Sean watched Mark approach Lulu with a small smile on his lips. He could imagine Mark as a parent and his lover. The smile on his face faded when he realized what he was considering. The thought and feelings behind it scared him. It would be so easy to lose himself here. To forget everything before. Jerking his attention away from Mark, he forced himself to bring up his menu and scrolled through his spells. He had to think about something else. All his spells were meant to heal a lot of health. He didn't want to waste them on something small. So, he investigated alchemic potions that he might be able to make. Pressing the ingredients, he glanced around to see that a few were highlights in the woods nearby. He didn't want to stray too far but couldn't talk himself out of collecting them. With Lulu joining them, it wouldn't hurt to have extra supplies. Keeping low, he picked the herbs quickly and stashed them in his bag. It was peaceful to listen to the sounds of nature in the morning.

He could hear the birds chipping and bees humming by. He even realized that he could hear a great deal farther than he thought. The snap of a twig in the far distance, drawing his attention up to faintly see a deer walking slowly through a clearing. Staying still, he watched the young buck look for danger before nibbling on a patch of grass. Silently picking his last herb, he made to turn around when the birds stopped chipping. Freezing in place, he saw the buck jerk its head up before trying to dash off. The sudden flash of purple lightening striking the buck made Sean tense and ease into the bush beside him. Stomping through the woods, a man in blue robes with arcane symbols called out to his friend casually. "Got it. Now what was I saying?" Walking at a short distance from the mage a human man with a bow and quiver set answered dryly. "You were telling me about the gamer you killed and why..." The mage snapped his fingers, excitedly retorting. "Yes! As I was saying. We have no proof that anyone on the outside is really getting hurt. For all we know, this is all part of the game's crazy story."

The ranger snorted, grumbling out. "I don't believe that. If this was a game, then we could log out. You killed that man..." The mage stopped short, whirling around to snap out angrily. "Let it go! Fuck! Don't you see? This is just a ploy to get people to play the game longer. To get word out in a big way to spike sales. No one is dying. Besides, who doesn't want the satisfaction of killing some stuck up gaming know-it-all. They deserve it." The ranger rolled his eyes, defensively retorting. "I don't care. That's not why I signed into this game, Jones." The mage stomped his foot, yelling back stubbornly. "I'm not Jones in here! I'm Firebrand! Jesus, Carter. You are such a pussy sometimes. None of this is real! Relax and have a little fun." The ranger moved closer to the mage, bitterly replying. "What the hell is wrong with you?! Ever sense we signed in you've become this... different person. YOU KILLED A KID!" The mage shoved the ranger away from him, yelling back. "He was foul-mouthed little shit that deserved it! Gamers ruin games like this with their toxicity. I'm purging them out. THAT is fun to me!"

The ranger brought up his menu and clicked something, causing the mage to blurt out. "You are leaving the party? Really? You self-righteous prick... What do you think you're going to do without me carrying you the whole game?" The ranger began walking away but sneered over his shoulder. "I'm gonna find out. Anything is better than watching my brother cheat on his wife and turn into a toxic asshole!" The mage tensed up, then lifted his staff to aim at his brother as he growled out under his breath. "Fine. I'm so sick of your bullshit. You wanna log out..." Sean clamped a hand over his mouth as the staff went off and struck the ranger in the back. The brother screamed as flames engulfed him, rapidly draining his health until his body fell to the ground limply and faded out to nothing. The mage kicked dirt in the ranger's direction, chuckling out. "There! Happy now?! I'll win this for the non-gamers myself!" Upon turning around, the mage got a message on his communication mirror and answered it for all to hear.

Sean couldn't see the person in the mirror, but heard a female voice tell him excitedly. "Firebrand, where have you been? I've been trying to get ahold of you since yesterday!" The mage rolled his eyes, grumbling out. "Wasting my time helping my little brother level up. What is it?" The woman on the line, quickly informed him. "Sal was talking to a woman in the tavern this morning. She claims that she beat the first boss with Markiplier and JackSepticEye!" The mage's face narrowed on the mirror as he asked coolly. "Are you pulling my leg?" The woman chuckled, curtly continuing. "No! There are a lot of people talking about them. A few of us were going to try and put a hunting party together to find them. Can you imagine what someone in game would pay for them?" The mage tapped his staff against his leg, mumbling out. "Killing them would be easier. Capturing them is not fun..." The woman on the other line, added in a calmer voice. "Firebrand, think about it. We could get enough money to start up a non-gamer guild with just one of them."

The mage shrugged not looking entirely convinced, when he asked blankly. "Where are they now?" The woman's voice answered promptly. "No idea. Apparently, they slipped away. There are a few people willing to pay for any information on them though. My guess is they are heading up to the next level of Midgard to take on the next boss with the other gamers. I'll have our Dark Elf sent you a teleportation portal." Sean risked looking back at the waterfall, hoping Lulu and Mark were out of sight. He didn't see them. Looking back to the mage, he saw a dark purple portal open up between two trees and the mage stepped through. Once he was gone, Sean exhaled the breath that he'd been holding. Easing from the bush, Sean quickly dashed back across the clearing and toward the waterfall. Slipping inside the cave, Sean saw Mark sitting beside Lulu in front of a little fire. Mark was holding out a guidebook and telling her sweetly. "Says that it should look like this when it is done. Crispy brown edging and faded white eyes."

Lulu looked from her cooking fish to the picture in the guide, before giggling out. "Yuck. The eye looks gross!" Mark tapped her on the head with the book, chuckling out. "So don't eat that part." Lulu noticed Sean then, cheerfully telling him. "Look! I'm making lunch! Doesn't it smell good?" Sean nodded, but he couldn't bring himself to look anything less than concerned. Mark ruffled Lulu's dark hair, telling her warmly. "Keep an eye on the fish. Just like the book. Crispy brown scales. No longer. Ok?" She nodded, hugging her knees as she stared at the sizzling fish. Getting to his feet, Mark grabbed Sean's arm and moved closer to the water, before asking quietly. "What's wrong?" Taking a deep breath, Sean grabbed Mark's arms to steady himself and whispered back in a rush. "We need to lay low. I just overheard someone... There are people in here hunting gamers. Us." Mark shifted uncomfortably on his feet, allowing Sean to continue. "I think word is getting around. Gamers verses Non-Gamers. It's promoting player killing. I just saw... Mark, we're not safe."

Mark pulled Sean close to hug him, whispering close to his pointed ear. "Then we'll lay low for a bit. We'll wait until they get bored and focus more on the game." Sean tightened his arms around Mark, muffling out against his shoulder. "Mark... there are people looking to capture us..." Mark's warm lips brushed over his chilled neck, whispering soothingly to him. "They can try. We won't make it easy on them. We'll keep moving." Sean fingers lightly clawed at Mark's back, before he forced himself to ask him. "What if we didn't run? What if... we settle." Mark eased back a step, looking him over curiously. Dropping his arms from him, Sean shrugged out. "What if we buy a house? Not a lot of people will be thinking about it at the moment... We could get a settlement and when we do go back to fighting the bosses... we'll have a place to rest?" When Mark didn't say anything, Sean nervously added. "I just thought maybe we could lay low... someplace nice."

Mark stepped back to lean against the wall, crossing his arms as he said openly. "Sean... I don't think that is such a good idea. If anyone learns that is where we live, it will be just like in real life. They'll stake out the house. We'll never be able to leave... Or worse. They'll find a way in." Sean quickly rummaged into his bag, trying to fish out the guidebook as he pleaded lightly. "Mark, I'm sure there are ways to protect the property. We just have to look and-" Mark cut him off by lifting his chin with a finger. Staring deep into his eyes, Mark asked in a guarded voice. "Sean... I know what you're doing. You're scared, I get it. But hiding from the game isn't going to make this all go away." Huffing, Sean tried to hide how his eyes watered when he whispered back. "I'm not hiding from the game, Mark. I want to hide from the people in it. I can't..." Unable to finish, Sean turned to face the waterfall, sniffling out after a few breaths. "Mark... This game is turning into a nightmare... and I don't play horror games. I..."

Sean drifted off as his chest tightened and he struggled to take deep breaths. Rubbing his chest, Sean sank slowly to his knees starting to gasp for air. From by the fire, Lulu's startled voice asked. "Jack? Are you ok?" Sean heard her running over, but Mark waved her back, telling her calmly. "He's ok. Stay there, Honey." Dropping to a knee beside him, Mark wrapped his arms around Sean's shoulders holding him against him. Sean couldn't move or speak as he gasped for air. Mark's warmth felt good as he leaned into him, and when Mark ran a hand up and down his spine, Sean convinced himself that he was safe. Holding him closer, Mark told a worried Lulu comfortingly. "He's ok, Lulu. He just a little worked up." Sean rested his head on Mark's shoulder, closing his eyes as he tried to calm his breathing down. Mark tried to keep his grip light to allow Sean to breathe, but tight enough to keep him upright. While Mark caressed him, Lulu snuck over on all fours to say a bit shakily. "Jack? It's ok..."

Sean could barely focus on her and where she was but felt her slowly inch in to hug his side. Feeling her shake against him, slowly pulled him out enough that he moved his hand to rest it on her hip. She snuggled against him more, prompting Mark to try easing her back a bit. Only for Sean to wrap an arm around Mark's torso to hug him as his breathing leveled out. Sliding his hand up Sean's spine and through his hair to rest his head against his neck, he whispered to him. "It would be nice to sleep in a bed and... have a place to put our stuff. In case we're here for... awhile." Sean didn't risk a smile, he just kept Mark close. The only thing that got them to move was Lulu saying that the fish was done. Splitting it up, they ate slowly together. Sitting with Sean between his legs, Mark told Sean nervously. "In order to get a house, we'll have to go to the next town and talk to an N.P.C. about a home..." Lulu flashed them a smile, telling them excitedly. "I could help. They aren't looking for me."

Sean started to protest,but Mark draped his arms around Sean to take a hand in his, starting to messageit as he said sweetly. "She could. It'sjust talking to an N.P.C... nothing drastic." Sean moaned a little as Mark worked his joints loose from their stiffstate. Then shifting a little, Seannarrowed his eyes on Mark but reached into his bag to combine a few herbs intoa gel that that he pressed to Mark's nose. The gel glowed yellow before Mark's nose cleared up and his health barrecovered. Upon lowering his hand, hesighed out to Mark uneasily. "If youthink she can do it..." Mark stroked afinger down Sean's nose, purring out confidently. "I believe in her. She can do it." To Be Continued...