## Chapter one, Choices, Death or Indentured servitude.

“Welcome, you will feel a bit disoriented but that will pass in a few minutes.” An unknown voice said.

“Uhm, where am I? And who are you?” I was in a pitch-black room and the only source of light was a white blinking cursor, which you could find in almost any word editor app.

“How silly of me,” the voice said, “Let me introduce myself, I’m Userus and this is my domain, it has a long and complicated name but you can call it the preparation area to enter Running with the Devil’s or PAERD for short.” While the voice spoke the cursor changed into a face like some old ASCII art, and you could see when ‘It’ spoke.

“That is the short name?” I said out loud. “Nonetheless what am I doing here and what are you?”

“Telling you what I am will not help you at the moment, so I will not tell you. What are you doing here? You are making choices. Well, you have two choices, one, you go back to earth to the cleaning closet at Ohno High school and slowly bleed out and die. When Jake finds you tomorrow, it’s way too late to save you. Or you play the game for us and after five years of servitude, you have paid off your debt.

“So let me see if I got this right, one I go back and die, or the other I play your game for five years. Don’t think my mother would appreciate any of those alternatives.”

“No Ronald you didn’t let me finish. If you decide to play the game then after the five years are up, you’ll be transferred back into your body. Where you were at the start of today, I think you were sitting in front of your computer drinking lukewarm coffee? Since we need a connection to the game to be able to transfer the body back. Or you are already there, so it’s more your consciousness we transfer into your body.

“So you seem to know a lot about me. Why am I slowly bleeding out in Jake's closet?” I asked with my thoughts swirling around like a hurricane in my mind all though much slower.

“What happened to you, Ronald, was a very unfortunate series of events, you could say. It started with you being in that closet and when you decided to run in the dark, you accidentally tripped over the bucket you were sitting on before. When moving everything to the side, you didn’t remember to move it. So when you ran, it tripped you and crashed your whole body into the shelves. On the top shelf, there was an iron cauldron that somehow had ended up there, and it fell onto your head. That’s how you got hurt so badly and fell unconscious. It was at that time that we decided to grab you and transfer you here.”

“Okay, say that I become your slave for five years, how would it work?” I more or less grumbled to Userus.

“No, you will not become our slave merely working of a life debt. We saved your life and as thanks, you live and work in our world for five years,” he said.

“Well in my world, working for free is slavery. But tell me more about my choices. You said something about Running with Devils. Isn’t it the game me and my mate play?” I asked.

”It's really easy in one way and a bit harder in another way. Let me explain. The game, Running with Devils is not a game, it's a window or door into our world, called PAERD, we use the game on different planets that have reached Earth level of technology or are more advanced.” Userus told me.

“Wait the fuck up! Are you saying that I’m not on Earth anymore?? But on a planet called PAERD? You said it meant something like a Preparation Area for the game?” I almost shouted.

“Well, here is where it gets more complicated. PAERD doesn’t mean what I said it means. I think it works, at least in the beginning. Sooner or later you will find out what it means.“ Userus said with a wink.

My brain felt like it had gone through a blender, nothing made sense anymore. It also seemed like I had no choice other than to become a slave for whoever they were. If my mother and I could survive my father’s death, her losing her work, and everything that followed, I’d make it five years! Now, I just needed to see what was going to happen. “So if I take you up on your generous offer? What happens after I accept?” I asked sarcastically.

“You will sign a contract stating that you will stay and live and work in our world for five years or until death. Whatever happens first.” Userus said ignoring my sarcasm. “And then you will be teleported to a random location on PAERD. For you it will feel like you fall asleep and then wake up in a new world” he said.

“Hmm, okay, so if Running with Devils is only a door used to get people to play in your world, why do you need me to be transferred from earth to your planet?” I asked now, more curious than confused.

“Well, it’s the people playing the game that we can transfer into our world. When you start living on it, you will see what I mean, but the gamers aren’t there. You can communicate with them, but they can’t help with our problems. That is why we need people to move to PAERD.” Userus said.

“What problems? I asked.

“Enough of questions now!” Userus suddenly roared. I felt it in my bones. My whole body resonated with his voice and the feeling didn’t stop when he continued. “Ronald, it’s time for you to decide. Will you sign the contract or go back to earth?” He said.

“Yes, I’ll sign the damn contract,” I answered angrily.

All of a sudden the trembling stopped and almost faint, I heard him murmur. “Good, good, another one.” Then he started talking in a more normal voice. “Here is the contract. You sign it by stating loudly, I Ronald McGreen hereby sign the contract initiated and written by the founders of PAERD. I will stay and live on our planet for five years and after that, I can return to earth on the 3rd day of the year 22500.”

I repeated the contract loudly and thought of the year it mentioned, and it seemed that this planet was a bit older than mine.

“One last thing Ronald, on PAERD you can’t be known as Ronald. You can decide a new name for yourself or I can give you one,” Userus stated.

“Why is that? Why do I need a new name?” I asked.

“Simple, you can meet someone that knows you from the earth, and it can’t become common knowledge that Running with Devils is just a front for PAERD,” Userus said matter of factly. “And if you do meet someone you know, you can’t divulge this. We will know of it, and you will get reprimanded.”

“I’ll come up with a name,” I said, “just give me a few minutes.” So that was the reason why I needed a new name. I could see why they had thought of this. Even if I didn’t want to get reprimanded, I wanted to be able to be recognized by my friends if I met them. They would be able to see who I was. Then, wait, would I not look the same? Better not ask that I thought. So a name that Malcolm and Peter would easily recognize was me? Hmm, let me think. And then it was clear to me. I got it. I’d chosen something that only anyone who knew me from before would know. “Okay I’ve decided”, I said to the voice, “my new name will be Green Raven.” I held my breath. Would they accept it?

*Processing name change*

*Cataloging*

*Accepting*

*Indenture 6012349873, the name changed to Green Raven*

“Welcome, Green Raven '' I heard Userus say.

I ignored him while shouting in my mind, it had worked! My mates and I used to go to a gym called Raven's lair back in the day. And it was located in Greensburg. We always joked that when we grew up I’d buy the gym and name it Green Raven. I don’t remember now why, but the thought of it made me sad. I longed for my mother and all my friends.

“Now my work is done, good luck, Green Raven,” Userus said almost reverently.

I felt how the air around me grew denser and denser, and I once more fell unconscious.

*Control of the body is temporarily taken over to avoid accidental injury.*

*Stasis induced*

*Teleportation to a random location on PAERD commencing…*

*Loading..*

*Loading.*

*Loading..*

*Teleportation to PAERD concluded…*

*Removal stasis of the body*

*Waking up Green Raven formerly known as indenture 6012349873*

I came to while laying in a green lush forest when I opened my eyes. Although I was on my back, I didn’t feel cold. It was a sunny and warm day even if the sun couldn’t reach me. The tree's canopy was shading the spot where I was. I slowly got on my feet and checked my body all over. I noticed that I had new clothes on, but other than that I felt fine. The clothes were similar to the ones my character had on when I played this morning.

Was it only this morning I was at home drinking coffee?

Time flies when you're having a blast or however the saying goes. Well, I don't know if I agree with that. At least, not just yet anyway.

I started to look around me to see where I was. I saw something looking like a small letter blinking in the corner of my eye. I tried saying “Open”, and “the open letter” out loud a couple of times but that didn’t work. But when I focused on it, it opened.

*Greetings Green Raven and welcome to PAERD.*

*You will get these notifications while you truly progress the world. To make them go away you focus on it and think swipe away. Try it now.*

I focused on the notification. Yes, when I tried to mentally swipe it away, it vanished. It was replaced by a new one. When I opened it, it told me to try to focus on my Status. I tried it.

*Status:*

*Name: Green Raven*

*Level: Zero*

*Attributes:*

*Strength 3*

*Dexterity 4*

*Endurance 4*

*vitality 3*

*Intelligence 7*

*Wisdom 0*

*Available points: 0*

*Health: 30/30*

*Stamina: 40/40*

*Mana: 0*

*Skills:*

*Skill that unlocks at level ten*

*Randomized skill from uncommon to epic.*

Seeing the status page reminded him of his character from the game. All through here his stats were so much worse. But all things considering his life back on earth the last couple of years he wasn’t surprised. But when playing, you always start with one skill. But here it seemed blank, he focused on his skill page.

*Skills*

*Skill that unlocks at level ten*

*Randomized skill from uncommon to epic.*

Hmm, no skills at all, low stats, and no point. This was not an easy start. What other commands could he try? He tried, Help, me, and exit and none of them worked.

Instead, he tried one last thing. Inventory.

*Inventory Slots 5/5*

*1 Pants, low quality (Equipped)*

*1 Sweater, low quality (Equipped)*

*1 Shoes, fair quality*

*1 knife*

*1 Water-skin, empty, fair quality*

I looked once more over my body and realized that I was barefoot. Focused on my pants.

*Pants level 1, low quality but gets the job done*

After that, I focused on all my equipment and clothes.

*Congratulations, you learned the skill. Inspect the item, it will tell you basic information about an item, the higher the level of your character and the skill the more you will find out.*

Happy to find a skill I tried some new commands.

*Time*

*It's 19.48 in the evening*

*Alarm*

*No alarm set, for setting an alarm, focus on Alarm then Time.*

Hmm, I learned something new. And my new skill didn’t require mana. I was about to check when I heard a sound somewhere nearby, which sounded like something I never heard before. I turned toward the noise and what I saw made me equip my knife. Command was a focus knife and it appeared in my hand. Small humanoid shapes were running toward me, they were knee-high creatures, with green skin... Looked like Goblins. I used to inspect the item.

*Skill not yet unlocked*

Damn, damn, the five probably Goblins ran for me and all I had was a rusty old knife that made 1-3 damage. The first one had almost reached me when I sidestepped and slammed my knife into the goblin's brain. It died but it took a few more steps before it dropped dead so it passed me by. Had barely time to pick up a rusty short sword the now dead goblin had charged me with. I inspected it.

*Level 1 Goblin sword*

*Very low quality*

*Damage 4-6*

Didn’t have time for more than a glance at the information until the next Goblin was all over me.

I fended off the first attack that went low but the next hit me on my leg.

*Damage is taken :*

*3 HP*

Wow, that hurt, not the worst pain I’ve experienced but enough to notice it and I just knew this was not going to be easy because now the other three Goblins were upon me.

*Damage is taken :*

*4 HP*

Not the time to let my thoughts wander off. I went on the attack and at the same time somehow managed to minimize the notifications. I slashed out at the closest enemy and hit him square in the chest. The good thing was that he seemed to die. The bad thing was that the sword I used broke when I pulled it out. I kinda panicked and did the only thing I could think of. I turned and ran. What to do? What to do? I’m in a new world, with no weapons hunted by Goblins or at least creatures using Goblin swords. I checked my inventory in a desperate attempt to find anything.

*Inventory Slots 5/10*

*1 Pants, low quality (Equipped)*

*1 Sweater, low quality (Equipped)*

*1 Shoes, fair quality*

*1 Water-skin, empty, fair quality*

Damit, nothing, I both heard and smelled the remaining Goblins coming closer now. Oh man I realized, they didn’t smell good, no daily showers for them, that was apparent. The nearest one tried to stab me with a long knife, but I managed to dodge at the last second. But his next try connected on my lower calf. Damn that hurt. I wondered how much HP I had left, that gave me an idea. So I focused on the HP bar, and lo and behold in the left-hand corner near the top of my vision the HP bar appeared.

*HP:*

*20/30*

One more hit from another of my enemies.

*HP:*

*15/30*

I felt that all this running and fighting was starting to tire me out. Tried to add a stamina bar as well.

*Stamina:*

*10/40*

Okay, I need to figure something out otherwise I’m done for. I ran on and almost tripped on a branch or stick laying in front of me. In the last effort I suddenly stopped, turned, picked up the stick, and wielding it like a club I smacked it in the stomach of the closest pursuer. He doubled over and I took the chance to hit him in the back of his head two times, rendering him unconscious or worse. I then jumped over him and with a hand smack, I hit his mate square on his nose, shattering it. I followed through with a knee at the same spot and he crumbled to the ground. In my excitement of taking down two enemies I lowered my guard before the last Goblin and he hit me in my stomach. A quick check on my HP bar and Stamina bar later made me wince.

*HP:*

*8/30*

*Stamina:*

*3/40*

I did the only thing I could think of and took hold of the sword still in my stomach, and while punching him in the face it forced him to let go. It was a terrible experience but I managed to pull it out and using up all my last strength I hacked the head off the Goblin. Then blackness.