Call of Caldiria Chapter 1

Call of Caldiria Chapter 1.

             Veredel sighed as she pushed the door open to her house. She had just arrived home from working at her part-time job, and she was worn out to the bone. “Ugh.” She closed the door behind her before sliding down against it. She was almost twenty-one and had yet to move out of her parents. How could she? She was flat broke. Veredel was lucky they would give her a place to stay while she tried her best to squirm through college.

             “Huhhhh.” She tossed her tote bag across the room. “I. . . I hate this.”

             “Veredel. You are finally back!” She opened her eyes to see her younger brother running towards her. “How was your time at work?”

             She mustered the strength to sit up as Sean ran up and hugged her. He was a young thirteen-year-old boy and the light of her life. He was the only one in the family who really felt like wanted Veredel around at times. She knew she was adopted; she had known it for a long time. But Sean never made her feel that way. “It was hell.” She kissed him. “Like all the other days. I hope one day I can get a job that I really enjoy. Not cleaning up bathrooms and having to take orders for people who think I am some filthy person who can’t get their life together.” She sighed. “Aren’t you supposed to be in school, though?” she looked at the clock. “It is only a bit past noon. Why are you out so early?”

             Sean snickered. “I was lucky. It was a half day. On today of all days.” He tugged at her arms. “So, we can go right now to the store and get it? Call of Caldiria. Before anyone else.”

             Verdel laughed. “Whoh now. I just got home. What about mom?”

             “She is already watching TV.” He looked at the ground. “And says she won’t stop until she has to cook dinner. And well. . . dad is. . .”

             “I know.” Their parents were a piece of work. Their mother was a passive-aggressive woman who bottled things up and ignored them most of the time until she went into an explosive rage, while their father tended to drink and blame Veredel for every little thing. Not that she wouldn’t change anything. She would rather that bastard take things out on her than hurt Sean. “It’s okay. You know they won’t bother you.”

             “Mom yelled at me, though. She said. . .”

             Veredel narrowed her eyes. “She was just tired. You know she doesn’t mean it.” She snorted.  “That bitch should know better than to take out things on him.”

             “But she said if I asked about getting that game again, she would ground me for a month.” He sighed. “I don’t. . .”

             Veredel hugged him. “Don’t worry. We are going to get you Call of Caldiria, even though Mom broke her promise again,” Veredel sighed. You are going to get the game, even if I have to spend my own savings on it.”

             “But—”

             Verdel smiled. “I don’t care. You are my little brother, and I would do anything for you.” She stood up and stretched her arms. “But I do need to get something for my head first. It has been killing me all day.”

             “Umm, okay.” He smiled. “Sure thing.”

             Veredel sighed as she walked into the next room. She couldn’t really explain it, but for the last few weeks, her head had felt like it had been splitting open. She had even seen a doctor about it in secret, as her parents would approve of her seeing one over such a foolish thing. If she wasn’t in dire straits, as they put it, she shouldn’t go, and to them, headaches were something she should suck up. But considering she was having them almost every few hours and they burned with such intensity that she considered locking herself in her room at times it was a concern to her. Did she have a tumor in her head?

             Well, the doctor didn’t know what was wrong. According to him, she was fine. 

The hack! Veredel rummaged through the bathroom cabinet, looking for Aspirin. 

“Fuck. It is the last one.” She sighed. Her parents would not be happy when they found out the medicine was missing. They might think she was addicted or something. But it would just be added to the list of things they would get on her case for. She filled a cup with water and popped the pill into her mouth, swallowing it. It wouldn’t make the pain go away, but it would dull it.

             With that out of the way, she turned around, ready to take Sean to the gaming store to get him his game. If anything, she could make his day special. She smiled as she walked down the hallway.  “I can’t wait to see the look on his face when I get him a copy. He has been waiting for this day for months. I just. . . I just want to see him happy.”

             Sean was sitting on the living room couch and looked at her as she approached. “Feel better?”

             She nodded her head. “Of course.” It was a lie. Veredel still felt like she wanted to tear her hair out, but she wouldn’t tell him that. “So, are you ready to go and get Call of Caldiria?”

             He jumped to his feet. “Oh boy, am I ever.” He rushed up and hugged her. “You are the best sister ever.”

             She smiled, the pain fading away. “I love you too.”

             ***

             About a half hour later, they arrived at Pulsar Gaming. It was the official gaming store of Call of Caldiria. Banners and strange cutouts were all over the place as they entered the building. “Will you look at all this, Veredel?” Sean rushed ahead. “Look at this strange thing.” He pointed to a giant figure with red skin and four arms. “How big do you think he is?”

             She crossed her arms. “I would say about fifteen feet tall?” She looked up at the imposing figure. “I wonder if it’s in the game?” She looked around at another figure, this one a gigantic man standing over average-sized men. “Hmm, strange.”

             “It is a unique world.” A man in a suit walked up to them. “But that is what makes the world of Caldiria special.” He held out his hand. “Names Trenton.” Veredel shook it. “I run this store.”

             “I am looking to buy a game for my brother here.”

             Sean bounced about. “Yes. I want to play Call of Caldiria. Please. 

Please.”

             Trenton laughed. “Of course you do.” He looked at Veredel. “And you miss? And anyone else in your family?”

             “Umm. . .” She shrugged. “Not really. I am not into games, and my parents could care less about anything, really.”

             “Well, I will at least get the game for this little lad.” He rubbed Sean’s jet-black hair. “I will be right back.”

             Veredel knelt over as her head suddenly split open. “Damn shame we are only getting one sale. Ahh, well, one more to enter the world of Caldiria is better than none.”

             She looked at Trenton. “What do you mean by enter the world of Caldiria.”

             Trenton stopped in his tracks. “I didn’t say anything.” He turned and looked at Veredel. “You must have imagined it, young lady.”

             “I. . .” She sighed. “Whatever.”

             Sean looked up at Veredel as the salesman walked away. “What was that about? I never saw you try to play a joke on someone like that before.”

             She looked down at her brother. “This is going to sound crazy, but I heard him say that loud as day.” She shook her head. “Maybe it’s this damn migraine causing me to hear things.”

             “You will be okay.” He smiled at her. “I know it.”

             “Thank you.” she forced a smile.  “Great, now I am hearing things. What the hell is wrong with me?”

             Moments later, Trenton returned with a copy of Call of Caldiria and a strange headset. “Here you are.” Sean snatched them up. “That is a mixed reality headset, my lad. You need it to play the game.”

             “Noted.” He turned around. “Come on, Veredel. I want to check out.”

             “Okay.” She looked at Trenton. “How much is the game?”

             “Oh? We are doing a special sale. First fifty people to buy the game get it free. You are lucky and got here just in time.”

             “I. . .” She smiled. “Thank you.”

             He bowed. “No, thank you. Hope you enjoy the game.”