I'LL SEE YOU AGAIN [indefinite hiatus]

FEVER DREAM

Trigger warning: blood/gore, depictions of fighting, player 101
Kasumi's POV
——————————

She was right. I don't know why I doubted her words when she told me about the game but now I understand. Thank you okāsan, you prepared me well. They brought me to a van, remember the three steps.

step 1-keep a knife with you at all times.

          I took the knife okāsan gave me out from my pocket and subtly slipped it into my sleeve. Okāsan made me practice this one every night until it was seamless.

step 2- hold your breath in the van, wait ten seconds after the gas is gone, then your safe for now. Pretend to be unconscious.

         One of them brought me to a van, while the others left in another. As I sat in the van I take note of the other unconscious players in the van. All middle aged, all with bruised cheeks. The guard puts a gas mask on and this would be my cue. I take in one deep breath, while not making it too noticeable for him to suspect anything. Grey mist fills the van and I pause for a moment before pretending to pass out. I let my body fall back into the seat as my head tilts upward. The mist circles the van as my body threatens to take a breath. I fight the urge and the mist stops blowing, the guard begins to drive away. Ten more seconds, do it for Okāsan.

I count the seconds in my head,

One

Two

Three

Tears filled my eyes, daring to spill. I have to keep counting.

Five

Six

Seven

Eight

Nine

Ten.

I take in the deepest breath I've ever taken. Damn, this is some tasty ass air right here.

——"I took the train, I took the car, i didn't know just where I'd fall"——

They brought the unconscious players out to a room and began to undress them and put on their uniforms, each adorned with a different number. I flawlessly put the knife into the guard's pocket. One guard patted me down to check for weapons. Once I was cleared, they undressed me and put on the uniform. I felt insecure knowing that two strangers had seen my body, my scars. Not even Okāsan had seen what I had done to my wrists these few years. Step 3-They'll put you in a shirt, sweatpants and sweater, slip your knife into your sleeve to hide it. Once they sat me up to put on the sweater, I quickly reached into the guard's pocket and took out the knife, slipping it into my sleeve as fast as I could. I could feel my heart beating in my throat as adrenaline coursed through my veins.

Phase 1- complete.

—— "or where it'd take me"——

I waited until most were awake before I moved and the music started playing. Okāsan said there would be cameras everywhere, so I 'woke up' in the most natural way possible. I let my eyes flutter open and sat up slowly, stretching like a child. The first thing I see being the large screen above two metal doors.