Chapter Text
It’s cold. That’s one of the first things you notice, arms wrapped around yourself in a feeble attempt to keep warm. Your jacket is thin, the wind nipping at your skin. You don’t say anything though, instead trailing pathetically behind the trio.
You’ve come to notice that although you’re in the company of three other people, you’ve never felt more alone.
Karube — who you’ve come to recognise as the tall blonde — leads the pack, with Chota and Arisu loyally at his side. You make sure to keep yourself at least five steps behind them, although you’re not really sure why. A small part of you doesn’t want to impose, but an even bigger part wants nothing more than to surround yourself with them.
It’s selfish, and you know that. So you keep them at an arm’s length.
”Hey, you,” Karube calls. “Try and keep up. We don’t want to lose you.” You look up at him, and his gaze feels particularly heavy. It’s unreadable, you can’t tell what he’s thinking, but you subconsciously speed up and walk silently behind him.
You want to reply, but your throat still feels raw and you don’t have the energy. Chota detaches himself from Karube’s side so that he can walk beside you. His smile is warm, and you can feel your lips pulling to mimic the kind gesture. He doesn’t say anything, not at first. He just takes your hand in his and gives it affirming squeezes every now and then. And even when he does speak, it’s so soft you almost miss it.
“You’re safe with us. I promise.”
After that, you notice that you don’t feel so cold anymore.
The four of you wander for a while before the foggy overcast finally clears from your head and you can finally breathe normally. You’re unusually tired, but there’s also a buzz coursing through your veins. Your Walkman’s volume is almost entirely off, and you can only hear the faint beat of whatever song is playing. It’s calming, and you finally feel grounded.
You’re about to thank Chota — and the rest, you suppose — before a building lights up.
GAME ARENA THIS WAY →
You hear Arisu mumble to himself, but your legs move almost on their own before you can register anything, carrying you towards the ‘Game Arena’.
“There might be other people,” you murmur; you’re unsure whether you’re trying to reason with the others or with yourself. But they don’t argue with you, following your rushed footsteps as the three of you make your way to wherever the ‘Game Arena’ is. You feel hopeful, almost ecstatic. There’s an uncharacteristic skip in your step and a wide smile on your face.
Arisu occupies your other side, and Karube trails uncomfortably behind the three of you. His gaze weighs uncomfortably on your back, but you’re excitement completely drains out anything you can feel. The only thing you’re aware of is how you’re unbearably hot in comparison to how cold you were moments ago. You run on autopilot, steps erratic until finally, finally, you see it.
GAME VENUE OPEN
“In there,” you say with certainty. “There has to be other people in there.”
“And if there aren’t?” Karube interjects, seemingly fed up.
“There will be.” There has to be. “There will be. I know it.”
You drop Chota’s hand, a small sign that no, you three don’t have to come with me, and walk into the building by yourself. Waiting for the others, you notice a table with phones. Phones! Immediately you’re picking one up and turning it on, a small relieved smile on your face.
Registration Complete!
Your smile drops almost immediately. The phone is devoid of almost all apps, and it seems entirely useless.
A voice snaps you out of your reverie. “Oi, there are phones here!” You recognise the voice as Karube’s — he’s talked the most out of the three while you've been with them, you notice — and almost turn and hug him out of pure solace. “There’s a whole heap of them. Can we use them?”
The three of them are quick to grab their own phone, each of them in awe by the facial recognition, before any and all hope is crushed as they come to the same conclusion you have. There’s no signal and you can’t use them to call for help.
Please Wait For The Game To Commence.
Time Until Registration Closes: 2 Minutes. There are currently four participants.
“What’s this?” No one really says anything, unsure how to answer. The tense air dissipates almost immediately as you hear the clicking of heels. It’s another person! I was right! You turn and smile smugly at Karube, who only rolls his eyes in response. You don’t have the energy within you to feel offended, not when you see the slight curve of his lips in a smile. ”Hey!” Chota calls, excited. “Do you know where everyone went?” You almost rush into her arms — an urge you’ve been having a lot recently — and your smile is so wide your cheeks hurt.
She spares you a side glance, an awkward grin pulling at the corners of her mouth; it looks more like a grimace, but you’re so relieved to see someone that you ignore it.
The mysterious girl doesn’t respond. Instead, she tosses something back through the entrance — you fail to catch what it is, too lost in your own mind. A laser quickly burns a hole through it.
“Once you cross the borderline, there’s no going back.”
You find that you’ve been opening and closing every application the phone has — which isn’t many — for the past two minutes, eyes scanning and taking note of every small detail. Your group is eventually joined by a school girl at some point, and the registration is quick to close.
Registration Closed! The Game Will Now Commence.
Game: Dead or Alive
Difficulty: Three Of Clubs.
“Three of clubs?” Someone asks. You’re not sure who, there’s a ringing in your ears and everything once again fogs over as you focus on the words in your screen. “What does that mean?”
Rule: Select the correct door within the stipulated time.
Clear Condition: Leave the building within the time limit.
[START!]