Short Stories

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5:15PM
As I entered the gates of the city I noticed immediately that something is was wrong. What had been a flourishing city less than five hours ago was no more than a tomb. The buildings of the city looked virtually untouched but the bodies of the merchants, citizens, and guards littered the streets, lying where they were slain. This was the last thing I expected upon reentering this once noble city. Could this slaughter be the result of an earlier action? Perhaps in my zeal to rid the dark forest of the goblin hoard, I killed one who should not have been. It could have been vengeance. Maybe the culprits were the two suspicious characters outside the city walls when I first arrived. I let them live, which could have been a fatal mistake. Just then I saw a movement in the shadows near the pub and I notched an arrow. I waited for what seemed like ten minutes, and I saw him round the corner I had been spying. The arrow sung from the string assured of hitting the mark. The runes etched on the ash bow, endowed it with absolute accuracy. I killed the goblin warrior with two shots and went to search for booty. The cries of this fallen warrior had summoned a small army, and they were bearing down on me rapidly. I summoned a ring of fire from the spirits within the earth, to encircle me and slowly drain the life from all who dared enter. When the dust settled I was still alive, but wounded and badly needing health. I took the potion I had bought from the crossroad merchant, and swallowed it quickly. My life was renewed and my strength restored, but I had to collect my wits. The fact that the buildings were standing gave me hope, and I decided to head toward the shop of a man who procured rare objects. We had reached an agreement. I would bring him any rare books that I found, in exchange for allowing me to purchase some of his “special” stock. Perhaps he had stayed inside and avoided all the carnage. It was a risk I would have to take. At the moment, I had in my possession an ancient spell book from the days when the earth was young. I needed to know what precious items my “friend” might have, so I crept slowly toward his door. I ran into five more goblin fiends, along the way and dispatched them quickly. Thinking I was nearly there, I began to move more freely. However, just inside the ally that led to my salvation, stood a demon of unimaginable power. As fast as I could I used a ward that would allow me a measure of protection. I also called upon the halo of fire once again. I drew my bow and fired as rapidly as I could, alas…. “The spirit has been torn from your body,” read the computer screen and it gave me two options. I could load a saved game and try my hand again, or I could exit the program.

5:48PM
I’ve got time for one more game. The guys wouldn’t even show up until six fifteen or so. It’s only a ten minute drive. So on I played till my next life was drained.

6:13PM
Oh, man I’m already late, and I’d hate to interrupt. With my luck I’ll get there right as they’re praying or miss half of David’s lesson. If I miss one time it’s not that big of a deal. Everybody misses sometimes. Now, what should I do with my newly freed up evening? I could finish my chores or study on my own. I think I'll conquer the next level.

9:36PM
“Incoming call,” chirped my phone. I hit pause and jumped up to answer it, knocking my bible off the desk in the process. It was a wrong number, and I was irritated because of the interruption. When I picked up the bible off the floor a single scrap of paper fluttered to the ground. I placed the Word on my desk and examined what I though at first to be trash. On it was a single sentence in my handwritten scrawl. It read, “Worship: putting your mind’s attention and your heart’s affection on...."** There was a blank at the end of the sentence. This phrase gave cause for reflection. I quickly threw up a prayer thanking God for all my blessings, and asking for His protection. I briefly considered asking Him to help me beat my game, but realized that was silly. I returned to my screen.

12:01AM
I just died at level thirty four; it took three of them to kill me. It took three guardian shaman zombies to beat me down this time! I just need to find the third stone of power and I will be unstoppable, I think. Oh, it’s late, I should go to bed, and I have church in the morning. I will go to sleep, well, as soon as I complete my objective…

**My source for this quote is one of Louie Giglio's sermons in 1990.

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