"Have a nice day," the Game-Stop employee hands me my bag as I walk out. I grab the bag, raising my hand in a wave goodbye. The doors swish behind me, and I head to my mother's car. The sidewalk crunches beneath my feet. I can hear the car engine running.
She is sleeping in the passenger seat. I knock on the window and she wakes up putting the seat upright. I open the driver's side and sit down. I set my new game next to me. Removing my bandana from the top of my head I sigh and lean my forehead on the wheel. My hair goes into my face and I brush it away.
"Time to head home?" my mom says reaching over to drink the iced coffee I got for her.
"Yeah. I have work tomorrow and I wanted to finish setting up my Xbox," I sit up and put the car into reverse as I talk.
"I have to be getting home to your brother. Are you coming over for his party on Saturday?" she asks. I back out of the parking spot and head to the road. I resist the urge to bang my head on the steering wheel.
"Who's going to be there?" I ask turning my blinker on.
"Just me, your dad, Wendy and your brother. The big party is going to be in a couple of weeks. You should go to that one and see your grandparents." We turn onto the road and I press down on the gas to reach the speed limit.
"You know why I don't show up to the big family events. I'll be there at the party this weekend." I get stuck behind a white van. Silence fills the car as we drive.
"What game did you get?" my mom asks, trying to get me to talk.
"Skyrim. A friend recommended it to me," I answer her.
"Ally?" she asks.
"Yeah. How did you know?"
"She's the only that still talks to you."
"Sam and them still talk to me," I snap back. Just because you never see them talking to me doesn't mean they don't talk to me at all.
I take a harsh turn onto the road with my apartment. My mom is quiet as I park outside of the doors. I get out and my mom pops the trunk as she gets out. I grab some bags of groceries and the bag with the game. My mom grabs the rest of the bags and we go inside. I head to the stairs as my mom heads to the elevator ignoring the out of order signs. She pushed the button and waits.
"It's broken. We have to take the stairs," I start walking back to the stairs. I hear my mom sigh as she follows me. I count the steps as I walk up them. One, two, three-
"Are you sure you doing okay out here all by yourself?" my mom huffs as she walks up the stairs.
"I'm doing okay. I almost have enough money for a down payment on my own car" I continue up the stairs.
"Your grandfather could get you a car for only a couple hundred" she continues talking.
"I just want to get one from the dealership," I tried to explain. We reach the second floor and turn left. The carpet in the hallway muffles the sounds of our footsteps. Putting my bags down I unlock the door to my apartment. My mom pushes past me into the hall. I follow behind stepping over the shoes that she knocked over. I put my stuff on the kitchen counter and looked at her.
"Thank you for taking me grocery shopping" I reach out to hug her.
"Why are you in such a rush to get me to leave?" she asks with an accusing tone.
"It's getting late and you have to be at home to put Ethan to bed" I respond looking at the floor. She continues to stand there not moving.
"I barely see you anymore. Just like your sister." her voice drips with anger. My guts twist with guilt at her words.
"I have to go in early tomorrow, but I could use the help to put all of this away." I compromise not wanting to start an argument. She perks up and immediately starts to put stuff away. I put stuff in the fridge and let her take the pantry and baking supplies. I crouch and put the vegetables in their drawer waiting for her to finish. She almost drops the flour and I go to help her put it in the tin.
"Okay all done!" She exclaims. She gives me a hug. I return the hug, happy to avoid an argument with her. She picks up her wallet and walks to the door.
"It was good to see you. I'll call you tomorrow night so we can talk for a little bit okay?" She smiles and walks out the door.
I rush over and open the door, "Bye love you!" I call out to her. She doesn't respond. I sigh walking back into my apartment. My feet drag over to the couch and I flop down onto it. Closing my eyes for a few seconds I'm startled by my phone going off. I roll off the couch and walk over to the counter.
You have five new messages from Pigeon (Ally).
I unlock my phone and read the messages.
Hey, how are you doing?
Shit you're at work aren't you sorry
Have you gotten a chance to check out Skyrim yet?
I know you're out of work
Are you okay you little gremlin
Tension leaving my body I text her back. I lean against the counter, careful of the sugar tin behind me. I should make sugar cookies tomorrow.
Yeah. I'm okay just went out with my mom to do some grocery shopping. I got Skyrim today, might get started on it tonight.
YES! You should at least create your character tonight
I'll do that and I'll send you the results.
Okay. Can't wait
I close out my texts and walk over to the Xbox 360 just below my TV turning it on. I head out to the kitchen grabbing the bag with Skyrim in it and a cup as I wait for the system to boat up. I make myself some coffee putting sugar and cream in it. I head back out to the living room and sit my cup down on the floor. I log into my account and open the DVD. I put the DLC disc in and wait for it to load. I sit on the floor and open my texts again drinking my coffee.
You have one new message from Sissy (Wendy)
Hello, I was wondering what something you would want for your birthday? I saw this online and thought you would like it.
Sissy sent a photo
I open the photo and look the dress over. It looks like something out of a medieval fantasy show with long flowy sleeves and a black corset. The purple fabric reaches the floor, and the piece has a hooded cloak attached to the back.
I like it definitely something that I would wear.
Okay. I'll get it for you then. It should be in a week before your birthday. I'll drop it off at your place.
Okay. Thanks.
Your welcome. I have to go to work early tomorrow so goodnight love you <3
Goodnight love you too <3 <3
I put my phone down to see that the game is downloaded. I take the disc out and out the actual game disc in. Pushing play on my controller I wait drinking my coffee. My screen goes dark and the title screen pops up. I push start again and the screen goes dark again. The screen slowly lightens up and I pause to turn on the subtitles. When I unpause I can see that my character is on the back of a wagon with two other people in front of me. One has blonde hair and is bound and the other is a soldier. The blonde-haired one is talking to me.
"Hey, you. You're finally awake. You were trying to cross the border, right? Walked right into that Imperial ambush, same as us, and that thief over there" His voice sounds nice and I use my controller to look around. I see the thief he's talking about sitting next to him. Another man sits next to me dressed in some nice looking robes. He is gagged.
The thief speaks up next, "Damn you Stormcloaks." I look at the screen confused. Who are the Stormcloaks? I grab my phone to message Pigeon as the thief continues to talk.
Hey Pigeon, who are the Stormcloaks?
They are the people rebelling against the Empire. However, they are racist against the elves.
Okay thanks for the answer
"-Ulfric Stormcloak, the true high king." I look up at the game at the thief.
"Ulfric? The Jarl of Windhelm? You're the leader of the rebellion. But if they captured you... Oh gods, where are they taking us?" Probably to our deaths, except I'm the main character of this game so... maybe not. I look around the area that we have entered into. I can see a family and I overhear the man tell his son to go inside. I continue to drink my coffee waiting to be able to move. The wagon stops and I can see other wagons nearby.
"Why are they stopping?" I hear the thief ask.
The blonde man responds with something about not wanting to keep the gods waiting, and we start jumping out. The thief tries to tell the guards that we aren't with the Stormcloaks. The guard starts listing off names. Ulfric is first and the blonde man speaks to him. This is such a long beginning.
"Ralof of Riverwood," the blonde man steps forward, "Lokir of Rorikstead." The thief yells something and starts running. A woman yells at him to halt but he keeps running before he is shot down by archers.
Finally, it is my turn and I get to design my character. I run through the different races and decide to pick the one called Dark Elf. The game says they are stealthy. I change the gender to female and modify some other stuff. I chose the hairstyle of hair with a braid going down the side. I add some scars to the face along with some facepaint. I decided to name my character the same name as me. Zoe Barker.
I press continue and zone out of the intro again watching as a man gets his head cut off. Next up is me, but just before the ax meets my head I see a dragon land behind the man. I'm able to start moving and I follow along with the game. I choose to follow Ralof and when we escape Helgen. I pause the game and save.
I head out to the kitchen feeling lightheaded for some reason. I reach to steady myself on the counter as I fill my coffee glass up again. The clock says that it is eight o'clock. I should be heading for bed. I look back over at the game and decide to shut it off for the night. I press the power button and shut off the lights on my way to my bedroom. Just as I pass through my doorway my vision goes dark with a loud whine in my ears.
I passed out with one final thought, "This couldn't have waited til I got near my bed?" And everything goes black.