Dad
Eddie, are you okay??
Eddie
Dad, what happened? Why am I back in the cabin?
Dad
What happened with the Leader?
Eddie
I did exactly what you said. The second he stood in front of the window, I rushed at him.
Eddie
Did you know what would happen?
Eddie
I FELL OUT THE WINDOW!
Eddie
No. I attacked the Leader just like you said. And wow, is he mean.
Dad
I know. He’s vicious. And even worse than that, he’s vicious AND powerful.
Dad
It’s a deadly combination.
Eddie
Yeah, thanks for sending me after him.
Dad
We’re going to get you out. So what happened?
Eddie
He looked surprised that I was attacking him.
Eddie
I got to him before he could stop me.
Eddie
But then he grabbed me and pulled me with him.
Eddie
And WE BOTH FELL OUT THE WINDOW!!
Eddie
Did you know that would happen?
Dad
I was hoping it would.
Eddie
You’re not exactly making Father of the Year here.
Dad
When you told me you thought he was going to defeat you, I didn’t want that to happen.
Dad
If he kills you in the game, he kills you for real.
Eddie
So you sent me out a window instead?? That makes perfect sense.
Dad
The game needs a winner. Either you or the Leader.
Dad
If you both fall out the window, neither of you wins. Technically, you would both be killed.
Eddie
So that was your solution?? For me to die??
Dad
I knew you wouldn’t die.
Dad
You’d both fall out the window, leading the game to conclude that you would both die.
Dad
That way, without a clear winner, the game resets.
Dad
And it resets to one of the saving stations, which in this case is the cabin.
Eddie
Why didn’t it pick the storage room in the castle?
Dad
That’s the player punishment. You have to do the whole castle part again.
Eddie
I have to do that whole castle fight again??
Dad
Yes, but you should be even better at it this time.
Eddie
Wait. So if I’m back in the cabin, then that means it’s before Norville died?
Dad
Yes. But don’t get any wild ideas.
Dad
I already told you. Norville HAS to die in order for you to complete the game.
Eddie
Hold on. If I’m back at the cabin and Norville isn’t here yet, then that means it’s before he blasted me??
Dad
Oh yeah! I forgot about that. That should probably be any second now.
Eddie
Great, Dad. Thanks for that! Now, he’s going to blast me again.
Eddie
Maybe I can find him before he finds me?
Dad
I don’t think you can stop it from happening. Like I said, it’s predetermined. It NEEDS to happen.
Dad
Okay, I guess he got you. Text me when you wake up.
Eddie
You are killing me with this!!
Eddie
Yeah, he got me again! And yeah, it hurt just as much as the first time!
Eddie
Norville wants to train me again.
Dad
He should be impressed at how quickly you’re picking things up. LOL
Dad
He has to follow the game from this point. He’s supposed to train you.
Dad
So you must let him follow the game.
Eddie
I’m doing it. Be back soon.
Eddie
I’m heading out to the castle with Norville now.
Dad
Okay, but remember what I told you. You CAN’T change the game! Norville HAS to die.
Eddie
I remember what you told me.
Dad
Then why am I getting a bad feeling about this?
Eddie
I think if the game is giving me a redo, maybe it’s a redo for everything?
Dad
NO! I know you’re friends with Norville now, but he MUST die for you to complete the game.
Eddie
Dad, in a lot of the games I play, there are multiple paths to win.
Eddie
How do you know that saving Norville isn’t one of them?
Dad
It’s not that way here. There’s a path that has to be followed.
Dad
I’ve played this game thousands of times.
Eddie
In any of the redos did you try to save Norville?
Dad
No, I only needed a redo a couple of times.
Eddie
Really? Only a couple of times?
Eddie
Wow, you’re a better player than I am.
Dad
I don’t know if that’s true. It’s just that I was created for this particular game.
Eddie
But did you try to save Norville?
Eddie
What does that mean?
Dad
I kind of tried to save him. I thought about it.
Dad
But I knew the game had to follow a certain path in order for me to win.
Eddie
But you really don’t know.
Dad
Eddie, I know! I’m telling you. DON’T CHANGE ANYTHING!
Dad
Eddie, I mean it! DON’T CHANGE ANYTHING!
Dad
Eddie! Where are you??
Eddie
In the castle. In the storage room.
Dad
Okay. Do you still have the instructions on how to beat Mankill?
Eddie
I’ll look through the messages. But it might be easier now with two of us.
Eddie
Yeah, I did. I’m sorry, but I had to try.
Eddie
I had to try. I couldn’t NOT try.
Eddie
I told Norville I had a feeling the enemy would try something and he listened to me.
Eddie
We set our own trap. We were ready for them.
Dad
I don’t understand you! I told you!
Dad
I know you wanted to save him, but if it’s your life or his, I’m going to choose you every time!
Eddie
I know, Dad. But I had to try. Do you think it’s still the same instructions?
Dad
I have no idea now. I don’t know if this changes everything.
Dad
This might change the way ALL the characters act now.
Dad
The whole way up was using your invisibility. Now you can’t because he’s with you and will be seen.
Eddie
We’re going to make it. Don’t worry.
Dad
My hands are shaking now.
Eddie
We’re going to be okay, Dad. I promise.
Eddie
LOL! I was wondering when you were going to tell me that!
Dad
Yeah, well you better. You can do this, Eddie.
Eddie
We’re going to, Dad. I’ll be back.
Dad
I’ll be waiting. Good luck!
