Gazing at the figure who was now staring back at him, Freddy's eyes widened while his pupils constricted.
"What the hell?" Was the only thought his mind could come up with at that moment.
Cause standing few feet away and staring at him, the figure he saw earlier was actually another him.
Now looking more carefully, Freddy realized that the height, face and build were all similar to him.
After staring at each other for a while in silence, Freddy finally couldn't take it anymore "who are you?"
Hearing the question, the other Freddy in fantasy-looking leather armor flash a manical grin.
"I can finally sense you, which means it's about to begin hahahaha" speaking words that made no sense, the other Freddy threw back his head and roared in laughter.
"What do you mean?" Freddy asked, his face covered in confusion.
Hoisting the heavy-looking blade onto his shoulder, the second Freddy ignored the question and continued speaking "Become stronger quickly, for only when your word holds weight in Arcadia can our paths cross."
As soon as he finished speaking, he pointed at Freddy and an invisible force smashed into him knocking him into the coliseum wall and his vision immediately went dark.
Snapping his eyes open, Freddy sat up forcefully, gasping for breath. He vigilantly looked around only to discover that he was back to his bedroom.
"Was that all a dream?" He thought.
"Rough night huh" Kelvin's voice from the side jolted him from his thoughts.
Looking over, he saw Kelvin sitting up on his bed.
"I woke you up again, didn't I?" Freddy sighed.
Kelvin however pulled his wheelchair closer and gently placed himself on it. "Nah, I was gonna go take a leak."
"It was about Mom again, wasn't it?" Kelvin asked to which he received a slow nod. "You have to let that incident go big bro, what happened wasn't your fault."
Having said his piece, Kelvin wheeled himself out and came back moments later following the sound of gurgling toilet flushing.
"It's still five in the morning, I'm gonna get me a little more shut-eye before daybreak" hopping unto his bed, Kelvin pulled the sheets over himself and slept off.
"What is that second dream about? And Who is that guy? Arcadia, isn't that the new game" All sorts of questions were spinning in Freddy's mind as he sat there, face buried in his palms.
His finger felt the scar on his eye and his mind wandered back to that day.
---
"Doctor, How is my friend?" a younger looking and anxious aunt Lucia rushed towards the doctor as soon as he exited the theatre.
The fluorescent light overhead seemed to hum, casting an unforgiving glare on the doctor's somber face.
Twelve years old Freddy, sat quietly on the waiting chair with a bandage over his left eye and some parts of his body. He witnessed the doctor shake his head sideways and aunt Lucia burst into tears.
"I'm sorry, but many vital organs were pierced. I'm afraid she didn't make it. My deepest condolences" the oral confirmation from the doctor finally shattered aunt Lucia's already shaky composure.
"What about little kelvin? How is he?" She asked amidst choking sobs, trying hard to stay strong.
"The boy is alive"
"Thank you Lord...."
"However, a piece of metal pierced his lower spine, severing his cauda equina. The boy's legs are paralyzed" before aunt Lucia could feel relieved, the doctor dropped another shell of bad news.
She covered her mouth in shock as she broke into another round of sobs, but the doctor just kept speaking.
"The gap between the severed nerves isn't much so they could potentially heal back, however it may take years for that to happen"
"So you guys must prepare for the worst case scenario, he might possibly be condemned to a wheelchair all his life." The doctor spoke somberly and left.
Aunt Lucia's sobs echo in the hospital corridor as she pulled the listless Freddy into her arms.
Her sobs were like physical blows, shaking Freddy's small frame as she clung to him.
"It's all my fault." He uttered in a low voice.
"Don't say that dear, it wasn't your fault okay. Bad things always happen and we can do anything about them" she gently comforted him admist sobs.
"Now more than ever we need to be strong, for us and for little Kelvin alright?" However, he just sat spiritlessly in her embrace.
"Why am I the one with the least injuries?" He questioned himself again and again in his head.
---
Beep beep! Beep beep!!
The sudden blaring of the alarm clock jolted Freddy from his reverie. Glancing at the clock, he saw 5:30am boldly displayed on it.
"Turn it off pleeasse" Kelvin groaned from under his blanket.
A grin grew on Freddy's lips. Picking up the alarm clock, he placed it right next to Kelvin's ear.
"Seriously man" Kelvin smacked the snooze button with a scowl.
"Get up your lazy bum, it's morning already" Freddy laughed as he slipped into his jogging gear. Earphones in, shoes laced, he headed for the door.
"I'm going jogging, be back soon"
"Yeah yeah.... go already" was the only reply he got.
The streets were cool and quiet at first, then slowly gave way to the noise of life as the sun climbed.
Freddy pushed himself through different routes, only returning drenched in sweat at around 7:30am.
The event of the night dream lingered on his mind throughout his jog.
"I guess, I've been hearing a lot about the game that I'm beginning to dream about it" Freddy muttered as he entered the house "I wonder if it's as realistic as they hyped it to be."
As he had expected, Kelvin was still fast asleep. After a quick shower, Freddy moved into the kitchen and started on breakfast.
The sound of sizzling food crackled through the air. With a wooden spoon in hand, Freddy basked in the warmth coming from the cooker as expertly prepared breakfast.
The aroma of frying meatballs filled the air by the time Kelvin wheeled himself in, sleepily.
"What's for breakfast?" He yawned.
"Spaghetti and meatballs. Now go brush your teeth up–we are heading to the hospital after."
"Yeeaah" Kelvin dragged out sarcastically before wheeling off.
By the time he returned, freshened up, Freddy was plating their meal in the living room. The TV buzzed with a live interview of beacon online's beta testers.
"…the Gladiator class really sucks, No starting weapon, no class skills, and ridiculously high requirements on gaming mechanics. Honestly I wonder why Drenstar Corp added this particular class to the game" the beta testers for the gladiator class was saying.
"Thank you player Jungle Justice for the honest review, this will stop many players from choosing a class they are unable to play" the beautiful interviewer responded with a smile.
"For even someone like double J to complain about the Gladiator class, how difficult must it be? And Drenstar Corp called it a special class" Kelvin spoke with a mouthful of food.
Freddy shrugged, chewing thoughtfully. "If Drenstar added it, then there must be more to it. Just cause he can't play it doesn't mean no one can."
Kelvin smirked "Does that mean that you can big bro?"
"I very well might, you can never tell" setting his empty plate aside, Freddy replied after a glass of water.
"Why don't you choose the gladiator class and let's see if you play it well huh?" Kelvin said also setting his empty plate aside.
"Quit your little schemes and take care of these dishes, I'll change quickly and we'll be off" Freddy replied and left to change. "Maybe I should play the class and see how it is"
Even he was unaware that his interest towards Arcadia Online was slowly being piqued.