost two hours when I became aware of a presence. Something was here.

I stopped and sniffed the air, strained to see into the veil of darkness.

Torches all around me suddenly ignited, as brilliant light blinded me. I had walked into an empty arena of some sort, with sheer walls that stretched up towards the surface for as far as the eye could see.

As I turned a full circle, taking in my new environment, I couldn’t help but wonder at the vast expanse of the cavern. My wonder quickly turned to horror as I completed the circle and I came face to face with the King of Masks.

The beast stood 40 feet tall. It had six legs. Four arms. A serpentine tail curled behind it. Its head, completely covered by three masks, slowly rotated around and around, as the creature endlessly twisted and untwisted its neck. Its six eyes were piercing and menacing. The monster exhaled, and the cavernous arena shook. The King of Masks noticed me, and let out a deep, rumbling chuckle.

“Puny human“, it said, “Why have you disturbed my eternal sleep?“. The creature’s voice was impossibly loud, and every syllable hit my body like a tidal wave.

I swallowed fear, and replied,

“I seek information about the Alchemist!”

“The Alchemist? Ahh, my old friend. So he has been released from his perpetual prison. I know his plans, but unfortunately, you shall not be alive to hear them.”

As the King of Masks spoke the last word, the arch through which I had entered the arena was suddenly gone, blocked by a massive stone slab that slid into place with a thud.

I drew my pistols and fired. I squeezed the triggers until both chambers were completely spent. Black powder stung my eyes and made me choke. The arena echoed with the sounds of gunfire. The hail of bullets, enchanted by gems of immense power, would have put an end to even the mightiest of foes.

I lowered my weapons to see the results of my efforts, and there stood the King of Masks; three twisted, terrifying grins on its face.

This was going to be a lot harder than I thought.

“Please climb down, Castelle.” I blinked in surprise. I was standing on top of the instructor’s desk again. I kept hopping up there for some unconscious reason. I guess I just really like to be up high.

“I know you are impatient to get out and see some real action, but please remember, you are here so you at least have a sliver of a chance of surviving.” Why thank you for having so much faith in me, teacher. “Now, though it is against my better judgment, we are in need of some minor assistance. Some of the mana worms that are attracted by the power pylons to the east have gone rogue. Go kill a few and bring me back six vials of mana residue.”

My eyes lit up. Did she just assign me a real quest? No whacking practice dummies or slaughtering innocent lynx cubs (though their meat is tasty)? I actually get to fight something that will try to kill me? Yes!

I hastily donned my quiver and bow and shot out of the building as fast as one of my arrows. I didn’t even stop to see if Zair, my dragonhawk, followed me. He always did.

Racing towards the east, I reveled in the cool evening air. Teacher had kept me trapped inside all day, reciting all the skills a hunter can learn through experience, and what kinds of animals can be tamed, and what professions are available, and yada yada yada. I didn’t sign up for her course to learn all that drivel; I signed up to learn how to fight!

Running felt so good. Stretching my legs as far as they would go, feeling the wind run through my hair, listening to the happy chirps of Zair as he flew beside me, I would have passed by the pylons, if it weren’t for a sharp zap across my face knocking me flat on my back.

Dazed, I hoisted myself up on my forearms and saw Zair attacking the mana worm that had found its way right in front of me as I was running. Poor guy, every time Zair touched it the slightest, he’d get a taste of its electricity, but he’d keep trying, refusing to let it sting me again, my ever-faithful companion. There was only one thing to do. Shoot it.

Climbing off the ground, tearing my bow off my back, I readied an arrow on my string, pulled back, and let fly. It sunk into the worm’s eye with a squishy kkkkk. It fell to the ground, wriggling a bit before giving off a flow of energy and condensing into a solid, glowing orb. I poked it with my little finger. No shock. I picked it up and placed it tenderly in my carry sack. Well, that was easy.

And then we got swarmed. One down, five million to go.

I woke up at 7:30 with one thought on my mind: my husband Bobby’s birthday!  In our world, we do not have specific ages; rather, we reach certain stages in life.  Today marked the day that Bobby became a mature adult.  So celebrate his successful and happy life, I decided to throw him a birthday party.

I left our room and made a call from my cell phone in our office (soon to be a nursery!).  I called and invited Bobby’s, friends, acquaintances and co-workers, letting them know that the party would start at 7pm and that it was a casual outdoor party.  Choosing the guest list proved to be very tricky seeing that in our world, guest lists are always restricted to ten people, and Bobby is a very popular man in town (due to the fact that his best traits are his charisma and his friendliness).

Bobby woke up about an hour later, and I greeted him warmly with a birthday hug and kiss (or two).  He loves pizza, so I had some delivered to the house while he was getting dressed.  He kept himself entertained all day (working out and playing the guitar, his two favorite hobbies) while I worked on getting everything set up for the party.  There was so much to do!  I bought tons of balloons, picnic tables, a fire pit, a grill, a bar, a buffet table, a stereo, and mostly importantly, Bobby’s birthday cake!  I even purchased a new toilet, seeing that our other one kept clogging and leaking.  I couldn’t have disgusted guests, now, could I?  One of my Promised Wishes was to throw a fantastic party, so I was going to do the best I could to make that happen.

Surprisingly, the guests showed up early.  I was nervous because I wasn’t quite finished preparing everything for the party!  But Bobby, being the fabulous husband he is, kept our guest entertained by playing his most recent compositions on the guitar.  He sure knows how to work a crowd!  While our guest watched him perform, I set the buffet table with turkey and autumn salad, put my bar-tending skills to use, grilled some hot dogs, and got the music blasting on the stereo.  Soon enough, everyone was having a great time!  People were eating and dancing and socializing.  I enjoyed great small talk with friends, danced with Bobby, and tended to our guests needs.

Soon, it was time for the highlight of the party: the birthday cake!  We all gathered around Bobby and cheered as he blew out the candles.  Blowing out the candles in our world marks the moment of maturation.  Once the candles were blown out, Bobby turned into an adult! Everyone was happy for him and congratulated him as we ate cake.  Soon it was time for the party to end (it was still a work night), but everyone left saying things like, “Great party, Darcy!” and “I have to go, but I had a great time!”  My wish had come true, and so my mood increased and I earned Lifetime Happiness points.

After the party, Bobby and I started to clean up the yard.  This was an easy job because all we had to do was sell all of the supplies and decorations back.  We saved the rest of the cleaning for the morning since we were both very tired.  After cleaning, we sat by the fire pit and roasted marshmallows together.  It was the perfect way to end his birthday on a sweet note!

I am aware.

Black stretches into my eyes, enveloping me in darkness.

A voice in my head tells me I have eyes and it must be so. I open them and light floods in, blinding me with a white glow. I blink until the pain subsides and my vision clears.

Clouds surround me and I remain still as I absorb the colors of mist swirling in the room. It must be a room. I look around, but only swirling vapor catches my eye until I see an opening. A doorway leads out of the room.

I have legs, the voice tells me. I step from the room, clouds closing in behind me, and finally feel a dirt path beneath my toes.

The path leads from my room of mist, into the woods, and off to the unknown. As I walk between the trees, they seem to close in behind me, preventing me from returning to my clouds. I don’t like this at all. Am I imagining it? I glance behind me again as the trail bends. No, those trees were definitely not there before.

I notice that the forest is eerily quiet. I freeze. There is not a single living creature in sight. Not a bird, a squirrel, or an insect appears and certainly no other sentient beings. Am I alone?

I blink to clear my head as I continue forward.

A flash of light instantly terrifies me and I stand paralyzed. I squint into the source and a shape begins to appear. Recovering my wits, I gingerly reach out and touch the object, which cools my burning skin. I grasp it from the air, swinging it naturally as I discover what it is.

A sword. I might like this place.

The path narrows before me, the trees reaching in as I wander past. Branches seize my hair and I hear twigs snap under my feet, but no one is around to see or hear. I feel a creeping sense of desperation in this still and silent world.

There is a clearing ahead! In my hurry to reach the open space I nearly run face-first into a creature hanging from a tree branch. It snaps at my face as I jump back, becoming immobilized with fear and surprise.

This is a snake. No, it is not simply a snake, but a serpent so dark it seems to be a shadow. Not a single creature for miles and now a vicious shadow serpent bent on eating me alive? I do not like this place.

I close my eyes, hoping it will be gone when I open them. It’s still there. Gathering my courage, I wield the sword and strike. I miss the serpent and it lunges, barely scratching my arm. I see my opening and slash the sword across the snake’s middle, severing it in half. One part falls to the ground while the other half remains tangled in the tree.

What kind of world is this?

The door swung open. I watched my ethereal companion drift slowly through the opening with narrowed eyes; no space in this dungeon had embraced me without opposition. As the light from the cavernous room danced in my eyes I felt the familiar flames and their accompanying warmth spring instinctively into my right hand. An arrow whizzed by my cloak and I felt my left fist spring out automatically, spewing white lightning in a crackling ark in front of me. I lept savagely through the causeway, sprouting an inferno of concentrated element from my outstretched fingers, towards the wall of Draugrs lurking within. Smoke and dust obscured my vision, a faint sizzling filled my nostrils and one by one, the sound of dull thuds reverberated throughout the quieting space.

I staggered, catching my breath, trying to take in the scene through the faint green light emanating from the floor itself. Ashes and bodies littered the floor, leading in a trail through the haze to the glowing, white figure standing at the foot of a staircase — my companion stared at me with a faint smile on his face. This first modicum of expression had an instant effect on me; I felt my heart accelerate and the divine energy course faster through me; the sweat flowed freely beneath my mask — the wall, the word, here in this very room.

Despite the stationary stature of my companion, I bounded up the staircase, the tolls of the previous battle all but forgotten in my blind rush towards the wall. I could hear the word’s energy pounding against its stony barricade, waiting for my presence to give it release. I sprang onto the platform, sprinting full tilt towards the stone barricade in front in me, basking in the divine glow of the Dova…

And yet, iron collided with bone and the oxygen was knocked from my lungs, as a savage blow sent me flying back at twice the speed I had ascended. I looked up in time to see my assailant sailing through the air towards my exposed figure. I clenched my fist, attempting to summon what fire I had left in me, pouring the last of my strength into the blast. As I raised my hand, poised to release, my foe inches from my face, I saw my companion leap to my defense it in a manner far more severe than I thought his wispy body capable. I heard my attacker screech as my companion plunged his steel sword through its vulnerable flesh.

I rose to my feet. My companion turned to face me with that look of satisfaction etched on his otherworldly face. As I walked, this time patiently, towards the wall, I saw him disappear out of the corner of my eye. He would know peace at last.

The word burned scorchingly out of the wall, blending with my soul as I felt the glory of the Dragon envelop the entirety of my being. I knew its meaning at long last.

Today?  Tomorrow?  Next week?  No! Right now. Right now was the time, the time for change.  I was tired of living in the same ole town with the same ole people doing the same ole thing.  Now was the time to act, so I packed up my apartment, put my boxes in the moving van and headed south for Tennessee.

I do not remember a time where I was so excited to see an interstate sign before in my life!  As I veered off the exit ramp and took a few turns I was there.  After 12 long hours on the road I had finally arrived.

Welcome to Sims City, Tennessee!

Well, as one can imagine, moving is no easy task.  From unpacking to finding a job and meeting new people I was starting to think I was in over my head, but I was up for the challenge.

So I, Laila Garrick, being the outgoing type that I am, stared this opportunity in the face and do you want to know what happened?  Well, in no time I found a job, close to home, decorated my home and got acquainted with my neighbor Narelle Collins.

Sims City was starting to feel more and more like home every day!

As weeks flew by and Narelle and I hung out more and more, we became inseparable.  At times it felt like I had known her all my life.  It got to the point that wherever we went people thought we were sisters.

It was at that moment that I was overly happy that I made the decision to start over!

This one day I woke up, earlier than usual, peeked out my bedroom window and saw this tall handsome looking fellow with long dreads and a deadly smile.  I quickly phoned Narelle and told here everything.  Neither of us knew who he was, but were anxious to find out.

Later that same day there was a knock at my door.  It was him!

“Hello, I’m Isiaic,” said the good looking fellow with long dreads.

“I just moved into the neighborhood and wanted to come by and introduce myself.”

Like an idiot I stood there in awe staring. Finally coming out of shock I introduced myself and welcomed him to the community, as well.

“I would love to hang out with you sometime, if that’s okay?”

In my mind I was thinking, “Heck yeah,” but I did not want to come off overly eager.

“Sure, I would like that,” I replied.

At that moment I was in heaven, but then it happened.  As he was leaving he paused, glanced and flashed that million dollar smile in my direction.

From that day on, I KNEW that moving to Sims City, Tennessee was the right move for me.

And as for Isiaic and I, well…you’ll just have to sit back, relax and enjoy the show!

I blinked, peering outside, hand on the doorknob. I hadn’t seen the world in a while. It was glowing.

I brushed my flaming red hair out of my face, swishing it back, wishing I wasn’t about to go through with it. Reluctantly, I slid my melee into my left hand – my strong hand – and I set out, my favorite tan boots grazing the ground, the green and red necklace around my neck.

I passed the creek by my house for the last time for a sip of water among the greenery and ogled at my reflection, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand. At twenty-one years old, I was gangly, stick-like. My green eyes glittered. My face was pale in the orange glow of Sunstrider, pale because I hadn’t left the house in six years.

I looked alone, just like everyone else.

My land, Quel’Thalas, was overtaken by Sunstrider years ago. My blood elf ancestors were willed over to evil by his force. Now someone else – The Monster – is penetrating our land, our land where blood elves used to run free in the day and night elves celebrated into the twilight.

“Good luck, Firella,” a neighbor whispered from a window solemnly as I passed by.

Ever since I could remember, children were forced to stay inside to avoid The Monster, watching the eternal summers of Sunstrider through covered windows.

I walked the unfamiliar path toward the white and scarlet Sunstride tower as shrubbery bloomed and hills rolled around me, drenched in a perpetual sunset.

I thought of my fiance Joquar’s blue eyes and how they’d glisten in the sun, and how my pet minidragon Verouge would have frolicked in the gorgeous weather, green and red tail flitting. He was lost now. They both were. I took a breath and looked toward the center.

She stood in front of the Sunstrider, clad in red, black and yellow robes, powdery blonde hair in a high ponytail.

“Magistrix Erona. My name is – ”

“I hope you are ready to get to work, because there is much for you to do here on Sunstrider Isle.” She cut me off curtly, gesturing to the rolling hills of pasture overlooking the sea.

I nodded, taking her scroll.

She told me I’d have to murder five blue minidragons.

My heart stopped. Verouge, I thought, insides churning. I wondered why I had to do it; she turned away before she could tell me.

I told myself it might be the only way I’d ever get out of Sunstrider to find Joquar.

My melee went to work, brandishing itself this way and that frantically. The dragons – flashes of blue and white – bit at me, yellow eyes clenched, wings stiff. Sharp blood spurts erupted throughout my face; gashes formed on my arms. But within thirty seconds each, every one became mine.

I took the glistening eye from the last one and put it in my rucksack, and my eyes caught the tail of the minidragon I had just slain.

It was green and red.

I had killed my friend.

I staggered away from the paved path and the greenery as lynxes and minidragons dabbled around me. Yes, The Monster was a threat. But the bigger threat was turning into a fearful coward with a coldhearted soul, ready and willing to murder without real cause.

I knew what I had to do. It was time to get out. Time to find Joquar.

Panting, clutching my rucksack, I ran toward the North Sea. I had to get to the city.