Stay Alive

The Mysterious Death of Drew Hayden

Drew's P.O.V

I made my way back home and thought back to that game I had played with May and all the others who I can barely remember their names. I still can't believe how I died so easily in that game, I mean I didn't get to do anything! Next time will be different and I'll be partnered up with May instead of Ketchum. I grabbed my keys as a call was coming through and answered it while talking to my headphones "Lucas didn't expect you to call... also thanks for allowing my parents to believe I was staying over at your house... but I know that's not why you called, so what happened? Is it something about the project?" I asked as I opened the door and turned on the lights

'No thought I'd call you and make sure you got home alright. After that game we played, I wanted to make sure everyone was alright, you especially since you died by decapitation in the game and all'

It's nice to know he cares, not many would care about someone like me and I was going to response when I suddenly heard a noise coming from the kitchen as I looked towards the dark room

"Hey, is somebody out there?" I called out as I grabbed a nearby bat from the ground and made my way towards the kitchen cautiously while holding the bat tightly in my hands

'Drew, who are you talking to? I thought you said your parents were gone for the night' I heard Lucas say in a slight panicked voice as I entered the kitchen and turned the lights... only to see it empty, however I didn't lower my defenses or bat yet

"I don't know and yes my parents shouldn't be here... probably some homeless or rent-a-cop trying to scare the living day lights out of me. You know what they say. You play the game too long, you start seeing things or in this case hearing things" I said

'Or have seizures. Games seem to at times cause seizures. Perceptive of reality on the other hand, has yielded some very interesting studies'

"And you've read them all?" I asked in a sort of surprised tone, after all Lucas didn't seem like the type to read stuff like that

'I have. It seems the longer you play, the more your mind perceives the game world to be a reality. You know, it's really interesting, but it's only a theory of course. But then there's, you know, retinal memory, which...'

"That is so fascinating, really Lucas, but I'm feeling like we should call it a night. We got school tomorrow and I also gotta clean up the house before my parents get back from their trip" I said as I got a drink from the fridge

'All right, we got school tomorrow and a project to present as well.... Oh and Drew. you can rejoin us in game night again if you want. Gary texted me as soon as he got home about the next one and asked me to pass the message to you'

"Yeah, I'll have to check my schedule, but I'll make sure to be there and also show Oak a thing or two" I said as the call disconnected and I put the cup in the sink and put all the clean disks into the cupboard, when I suddenly heard footsteps coming down the hall

I walked over to the kitchen entrance and saw a figure move as I ran over towards them only to see the room empty "Damn maybe Lucas was right about what he said... but it was only a game..." I told myself, but was not really believing what I said

I heard the footsteps moving towards my bedroom and I slowly ran towards my room as I turned the lights on, but saw nothing once again "I'm being paranoid, the game's just gotten to my head and is making me think it's real now" I said and turned back to go and finish in the kitchen, but as I turned around back, I screamed in horror. It couldn't be, there was no way...

The next day

Ash woke up and felt something heavy on his shoulder and saw it was none other than May and wondered what happened, until he remembered about game night and how May said she was going to spend the night at his house