we play games with guns (valorant)

chapter 5

Day Two.

It was 6:59 AM. Neon was the first to leave Jett's house. Her sword was concealed underneath her clothing, though it made her walk stiff. She trekked over to her house, paying extra attention to the footpath. The stones were nice and hot this morning, nice enough to take off her shoes. It would be like a spa. Neon kicked off her white Keds and tucked them away. Her feet were sweaty. They made plodding noises as she travelled to the living room and set down her weapon.

She emerged from her house, rubbing her hands on her pant leg. The glimmer of the sun made her squint. Where was the announcer guy?

Jett and Viper were standing at the door, talking about something in hushed tones. Neon urged time to go faster. She didn't like waiting. It was boring.

But she gave them another look. What could they be talking about, anyway? Something stupid. Or suspicious, though it didn't sit right with her to be suspicious of Jett. Viper, however, had something worth looking at.

Tala let her eyes wander around. She did a headcount and blew out a sigh through her teeth. Thank God. She wasn't religious, but if she believed in God; thank the hell out of him. Nine alive heads, bobbing up and down as they trudged to their numbers. It made her think of the game again. Everything in the game was set up and assigned to them like they were mice. Assignments, she thought. Were the staple of control. Do this, do that. And compliance was its servant.

Neon swung one leg over the other. She took out her document and pointed to the first line, running it over. This note would be history. She thought someone might see it one day. No, someone will see it one day- she was going to make it out alive and share her story. She looked at Jett. Viper had departed from her, and she was standing confidently, chin high, feet flayed, fingers curled, and eyes mighty hard.

Jett looked cool.

Today, Neon would ask for her role. They couldn't work together if Neon didn't know. Three hours, she thought.

There was a clicking noise. "Hello. Today marks the end of your first night here." He sounded almost friendly. Maybe Tala was so desensitized to the real world now that she craved the attention of strangers. She was playing the role of mouse very well.

The hologram added with an admonitory voice; "A player was caught attempting to escape. If this occurs again, security will not hesitate to eliminate all members. Allow me to remind you that there are fifteen guards posted outside the perimeter. Additionally, if anyone refuses to play the game, VALORANT HQ will be decimated. You may proceed into Day Two." His voice turned into a wisp. Then he disappeared.

Escape? Eliminate HQ? What was he on about? Before she could ponder any further, Chamber clipped in.

Tala gripped the waist of her jeans and adjusted them. She kept her ears perked, anxious about the threatening message.

"Okay," Chamber fanned the clearing, turning his head left to right. He clapped his hands together. "I need to know this now. Did any of you receive a phone call last night?"

"I stayed home." Killjoy spoke up from House Eight which neighbored Yoru and Phoenix. Killjoy let out a loose chuckle. She was fiddling with her shoe as she hopped around on one foot.

Neon worked her jaw as she pondered what Killjoy had said. Before she could reach a conclusion, someone called, "Do that tonight so I can get an easy kill." Raze had a smirk, teasing and smug. Viper was laughing, periodical jerks of her chest slightly exposing her torso. That gave Neon a better look at her. She had something there, a revolver, a colt, a colt Model 1871-72 Open Top. The barrel was painted gold. To cover its history, its killings, its false sense of justice.