Open World
Authors: Casey Moss
Evernight
Publishing
Copyright©
2014 Casey Moss
ISBN: 978-1-77130-852-6
Cover Artist: Sour Cherry Designs
Editor:
JS
Cook
ALL
RIGHTS RESERVED
WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this
copyrighted work is illegal.
No part of
this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written
permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.
This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are
fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or
persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
DEDICATION
To my WOW buddies—
Play
on!
To my two best buds, Chris and Trina, thank you for your continued
belief in me, along with your love and support. It means the world to me.
OPEN WORLD
C.O.V.E.N
.
Casey Moss
Copyright
© 2014
Briefing
I-D-8
Entertainment Corporation
For
Immediate Release—all media outlets
ANNOUNCING A NEW GAME—
C.O.V.E.N
.
I-D-8 Entertainment is
happy to announce our latest
project—a
massively
multiplayer online role-playing game
(
MMORPG) named Clans of Vegas: Endless Night,
a.k.a.:
C.O.V.E.N..
An initial release of this game is
projected for the fourth quarter of this year.
C.O.V.E.N.’s
premise:
The major countries of the world
have broken out in wars. This time the United States hasn’t escaped the
attacks. Las Vegas, a beautiful vacation destination, has been ravaged by
hostile, chemical warfare and is now home to several clans and zombie-like
creatures. “Everyone at I-D-8 is looking forward to the roll-out of
C.O.V.E.N.,” states
Frederick
Gott, Lead
Designer of C.O.V.E.N. “Gamers will enjoy this new world
we’ve created for them. There’s something for everyone, zombies, vampires,
shifters, magic, etcetera, across a variety of boards.
”
James Collins, a head programmer adds, “C.O.V.E.N. is more than just a
game. It’s another world full of adventure.”
I-D-8 Entertainment
Corporation, a world-wide
developer,
publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment software, has brought
the world many educational programs in enjoyable and mind stimulating formats
to assist in all levels of the learning process. I-D-8’s newest game is
projected to exceed all expectations in company sales and users’ gaming
enjoyment.
PART
ONE
L
ocal Area
N
etwork
P
arty
Chapter One
A
hot trail of sweat trickled down behind Alden’s ear and slipped beneath the
collar of his shirt. The world around him all of a sudden seemed
off
. Not sure if it was the spring heat
of southern Nevada, the fire in the grill’s shallow pit or a twinge of foreboding
raising his temperature, he shifted his stance and studied his surroundings.
The atmosphere rippled away from him in an agitated wave, giving him the
impression it wanted to consume everything it touched. Fine hairs lining the
nape of his neck rose to attention and tickled his skin.
Feeling
as if something menacing stared at him, Den spun from the barbecue. He held a
pair of foot-long tongs in his hand like a weapon and scanned the small groups
of people nearby. Coworkers wandered about. They ate from paper plates and
laughed and talked about office antics, appearing to enjoy the afternoon.
Others hung out under the open-air, wooden pavilion next to the community’s
club house.
They all act as if they have no
cares in the world.
But
then why should they? The
C.O.V.E.N.
project hadn’t hit too many glitches. Several
more months, God willing, the latest and greatest
massively multiplayer online role-playing
game, Clans of Vegas: Endless Night would hit the shelves. They’d all get their
bonuses. He and Hope could finally take their relationship to the next level.
Life promised to become great real soon.
Yet,
despite his positive thoughts, another shiver swept through him. Not wanting to
dismiss his ‘gut feelings,’ he squeezed the utensil, gritted his teeth and
focused in on close conversations. People discussed the previous morning’s
meeting. One man remarked, and those around him agreed, how wonderful it was
when everyone functioned ‘on the same page,’ especially in terms of the
C.O.V.E.N. project. It made each person’s workload progress much smoother. A
pair of women walking toward him compared notes on their daughters’ recent
ballet recitals. Some teens behind the adults chatted about an upcoming dance
and who planned to take who.
Innocuous topics.
Dammit. So then why do I feel
uneasy?
Relying
on past military training, Den swept his gaze over the grassy areas next to
where he stood on the concrete section of four barbecue pits, past a wood play
set and back toward the pavilion that stood in stark contrast to the
two-storied, white-stucco building. Nothing gained his notice that he should be
concerned about, except for the dark clouds gathering over the mountain tops to
the west.
Maybe it’s just the anticipation
of the first of several crunch times, the LAN party and giving the game a
thorough closed-playtest tonight and through the weekend
.
Under
the covered area and in front of the metal picnic tables, a small group dispersed,
revealing his girlfriend, Hope Collins, and her family. Smiling, Den waited for
her to look in his direction. His heart beat hard and fast in anticipation.
She
turned her head, moved a thick length of
brown hair
behind her ear and caught his gaze. He loved the way her
hazel eyes regarded him with warmth and sparkled when she
grinned. A soft breeze brought an exotic, sweet scent to his nose. The floral
aroma overrode the barbecue and reminded him of a perfume she’d recently worn.
Man, the fragrance had turned him on. “Pheromones on steroids,” he’d said. He
told her to be careful with the stuff.
Her response?
She’d
regaled him about the price, the designer, and how a celebrity from some
reality show wore it ‘all the time.’
For once he thought a purchase of hers had been worth the
expenditure.
Sexy relationship.
Great job.
Bright future
.
Den tipped the tongs to his forehead
then in his girl’s direction. His life and luck sure had changed for the better
when he’d met her a year ago.
A
tall, raven-haired man strolled up to Hope’s father and distracted his girl as
well.
Corbet Jenkins.
Liaison
between I-D-8 Entertainment and ‘The Money.’
And an asshole from
what he’d heard. Clenching his teeth, Den cocked his head and trained his gaze
on the broker.
Cor
stepped closer to where Hope sat, standing too near her for Den’s liking. The
man eclipsed her. A shadow seemed to encase her in a dark cloak where none
should be cast.
Odd
.
Regardless
of the strange obscuration, Hope didn’t deserve to have her light-hearted,
joyous nature snuffed out by anyone. Cor shook James’s hand and placed his
other on Hope’s shoulder. A low, possessive snarl rolled up the back of Den’s
throat.
Why the hell is that man buddying
up to Hope’s dad and trying to charm her? Why is he even here? He’s a bean
counter, not one of the game developers, not one of the I-D-8
family
.
Kids
on the red seat swings and yellow slide of the play set shouted at each other,
jarring him out of his thoughts. He tossed a cursory glance their way, then
looked back at the other family
he
one day wanted to
be a part of. Faith, Hope’s fraternal twin, joined them at the table. There was
a cousin, too—Cassandra, one of I-D-8’s story writers—who happened to be
missing at the moment from the gathering.
Once
more the air shimmered around him. This time a mirage-like heat disturbance
gave everything in his line of sight a watery luster. Something weird
was
going on. He wished he could
pinpoint what, since he reacted to it as if he were on a boat—slightly
unbalanced and disorientated. He hated feeling that way.