ASHADOW03

Content warning: This story contains themes of suicide and transphobia.

You guys remember Webfishing?

If you were online around during its release, then you probably do. I had a friend group who played it religiously for a week after it was released, and it had to be the most fun I had playing an online game. The premise is that you play as a fluffy critter who catches fish, and then sells them for money to buy better equipment. The game itself is fun, but the real fun comes from going to different lobby's and chatting with people while you play.

The community when the game released was a very open and welcome place, and it was always a lot of fun meeting new people and talking about your interests, your hobby's, your life... But, as time went on the issues with the game became more apparent. The game ran bad on weak hardware, the game had a problem with bot accounts, and the biggest of all, the game would broadcast your IP to basically anyone... This lead to a lot of doxing, especially considering the game had a large lgbt audience.

Even when the cracks started to show though, I kept playing. I didn't really care about it too much. Its not like anyone was going to show up to my house over a stupid fishing game.

It was a late Saturday evening. I had just gotten off of work and was just wanting to relax and play something to ease my brain. I started a single person lobby since I didn't really want to deal with talking to anyone after the stressful day I had.

The night continued on, and the sky began to darken as I collected more fish. I was actually getting pretty close to buying ever accessory which was really exciting to me. I had made sure to take my time since I saw some people push through the game and ruin the experience.

As I got closer to purchasing it, I noticed something that made my heart sink.

"ASHADOW03: Joined the game."

"Fuck, another IP grabbing bot." I thought to myself. Honestly I didn't really care that much. Like I said, its just a stupid fishing game. I kept playing, but that's when I started hearing strange sounds around the area. It sounded like a low rumbling from a creature. It kind of sounded like a meteor, but I didn't remember it sounding like that. Kinda freaked me out, but I thought there was some weird creepy Easter Egg. Webfishing actually has a few of them.

Then something really caught my attention. "ASHADOW03" actually began messaging in chat. It went something like this. Excuse the details, as I didn't get any screenshots.

ASHADOW03: Hello
AbbyTheGamer: yo whats up
ASHADOW03: I felt like joining
AbbyTheGamer: i can see that lol

I'll note at around this point I went to check, and I did make it a single player lobby. I knew this guy was just some troll or something, but I wanted to know what their deal is. Maybe I could even get some info as to how they joined a 1 player lobby and report it to the devs.

ASHADOW03: Where are you right now
AbbyTheGamer: just kinda hanging by the pier
AbbyTheGamer: what brings you to this specific lobby?
ASHADOW03: I wanted to see you

AbbyTheGamer: see me?
AbbyTheGamer: have we played together before?

There was a long pause. I remember being so confused, and was actually starting to feel unnerved. I've talked to some strange individuals before, but this is the first time I felt like I was talking to someone that was actively trying to do me harm while playing.

AbbyTheGamer: okay dude
AbbyTheGamer: uhhhhhh if you want to see me then come over here
AbbyTheGamer: i guess
ASHADOW03: Okay
ASHADOW03: Here I come

I waited a while. He never said where he was, so I assumed he was on the other side of the map. I didn't really know why he wanted to see me, but I just kind of went with it hoping he would at least leave and I could just get on with the game.

AbbyTheGamer: okay i have a question for you
AbbyTheGamer: how exactly did you join my game?

AbbyTheGamer: like i set it to be one player only

AbbyTheGamer: whatever

I thought this was some sort of prank. Someone joins your game and starts sending creepy messages to freak you out. I don't really know if anyone will believe what I explain next, but I don't really fucking care at this point. I just need to write this down so I have a consistent memory of it.

ASHADOW03: I see you

In the water, I saw a dark black cat character slowly float up. They were flopped over like a drowning victim. I almost laughed at how absurd this was to see in such a cutesy game. Then they started to flip around. The way they flipped over was so unnerving, like it was being puppeted in its movements. The front of the cat didn't have any distinct features, except for one thing. It had an image of my fucking face on it. Stretched and pixelated.

At this point I was starting to freak out. This wasn't just some quirky troll anymore.

AbbyTheGamer: what
ASHADOW03: Hello
AbbyTheGamer: this isnt funny
AbbyTheGamer: please fucking leave
AbbyTheGamer: go waste your time harassing someone else

I went to leave the game. I had enough at this point. I wasn't doing this anymore.

AbbyTheGamer: fuck off

I went to click on the quit option, but it was grayed out. I couldn't select it.

ASHADOW03: No
ASHADOW03: Albert
AbbyTheGamer: fuck you. no one gets to call me that anymore.
ASHADOW03: I've been waiting for you
ASHADOW03: Come join me

The face on the character started to distort into a wicked and large grin. I quickly saw my character being forced into the large body of water, and the screen went black.

I tried to alt+F4, I tried my pc's power button, and right as I was about to pull the outlet off of my wall, I saw the cat character again, smiling at me.

ASHADOW03: Don't do that

I stopped for a second,

ASHADOW03: Look at yourself
ASHADOW03: You're pathetic
ASHADOW03: You tried and tried to escape who you actually are
ASHADOW03: I know who you are
ASHADOW03: I know how much you hate yourself
ASHADOW03: Every day I feel it
ASHADOW03: I am that hate
ASHADOW03: I'm who you truly are inside

At this point I was shaking. I know I should have just shut off the computer, but I was so scared that I just froze.

ASHADOW03: Join me
ASHADOW03: Everything is easier this way
ASHADOW03: Do it

I started having a panic attack. And I don't really remember the details after this. I just remember the text box started filling up saying things like "Do it", "I know you wanted to for a long time", "Join me".

I couldn't take it anymore. I just wanted to hurt this person. I couldn't let them do this to me.

AbbyTheGamer: fuck you
AbbyTheGamer: i spent years getting over that
AbbyTheGamer: i know what im worth go fuck yourself
AbbyTheGamer: you're a miserable peice of garbage
AbbyTheGamer: you're dead to me
AbbyTheGamer: fuck you

AbbyTheGamer: FUCK YOU
AbbyTheGamer: FUCK YOU
AbbyTheGamer: FUCK YOU

ASHADOW03: You'll never escape me
ASHADOW03: I will always find you
ASHADOW03: I will always be here

ASHADOW03: I am ALWAYS with you

I watched in horror as my little cat character started flailing their arms under what I now noticed was water. Splashing sounds could be heard. I started panicking. Moving didn't do anything. I was so afraid and didn't know what to do. It felt like the walls were closing in. I thought I could hear everyone laughing at me as t he sounds got louder.

I didn't know what to think. I got so tunnel visioned, until I remembered the power outlet. I rushed over and quickly pulled out the plug. It felt like I was going to tear the outlet out of the wall.

Suddenly everything went quiet.

My lights were off, and so I sat there in the pitch black room, and started to cry.

Needless to say, but I never ended up completing the game after that.

After that incident, I never really played Webfishing again. My friends were moving on to other games anyway. I will always remember the good times I had with the game, but after everything that happened, I don't think I'll be going back to the game. Sometimes whenever I look at the game in my steam library, I can feel something staring back at me.