How far would you go for a chance at a new life?
In the future, a simulation game is developed: Maverick. A survival game played in teams, where the rich of society take advantage of those desperate enough to enter the sim. Min Soren is more than de...
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I emerge from the bathroom and I turn two more corners that I memorized. I catch up to a group of boys walking down the hall and led by a guard. I try to stick in the back so I stay hidden behind Player 16, and to act like I belong, but really my heart is beating out of my chest.
"Halt." The guard says and everyone stops. He scans his finger on a technology pad and the doors slide open. "Everyone hold on a second." the guard steps down the hallway and the group of boys around me begin talking, loudly. I forgot how loud boys are.
I tilt my head up to scan those around me, and I accidentally make eye contact with someone across the room. He stares back at me and I panic, his eyes look as if he knows I'm a girl.
Player 16 steps in front of me just as the boy across the room and I made eye contact.
"Hey," He says quietly next to me. "I'd suggest you tuck in that strand of hair in the back."
My hand flies to my head and I tuck it into the hat. I look up at him quickly and he winks.
"What are you-"
"It's ridiculous that they don't let women participate in Maverick." 16 whispers. "Literally ridiculous."
"... thanks?" I ask.
"It's actually so cool. You're giving mulan vibes," The boy says. "I'm kevin, by the way!"
I hesitantly shake his hand and he smiles.
"Best of luck 98," Kevin salutes me as we file back into a line.
"Alright, everyone listen up." The guard claps his hands. "find the circle with your number on it. Don't speak, don't move, don't pull any funny business. Once you're in this room, there's no going out until you get eliminated from the game. Got it?"
He opens the doors and everyone walks in and finds their number. Since they go by age range, there mostly seems to be boys in their low twenties. Everyone is wearing the same black bulletproof vest with their number in white.
They take 100 players at a time, so I'm second to last. I find the glowing blue circle with 98 on it and I stand there, head down.
"Awfully short to be here huh?" The boy next to me, 99, says.
I nod to him and look away.
"Silence," the guard shouts to everyone and the room goes quiet. "The portals will be closing in exactly 96 seconds from now. You will be dropped at your home base with your assigned teams. Around 5-6 people per team and you are not to switch with any other player. I assume you know the rules but if not: this is a survival game. Pain can and will be simulated, but when you are eliminated you feel nothing. Team work is encouraged, and in order to eliminate another player you must unclip the metal collar which will be handed out now. Once again, you work with your team which will split the prize evenly, but once one player is eliminated the team may still continue on without them."
