Clockers Limited Life

Chapter 6- Session 1

The day of the start of Limited Life. The day, the hour, the minute. The world started fading away. All Bdubs could feel was his family's hands in his own. His breath stopped for a single moment when they weren't in their home server or the new one, but nowhere. Then new terrain loaded in. Bdubs crouched on the ground, taking in the strange, sweet scent of this new world. There were dark trees all around, a little lake overhung by a mountain, and goats roaming nearby, other animals further off. He looked at Cleo.

"What's first, Mom?" said Scar.

"Don't call me that!" she said. "We don't want our opponents to know we're family. They could use it against us."

"Okay, then what's first... Cleo?"

A thunderous voice suddenly reverberated through Bdubs's skull. YOU HAVE TWENTY-FOUR HOURS TO LIVE. DEATHS WILL LOSE YOU TIME. KILLS WILL GIVE YOU TIME. ONLY ONE WILL BE LEFT ALIVE.

Scar had his hands over his ears, and was wincing. Bdubs looked at him tentatively. "Was that-"

YOU ARE NOT THE BOOGEYMAN. THE BOOGEYMAN IS COMING FOR YOU. PREPARE YOURSELF.

That seemed to be all. The boys looked toward their mother. "It's time to punch trees, isn't it?"

Bdubs wasn't stressed. It was just like the start of any other server. He knew food would be important, so he was planting seeds in some farmland. Scar was more concerned with burning down the woodland mansion on the other side of the river. 

"Not yet, Scar, we don't even have- what was that?" Bdubs froze, listening to the bustle from within the trees. Footsteps crunching on grass and leaves. It had to be another player. His heartrate picked up. What would happen during their first interaction with another contestant? Would people already be attacking? Would they have to fight to defend their meager provisions? He had to protect Cleo and Scar. Would he have the strength to sacrifice himself? He hadn't thought-

"Scott!" said Cleo, waving to her friend. "What a surprise seeing you here!"

Bdubs exhaled. Scott had to be safe, he'd known their family for ages. "What are you up to?"

"Nothing much... So you're all sticking together?"

"Of course! We're a team. We're uh," Bdubs looked down at the glimmer of gold on his pants. "The Clockers!"

"Right!" said Scar. "The Cockers!"

Bdubs and Cleo looked at each other.

Scott moved on, but Scar continued to enthuse about their name. "We're the people with the clocks. Clockers assemble! We have cockered! Col- Clockers are the best! Hey look, a cave!"

Bdubs dragged up his second cow. "Ooh, we could live in the cave like a wolf pack."

"Let's be a wolf pack," said Cleo with a laugh. "Let's maybe remove the Clockers term."

"Why don't you want to be the Cockers?"

"Scar..."

"You guys are on a different wavelength than me, what's going on?"

"Don't worry. We'll protect you, Scar," said Cleo. They peered into the cave. "Is this home?"

"Home for tonight."

Night? Bdubs frowned at the moon already rising. "That was fast."

"The server has a different day-night cycle. Didn't I tell you?" said Cleo.

"No." He secured his cows, checked on the crops one more time, and started setting things up in the cave. The family worked silently for a few moments.

"Are you scared of the boogeyman?" said Scar. Bdubs shrugged. "Neither of you are- it- right?"