It’s been a week since I first arrived on the islands in the sky. I haven’t seen Azia since the meeting – I’m assuming she’s been too busy focussing on the issue they’re having? Homesickness is creeping in slightly. I haven’t done anything with my Condo since I’ve been way too busy learning the ropes of ourWorld and finding my way around. Then to top it all off I haven’t had a single good design yet. I’m supposed to be bringing new and exciting things to the table but I just feel like I’m failing. It’s so overwhelming.

I’ve been spending quite a bit of time with Ani and Cammie who are fun and a great duo. I’ve also been hanging out with Caden who’s been helping me earn flow by playing so, so, so many games. I don’t think I could bare to play another video game. I’ve seen so many. Zoe and I have had a few chats and giggles since the tour but she’s busy helping the community and all, which is fair enough. I haven’t really seen much of the others. I heard that Veronica left to go back to downWorld and won’t be back for another couple of days.

The islands do get busy, and with the crowds obviously brings noise. There’s so much chatter and everyone seems to be always moving. The community village (where everyone who isn’t an NPC lives) is always, and I mean always, full of people moving between Condos. Sometimes I like sitting outside the chapel where people get married, which is a lot of fun because it’s just such a happy place. However, when I need my quiet space I go to the Soho Garden as there’s pretty much no one there all the time. It’s really beautiful in the sunrise and sunset with the light radiating through the trees and bouncing off the waterfall. It’s just a really calming place and a brilliant place to get work done. If anyone ever needs to find me, that’s where I am. (If I’m not there, I’m in Cake Mania. Eating cake.)

Today is different though. It’s the beginning of the month, so it’s the release of the new resident condo item which is some kind of cube called Mysterio Block. It’s just a small, black with stars, unopenable box. When it’s placed in the Condo it’s pretty small, something you’d just use as a decorative piece sitting on a table or shelf but of course there’s the option of making it bigger or smaller so you could use it as a table I suppose if you get it big enough. I quite like it as it’s pretty nifty and cute but it just seems a bit useless. I don’t know who designed it, but that’s the thing. Apparently the way the resident monthly item is chosen is all the NPC’s put ideas in a hat – as many as they like, and then one is pulled out at random. That’s how the item is chosen. So no one knows who’s idea it was. Sometimes a small team is put together, or everyone, or one person creates the item in time for the release.

So today is different because we have to make sure everyone who is classed as a Resident or Zoe’s Club member receives the cube and then this evening is when everyone submits their ideas for next months item. I have a couple of ideas, but I’m hoping I’ll improve them or at least come up with some more because if my idea does get picked I really want it to be a success and make a really positive first step forward. Like, I know that it’s unlikely my idea will get picked because I’m sure the other NPC’s have so many ideas and it’s probably a really small chance of someone’s idea getting picked. Although I guess it varies on how many ideas are put in… I’m for sure overthinking this way too much.

I grabbed my phone and shoved it in my pocket before leaving my Condo and heading toward the community village. The NPC’s are split into small teams to go around the Condo’s to make sure everyone has got the cube and it’s not faulty. However, Zoe, Edwin and I are set up with a few tables at the gates of the village to handle those who have problems with their item. For example, one of the teams gives a member of the community a ticket if there is something wrong with their item and send them to us, we log the issue and then give them a replacement. Luckily because the cubes are so small we can just hand them out but when the items are bigger – if they’re a tree, the system is a little more complicated I think. I’m glad it’s a smaller operation for my first time.

“Heya Zoe!” I called out to her and waved.

She was finishing setting up the last table. I could see the boxes and boxes of cubes underneath the tables. There were so many.

“Hey Nereida, how are you?” She smiled, taking a seat.

“I’m good, thank you. How about you?” I politely asked in return.

“Fantastic.” She was still smiling, but her answer seemed blunt. “Edwin should be here soon. Hopefully he feels a bit better today.”

“Better? What happened? Is he sick?” I took a seat next to her, looking at the pile of form papers in front of me.

“No, he doesn’t seem to get sick.” Zoe took a sip from her Buzz coffee before leaning toward me. “He got rejected by Collette again.” She whispered.

“Oh.” I raised my eyebrows. “Does he, um, do that often?”

“What? Ask out Collette?” She thought for a moment. “Yeah. Quite often. More than the average.”

I wondered what the average was of repeatedly asking out someone who keeps on rejecting you. In all honesty, I would give up after the first rejection. I think. I don’t really know, I’ve never asked anyone out before.

“Just between us…” Zoe’s voice went into a low whisper again but Edwin’s appearance stopped her from finishing her sentence.

“Hey Edwin.” Zoe sat back up straight and smiled.

“H-hi.” Edwin replied, sounding dejected.

“You okay..?” I asked tentatively.

“I’m super happy.” Edwin said, contradictory to his tone of voice.

“So…” Zoe moving the conversation on. “Nereida, I’m sure you understand what to do as it is pretty simple, but when you get a member at your table you fill in the form. You need their name, Condo number and their issue. If they have any other questions or feedback put that in the notes section at the bottom. Then give them a Mysterio Block. It’s all pretty simple and if I’m honest, it’s a pretty long day if we have a lot of people.”

“H-hopefully we won’t.” Edwin joined in. “I-I-I mean mean it’s just a cube. Pretty s-simple an-and I made s-sure it was all fi-fine.”

“That’s true, just a cube…” I muttered under my breath.

How much can go wrong with a box? It isn’t meant to open. It’s just meant to be a night-sky in cube form.

Edwin finally took his place at his table. He is an interesting character, always quiet and seems nervous whenever I see him but always nice and polite.

“Oh no…” I heard Zoe mumble. “Look.”

I followed Zoe’s gaze and my jaw dropped at the crowds of Resident and Zoe’s Club members flooded the path down to where we sat.

“There surely can’t be that many faulty blocks?” I turned to Zoe.

“Maybe there’s a party?” Zoe sounded hopeful, but the crowds kept coming towards us.

Bleep bleep. Bleep bleep. Bleep bleep.

Mine, Edwin’s and Zoe’s phone alerts went off. Melvin has messaged our group chat.

Melvin: Something is wrong with all the Mysterio Blocks.

Panic started setting in. My heart was beating fast, my palms broke into a cold sweat and my knees felt weak. The crowds kept growing, continuing on their path towards our tables and everyone had a ticket in hand.

“Okay.” Zoe said, I think even she was overwhelmed. “Okay. Okay. So we’re going to need to use the numbering system. In front of each of us is a little button, press that when you’re done with your member then the next person will come to your table. It’s just a more organised system for when it’s a huge crowd. We rarely need to use it.”

Zoe pushed her button and a number one appeared from her table. I turned to my right to see Edwin do the same with a number two popping up. I pushed my button for a number three to appear. My mouth was dry. I was terrified. This is a whole lot more than I was ever expecting. My phone buzzed again.

Azia: What’s wrong with them?

Otto: After a certain amount of time of being placed in a Condo, they’re turning red with a black dot on each side.

Collette: Edwin what did you do? 😡

I turned to glance at Edwin, who was also reading his phone looking more blue than before.

“I need a new stupid box.” A resident had arrived at my table, slamming the ticket down on my table.

“Right yes. Just need to fill out this form.” I attempted a smile as I picked up the pen. “Can I take your name?”

“Give it here.” She snatched the form and pen from me and quickly scribbled down the answers.

“Oh um…” I started to to say I should be filling out the form, but I guess it doesn’t matter who fills it out…

“There.” She slammed down the pen, just like she did the ticket and handed me the form back. “Now give.” She extended her hand.

“Yes, just need to check things over…” I mumbled, reading the form. “Sorry, I don’t think ‘It’s stupid and broke’ counts as a fault description. Can you expand on that?”

“It’s red. Give me the black one with stars.” She sighed.

I wrote down her questionable expansion of her description, then ducked under the table and selected a Mysterio Block.

“Here you are. Enjoy.” I smiled, handing it over to her.

She grinned sarcastically before storming off. I let off a deep sigh.

“Some of them a-are like th-that.” Edwin leaned over.

Hours and hours and hours passed. This crowd wasn’t going anywhere. As soon as we got rid of one, three more showed up. I couldn’t believe how wrong this release was going, and it was only the monthly resident item.

I had to take a quick drinks break and took big gulps of water. I was still slightly bothered about the first community member I had interacted with this morning – it had really dampened my mood for the day. I just wanted to whimper back to my Condo.

“I-I don’t know ho-how much more of thi-this I can take.” Edwin had left his table and was stood between Zoe and I.

“I know what you mean.” I groaned. “Not that I don’t want to help or get this sorted, but it really seems pointless handing out all these cubes if there’s this many that are faulty. Surely this is all of the Resident and Zoe’s Club members..?”

“We can’t assume it’s everyone yet…” Zoe was still smiling away.

I looked at the still seemingly large crowd before us and sighed. I know Zoe loves helping people but even this is ridiculous. It does feel like everyone who received a Mysterio Block has come to get a new one.

Wait.

If it is everyone who has got a faulty cube then what about the ones we are giving out.

“Is it my turn now?” A guy yelled from the front of the crowd.

“Just a second.” I shouted back while scrambling under the table and picking up a box full of blocks.

“Wh-what are you doing?” Edwin asked.

“Here. Place this on the table.” I handed him a cube.

I took out two, one in each hand, and also placed them on the table. I stared at them and waited. Slowly they began to turn red. I took two more and placed them on top of the blocks already on the table. They turned red quicker than the first two.

“Guys, put as many cubes as you can on the table.” I instructed Zoe and Edwin.

We began madly placing the blocks on the table. The more we put on the table, and the closer they were together, the quicker they all turned red with the black spot on every side.

“They’re all broken.” I stated.

“H-how?” Edwin seemed more heartbroken than he was when he first arrived. First Collette, now the Mysterio Blocks were breaking his poor heart.

“We can’t keep giving them out endlessly.” I reasoned with Zoe.

“You’re right.” She was disappointed. “I’m so sorry guys, but there is something wrong with all of the Mysterio Blocks and we won’t be giving out anymore.” Zoe explained to the already unsettled crowd.

Shouts and mutters of complaints exploded from the crowd.

“We promise you’ll get your free Condo item, it just won’t be today. I’m so sorry guys.” Zoe now looked as heartbroken as Edwin.

Some people started shuffling away. Edwin walked off in the direction of Nevermore. Zoe just watched as people looked angrily at her, shouting comments. I didn’t know what to do. I picked up one of the red cubes and started inspecting it. Then I threw it at the ground as hard as I could.

“Oh gosh, what are you doing?!” Zoe jumped.

“Learning.” I replied.

The block was still intact.

“Has anyone got a stick? A bat?” I shouted at the dissipating crowd.

“Uh, yeah?” A guy turned, holding up a baseball bat in his hand.

“Can I just borrow that for a second?” I marched toward him. “Thanks.”

I grabbed the bat from his hand and headed back to the table. I threw another cube to the ground, beginning to bash at it with the bat.

“Are these things indestructible?” I exasperated to Zoe who was taking shelter behind the table. “Hey!” The guy took his bat back and started walking off.

“We should pack up…” Zoe said. She looked so hurt, and I really felt it.

“Edwin thinks it’s his fault. Doesn’t he?” I asked Zoe, beginning to shove red blocks back into the crates they came in.

“Of course he does. I mean, he was responsible for it this month…” Zoe paused. “But he wouldn’t have done this on purpose.”

“On purpose? What makes you say that?” I asked.

“Haven’t you kept up with the chat? Naturally there are some who are a little upset over it all and so of course accusations have followed.” Zoe started piling the crates of Mysterio Blocks onto the table. “I’m sure it’ll all calm down.”

“It’ll all get fixed and be fine. I’m sure.” I attempted to comfort her.

“Yeah.” Zoe smiled, but her eyes didn’t light up as they normally do.

Edwin doesn’t seem like the sabotaging type, but then again what do I know. I’m new. It does seem awfully silly though, to deliberately mess up such a widely spread item and make everyone upset. Who would want to make people feel so sad and angry? I just couldn’t imagine nervous Edwin doing it. It must have just been an error, a mistake, and everyone makes mistakes. It’s normal.

The day of disappointment ticked over and evening came. I had taken my calming break in the Soho Garden before we all had to gather together at Zoe’s Condo.

“Where is Edwin?” Vernicia snorted. “Hiding?”

“He can’t just hide.” Collette agreed.

“He’s just upset.” Zoe tried to defend him, but I don’t think there was any changing their minds right now.

“He just ruined today.” Collette huffed, sitting back in her chair and crossing her arms like a child.

“Otto.” Azia exclaimed as he burst through the door. “Give me some good news?”

“I can’t. There seriously is nothing wrong with the blocks.” He said.

“Of course there was something wrong. They’re not staying black with stars.” Niccolo stated the obvious.

“I know.” Otto confirmed. “But if I compare the ones handed out to the community and the finished examples that Edwin had been working on, they’re not the same.”

“What?” A few of the NPC team exclaimed in unison.

“That’s not…” Azia started. “In order for that to be plausible, someone would have had to give a whole different spec to the production team but then also make sure that the random samples Edwin received were deliberately the original and meant to be spec. It’s just ridiculous.”

“Yeah, it is a really small chance that Edwin picked out 15 Mysterio Blocks at random and they were all the way they were intended, but then the rest of them being something completely different.” I tried to make sense of it. “But not impossible.”

“Of course it’s impossible.” Collette rolled her eyes.

“Well, if Edwin had a system of randomly picking samples or maybe even just selected one crate it would be easy for someone to switch out the blocks and make sure he gets samples that are perfect and as expected.” I explained. “But having a system of randomly picking samples isn’t really random but it’s not out of the question either if you’re the methodical sort…”

“I don-don’t have a sys-system” Edwin said hoarsely from the shadows of the doorway. “I re-really did pick them randomly.”

“Rules out your theory then newbie.” Vernicia retorted, giving me a dirty look.

All of a sudden my gut clenched and my heart dropped. I thought ourWorld was a nice, happy, creative, positive space full of lovely people where there was no drama. It was an escape from downWorld. But now, I’m not so sure.