Aella eyes widened as she stepped out of the massive entrance of the High Council and onto a small set of stairs that led to an equally large courtyard, where at least one hundred players stood in groups or walking around between groups, the air filled with the hum of all their voices. Music played from every direction, but there was no orchestra so she assumed the music was coming from speakers.

She inhaled, feeling her stomach tighten. There are so many people. Her eyes grew wide as she breathed faster, then she closed her eyes. Easy. She opened her eyes, then glanced up, taking a look at the sky. Pale orange light interspersed with some reds and the white streaks of clouds made up the game sky. She could faintly see the outline of three planets, two seeming to take up half the sky. As she brought her gaze down, she saw the tops of white marble buildings peeking over the walls of the High Council Buildings. A stage was in the center of the courtyard, rising above the crowd. Several players in glittering armor stood on its surface, and some were sitting in a line of seats.

She moved down the few steps and moved over to the right, skirting the wall of the right wing of the building as she made her way toward the exit that led to the city. As she stepped in and out of the crowd, walking around groups of players, all in their different uniforms, she paid attention to the attitudes. Most were confident, laughing and playing around. Others were quiet and were simply watching the proceedings. Others, the solitary players, glared at her from their positions along the wall.

She hung her head, watching the ground as she walked. She focused on her breathing, taking deep breaths. Her limbs trembled, and her bones felt as if they were being squeezed. You aren't in danger. Calm down. You're fine.

"Aella," a voice called to her.

She glanced up, looking at the exit only twenty feet away, which was guarded by two massive Alpha players in black and silver armor. Her shoulders drooped as she felt her heart grow heavier.

Aella stopped in front of the two guards, a man and a woman wearing black and scarlet armor. "No exit until after the speech," the man told her.

Aella frowned, looking past them and down the white marble steps that led to a large square with a water fountain. All around the square were tall white marble buildings, their rooftops an intricate crosswork of spires and parapets in sweeping designs. Blue mosaics with ocean scenes lined their fronts, and blue paint lined the doorways and windows.

It's beautiful.

She heard the bustle of people and strained her head, seeing dozens of booths and people milling about one of the side streets to the left of the square. A warm breeze ruffled her hair, and she smelled food. Her stomach growled and she leaned back, feeling her face grow warm.

She turned around as a fanfare filled the air, and the bustle of the people inside the courtyard dimmed to a respectful silence. On the platform, Prince stood, his arms raised to the crowd. His silver armor glittered in the sunlight, and he seemed to glow.

"Players," he called. "Tonight we remember the lost of Quadrant 56, an important beacon of hope to the nations beyond our borders. "

She reached up and touched her chest, her hand over the spot where her necklace lay in the real world.

"Trinity soldiers and their allies in the rebel nations stormed the Facility, but our Founder's troops were able to stem the assault, but not before the lost of many brave soldiers and citizens of our United Consortium."

She looked up at Prince, then at the players listening to his message. Each one wore their own unique expressions. Some were sad, others looked angry, and some were turned away from her.

"We celebrate their memory today, and give them honor. May we never forget those we have lost, as we live to ensure that they did not die unavenged."

She nodded as the crowd murmured their approval, not feeling strong enough to shout and raise her fist to the sky. The gates creaked behind her and she turned, watching as the guards opened the doors to Arvium.

The crowds moved behind her, and the noise intensified like a wave about to break.

She stepped forward, and passed through the gates and into the square.

***

Aella strained her neck as she peered over the edge of the roof's edge, looking at the small, flat area in front of the chimney. She turned her head and look down at the alley six floors below her, then took a deep breath and climbed over the edge and onto the roof.

She scooted forward and leaned against the chimney as she watched the festivities below. The festivities lined the main streets around the High Council Building, and the buildings were lit up with the dancing lights of the displays.

She sighed and glanced up at the night sky, filled with with thousands of twinkling stars. Two planets orbited close enough to see vague land masses on their surface, one a verdant green world with swirling pink clouds and the other a complicated mess of space rocks floating through space in the shape of a planet. Beyond those, gas clouds in a rainbow of colors lit up the stars.

A faint breeze brushed her skin, and she closed her eyes.

Aella.

She jerked, her eyes searching the roof of the building next to her.

Another breeze rustled her hair, stronger this time.

Aella.

She saw something in the shadows, the hair rising on her arms. She leaned forward, squinting into the dark shadows.

Below her, a glass bottle smashed and she heard someone groan. Someone groaned and she heard a dull thud as someone was punched.

She leaned forward, taking in the scene below her. The alley was dimly light, flickering shadows on the walls. Three players dressed in red armor were standing around a fourth, that sagged against the wall, holding its chin.

The one in the middle moved forward, grabbing the limp player by the shoulders, pushing him into the wall. "You promised us, deserter. Now where are they?"

Her hands gripped the edge of the roof, holding her breath. Something moved in the corner of her eye and she watched as a figure emerged from the shadows at the end of the alley. It was tall, and wore a tattered cape, the edge misty as if it was made of smoke. It raised a hand, and a black wolf, its eyes glowing red stepped out of the shadows and growled.

The three players jerked, then backed up, away from the newcomers.

"It's the wraith" one of them shrieked.

"Move-get out of here!"

Her eyes grew wide as she felt the air chill. She closed her eyes and pulled herself back from the edge as the wolf howled and she heard screams. She shook her head, covering her ears with her hands as a massive rumbling filled the air, and the crackling of a fire.

Then, all of the sounds vanished almost as quickly as they had started.

She froze, trying to hear if anyone was still moving. Someone scrambled over the ground, whimpering. She waited as silence filled the air. She rolled over, taking quick breaths. She closed her eyes and exhaled before she slowly pulled herself closer so her eyes were peeking over the edge of the roof.

The figure was still standing there, in front of the darkness, motionless. The wolf was gone. Where the players had been was a scorched circle with smoke drifting from the center and scorch marks stretched from the area like fingers on the walls.

She looked past the alley and down the street to the festivities. No one seemed to have noticed what had happened in the alley, no one but her. She turned back to the figure, then whimpered. Its glowing blood red eyes were fixed on her, the only thing visible about its face. Then it raised it's arm, pointing a glowing red blade at her and making a slicing motion through the air.