New Eden: Live to Play, Play to Live

Alexander's head was pulsing every time he tried thinking. It was painful, but not unbearable.

"Can I have some water first? I feel like I've been cooking out in the sun for days," Alex responded, his throat dry and his mouth feeling like paste.

"Sure thing, kid." the detective said, walking over to the water dispenser.

He pulled out a paper cup from the side and filled it. He then brought it over to Alexander, before realizing how he would have trouble drinking, being cuffed and all.

"Ahh. Here. Let me give you a shred of freedom, so you can drink on your own," the detective said, fetching his cuff keys from his pocket.

He then freed one hand for Alexander to take the cup with. He didn't bother backing away from him, not being scared by a twenty-five-year-old man, half-cuffed in a hospital bed.

After downing the cup of water, Alexander let out a satisfied sigh. The cold water helped his thirst, but also eased his head drumming slightly.

"Better?" the detective asked, taking the cup away from him.

"Yes. Thank you." Alex replied.

"Good. Now from the beginning, please." the man said, pulling the chair closer and sitting in it.

Alexander recounted his day as best he could, his mind still a little blurry. While he did, the detective wrote everything down on his pad.

He only stopped him when Alexander told him he had tackled the goon over the balcony railing.

"Wait. You intentionally tackled him down a three-stair fall?" He asked, incredulously.

"Yes. I figured a three-story fall would have a better chance of survival than confronting three men in my cramped apartment." Alexander replied, scratching the back of his head sheepishly.

"I don't know whether you are crazy, stupid, or brave, kid." the detective said, looking at him like he was an idiot.

"A bit of the three, maybe?" Alexander replied, chuckling.

"Hah. Keep going." the detective said, shaking his head.

Alexander proceeded on with explaining his day, incorporating how he felt along the way. The more detail he gave, the more his story would be solid.

After recounting the whole thing, he waited for the detective to finish writing. It took around five minutes for the man to finish up before he closed his notepad.

"Well, young man. I think the cuffs are no longer necessary." the detective said, before un-cuffing his other hand.

"We interrogated the man you mentioned, Frank. The man was scared at first, but he eventually admitted to letting the man in the building and leading them to your apartment."

"We were planning on charging him with complicity to attempted murder. His trial should be fair, though, since he helped us identify the butler." the detective said.

Alexander smiled wryly.

"Please, I don't want to press charges against Frank. He is an honest man, with a family. He only did what he had to do to protect his life," he said, lowering his head a bit.

Truth was, Alexander was mad at Frank a bit, but he understood him, too. No one would refuse to act at the threat of a gun.

Unless they were brave or stupid like him.

"Hm. I shall convey your thoughts to the attorney general. He might get lighter charges. But justice must be served, kid." the detective said, looking at Alexander with respect.

"As for yourself. I recommend you change apartments, and find somewhere safer to live. The man this butler worked for is not to be trifled with." he added, before heading to the door.

"I will tell the nurse to bring you your personal effects. Once you are healed up, you are free to go," he said, before leaving the room.

Alexander sat in bed, looking at the door. He was contemplating what to do next.

His plans for moving had to be put forward faster now, but that would eat a large sum of money that he didn't want to take just yet. Other thoughts were also cruising in his head.

Like the question, who sends goons to steal money? Or what kind of man had the capital to have another man's face run through face recognition software?

He might have just made a terrible enemy without knowing it. His anxiety levels started rising slightly.

'Now I'll have to look over my shoulder at all times.' he thought.

The nurse interrupted his thoughts when she came into the room. She had in a pile, his clothes, his wallet, and his phone.

Alex was happy to have his things back, but the bloody clothes disgusted him a little. So he asked the nurse to get rid of them.

He ordered new clothes online with his phone, having them delivered to his hospital room. They would arrive the next day.

Right after completing his order, his phone rang. He looked at the caller and smiled lightly.

On the screen was not a number, but a contact name. A name from inside the game.

Since the update on the time adjustment, communicating with people inside or outside the game had become easier. The person calling him right now was Violette.

They almost always played together nowadays, and seeing as he didn't connect that day, she was probably worrying. They had become quite friendly over the last month.

He didn't want to worry her too much, so he picked up the call. He put it on speaker.

"Hello, Violette. I'm sorry I'm not online yet. Something came up and I won't be able to connect for a few days. You might have to play alone for a few days. I will be back online as soon as I can." Alexander said, trying not to let her too much time to answer.

He was also talking loud enough to cover the noise of the surrounding hospital. She answered 'ok' in a worried voice, but didn't ask questions.

After that, he hung up.

'I hope I'm not stuck here for too long.' he thought, browsing his phone again.