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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"Sunwoo and Soren, you guys go up this tree so you can see from above. Lets get them to underestimate us before you jump down okay?" Changmin instructs.
We nod and Eric pauses. "How many people are left?" he asks.
"16 according to the tablet." Changmin answers. "And I repeat, do not jump down until I give you the signal."
"Why?" Sunwoo asks.
"Because, we could be facing a trio, or a team of 9, we just don't know since it's so late in the game. I'd rather guarantee two players' safety than none." Changmin says.
"Come on," I touch Sunwoo's arm and we make our way up a tall tree.
"Is this a bad time to say I'm afraid of heights?" Sunwoo asks.
"You'll be fine," I say. "not like we're jumping off a cliff."
"But this is pretty high." He says as he hoists himself onto a sturdy branch.
"I'm not even sure what they're looking for down there, so I don't think we'll be up here that long," i sit next to him and he clings onto my arm for dear life.
"You know what'd make me feel better?" Sunwoo asks. When I don't look away from Eric and Changmin down below, Sunwoo grasps my jaw and makes me look at him. He puffs his heart shaped lips out and I shake my head.
I glance to make sure nobody's watching before I peck him on the lips.
His face melts into a smile and I look away from him.
"Who knew you were so soft?" I ask. "It's embarrassing."
"Embarrassing?" Sunwoo asks. "I'm embarrassing to you??"
"Yes."
He pinches my side and I shriek and slap him away.
"I'm going to fall out of the tree you dumbass!" I flail my arms as I lose my balance.
Sunwoo suddenly reaches his arm around and grasps my waist.
He leans closer to my ear and says, "I'd never let you fall."
"What's going on up there?" Changmin yells up to us. He and Eric are looking up and shielding their eyes from the fake sun.
"N-nothing," I say and Sunwoo shoves me away.
"Hear that?" Eric says and we all silence immediately.
We hear the sound of footsteps crunching leaves. Sunwoo and I watch from above as five people line up in front of Eric and Changmin, fully armed.
"Shit outnumbered already?" Sunwoo whispers.
"Who are you and why are you on our grounds?" Player 70 asks.
"Your grounds?" Changmin asks. "There's not a cave even near here, it can't be owned by you."
"Technically, it's the land connecting Team 3 and 5's caves so... it does actually belong to us." he says.
"Allied with 3 through 5??" I ask. "fucking hell this was a shit idea."
"Damn I didn't know you could swear as much as me," Sunwoo's lips half curl into an impressed smile.
"Shut up I can't hear." I say.
"Ch-Changmin...." eric says and we all turn our heads to see five more people lining up behind our teammates.
"Oh shit," Sunwoo says.
I watch intently for Changmin to give the signal but he never does.
"We don't want any trouble," Changmin says.
"If you haven't noticed, there's not many players left. So you'll understand that we can't just let you go because well, the game's nearly finished." 55 adds.
"Why isn't he giving the signal??" I ask.
"Just trust him," Sunwoo says.
We watch as Eric whispers something to Changmin, and all of the sudden the youngest runs at one of the other players and two more swarm around him, creating an opening in the circle.
Changmin hesitates before running out, looking back at Eric as he says, "Go! I'll catch up."
"We have to go help him!" I begin hoisting myself off the branch but Sunwoo grabs my arm.
"No. Not yet. He hasn't given the signal."
"Since when do you care about rules?? Eric is going to get murdered!" I argue.
Changmin runs a farther distance but we can still see him, meanwhile Eric is struggling to keep the hands off his neck and holding onto his collar for dear life.
"But when it comes down to it..." Sunwoo trails off.
"Don't you dare finish that sentence." I warn him.
Someone kicks Eric in the stomach and he falls to the floor with a groan.
By now most of them are surrounding him.
"That's it. I'm going down." I say.
"Soren, no. Wait-"
I slide down the trunk of the tree and I land with my jaw clenched.
All the players turn to face me and I feel a thud behind me as Sunwoo lands.
"You're making a big mistake," Sunwoo says.
"And you're making the same one."
"I told you, I'll support you no matter what." He says.
"Alright enough of the sweet talk." Player 29 says.
"Of course, it's only natural she'd end up hooking up with someone here." 55 says.
"Please, we're much more than a weak hookup." Sunwoo says, to which Eric pauses to drop his jaw at us.
"Boss did always want us to torture before eliminating." 29 adds. "Get those two. Get rid of 22."
"Stop!" I shout. "Get rid of me. Let him go."
"Soren.... It's okay, remember what I told you a while ago?" Eric asks softly.
"No, no Eric it's not right. We have to finish together," I plead him.
"Oh don't worry Eric!" Player 79 interrupts. "They'll be spared. For now anyway."
Eric suddenly stops struggling against them and before I can stop him we hear the familiar sound of medal clicking.
His collar falls to the floor and I get one last look at him. Eric gives me a small smile and a nod.
"Thanks for keeping me company," he says before he turns to pixels and he's gone.
"No," Sunwoo breathes out.
I cant bring myself to even fight back as I feel two hands clamp around my arms.
"Soren," Sunwoo yells as they grab him as well. I snap out of it and the noise drowns my ears and I struggle against them.
Sunwoo takes down one but is just grabbed by another. We have to face it, we're outnumbered completely now.
As soon as I kick one of the players down, somebody else hits the side of my head with the back of their sword.
I feel my head spin and I flash in and out of consciousness.
"Ren!" Is the last thing I hear Sunwoo say before a buzzing noise fills my ears.
I feel myself drop to the ground and as I watch them knock Sunwoo out as well, I know we're fucked.
