Ashlyn's heart leapt at the sound of their friend's voice coming out of the communication device. The lack of contact from Faye felt like weeks, despite it being just a few game days, and hearing her voice made their stomach twist.
They held their breath for a second to assess the current situation; the sudden transmission had been unexpected, but it was a welcome surprise in these dire circumstances, where certain things remained unclear. And now, with the extra help of Faye, they could see a sliver of hope in dealing with the Main Computer.
Moving to a more secluded spot with Nox, Ashlyn held the device in their hand and replied: "I'm here."
They observed Nox's stiff posture as he strained to hear any noise from the bookshop and follow what Faye was saying via the device. From the shop's direction, Nox sensed mounting tension; however, without reinforcements, they could only wait for a good time to rescue those trapped inside.
"Faye?" Ashlyn called out tentatively, in fear that the device had once again stopped working. "How are you contacting me? The system has been down for days."
There was a brief static pause on the other end of the line before Faye's voice crackled through again. It sounded strained, like she was on the move and was trying to catch her breath. "A friend altered the device to filter out some of the Main Computer's jamming, but the signal quality is still problematic; it may not work perfectly. Just hold on for now, and don't make any rash decisions before we get there."
The information spurred more questions in Ashlyn's mind, but then the device went dead, as before, and no matter how Ashlyn tried to contact Faye, it was useless. They could only go back to the shop's entrance with Nox and wait for Faye to arrive.
☽
Neither of them had to wait long, and just as their patience was about to reach its limit, the sound of a motorbike sounded out in the quiet atmosphere.
Two people sat on the bike, their radiant presence cutting through the night and stirring hope in the hearts of those who had been anxious for far too long. Eyes brimming with tears, Nox and Ashlyn jumped up and rushed toward the pair, now standing firmly on solid ground.
Faye took off the helmet, her red hair cascading down her back, and gave a grateful smile to the man beside her. She then turned to her old friends, offering quick hugs before pulling away—this wasn't the moment for sentiment. There were threats in the bookshop that needed their immediate attention.
"What happened while I wasn't here?" Faye peered around inquisitively. She noticed that both the players and NPCs had frozen in place, and the sight deepened her resolve to save them all. No one had anticipated facing such danger in what was supposed to be just a game.
Ashlyn slipped the device back into their pocket and quickly regained composure. "Ever since Jarreth and the others entered the shop, the doors have been sealed shut, with no way to open it, and there's been no movement from inside. There's no way of knowing what is happening in there."
Standing nearby, Nox glanced at Faye with anxious eyes, relief washing over him at the sight of her being safe. He tightened his grip on the sword in his hands, hoping it would steady his nerves, and said, 'If only there were a way inside."
Faye had been waiting for someone to bring it up; she'd come up with a plan on the way over. The only problem was, she wasn't sure it would work, and could only test it on the spot.
"Alyx, do you have the blocking device that was used before?" Faye turned to Alyx, who had been leaning against the motorbike, observing the three friends as they got reacquainted.
He straightened and took off the bag on his back, then reached inside to retrieve the desired item. A moment later, he handed the device to Faye, who accepted it with a determined look before turning toward the shop's door. She pressed the device against the wooden surface and waited, hoping the plan would work. If it failed, there would be no other way to save their friends.
Moments later, a metallic clank echoed from the lock as the device disrupted the Main Computer's signal. The handle clicked, and when Faye pulled, the door swung open. Relief washed over her - her plan had worked.
"Let's go," she said, motioning for the others to follow as she entered through the gap in the door.
Immediately, the scent of paper and leather filled the air. Faye took a moment to savour it, memories stirring of quieter days spent reading endlessly in the shop. Back then, life was simpler, and her only concern was the occasional customer interrupting her peace.
Maybe, once all of this was behind them, things would return to the way they used to be.
☽
The leathery smell was soon replaced by something else entirely. An odd metallic scent filled the air, and the faint buzzing they had felt at the door intensified as they moved further into the room. The surrounding space seemed to pulse in the walls and vibrated under their feet.
Together, they moved forward with caution. Nox drew his blade and stayed close behind Faye, alert and ready for whatever lay ahead. The shop felt different from before, like it was alive and had been waiting for them to enter.
More than once, Ashlyn felt the urge to call out for anyone who might be nearby, but there was no telling if the Main Computer could hear them, as it had more than likely taken over the shop completely. Instead, they held their tongue and silently scanned the shadows, watching for the slightest hint of movement.
Suddenly, a heavy impact echoed from up ahead, like a body crashing into something solid. Moments later, books tumbled to the floor with a loud thud, the sound sharp in the tense silence.