Disclaimer:

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, events, places, etc., are either product of the author's imagination used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to an actual person, living or dead, or to actual events is purely coincidental.

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| ♤• A V Y •♤ |

"Damn you, Madame Evee! Get me out of he一"

Muffled breathing followed my words, as my whole upper self was covered with an extraordinary headpiece. The blue metal on top looked pristine and new一most likely made of some kind of graphene. Yet, sliding on this odd gear never appeared royally to me. Its foundation was so enclosed, reminding me of something that I dread was happening again.

This thing feels like a prison, much worse than it.

I was like thrashing inside an invisible cage; the tight netted mouth covering was causing me to feel somewhat claustrophobic. I tried to wriggle my arms, my entire upper body, and my legs, but then nothing worked out.

Side by side, I felt the other two main players make a slight movement一Light tightened his grasp on my hands as the freaky helmet entirely covered his head. Syracuse kept on mumbling some faint curses when he had undergone to the same machine. Neither of them moved a muscle after the device enveloped them. I could hear Light's own heartbeat; maybe he could even hear mine's nervous breaths, too, as we are undeniably closer to each other.

"Welcome to Death Games, Student 052, Avy Demascenia. For the opening zinger, this game is an uncompromising wilderness survival game, full of adventure, fantasy, and dark discoveries." Inside my headgear, I can hear an automated voice of a woman.

A voice electronically polished to such perfection that all the humanity had been drained from it. She was definitely a bot, and she was explaining一, or more like exaggerating the critical features of the games. "To finally gear up, let me present to you an overview of all the roles that the four Main Players will portray."

"Light Blackwood, as the school's President, you will become a pirate, a thief, and the female lead's main interest. Together with your crew, and Avy, on board with your ship一 The Arcadia, you will embark on a grand journey going to the realm of Xebyss, in hopes of getting back the legendary Book of Peace and Light, a mysterious artifact that protects the land from chaos to Cairo."

"Winter Syracuse, the leader of Section -Zero. You will portray the role of King Oscar's son, the most beloved Prince of Cairo. You're Light Blackwood's old friend, which pushed you to volunteer on the death line in exchange to suffer your friend's punishment for his alleged sin."

"Madame Beverly Celestia, BWH's Vice president. As the most powerful one beyond all the Blackwoodian Citizens, she will play as Eris, the goddess of Chaos and Darknees一, bringing the famous goddess' character entirely onto the next level. With those dark cards of fates unfold in her hands, she will control the game and let the leading players dance to the whirlwind of adventure and death."

Her description incorporates vivid imagery that was almost close to burning the depths of my eyes. While her voice is ringing all over our headgears, a slideshow of videos and images continuously appears through our front. It seemed like she's telling us, the players, what we'll be doing in the survival arena and how we're supposed to be doing it. That way, I can really imagine myself playing in the mysterious and eerie world of this fuckin' game.

"Avy Demascenia, as the female main character, you'll play as an Ambassadress from the Thirteen Cities, specifically from the City of Thrane. You will be the fianće of Winter Syracuse, who has been trapped by the power of their engagement and eventually has lost the opportunity to live her life as the Queen of the Sea. Together with the other main player, Light Blackwood, you will explore a mysterious wilderness world, venturing the way to get back the Book of Peace and Light from the goddess of Chaos and Darkness. You must learn to exploit your environment and its odd inhabitants if you ever have hopes of winning the challenges, escaping the monsters, and bringing home the Stolen Book."

Within the AI's cold, clear voice and a synthesized edge, its perfect diction, yet no soul can be heard. My breaths which were agonizingly painful and terribly short, hitched once again as I watch the whole presentation came to an end. This kind of game somewhat gives me the 'hopeless' feels. As if telling us to expect a survival game that won't forgive our mistakes.

When the presentation came to its end, a black screen suddenly appeared. I don't know what happened but does this indicates a general problem with a machine monitor? Or was this an indication of low power?

I tried to unbuckle the tight belts wrapped around me, but just like earlier, I couldn't. Every second passing was like a living nightmare for me. Even though my personal favorite color was black, I just couldn't love the kind of darkness this shitty machine brings me. It's suffocating me, grappling my breath lower and more profound. I tried to push my arm and legs, but I could find no leverage, for all I knew was that darkness was dragging me further down.

As when my eyes wanted to cry out for help, a distant sound of footsteps surrounded my ears. It was coming in my direction. It seemed to be from a quicker and lighter lady as I heard clanks of stilettos within each step.

When I grasped for my last breath of air, icy-cold atmosphere flooded in; my throat burned as if a thousand needles had been plucked out of it. My headgear got lifted, and as surprising yet inevitable, I saw Madame Evee on my front seconds after, "Heyya, darling. Please don't forget to rush out of this wonderful machine when Death Games comes upon its end. In the meantime, you have to enter a strange and unexplored world full of strange creatures, dangers, and surprises. All you need to do is play your way as you unravel the mysteries of strange lands and complete the challenges I will give..."

I tried to look towards the evil Vice President and silently beg her to help me, "Get me out of here, please."

I had risen to fear, heartache, anxiety, bliss, pain, and a hundred other feelings that made me beg to be able to bury my head beneath the safe covers and stay out of BWH's warm cocoon of darkness. I am stunned, shattered, and so hungry for my freedom that I tried to bring down my ego and beg her to take me out of this hell一, even if ever since I knew she wouldn't let me. In this own day, she believes she's on the higher rank than us, that even royalty had to beg for a seat amongst her audiences in this game; but as the wicked leader she is, it seems like all the goodness in her heart is now forgotten.

With her alluring smiles, she touched my cheeks in the most sinister way一 that I could almost feel my cold tears being scattered throughout on my face. Before bringing back my headgear, she warned me the last bid of word about our deal, "Darling, my rules on our deal was that you had to earn your freedom and must not beg. Do your best to be alive throughout the course of the games, and you will be free."

Before I could even protest, she calmly brought my head back to the dark machine. Together with her eerie voice singing an old song,

"We build cathedrals

to our pain~

Establish monuments

to attain~

No more freedom from all

of the scars and sins~

At last, we drown

in the darkness within~."

"No! No! Please, no!" I tried to scream out loud at the skies above, yet no one can probably hear us; the answers were mute and deaf, bound by the wicked laughter of Madame Evee. As my machine was brought back to life, a starting sound engrossed me once again. Yet, that didn't serve as a hindrance for me to hear the steps descending to the stairs. Sooner the steps grew weaker and weaker as Madame Evee's voice sounded much more stronger.

"Keep our deal on your head, Avy Demascenia. Stay alive to regain your freedom. Sounds pretty simple, right?"

Warm air filled my lungs, and blood pounded behind my eyes. It's starting. The games are finally starting. Blue and black holograms appeared on my headgear, and before I knew it, my eyes began to get heavy, and eventually, they closed. I sunk towards the bottom of the darkness with the last words of Madame Evee, and the bot rung through the wringer of my ears...

"I wish you all the best of luck! And may the power of darkness always be in your fate, my citizens."

♤ • • • ♤

To be continued.