by Crystal N. Ramos I didn’t do it. She was my daughter, officer. I was playing some kind of new VR game. Really immersive. See, you run around stealing cars and stuff and try to evade the law. The game has this mechanic where you can pick up a prostitute, gain health, and then kill […]
by Grace Quon Derek grabbed the shotgun from the table. Six shells. Guttural snarls erupted in the hallway. He burst the first zombie’s head open like a rotten melon, but the next one was already charging. Bring it on, assholes. A minute later, six festering corpses littered the floor. TUTORIAL COMPLETED What? ExtremeReality had hyped […]
by Nina Miller You saw me selling wares from a cart. Watched my bosom jiggle as I cried over my pies. Asked me what was wrong, and I told you of my sister kidnapped by necromancers. I needed a knight errant and offered what I had. You obliged. You entered the cave and negotiated with […]
by Fiona M. Jones “Damien.” It was the Enemy. “What—” Damien dodged away, throwing chairs to slow the Enemy’s advance. He needed to level up, exchange the bread knife in his jacket for a machete. He headed for the Great Hall, ducked into the equipment cupboard, but the Enemy had seen him—had him cornered now. […]
by Liam Hogan “There’s a new video game, ADikT, available on the darknet. We think it’s killing users.” Anders half-rolled his eyes before catching the chief’s stony gaze. “What’s this one do? Drag players into the game world? Inflict the virtual damage they get there on their real bodies?” “We’re not sure. Hence: a case […]
by Greg Schwartz “Josh!” His mom stomped into his room. “I’ve been calling you.” “Sorry, Mom. Trying to kill this monster.” Josh feverishly manoeuvred the controller, his face contorted in concentration. “You’ve been playing all day,” she said. “Time to turn it off.” “Two minutes,” Josh pleaded, eyes never leaving the screen. She yanked the […]
by Tracy Davidson He starts his missing son’s latest game. Something to distract him from constant worry, to see what his son played that day. Graphics have changed since his childhood. His avatar walks through a post-apocalyptic landscape. Bodies burning, animals scavenging. Far ahead, a faint figure jumps up and down, screaming at him to […]
by C. A. Fulwell LifeLike: Kelly’s favourite game since age fourteen. So much joy in the virtual family. No pain. No “stupid fucking mistakes.” Just love. After a mistake at twenty-two, she had Emily. Alone. No matter. A little Emily joined LifeLike. Kelly didn’t remember making her, but loved them both. Months passed. No money. […]
by Jonathan Tolstedt Teri wasn’t prepared for what she found in the apartment the biohazard company sent her to clean. The corpse was still sitting on the edge of his couch, mummified, clutching the controller in rotting hands. There was a horrific grin frozen on his face; empty eye sockets locked on the still active […]
by Randall Andrews At the sound of approaching footsteps, Chester hooted softly and toggled the windows on his laptop. A moment later, the doctor stepped into the room, accompanied by a stranger. “Hey, buddy,” the doctor said. “How’s Tetris?” Chester hooted again and signed a response. Level 5. “That’s great.” Then, turning to the stranger, […]