Fatal Order

Part 4: Meaning of Death - 5

By the morning, everybody felt horrendous.

Alex woke up feeling stiff, his body coated completely in goosebumps.

He accidentally slept in a soldier-like position, leading him to groan deeply as he pulled himself upright onto his pillow.

As he did, his stomach let out a heavy growl, as it continued to let him know that he was at this point, starving.

Around three days had passed since he had a bite of anything, and it was starting to really weigh down on him.

He began to feel utterly weak. Doing anything felt like a chore, regardless of how difficult of a task it truly was.

While pulling himself out of bed, a knocking on his door could be heard, telling him somebody was waiting for his attention.

"This early-?" he lightly groaned to himself as he slipped into his clothes and slouched over to the door, slowly opening it up.

"Good morning Alex," Hannah greeted rapidly.

"Oh," Alex hesitated, slightly surprised by her energetic attitude, "good morning. What can I do for you?"

"W-we need to come up with a plan to get out of here. Like, r-right now," she stuttered, gripping her stomach, which growled deeply as soon as she stopped speaking.

"I-I see," he chuckled, "why'd you come to me?"

"I woulda gone to Dante, but- he's still mi-missing..."

"Right," Alex sighed. "Well, what's this 'plan' you're thinking about?"

"You said someone told you this facility is a simulation, r-right?" Hannah asked.

"That's right."

"W-well, surely we can get out, somehow, right? This world isn't the real one, so is there a main room where we can shut down the 'computer' or something?"

"I have no idea, to be honest," Alex defeatedly sighed. "I doubt Fate is controlling this place from the inside."

"Grrrraaah-!!" she groaned, her stomach growling once again. "I can't do this anymore, man! Why do we have to do this? I'm gonna starve to death in here!"

"We'll figure something out... I'm sure," Alex unsurely stated.

"You don't truly believe that, do you?" Adam asked, suddenly appearing, arms folded from behind.

"Huh-?"

"We'd have to find an escape in just a couple of days, by the looks of it. Based on our luck, I doubt that's gonna happen."

"W-what are you saying?!" Alex snapped suddenly.

"We're all starving. Somebody will succumb to the urge soon enough," he fixed his glasses. "I hate to be negative but, that's the way it is. Simple."

"Have more hope, man!" Alex shouted.

"There is no point in being hopeful when all logic goes against it. You'd just be setting yourself up for disappointment. Somebody is going to die in the next couple of days, and that cannot be avoided."

"Cr-crap-!" Hannah exclaimed before immediately dropping to the ground and gripping her head, indicating she was experiencing another one of their regular headaches.

"Ay," Alex began, "you okay?"

"I... need to get out of here..." she whispered to herself.