Chapter Text
'So that was it?'
Avery thought as he stared at his computer screen. A red, minecraft screen with the words 'you died!' engraved like the last will.
Outside? Fireworks bang, sending colorful flashes of light on an ink-black sky. He could see every possible colour out of the corner of his eye, but his eyes never did wander to the window. He didn't celebrate. He was a broke student with his family in another state, probably partying and drinking their asses off for New Year's Eve, the same as his friends. Sure, he had a lot of them, Avery was a rather social person, but they were more like occasional friends, the ones you go out with to hit the gym or talk in between lectures. He wanted to spend this holiday alone. Feel the vibe of fireworks on the sidewalk in front of his apartment, with a glass of champagne in his hand, admiring the beautiful views.
But this? He did not plan to spend his time like this.
Sure, he knew that searching for a person in such an illogical Minecraft world would be time consuming, but he imagined finding him in creative mode, talking to him, making sure he is alright and wishing him a happy new year. Easy right? 5 hours at most.
So that's why, looking at the screen with shaky hands, after more than 15 hours spent by the computer searching for someone that at the end saved him, felt like a fever dream.
Avery wouldn't allow it. His hand, despite being all stiff and shaky, gripped the mouse and searched for the respawn button. Maybe D3rlord was still there and Avery could do something. Yeah, he did push him off the platform and was trying to keep him away from this whole place, but Avery just can't leave him there alone. He was warned and he knew the possible consequences if he stayed with D3rlord, but he couldn't bring himself to care about it at all. Right now there is no future or other people. It's just these two against the whole world. The King in Yellow, to be precise. Yes, Avery didn't care if he died, he just needed to be there.
Just as he was about to click on the button, he noticed something.
It wasn't there.
Avery knew what that meant right away. The world got switched to the hardcore mode. Once you die, you can't respawn.
"No no no..." Avery breathed out unconsciously. Why did this happen? He died not long ago and could respawn with no problem. Why now? When has it changed?
...The platform.
Avery's panic picked up. He couldn't see what happened to D3rlord. Couldn't save him. He was completely cut out from the world with no further information. D3rlord was alone with the king. Has he defeated it? If so, then the king merged into his mind, killing him from inside-out. If not, then he didn't know, but what he knew was that D3rlord was in serious danger.
Avery quickly snatched his phone from the desk. Ignoring the messages and unanswered calls with various wishes. He dialed 911, but hesitated before hitting the call button.
What was he going to tell them? 'Hey, I know it's New Years Eve, but someone I met a few hours ago in Minecraft has a legendary entity merging into his brain trying to escape into our world. Send help to his house.'? They would think he's crazy or high. No way Avery would have been taken seriously over this call.
He thought for a moment and hit the call.
"911, what's your emergency?" He heard from the other side. A tired, professional voice of an operator. It made Avery even more aware of what is happening. It wasn't a simulation or a game, it was real. It scared him.
"Hello?" He cringed at how his voice broke at the end of just this one word. Avery only now realised how rapid his breathing was.
"I think my friend is about to commit suicide"
He said the first thing that came to his mind. This could work, right? Suicidal rates are usually skyrocketing at the start of every year, so using this excuse will make it a lot more believable. And to be honest, it wasn't entirely false.
"Okay sir, please tell me what happened and where your friend lives"
Oh how Avery dreaded the fact that he did not know. He took a big breath before letting his mind rant.
"Okay, so.. I actually don't know where. I met him on a video game platform and we've been playing and chatting with each other ever since. But like, a moment ago he gave me a goodbye message there, saying that it was the only option left for him, and he doesn't respond anymore and I can't contact him at all." Avery spoke so fast he was wondering if the operator could understand him, because he physically could not slow down. The only thing that somehow did, was his deep and loud pants in between sentences.
"I don't think he has anyone close to hear or help him and I just don't know what to do!" It was true, right? Because if not, why did no one check on him? True, no one did either on Avery, but he was playing this goddamn game for just a day and there were people calling him. D3rlord was stuck by the computer for who knows how long? Maybe even months.
There was a short pause from the other side and a sound of the keyboard typing.
"Sir, could you tell me everything you can remember? The name of the game, his nickname, his name if you know it. Basically any information could be useful right now." The operator spoke calmly, Avery didn't know if it was making him keep his sanity or the opposite.
"Minecraft" The name of the game send shivers down his spine, as he automatically looked at the still red screen of his computer "His name is Derek, D3rlord3 on the game, written with a 3 instead of 'E' at first and a 3 at the end." Avery thought intensively, trying to recall any information he knew about the man. He wanted to smash his head against the laptop hoping that the infinite knowledge would somehow transfer to him, but only the knowledge about D3rlord. Right! The laptop!
"Uhh.. I think he might live somewhere near me, turns out the laptop I am using for gaming used to be his, I found it in my locker not so long ago"
"We can work with that. I send the information to the game studio, we'll try to localise the device on which this account is logged on... or has been."
The operator said, and oh, if it wasn't the best thing Avery has heard. He was sure that this case was a lost one. A holiday case with practically no info and a timing bomb right above everyone's heads. He has never been more grateful for the technological progress and hackers. The operator continued. "What is more, can you please send your laptop data and the Microsoft account it is logged into, to this number? We can look at the previous logins and possibly see who this laptop belonged to. If we can find Derek there, then we can localise him also this way. In the meantime, I need you to tell me your name, age and domicile."
Avery jumped to his computer. He minimized the Minecraft screen, no longer interested in it, but he didn't dare closing the game yet.
"My name is Avery Harran, I'm 21 and I live on _" (sorry, I just couldn't think of any street name and I gave up while looking at the existing ones)
Avery found the data and quickly sent it to the 911 number while the operator gave an acknowledging hum.
"Alright Avery, do you know anything else about mister Derek? Did he say something that stood up to you in the goodbye message or when you two were chatting?"
The typing noise increased, probably signaling that the operator got the message from Avery.
There was one thing he didn't say. Well, a lot, but only one that he wouldn't be seen as crazy if said it. But should he do it? It has to do with the king in yellow and Avery didn't know if anything remotely related to it should be mentioned. After all, better be safe than sorry.
But again, the operator said that any information could be important. What if saying it would save his life, because the paramedics would know where to start looking at?
"Well..." Avery hesitated. "he complained of a headache. Like a serious migraine where he couldn't do anything at all. He described it as horrible pain and as if his head was about to explode..." Avery took a breath, recalling every time D3rlord said how the infinite knowledge destroyed his mind "You can't accurately express your feelings in messages, but he is a sensible guy, smart as hell, I am sure the migraines were more painful than I can imagine and he wasn't overreacting."
The typing resumed with a hum following it.
There was a pause where the operator was busy with transmitting information and Avery didn't know what to say. Normally he would have felt awkward by the silence, but given how tense he was and how much his mind was spiraling, Avery didn't care. The longer he was left with his mind alone, the more his panic was getting stronger. The operator gave him hope that it is possible to find D3rlord, but what if they find him too late? What then? They'll just find a dead body slunched against the desk, or maybe on the floor...
The mare thought made his breath hitch, which the operator heard as well and started asking Avery a bunch of questions, or just saying anything to keep the boy's mind occupied. Bless them.
They were on a line for a few minutes longer, before the operator spoke.
"Avery, I just got a notification, Mister Derek has been localised. We're sending paramedics to his place."
Avery's heart stopped for a moment. Did he hear that right? Oh my God... They found him. Like, actually they know where he is. They could see if he's okay.
He felt like a huge weight just got lifted from his chest. He let out a shaky breath he didn't even realise he was holding in.
"Can you tell me his address?"
Avery asked hurriedly. He needed to be there, see D3rlord for himself. In real life. Make sure he is alright. But fate had other plans.
"I'm sorry. Unfortunately, since you're not a relative I can't give you that information..." The operator seemed hesitant for half a second as they spoke in a soft, apologetic voice, but nevertheless stuck to the law.
Well, Avery couldn't say that he wasn't expecting this answer. He was an adult, he knew how the world works. Health and safety services mustn't just throw around any personal information about the victim to the strangers. And that's what Avery despite being the one to make the call was. A stranger. He knew this, but he still hated being dismissed like that. It hurt, because from the legal point of view, D3rlord sacrificed himself for a stranger. And Avery was gaining an enormous amount of grey hair trying to make sure he is alright.
"...Then what can I do?" Avery spoke quietly. His voice was wet with tears that filled his eyes.
"Hope." The operator simply answered. "Hope that Derek is okay and hope that he reaches out to you."
Avery sniffed. Right, there isn't anything else to do.
"I think it's my time." Avery heard a soft tone from the other side. Just that somehow felt calming. "You did great Avery. Thank you for calling 911. Now it's our call to make sure mister Derek is alright."
And with that, the call ended.