While I waited for his reply, I checked that horrible YouTube video he’d uploaded. Dammit, he’d added at least another thousand followers. I wasn’t going to click over to my channel to count. I wasn’t—
The Legendelirium chat pinged and I clicked back gratefully. Someone save me from myself.
New avi. Who dis?A smirk emoji.Perchance a ghost of EldWitch’s past?
Egotistical and now smug. Great, I had him just where I wanted him.How’d you guess?I added a laughcry emoji.
Cuz I’m a Black Badge, baby
God, what a nerd. I had to call him on it.Bullshit
Fine, but I almost won a CTF
Okay, if he’d evenalmostCaptured the Flag at a hacker convention then maybe he was exactly the kind of nerd I needed.
I’m looking for SunSummoner.I hesitated then added,Brayden,as if Jacksalot wouldn’t know that already.
Haven’t seen him since your dramatic breakup, him figuratively, you literally. What’s the side quest?
I hesitated again, then went all in.That *is* the side quest
I waited while he thought about it. Or maybe he just got bored and went elsewhere, leaving me on read. Then the typing icon reappeared.
He took forever, probably to torture me, since I knew he was a faster typist than this.
He hasn’t been anywhere in L since he ditched you. Must’ve found something better. Anything better
Grinding my teeth, I typed,He’s missing, jackhole. IRL. If checking game records is the best you got, just admit it and *I’ll* find someone better
Nothing. And then my phone rang. Not a ring tone I’d programmed.
Pulse racing, I answered. “Is this—?”
“I don’t know you. I don’t even really know Brayden. Why should I waste my time on you?”
“How did you get this number? Who is this?”
“‘Is that the best you got?’”
I didn’t recognize the voice, but I recognized the snarky tone. My mobile number was probably searchable online through some shady directory service. “Okay, so it’s you. Can you trace Brayden outside the game?”
“That would be illegal.”
“Now there’s the SirJacksalot that I know so well.”
After a moment, he laughed, though it sounded grudging. He also sounded older than I would’ve thought. From his antisocial BS I’d have guessed he was Arjun’s age. But there was a touch of gravel in his voice.
Faintly, the sound of typing pattered in my ear.
“Tracking someone isn’t as easy as it looks in the movies,” he said. “But I did a favor for him a few months ago, so I happen to know he has a burner. It felt sketchy, so I did a little digging. Turned out to be nothing back then. It’s probably nothing now too. You and your boytoy are so boring.”
Curiosity piqued. “What favor did you do for him?”
“None of your business.” More pattering. “Huh.”
I drummed my fingers in counterpoint. “Huh what?”
“He hasn’t been active anywhere since he logged out of Legendelirium after you died.”
