the game

Amy

I have a bad feeling about this level. The fog above the ground and the darkness underground are my only company. I'm making my way to command, I need to find Katie. The walls are crawling with roots, the earth with a chunky tunnel channeling through it. I gulp as I continue walking, my mind on the ones who made these tunnels. I remember Katie telling me about the levels planted inside of the creatures' territories. And it only gets harder from here. I see a seam in the dirt, outlining a door that opens. Ima rushes out. I block her path.

"Where are you going?"

"Where I'm assigned," she snaps back. I let her pass me by. Another handful of students rush out of the room. I squeeze myself through the crowd into the room. Katie sits in front of a giant projection that is mostly dark. I watch as lines swirl into existence, a map in the middle of construction. She is pointing from the map to a section of people, and they make their way out of the door as well. Then she transfers a call on her watch, assigning another group. It's so odd to see. I can clearly see the respect etched on their faces. I've never seen them listen, let alone talk to Katie this way. They all call her boss, and honestly it's isolating. I guess I've been looking at her as my best friend for so long, I haven't seen her as my boss. It curdles my stomach to think of what kind of relationship we will have in the future. Is she just going to back further into herself? Is she going to be so consumed by her work that she fades away as a person herself.

It worries me how much she invests herself into the team. Into the future, but I know that she's doing the right thing. I know that this is how things are supposed to be, but I worry. What happens to me when she forgets I exist? I don't really have friends, more than that I don't want a different best friend.

"Amy, I need you on the tech team. I'm guessing their base is a lot like ours. The more you discover about ours, the more we know about theirs, will you do me a solid and scope it all out," she looks me dead in the eye waiting for a response. I gulp.

"You got it boss," I say, and the words feel cold on my lips.

"Hey Amy," I'm at the door. "Thanks for calling me boss, but you better not outside of the game," her eyes are fire.

I wonder if my worry is warranted.