I finally poke my head beyond the trunk of the tree and I see Kevin standing across from a boy around our age, Player 30. He has bright round eyes and light brown hair, he seems like the last kind of person I'd expect to see in the sim."Kevin," the boy breathes.
So this is the boy that Kevin was talking about, his best friend.
"Jacob. Why are you hesitating?" His teammate, 48 says.
"...I-I know him." Jacob says softly, and I see his eyes tear up.
"No, you don't." 48 says. "It doesn't matter, you take him down or I will. And I'll make him feel real pain." he unsheathes a long metal sword, five times the size of the knife Kevin's carrying.
There's a long silence before Jacob says, "I'm so sorry."
I watch as Jacob takes one step towards Kevin and makes a weak attempt at a punch. Kevin doesn't even dodge because Jacob falls to his knees in a crying mess.
"H-How are you even here? You couldn't walk when I left," Kevin kneels next to him.
"We're in a simulation, I can do it sitting down," jacob says. "I-I registered at the last second because how could I let you come here alone? How could I let you get hurt for my account?"
"But Jacob you're hurting. You can't always be strong for everyone, you have to let me help," Kevin says, wiping his cheek of a tear.
"Oy hurry it up already with the sob story," 48 groans and points his sword at Kevin. "Times ticking."
Kevin brings out his own dagger, and I can't even imagine what he's feeling.
Jacob reaches a shaky hand up but then stops. "I-I can't. I really can't hurt him."
"It's okay, it's okay," Kevin whispers. "You don't have to." He drops his weapon to the floor.
"What else can I do??"
Kevin reaches his own shaky hands up to his own neck. I watch as his fingers slide to the clip of the collar.
"Kevin" Changmin runs out from hiding. "No. You can't do this, w-we can have jacob join our team."
"Ah the infamous Team 12. Well I won't let that happen," 48 shifts his blade to be touching the back of Jacob's head. "Make your next choices wisely."
"I-It's time," Jacob reaches his hands to his collar as well. "It's time for us to go."
Kevin nods. "We'll find another way, I promise. We'll make it better."
"Kevin," I step out from behind the tree and they both turn towards me.
"it was an honor being on your team," Kevin cracks a smile.
I nod, glancing at my feet. "You too. I was lucky to meet you here,"
"Soren, how can you just let him go like this?? We need him" Changmin says. "kevin get up, you're not leaving, we can fix this easily it's all of us against him."
"it's not that," Kevin says. "The more I'm in the game the more high stakes there will be a-and I'm not cut out to carry the team obviously. You're better off without me."
"No no no. Kevin listen to yourself, you're always so hopeful! you can't do this," Changmin says.
Kevin looks at me but I understand him.
"I'm not always hopeful. And it's time for me to realize that I don't have to be," Kevin says and I nod at him. "Thank you, Soren. I really hope I see you again."
"Me too," I give him one last smile.
"Kick their asses okay?" Kevin grins.
"Okay," I salute him.
He and Jacob turn back to each other and before 48 can swing his sword at them, Kevin and Jacob unclip their own collars.
They disappear in a second and although I miss Kevin, I know how scared he was here.
"Dammit!" 48 kicks the dirt beneath him. "I lost a player to a fucking suicide pact. Thanks to you." He looks up at me.
"You lost a player to your own ego." I say.
"I'm smart enough not to come after you right now, slut. Because I know all your guy defenders are here." 48 says. "But I'll slaughter you a different day."
With that he jogs away and our team, too stunned to react doesn't bother going after him. Sunwoo and Eric walk over to Changmin and I.
"What the fuck just happened??" Sunwoo asks.
"We just lost another one that's what happened." Changmin says blankly.
"You." Sunwoo points at me. "He would have listened to you why didn't you do something?"
"Sunwoo you can't just force someone to do something. It was his choice and since we became teammates I respected his decision." I say.
"He could have helped his friend with whatever he needed help with the money we could win!" Sunwoo argues.
"Look, you're acting like I wanted him to leave. I didn't. He was my best friend on this team so I want him to be okay! And he wasn't okay this entire time and you didn't give a shit about it. So I don't want to hear anything from you." I snap.
"But you realize that we don't have that 'safety in numbers' anymore right?? We have 4 players Soren. 4. So everyone has to step it up now or else we're all dead." Sunwoo says.
"Stop fighting!" Eric yells and I turn my head to see his glossy eyes. "it's bad enough that we just lost Kevin, and Juyeon, we can't turn against each other."
"Eric's right." changmin steps forward. "Soren, letting him go that easily wasn't smart. But Sunwoo quit acting like you're the leader, you're making everyone discouraged. Everyone makes mistakes, but as a team we can't hold that against one another okay? Kevin's right it's only gonna get more competitive from here on out, so we can't put our team dynamics at risk."
The tension is all high between us but we nod. Now just the four of us, it's quieter than usual especially without Kevin's humming, as we walk back to home base.
There's a sense of emptiness in the air. The only comfort I try to seek is the idea that Kevin might be happier now. He can be with his best friend again and if, no, when we win, I'm going to find him and give him his portion of the money.
YOU ARE READING
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FanfictionHow 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...