Chapter 0-1: An Unrefusable Offer
E3; the world's largest gaming convention. The place where the next steps in gaming are revealed and people from all over and cosplay as their favorite characters. Me, I decided to work up the nerve to come and in costume. My name is David Sulkander, 24-years-old. I was born into a gamer family who grew up around the medium. My parents were avid gamers and even named me after Solid Snake. When I was six, I was sleeping over at my aunt's house when I heard the news that they were missing. They were at E3 2005 at the time and they never came home. They were reported missing days later and searched for them for a year before calling off the search and pronouncing them dead. I spent the next 18 years living with my aunt and uncle, the thought of my dead parents still at the back of my mind. I borrowed my uncle's Solid Snake Costume and replica Socom from the first game to go to the convention. I have to say though, he can keep a costume in mint condition for more than 18 years without a problem.
I sat there on a bench, observing the many cosplayers walk by, smiling, laughing, just enjoying their time. The real reason why I'm here, other than the Half-Life 2: Episode 3 demo, is to investigate how my parents vanished without a trace. The con was held in the same multiplex building they disappeared in. What better way to look for clues than to investigate in character. I hid myself in an empty cardboard box and went to move about in the con. I got a few laughs and pictures snapped of me. Smart of me to reduce suspicion as running around in character.
I got to the area where many people buy fan made objects and artwork and threw off the box. I browsed many figured and graphic novels and came across a suspicious man dressed as the merchant from Resident Evil 4. He noticed me and got into character.
"Hello stranger," he said in that awesome accent, "You interested in buying anything?"
"Sure, what do you have?" I asked, failing to talk in Snake's iconic gravelly voice.
"I think you're going to like this," he chuckled lightly, pulling out a sci-fi eye patch from the inside of his coat. My eyes shot open; I realized what that device is. "That looks like a nice Solid Eye replica," I commented, observing the professional-styled craftsmanship.
"Aye, I've spent an hour recreating it. It will be very cheap...if you want it, that is."
"How much are we talking about?" I asked, crossing my arms and lifting my chin slightly upwards.
"How much do you have?"
"I only have about $50 in my wallet but-"
"That just so happens to be the cost."
I raised an eyebrow, what an oddly specific price. Hesitantly, I accepted his offer.
"Deal," I finally gave in to temptation. I pulled out a fifty dollar bill from my back pocket and handed it to him.
"A wise choice, stranger," he chuckled, handing the Solid Eye to me. I nodded goodbye to him and made my way to the main showroom. Before opening the door, I took off the bandanna and fitted the Solid Eye on my head, the eyepiece covering my left eye. I put the bandanna back on and opened the door. A bright light shone through the opening, consuming me and then, nothing.
