Roblox, Paranoia, Death

Prologue; All death, but 1 conclusion.
///Date: 9/30/09; Case serial: 000432118 Dialogue archive: B66, Dialogue recorded from: camera04 / Location: Mentality Health Ward Hospital name: Undisclosed////  -

''Sir, the victims... they're not speaking, not one of them. They're all like zombies. These.... poor, poor children. Our surveillance cams have recorded them within the test chambers... They would randomly begin screaming at the top of their lungs, almost like begging for something, but in an indecipherable tone. They would later begin tearing each other apart with their bare hands. Blood and dismembered flesh everywhere. They tore off their garments, leaving their naked corpses to decay gradually! Is there anything... anything to save them? To put an abrupt end to this nightmare?''

''I don't believe so, if I was pressured to speak the truth ever so. I'm just as baffled as you are. This online game for.... mere children?! We can't afford any more casualties, especially from the likes of... Roblox, as it's called.''

Whom do you suggest is doing this?

''There cannot be a specific answer as of right now. The only thing we know of this anonymous entity... it can mentally cripple the minds of young children as fast as it can get into them.''

''But why children? Who in the right mind would think to do such a horrible thing?''

''That is the exact matter. This... thing is nowhere close to the "right mind". Their mental state is likely compromised. Sick enough to do what they did, but impeccably genius enough to know exactly how. ''

''How should we plan to counter this conundrum? And how is this all traced to one person?''

''We'll have to see as the story unfolds.... However, I can say this. We are dealing with no person. The victims, the cunning, the sheer amount of dread and grief emitted by one thing. It all tells me one thing; we are dealing with no man, for I fret we are dealing with something, much, much worse. ''

Chapter 1: To that which beckons me
(Author's note; it's not recommended, but you can skip this chapter. This is just exposition on the protagonist and skipping this will get straight into the story and it's connection to Roblox. If you don't care about this stuff, go on right ahead. However, if you so have the time to read everything, please consider this chapter.)

I am an oddball among everyone, it seems. I prefer to heavily rely on what makes me comfortable as opposed to what people think is best for me. I get that there are still a lot of people that believe in free will, but I sometimes think I take it to the extreme.

I do everything on my own terms. I always call the shots for myself, never having to abide by the rules of some external force. I'm my own person, living freely off a self-employed job and no boss to shove me around. It's truthfully blissful and in many cases doesn't get too hard on me. That may because I'm just a young teenager, where everyone in the mind of modern society thinks that I need to be told what to do.

I'd much rather learn for myself and from my mistakes. I'm sort of a dumbass in my own mentality, so in my case, there's only one way in which I truly seem to learn.

Mistakes.

Because of that, I am driven by my curiosity, my humane, primal instinct to do what my brain feels necessary. On the bright side, it seems to keep my brain healthy and untouched by the grasp of false morals or propaganda-like notions. I am free-spirited, young, driven by only myself and my decisions.

Those qualities were the fall of me.

Because of my curious attitude, I have a hunger for the unknown. What people say is dangerous, but only because that's what they've been told. And danger is subjective, right? My curiosity soon led me down my darkest path of malice, insanity, and almost death.

Chapter 2: No harm in what resides within cyberspace
As my curiosity would have it, the internet was a place of wonders to me, all the way from way back when in 2007. I was fond of online games like Neopets or Club Penguin, both of which were popular for those my age. Even though my young senses drove me toward the more mainstream games, I eventually stumbled on a hidden gem of sorts.

Roblox.

I adored the game... As I grew and continued to play it, Roblox grew more popular and eventually found itself among the most popular MMOs. I'd carefully organize and plan how I'd spend my small allowance of Builder's Club, Robux, and the like. This likely started by strategic way of thinking, as my parents always seemed to be on a financial budget.

As neglectful as my parents might've been of me, they still taught me the basics on how to stay safe on the internet.

No, they didn't force pedophilia down my throat or show my constructive forum crap from the 90's to educate me on how to not get kidnapped.

My parents were cool, so they decided that I could still mess around with others, talk, but not share personal stuff.

Even though all of this went through my head well, I still felt an opposing need; Don't tell about yourself, but what could I figure about everyone else?

This feeling made be gullible. I was very prone to advertisements and those Roblox ads that say you'll receive free stuff after clicking a button. I was bound to get into trouble by my own curiosity at some point, but I knew not of the consequences.

I remember the small jolt of disappointment I'd always be met with after not receiving anything in return after clicking on bait ads. They had to be real, right? I know that because that's what it says!

My statement stood correct.

Chapter 3: A touch of malice before bed
It was a few days before I'd finally start kindergarten. My parents couldn't afford a decent preschool, but I seemed more than happy to be academically incapable for my first few years of life. For what I lacked in maths, history, and science I made up by learning how to make pizzas in Work at a Pizza Place or build to survive an endless horde of zombies, both of which were fantastic games at the time. It kind of built a strategic mindset for me, which would seem to help me later in life. That is, assuming I'd be in a conventional school, even after my... encounter.

Moreover, I crawled into my twin-sized Star Wars blanket before having my dear mother kiss me goodnight. I always loved her despite how long she was gone working. She was about to go work the night shift at the local hospital. She eventually rounded the corner leading to my small bedroom, in which she picked up a few stray clothes before finally kissing me, right on the forehead.

She gave me a warm, genuine smile before getting her bag and closing my door. Of course, I probably would've said something more profound if I knew of the unforeseen consequences that would occur over the course of several years. Right before I closed my eyes, she peeked her young, golden face through the door and playfully blew a kiss. I giggled at my mother's parting wishes.

I almost drifted off to sleep. I was so close and honestly, I wish I could go back in time to tell young, dumbfounded me that they would find the course of their entire future better off if they just went to sleep. But this isn't now, this was 2009, mid August. Before I finally went into a slumberous dimension of dream, I began to think about Roblox and how much fun I'd had with it. I imagined my avatar sporting a handful of expensive hats and having a bunch of Robux. I thought what it would be like to own a game and have people visit it! I'd join a random server, just to greet those who saw me. I wanted the reputation. I wanted the items. I wanted the fame.

It then hit me. I could just sneak onto the family computer, careful to not wake up my father. I wanted fame instantly, and despite the odds that I imagined I'd be against, I wanted to conquer it all overnight. I believed I could do it, I just had to! My parents always told me I was destined for something special, so it had to be true!

Again, my gullibility got to me.

I hoisted my light, young torso out of bed and tiptoed out the door. My father was a heavy sleeper, so I found it quite easily to counter his thunderous, manly snore. I made my way into the clean, organized lacquer wood walls of the office where my parents would do work and I'd occasionally get the computer all to myself.

I hopped in the worn, leather swivel chair that my father would sit in. He was a sort of geeky, tech-ish archetype of father who still found time for video games. Sometimes, I'd get to sit in his lap and watch him play Half-Life or Portal, both masterpieces to this day. [still in progress]