"What happened, why was the dog chasing us?" Nathan asked.
A boy in his teens walked over to Nathan.
"I think it's because of Argart's Aporia," the young man explained.
"Argart's Aporia, what is that?" Sara asked.
"It is a souls game," Nathan explained but Sara stared right through him.
"It's a video game," Nathan added.
"How can video game dogs attack us in real life?" Sara asked.
"The dogs are not from the game…..I don't think so. They just showed up and attacked people who play or have played the game," the young man explained.
"Erm, what is your name?" Nathan got down on a knee and asked.
"Gilbert, and this is my brother Sean," Gilbert said and pointed to the young boy who led them there.
"Okay Gilbert, can you show me the game?" Nathan asked.
"We all used to play on consoles or computers at home. Sean can take you," Gilbert said.
"Why let your little brother roam the street when Night monsters are after you?" Sara asked.
"They don't attack Sean," Gilbert said.
"They don't attack him, didn't he also play the game?" Nathan asked.
"Yes, he played on my console. He did not have one of his own," Gilbert explained.
Nathan then asked the kid if they owned a console or computer. He then asked if they had ever been attacked by the dogs.
After their answers, he put two and two together. Children who used other devices were not hunted by the dogs. They were just there because they were scared.
'There is a lot I don't understand. Like why don't the dogs attack them here?' Nathan thought then walked out with Sean.
He took him to his house and loaded the game.
"What do the owners do that makes them a target," Nathan asked and Sean stood quietly by his side. In dirty blue shorts and what used to be a white shirt.
"They all played the game how can the system tell who owns the game," Nathan sighed and noticed the answer was staring him right in the face.
"Aarh, the owners created accounts and logged in before playing the game," Nathan said then clicked on create new account.
He filed a form but the create button did not light up. At the left side of the screen was a tiny check box. Beside it was
"I have read and agree to all terms and conditions," with the terms and conditions highlighted.
Nathan checked the box and checked another for the privacy policy. The moment he did the create button ignited.
He was about to click the button when he went back to read the terms and conditions.
After minutes of scrolling through the terms and conditions. He found it, a clause that stated the player vows to finish the game or forfeit their soul.
It went on to explain finish in legal terms and what constituted not finishing the game.
"Not playing for a decade is considered forfeiting the game?" Nathan screamed then tried to remember the last time he played.
Nathan walked to a desktop and search invisible dogs. All he got were the results of invisible dog fences. He then searched for huge dogs only I can see.
This search led him to a forum where people talked about their experiences.
"Hellhounds, makes sense," Nathan said then looked for a way to kill it. After hours all he found were ways to keep it at bay.
There was nothing on killing a hellhound.
Nathan sighed.
"Is my brother going to die?" Sean asked.
"No, of course not. I will find whoever sent the dogs and ask them nicely to call them off," Nathan explained.