Page 2 of Unbearable Player
Martha and Catherine exchanged a hopeful glance. Gerri knew their hearts filled with anticipation for what the future might hold for their children. That future, Gerri already knew would be absolutely magical. As the meeting drew to a close, the women lingered, chatting animatedly about their own romantic aspirations and the promise of new beginnings.
Gerri bid farewell to each woman with a warm hug and a knowing smile, leaving them with a sense of excitement and possibility. As she stepped out into the bustling streets of Manhattan, Gerri couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride and determination.
She knew that Brianne and Reid’s path to love might be filled with challenges and unexpected twists, but she had no doubt they were destined for each other. With a spring in her step and a mischievous glint in her eye, Gerri set off to put her plan into motion, ready to watch another beautiful love story unfold.
Little did Brianne and Reid know that their lives were about to be turned upside down by a matchmaker’s intuition and a series of serendipitous events.
ONE
Brianne Ellis sank deeper into her gaming chair, her fingers dancing across the controller with practiced ease. The neon-lit world of “Cyber Siege” unfurled before her, a dizzying landscape of impossible architecture and pulsing energy fields. Her character, a lithe cyber-ninja, darted between covered spots, narrowly avoiding a barrage of plasma bolts.
“Nice try, UnbearableBeast,” she muttered, a smirk playing on her lips. “But PixelQueen isn’t going down that easy.”
As if in response, a hulking mech suit burst through a nearby wall, guns blazing. Brianne’s eyes widened. “Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me. Overcompensating much?”
She deftly maneuvered her character, using the mech’s size against it. With a series of well-timed jumps and slides, she managed to plant an EMP grenade on its back. The mech stuttered to a halt, sparks flying.
“And that’s how it’s done,” Brianne crowed, pumping her fist in victory. “Maybe try something a little less conspicuous next time, big guy.”
A deep chuckle rumbled through her headset, startling her. She hadn’t realized her opponent had switched on voice chat.
“Impressive moves, PixelQueen,” the voice said, a hint of amusement coloring the words. “But don’t get cocky. The game’s not over yet.”
Brianne felt a thrill run through her. This was new. Most of her online opponents were either silent or obnoxiously loud. This guy... well, his voice alone was enough to make her sit up a little straighter.
“Oh ho, he speaks!” she quipped, switching on her own mic. “I was beginning to think you were just a very advanced AI. You know, given how predictable your moves are.”
“Predictable, huh?” UnbearableBeast’s avatar suddenly vanished from her radar. “Let’s see how you handle this, then.”
Before Brianne could react, a stealth drone appeared behind her, launching a net that immobilized her character. She let out an indignant squawk. “Hey! That’s... actually pretty clever. Didn’t see that coming.”
“Who’s predictable now?” His smugness was palpable, even through the digital connection.
Brianne narrowed her eyes, a competitive fire igniting in her chest. “Oh, it is so on, Mr. Beast.”
For the next hour, Brianne and UnbearableBeast engaged in a digital dance of death, their avatars weaving through the neon-drenched cityscape with a grace that belied the furious button-mashing happening in the real world.
“Is that the best you’ve got?” Brianne taunted as she narrowly dodged a hail of plasma bolts. “I’ve seen better aim from a stormtrooper with vertigo.”
UnbearableBeast’s deep chuckle rumbled through her headset. “Oh, I’m just warming up, PixelQueen. Watch and learn.”
Suddenly, his character leaped off a skyscraper, using a series of impossibly acrobatic moves to ricochet between buildings before landing a surprise attack on Brianne’s avatar.
“Holy pixel-flipping parkour,” Brianne exclaimed, her fingers gliding over the controller in a desperate attempt to counter. “What are you, some kind of digital ninja?”
“I prefer ‘cyber-samurai,’ if you don’t mind,” he replied.
Brianne snorted, executing a perfectly timed backflip to avoid his follow-up attack. “Well, Mr. Cyber-Samurai, prepare to taste the bitter sting of defeat... and my shuriken.”
She unleashed a barrage of virtual throwing stars, each barely missing UnbearableBeast’s character as he twisted and contorted in ways that would make a yoga instructor jealous.
“Ha! You couldn’t hit the broad side of a... whoa!” His boast was cut short as one shuriken clipped his avatar’s arm, sending him stumbling.
“You were saying?” Brianne grinned, pressing her advantage.
The battle raged on, each of them pulling out increasingly ridiculous and improbable moves. Brianne found herself cackling with glee as she surfed on a piece of debris, using it as a makeshift hoverboard to rain down attacks from above.
“What in the name of pixelated madness?” UnbearableBeast growled. “Is this ‘Cyber Siege’ or ‘Tony Hawk’s Pro Hacker’?”