Trapped in the Sims (complete)

Part 15

The second time it happens, I'm almost expecting it.

It's been a few days, in which I have become increasingly worried that I'm sinking into the game's programming. It just seems so easy, to do the actions that are written out for me - the sim. Lying on a bed suddenly seems comfortable if I lie like Melissa does, like all the Sims do. Walking down the stairs - it's so tempting to walk at a regular pace, taking each step with the same force on my legs. I still try to take the stairs two at a time like I do at home, but it's getting so difficult now.

And the worst thing is, I can't think of anything to do about it.

I need to get out now, before I really can't control any of my actions.

And then, to make matters worse, the plumbob returns.

I'm sitting, trying to hide my unease as I try to chat normally to Melissa and her mum over lunch, though my replies are often monotonous. Luckily I don't think they notice; Melissa is expressing her excitement for prom, which is on Thursday - two days time. Adam has just asked her, apparently, and she was delighted to say yes.

"Isn't it great, Rachel?!" Melissa enthuses for the fourth time, flashing a smile at her equally excited mum. I guess I can't blame her for her excitement, she's finally going out with her lifelong crush, so it's an exciting moment for her. But my mind is on other things. 

I open my mouth to agree for the fourth time, and suddenly the awful creaking, groaning sound occurs all around us, filling the kitchen with the cacophony of the booting up noise. Melissa meets my eyes and quickly mouths something - I think it was 'don't worry'. But how can I avoid worrying, when Hannah could do anything to me? I don't want to have to flirt with Kyle again.

Then darkness consumes the brightly lit kitchen.

After the blackness dissipates around me, I find myself in the place where I was left frozen last time, standing next to Kyle, flirting with him. Urgh! Luckily, I find that I can move, since the green diamond isn't over me. Hannah evidently has other plans for this family other than me today.

But what is she going to do?

Melissa is standing, frozen in the eerie, expressionless look that all the family share. I beg her with my eyes to come back to me, to wake up from the enforced trance, but her eyes are vague and unseeing. She's fully controlled.

The green plumbob darts from head to head around me as Hannah evidently checks everyone's needs. For a chilling instant it lingers over my head as I feel her looking through my records, reading my motives. It's an oddly stripping experience, it leaves me feeling bare, as if she now knows everything about me. Then, thankfully, the glowing green diamond disappears from above me and I can move again.

It's now above Melissa's head, although I'm fairly sure Hannah just checked her.

Melissa walks out of the door, and it takes me a moment to realise that she's not coming back in, with the green diamond seeming to taunt me as she leaves the hallway. Quickly I chase after her so we're both standing in the garden, and I try and engage the blankly staring girl in conversation again, although I hate the way it takes over me.

However, when I'm only halfway through the preprogrammed actions that I have now come to recognise, something just stops, and I stand back, my action halted. So this is what happens when you cancel a sim's action. Hannah has always been impatient. Again, I try to ask Melissa about her day, doing anything to stall her, desperate to stop Hannah doing anything to my friend, but again my action is abruptly cancelled.

Then the plumbob appears back over my head and I feel a stab of fear as my legs begin to move me away from Melissa, back into the house, leaving the motionless girl behind outside. No! I want to shout. I need to help her! But of course Hannah doesn't hear me, and I find myself climbing the stairs, the plumbob circling tauntingly over my head.

If you want to concentrate on one sim, you make sure all the others are busy. It's basic gameplay logic.

And I find myself entering the bedroom, where my campbed is still set out, perfectly neat, although I left it in a state this morning. No. I don't want to forcibly be put to sleep by Hannah. I'm not even tired.

Then suddenly, I feel completely tired - exhausted in fact. Like all the energy has just been sucked straight out of me.

And I know that Hannah must have used a cheat to drag down my sleep motive.

I'm climbing into bed.

I need to help Melissa.

But the sim programming is taking over. I'm settling under the covers, my eyes are closing...

No no no nonononononono....

And then blackness overtakes my senses and I fall unconscious.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

The next thing I know, I'm being jolted awake by the horrible creaking booming sound, that finally means Hannah is logging off. Frantically, as I regain feeling to my limbs, I try to get out of bed. I've no idea how long I've slept for, but it's not going to be good.

My eyes alight on a clock on the wall, as I regain full control over my own body and the noise finally stops. It was around seven at night when she sent me to sleep. Now it's ten - but it's light outside. I'm willing to guess it's not ten at night. I've been kept asleep for around fifteen hours.

She could have done anything to Melissa in that time.

Anything.

It takes me the amount of time to walk down the stairs to decipher what. Melissa is hugging her mum in the hallway, her face hidden in the older woman's jumper. Her mum flashes a weary smile at me, but I'm worried. Something's happened. Something's wrong.

And suddenly I know what, as Melissa moves away from her mum's embrace.

"Oh no -" I breathe, as Melissa lifts her eyes to mine. They're red-rimmed and miserable.

And her stomach has a small, but noticeable bump.

I now know who Hannah chose for the teenage pregnancy option.