The Dark Forest Show: Part I

18. Freedom

You point Erika. You can't fail this shot. You look at her eyes. You look at all the pain she made. You are sure. You got her. She doesn't move. You don't think twice. You can't. You deeply breathe and finally you pull the trigger.

You expect Erika, the one who saved your life, to shrink in seconds. And you wait for it, but nothing happens.

Chanel: "She's not gonna shrink"

You swallow saliva.

Chanel: "The last shot these two guns you had was used to set you free" says while she shoots Katy again.

Erika screams and runs to her as fast as she can when Chanel, who's looking in your eyes, shots her.

"Now what?" you ask when she aims to you

Chanel doesn't answer you. She moves to Erika to put her on her mouth. Just like Katy. She still points at you.

Chanel: "You're here for one reason" says with both girls on her mouth trying to escape. She puts them under her big and wet tongue. "I know why you knew the padlock's combination. That's why I know you're innocent. Only Christian, the guard who gave you the paper, and me know the combination. Christian told me someone was about to arrive. Someone who deserved to live. But it's hard to communicate outside without being discovered. I guess you hadn't read all the paper" says while she keeps her gun.

"I lost it, I just could read a little part"

Chanel: "Cameras are recording all time. Anything he says to you can be recorded. On the paper were all the instructions to arrive here alive. But you found another way to do that and that's impressive"

"Am I free?"

Chanel: "Yes, you are. I'm here because I know the world outside is worse than here. All the levels, 0, 4,... does it matter? I think we live in the dystopia that too many people have imagined around history. Maybe worst, who knows and it's called New People Order. That's why I'm here. That's an oasis for me. Here I can, you know, be free although I don't have too much contact with people. My family has always hated me for being the way I was. Not as sweet as they expected. I wanted to be a judge since I was young, I thought I could change the world and look at myself now... Do you want to know who do I eat? I only eat animals and hunters, the ones who pretend to finish with the life of another person, like these two sisters. I admit I'm addicted to eating people but I try to control it. I don't care for their reasons. Do you really think I'm gonna eat them just because they were hunting in my zone? I am the only one who makes justices in this forest."

"Lenahc?"

Chanel: "Just my name upside down. I think it's not too hard. the Freedom Button is on the White Box."

Erika and Katy, covered by saliva, desperate, screaming and crying, are still trying to get out her mouth.

"What's the passcode?"

Chanel: "Before telling you I have to tell you something. I know who you are. Nora told me. She was the one who killed her sister"

"Then why did I go to prison?"

Chanel: "She's a nurse. She has access to the blood samples. She just picked a random one and she scattered it on her sister's corpse. You know the rest of the story. They don't need proves to jail a Level 1"

You feel angry.

Chanel: "I can tell you the Box's passcode. Or I can tell you where she is." says while she swallows boths sisters alive. "I can control a lot of things from here"

"Just give me the passcode, I want to finish as soon as possible with that"

Chanel: "You made a good choice. You may take justice outside here, who knows. But be careful not going back here. The passcode is the date of your birthday"

You go for it and find the Freedom Button.

You see the button and get ready to push it

"What will happen with you?"

Chanel: "Don't worry for me, I'm a creature after all. And creatures are above hunters. But I'm worried for the future of this show, next season will not bring prisoners anymore, they'll bring here innocent people"

"Is there anything I can do outside"

Chanel: "I don't think so. Enjoy your freedom, you deserve it"

You push the Button

The counter's red light on your eye turns to green. You look at Chanel's eyes and you smile at her.

You go up stairs and she opens the main door and starts walking away. She disappears in the fog.

You wait inside the house and suddenly hear a noise. The button's still on your hand.

That's a helicopter sound. With the wind it makes the fog disappear. You can see some people getting out of the helicopter and running to you. You know most of them.

Christian smiles at you at the same time some camera staff records the moment.

Christian: "In the name of New People Order and The First Revolution, ladies and gentlemen, here is him. The only survivor of this episode. We love this guy, he's smart and he just won his freedom. He's a hero! He's free! He's finally a Level 1!" says to the camera.

Guard 2: "Well done son. I didn't expect that."

You hug Christian while Guard 2 watches you suspecting something.

Guard 2: "But we have other good news. Valkyria is not only alive but she has eaten her victim number 100. It's our first hunter to reach this number and she'll be the first non-political Level 2 in history. Be careful Level 1 people, because now she can eat anyone she wants... out the forest!"

Christian: "People will love you. But be careful, Valkyria will go for you now. You better hyde, at least some time" says while you go to the helicopter.

"Yes, or I can start a second revolution"

Christian: "Don't say that or they will bring you back here. Further, that's impossible"

But "impossible" it's just a word that has been deleted from your dictionary in the last hours.

You can see Nora's outside. She nods you while she smiles. You can understand her. She's saying "We're both finally free, sorry for all I made you".

Guard 2: "Don't look at her, she ate 2 of your mates. I think she found a new hobby here with us."

The helicopter starts flying and Christian starts interviewing you, but you don't answer. You just look through the window and see how the Dark Forest every time gets smaller. It's beautiful. You smile. You're finally free.