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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That night it seems like none of us can sleep so we all sit around the fire silently. At first the simulation was a sign of hope, like one last chance to set everything right. But now.... Now the stakes are so high it's suffocating to be here.
"I miss them." Eric says.
"We all do," Changmin sighs. "What choice do we have other than to keep going though?"
"But how could he just give up like that?" Eric asks. "He gave up on us."
"It's just the harsh reality." Changmin says. "The difference between us and Kevin is that we're so desperate for this to work out, but he's willing to take the risk of going back empty handed."
"He's stupid." Sunwoo says quietly. He unstraps his vest and uses it as a pillow. "This is the only way."
"Soren how are you feeling?"eric asks.
"Me? Fine," I answer.
"Are you sure?"
"I'm sure. I'm good, really," I say.
Eventually Eric gets bored of the silence and he falls asleep.
"I'll be back," I stand up.
"Where are you going?" Changmin asks.
"Just gonna get some fresh air. Ill stay close, I promise." I say. He nods and I walk out of the warm cave into the cold forest.
I suddenly wonder what would happen if I also walked out right now. What if I just give up? Not that im scared or anything, but what if Kevin's right? What if there's another way to fix all of our problems?
I walk and I walk further, but no matter how far I go I can't clear my head.
And what happens if we do win? What if they disqualify me because I'm a girl and I get nothing? What if this is all for nothing?
I look at people like Kevin who seem like they rule the world by how satisfied they are, but in reality they're really unhappy. So who in this world actually is? Is it just the people in 1st faction?
I stop walking and I close my eyes. The black I see now reminds me of the bottomless room you enter right before the sim. There's a moment of silence, a second for you to process how it's come to this point. They program that intentionally for sure.
I reach my hands up, and I touch the cold metal collar, just to see how it would feel. Do I feel free?
Before I can make up my mind I hear a twig snap and I whirl around.
But it's just Sunwoo. He brushes his wavy bangs out of his eyes and says, "It's dangerous to be here by yourself."
"Sunwoo I don't want to hear it right now. I don't want to hear the 'she's weak and needs to be protected' thing right now. Just leave me be," I say.
