Second World - New Short Story

Here we are again. I have a short story to share with you.  PLEASE leave a comment and let me know what you think. It was a fun piece and I enjoyed writing it.  Thank you again for sharing and taking the time to read my story.

Second World

By: Erika Hayes

Charles Nibbly sat in his blue-grey cubicle drumming his fingers. He stifled another yawn and shook his head quickly from side to side. He sat straighter in his chair and looked at his reflection in the monitor. He saw the wily cowlick that cursed him for his entire life had successfully fought off his attempt to tame it with gel and hair spray.  He rocked back in his chair he pressed his fingers to his eyes then down to his neck and massaged the knots that had sent sharp pains down his back.  

 He placed his elbows on his desk and pulled himself forward.  He switched between Facebook and his Second World game to break the monotony of his day.   As he clicked between the two and commented on political post and a few funny memes on Facebook that made him stifle a hearty laugh. In Second World, Charles a mighty warrior defended his scantily clad bosomy computer generated dream girl from an evil magician and his fleet of fire breathing dragons.  It passed the hours and helped to keep his over qualified mind busy waiting for the next routine assignment thrown at him by his under qualified supervisor.  He felt no guilt for using the company time for his internet indulgence.  His job was dull and simple. He often wound up his entire day’s tasks in less than thirty minutes.

  To avoid awkward interactions with his manager Charles occasionally looked up, feigned frustration and tapped on his calculator. He found that it the best way to give the appearance of diligent work.  He lifted his long lanky limbs into the space above him to stretch his tense muscles. Rolling his shoulders, he longed for a life with some adventure.    His postgraduate degree in predictive analytics proved useless and the economy kept him locked to his desk. 

With his work for the day all but done, his thoughts returned to the epic battle he had completed before work this morning. After many attempts, Charles had finally defeated a formable foe in Second World.  Inspired by his achievement, he decided today would be different.  He would do something that was truly brave. He didn’t know what but he knew something had to change.  He pushed his thick black rimmed glasses back to the proper resting place on the bridge of his nose.  The familiar chime of a Facebook notification drew his attention. Or maybe nothing will ever change he thought.  He loosened his Dr. Who bowtie and threw it in his desk drawer.  He clicked back to Second World game where his beautiful companion stood in the same spot waiting for him legs and breast severely exposed. He liked that feeling. A woman waiting for him. 

Monday’s were drudgery for Charles he longed to return to the weekend activity of questing the lands of Second World with his cyber friends.  It struck him odd on several occasions that he had a stronger bond with strangers than his own parents.

 Some days Charles felt he should be embarrassed to be twenty-six years old and still living with his parents, but he had no reason to find a place of his own. He had job and no bills to speak of and his mom insisted on doing his laundry. No girlfriend of life either he reminded himself. 

A digital trumpeter signaled that his new quest had begun.  The world around him dissipated.  Time loses its hold in Second World and soon his fifty-minute quest was nearly over.  The reward would be the accolades of Xenra his lovely curvaceous computer generated companion. She would promise a great rewarded when they entered the platinum member’s, Master’s Private Chamber.  Her high-quality graphics gave her a realism that enticed him to continue to quest day in and day out.  Her program gave her all the right words and sounds when he was alone in his room. Produced to make him feel worthy, and for now, he was satisfied with her fawning. It was worth the $14.99 a month.

His fantasy world shattered when the smooth voice of Erin Wu cooed, “Hi Charles.” He slipped smoothly into this world when he looked up and saw her noteworthy jade green eyes, thick black hair tied in a messy bun and her slender athletic body.

His eyes shifted to his computer screen. Xenra stood nearly bare outside the Master’s Bedchamber waiting for his command to enter.  He quickly clicked the lower left edge of his computer desktop to hide the evidence of his conquest. “Oh!” His voice squeaked. “Hi Erin.” He cleared his throat. “Uh—How was your weekend?”

“The usual.” Her long French manicured fingers rest on the ledge of his cubicle. “You know nothing too great.”

“Sorry to hear that.” He pushed his hands over the top of his thighs to smooth out the wrinkles in his khakis. “So what can I do for you?” He was trying to play it cool while his mind was absorbing every movement, sound and sight of her. Her floral perfume wound into his space and he was enchanted. It held him; he longed to wrap himself in it, in her.

Leaning around the corner of his space to afford more privacy Erin almost whispered, “I was wondering,” she paused took a brief look around, “do you play Second World?”

He thrust his chin back and cocked his head. “Uh—yeah.” he was genuinely taken back by her question. “Why?”  

“Can you friend me? I don’t have anyone to quest with. I just got started and well,” She smiled and his heart skipped.  The dark red lipstick against her warm skin made her perfectly white teeth even more attractive.  “It’s just—I need someone to show me around.”

Charles was surprised to learn that someone as breath taking as Erin Wu would be playing Second World.  He assumed that most the people that played Second World were more like him.  While Charles preferred NPC (Non-Player Characters) because the computer generated companions were always willing to go to the Master’s Bedchamber,  if Erin Wu wanted to quest he was happy to show her the ropes. He would gladly skip the Master’s Bedchamber for real time with Erin Wu.

“Oh uh, sure. What’s your tag?”  Her face contorted in confusion. “Your user name” He clarified and smiled up at her while grabbing a sticky note and a pen.

“Vixen342634” her lips pouted, “it’s stupid, but it was all I could think of when I signed up.”

He looked up from his scribbled note. “Oh it’s not stupid.” He placed the note with her username to his computer screen, “Do the numbers mean anything?”

Her cheeks flushed a bright red. “Yeah, I uh—it’s my measurements.”

He couldn’t stop himself. His eyes traveled up and down her body, “Oh I should have realized that.” His eye widened when he reached her smile he looked down quickly. “I mean—uh well—nevermind.” His face burned. The blood in his body was struggling to determine which route to take, northern or southern.  He shifted in his chair.  “Oh well, yeah—”   His leg was jiggling up and down like a sewing machine. “I will find you and we can maybe quest today.” 

“Thanks!” the elevation in her voice gave him hope. “I wish my boyfriend would play.” Her eyes downcast “But he said it was a stupid time sucker for nerds.”

     The shot to his chest was quick and sharp. A boyfriend, of course she has a boyfriend.

 She added softly. “ Um—not that you’re a nerd, it just he’s kind of a jerk. He just doesn’t get it. You know, like you get it.” She looked up again and held his gaze.  

Charles chest warmed. Hope flickered and he smiled.  Was she coming on to him he wondered.  Stupid look at her, there is no way she is coming on to you!  “Oh—yeah that’s cool. I didn’t know you had a boyfriend.” He held his breath.

“Yeah, but—well never mind.” Her eyes suddenly appeared glassy.

“Oh! I’m sorry I didn’t mean to pry.” He handed her a Kleenex from his desk. “I—I  just never heard you talk about him is all.”

“It’s okay.” She accepted the tissue and flashed him a quick smile. “I think one of the reasons I want to play is well, sometimes I just need to get away.” She looked up than back down again.  “I knew you played and I thought—“

She was confiding in him.  He knew that was a good sign.  She needed someone, and he could offer his small but strong shoulder.  “I just want to—I don’t know I wanted to...” Her large almond eyes flickered as she tried to hold back the inevitable tear.

“I understand if you don’t want to talk about it.” He fought the urge to stand and embrace her. “We can stick to the game. Sorry.” He clinched his fist and struggled against the instinct to punish himself.  “I didn’t mean to make you upset.” 

“No. It’s okay, really.” She dabbed at the tears that made her already long dark lashes appear even darker. “I—I could use a friend right now.” she took in a large breath and exhaled hard.  “Can we maybe talk later?”

Friend, of course friend.  I am always their friend. Damn it!  He was lamenting when he realized she was staring at him waiting for an answer.  “Sorry—I just— I mean, you…”

She forced a smile. “I understand, work and all.” She looked down at her shiny black stilettoes.  “Maybe later?” The small streak of makeup under her eye had drawn his attention.

“Oh no, I was listening it’s just that you have a little smear,” he reached up and wiped the smudge away. “right here.” He pushed back in his chair and crossed his foot over his knee. “I have time right now, I mean if you wanna talk.”

His reward was another big smile. She tilted her head down and touched her cheek where his hand had rested.  A warm glow flushed her cheeks. She looked up and her eyes had changed. No longer were they sweet and innocent but a sultry look held him mesmerized. Her voice had softened to a purr. “I would love that.”  She turned slowly never taking her eyes off his.

Charles attempted to clear his head with a slight shake.  He wasn’t sure what had just happened. He knew that today he was tired of being nobody. No real woman had ever looked at him that way. His pulse quickened. He shifted in his chair. A bead of sweat trickled down his chest. He caught his breath. He lifted his hand to stop her from leaving. “Hey you wanna grab some lunch?”

 Many times, he had dreamt of asking her out. He never believed the opportunity or possibility would arise. He had practiced repeatedly at home in his bathroom mirror. It would be romantic and memorable.

His palms were moist. He licked his dry cracking lips. I’m so stupid, ‘wanna grab lunch?’ really? How frickin’ romantic was that?  His thoughts bounced but time seemed to stop as he watched her for any sign of rejection. The sounds of the office melted into nothing. He tried not to hold his breath, but found himself becoming dizzy at the lack of oxygen.

Erin turned and gave her full attention.  She looked around and gave him her coveted sexy half grin, “Yeah that would be nice. What time?”

He looked at his desk clock, lifted his arms and locked his fingers behind his head as he leaned back in his chair. He could not believe how strong he felt.    “Now?” Surprised at his own courage, he sat up straight again and leaned toward Erin cocked his head.  He decided this was his moment then blurted out, “Or.” Shocked at how loud he had started he deepened his voice and continued, “Or, we can do dinner.”

She arched her eyebrow cupped her chin between her thumb and fingers, looked up as if she were deep in thought.  “Hummmm.”

He attempted to make his intention boldly clear. Charles Nibbly was asking Erin Wu out on a date.  He could barely hear over the pounding of the blood in his ears.  He lifted his hands and large lump formed in his throat. He thought that he needed to give her an out and stuttered, “Or, Whatever.  You know.”  Then he fought to manage his breathing.

“How about both?” her mouth upturned into a half smile.

“Yeah, really?” His voice cracked again like a prepubescent boy.   

She let out a soft seductive laugh. “Really” She leaned over his desk. His eyes immediately drawn directly to her round ample bosom pushed up in a lacey black bra. She planted a warm soft kiss on his cheek. “Maybe breakfast?” the purr in her voice left no question to her intention.

Charles felt the heat of her breath in his ear.  The hair on his arms stood erect with anticipation. He relished in the softness of her lips still fresh on his cheek.  He had spent many nights alone in his room with Erin as the center of his fantasies.  He tried to deepened his voice, “Okay, well let me just shut down my computer.”

He moved his cursor and hovered over shutdown icon he reached for his jacket, smiled up at Erin and winked. “Then we can get out of here.”

“Oh and Charles,” leaning deeper she took his hand.  Her long black hair fell from its makeshift bun and cascaded over her shoulders. The sweet scent of her perfumed hair coiled into his nostrils. He breathed in deeply to take in every second of this moment.

“Yeah?”

“It’s time to wake up.”

He blinked his eyes, looked up at his computer screen just as Erin Wu walked passed his desk, and cursed quietly “Damn it!”