Chapter 1: One Last Game

  The roaring crowd should have filled Killian with something — pride in his performance, excitement in their victory, or maybe just a moment of satisfaction. But as he stood on the field, watching the clock finally creep to zero, wiping the sweat from his face, underneath the bright stadium lights he felt … nothing.

  Glancing up at the scoreboard it told of a great triumph. Not of his, but of the team, the fans, and even the commentors who all would soon talk as if they had just won some great battle with the fates of millions hanging in the balance rather than a game of rehearsed routines.

  He mustered up the strength to walk to the locker room, putting one foot in front of the other as he had countless times before. Nearing the tunnel, with every fans cheer, he felt like a wall of sound was slowly crushing him making each step harder and harder. His teammates running past already celebrating seemed oblivious to his struggle.

  Reaching the locker room Killian sighed deeply, stretching to reach and untie his cleats. Once that was done, he tugged off his helmet, shoulder length black hair spilling out. Greeted with the cool night’s air, his sweat drenched body hot from the night’s exertion felt some relief, but it didn’t clear the fog clouding his mind.

  ‘Yet another win,’ Killian thought. ‘Another step closer to the team’s goal to make the playoffs. Another point where he was supposed to feel alive’.

  Breaking his concentration, he heard “Hell yeah baby!”, as Noah, a freshman player, clapped him on the back. “That was a great block on the last play, man. Mason would have been killed if you hadn’t got there in time”

  Forcing a smile, Killian managed a practiced “Just doing my job.”

  Noah use to the bland response grinned, simply saying “Yeah, yeah. If you could call what you did to that linebacker just before half just doing your job” making air quotes as he spoke the last part.

  “Any way you should get a highlight or two from that”

  Killian laughed. “Maybe”

  Noah soon jogged off rejoining the chaotic celebration with the rest of the team. Killian watched him go, a small shadow of something shading his heart. It might have been jealousy, not of his talent on the field, but at how much he cared.

  Thinking on it a second, he decided that wasn’t it. It would be more accurate to say he was experiencing hate. Hate at how Noah had something that Killian couldn’t grasp no matter how much he tried.

  Killian wasn’t a star. He was just a guy who worked his ass off to get where he was. He was solid, a role player, that every team needed but would never build around. Maybe that was the problem.

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  From a young age football had always been his life. Taking over everything. He couldn’t remember all of the late nights, early mornings, and sacrifices he made to be better. Giving up the normal high school experience, skipping parties, missing time with friends, pushing past his limits — all for this.

  And now that he attained his goal…what was left?

  He wasn’t like Mason, the quarterback with a golden arm almost guaranteed to go in the first round. He held no aspirations of playing in the league because he knew that he frankly wasn’t good enough. His face wasn’t destined to be on billboards or on a commercial. So where did that leave him? He was just Killian Holt, an above-average player on a star-studded team. Killian Holt, a name people knew but never talked about.

  He had 2 more years of eligibility left. And the thought of doing this for another couple of years was draining. Then what? Coaching? Broadcasting?

  It was sickening to think about.

  A sudden blast of loud music from the speakers jolted Killian awake from is revery. Tiredly he finished taking off his football gear and got dressed.

  To no one’s surprise the locker room was a mess. Deliberately making his way through the maze of bodies his teammates formed he turned the corner just to see a mob blocking the exit.

  Inching closer he saw they were the typical group of reporters fawning over the usual heroes. Mason stood out among them, towering over them, locks of auburn hair bouncing as he laughed off one of the reporter’s questions, charm effortless.

  Killian barely listened, sitting on a bench nearby. Placing his elbows on his knees, he waited for them to finish. He started to sink back into losslessness as he focused on his hands.

  Big hands calloused from years of training. These were the hands that had caught passes and thrown blocks. These were the hands that had fought for every inch of what he had on and off the field.

  Hands like that were intended for men attempting to climb and grasp for more. They were wasted on him he thought.

  He clenched them into fists, so tight it caused pain. Then slowly and deliberately he released them. It served no purpose just like everything else he did.

  Looking up he saw Mason’s flock dispersing and finally made his escape.

  By the time Killian left the stadium, the city of Valdosta had settled into its standard nighttime rhythm. The streets weren’t quiet, but the sounds of cars passing him were more comforting than any cheer.

  He made it to his dorm unbothered. Knowing which areas to avoid when trying to skip out on the post game celebrations.

  Opening the building’s door he heard a chime. Confused, he looked around for the source unable to find one.

  ‘Was it in my head?’ he questioned.

  Another chime answered him.

  ‘Feels like its coming from my mind’ puzzled he played it off as him being tired.

  “Maybe I need a vacation” he muttered.

  Chime.

  For a third time he heard it.

  This time the sound was more sharp, cutting through the silence like a knife.

  Killian frowned, lifting his head.

  The lights all around him started to flicker.

  Then, right in front of him, a translucent blue screen appeared out of thin air.

  [System Initializing…]

  Killian heard screams echoing down the hallway. He would have too if he’d thought it would accomplish anything.

  Heart beating faster and faster he braced himself for whatever would come next.

  “The hell is this?” Jenny yelled.

  One of his neighbors, she waved her hands franticly trying to get the screen to disappear.

  He was going to make is way toward her, but before he could move —

  [System Initialization Complete]

  Welcome To The System

  Earth Has Been Selected For Integration

  Tutorial Assignments Created

  Prepare

  The words seared into his vision.

  Then the world went dark.