Sleep

Part 32

Coming home with a large smile across my face, I grabbed leftover veggies and heated them, heading to set up my Xbox and get situated on the couch.

Content and comfortable, I started dozing a little while into playing of GTA.

I knew Cartoonz was right, but I definitely hoped I'd hold out longer.

______

Blinking a few times against the bright sun, I turned my head to the side, noticing a two story building right beside me. Awkwardly pushing myself to my feet, I walked towards its blue door.

I couldn't see anyone around, but I could hear some banging above me, so I set off to find some stairs.

I was moving slowly, making sure no one saw me, when I passed a window, catching sight of my reflection.

Peering down to myself, I looked normal, aside from the ever present watch on my wrist. But looking back up to where I was reflected, I saw the classic T-pose position. Legs together and arms out from my sides at almost a 45 degree angle.

So, I'm in gmod. What game mode though?

An explosion from upstairs caused me to leap, hand flying to my chest in panic. Running toward a wall, I crouched down, hiding myself as best I could until I knew what was happening.

Was I so sure I wanted them to find me actually? Assuming Delirious is here, he's probably going to be angry. I flattened further against the wall.

It sounded like multiple people were trashing a room somewhere to my upper left, and I could only hope that meant I was safe, for now at least. 

Taking a deep breath, I leant towards the door frame, cautiously peering around it. All clear.

Scrunching my nose at the slightly dusty air, I stood and brushed off my pants, before rounding the corner. Nothing moved, and I tried to keep my footsteps as silent as possible, in case there was someone else on the ground floor.

As I entered a room that could be a kitchen, considering there were a few stoves scattered through, I heard the racket now above me fall silent.

Pursing my lips, I moved toward one of the windows to see if I could open it and climb through, only to spot something odd.

Moving across the front lawn, was the shell of a car. Blue, to be exact.

I snorted quietly at the obliviousness of the seekers as I realised what game I had been pulled into playing. Looks like I need to find a prop.

Glancing again around at my options, I decided to backtrack to one of the rooms I'd glanced at on my path here. The room was still empty, walls hideously striped, couches still in the same spot at the end of the long space. But I ignored those, turning my attention instead to the two book cases in front of me.

Now... How to become a prop.

I picked up a book that was settled amongst others, sighing when nothing happened. Tightening my grip in frustration at my own stupidity, I turned my arm to get a view of the watch. Tapping it brought up its screen, showing me the typical gmod menu options. Nothing new.

I groaned under my breath, but only partially heard the noise under the thundering footsteps coming down the stairs.

I could feel my heart rate pick up as glanced to the shut door, before turning and hastily dropping the book on the others.

Running my eyes and hands over the frames of the window beside me in hope for a latch, I swore when I couldn't find one. Lashing out at the wall, I panicked when the watch caught the wooden side of the shelf, letting off a violent buzz against my skin.

Please don't be broken.

Before I could even check it, I saw a flash of black, almost as if the lights were switched off then on, and my vision was higher than previous.

I felt taller, I felt foreign.

Looking down to see why I felt so odd, I almost cried out to see a bookshelf instead of my body. I felt like my limbs were still there, just not within view. It was disconcerting to say the least.

Still, I brushed off the shock and turned to the book I'd had previously. Picking it up, I noticed an almost transparent ghost of an arm keeping it raised. Lifting the other, I squinted to see the watch, before pressing it against the book.

Again, the room flashed black.

Then became giant.

To my surprise, the book in my hands felt no heavier than it had before, despite it being the same size as me now. Awkwardly wrapping my arms around it, I placed it on the ground shelf, then took off running to the couches.

Normally, a prop probably wouldn't fit under them, but I felt confident that I could. Unlike normal props, I can lay down.

Just as I reached the couch, the door swung open, and I inhaled deeply. Sliding myself under the furniture piece, I prayed they hadn't seen me. I wonder what the teams are? Surely I could check with the watch somehow. But it's not really important.

If they hadn't spotted me, surely they could hear my pounding heart.

But within probably 20 seconds, although it felt like longer, they took off running. Gunfire started outside and I was sure they had found whoever had been the car. Or maybe someone else was out there too.

A second gun joined in for a short period before everything fell quiet. Was that not the last person?

I glanced down at my barely visible arm, wishing desperately to see the timer of the round.

Time ticked away, the sweat on my palms only getting worse as it went.

Then, the watch lit up with a buzz.

'(All)I_Am_Wildcat: fjsibeif'

Frowning at the jumble, I poked it, and a keyboard popped up. Shaking my head, I turned my attention back to the open door.

'(Team)H2ODelirious: ?'

The noise made me jump, and I whacked my head on the couch bottom with a curse, not expecting more messages to come.

Nor did I expect voicechat to become active.

"I heard it too, and I think you're right Basically."

"Can we follow the sound then?"

"Yeah, everyone's gotta keep quiet though. At least the game isn't frozen or glitching." Evans voice came through again in reply to Marcel, and I huffed. Damn it.

Instead of a message though, a third voice spoke through the in game mic.

"Just come out, we know you hear us Luna."

Delirious sounded so crestfallen that guilt immediately flooded me. Of course they knew it was me, why else would they have used the in game mic? They'd have to be in Skype or discord together already.

Crawling out, I brought up the keyboard again, not feeling up to speaking.

"(All) :Back room w/ couches."

(1164 words)

Ik long pause again, I'm sorry. It could give excuses or explanations but you're probably sick of those aha.

I'm gonna finish this, like today, and then I'm gonna post on Ao3-same username as this- and then I'm gonna start a new book.

I hate to say it, but I'm deleting Darkness. I promised I'd finish it, but it's honestly cliche and bad.