The Gamer (Mashton)

Prolouge

                 ~
     August, 1930
                ~

I race down the many flights of old, creaky stairs, and fly down the dark corridor. I take a sharp turn to the right but keep running, picking up my pace. I sprint towards the first door I see, and try the handle. Locked.

I dash to the next door, try the knob, and nothing happens.

No, no, no! I think, as I run past the doors. There has to be a way out of here, this was the first N.O. building constructed, it's the most basic out of all of them. I decide to turn left this time, to look for some sort of passage, but I instantly regret it.

Right in the middle of the long, narrow hallway stands a man. His clothes give him away immediately. He's dressed head to toe in all purple, with a single, white circle on his chest with the N.O. design on it. Around his waist sits an empty, black holster, and in his hand rests the gun.

I start to back up a little, trying to think of some plan, any plan, when the two doors on either side of the man slam open, hitting the wall and making a loud, echoing noise through the corridors. Several captors step out. They all walk slowly, their black-heeled boots clicking on the smooth linoleum floor. The captors take their positions behind the first man.

The army of captors move closer to me, and slowly keep advancing. I'm backing up little by little as they get closer. Then all of a sudden, they stop moving and stand there completely still, unmoving, as if waiting for something to happen.

What are they doing? I ask to myself as I stare at their deathlike bodies. But soon they are out of their trance, and are closing in. I make a move to run, but I feel a hand on my arm and I'm being shoved to the ground. My attacker wraps his arm around my neck, pressing his gun to the side of my head, and sharp pains explode through my body. I struggle immensely to keep silent. One of the men walks up to me. He stands there for a minute, just staring. Like he's examining a rare species.

"Are you Alexander Irwin?" He asks in a husk voice. I gulp, how do they know my name? I was completely off the grid for years, no information could be found on me. Until now. I say nothing, and try to ignore the burning pain of the captors hold. He leans in closer, only inches from my face. He opens his mouth but doesn't get his chance to start.

The alarms start blaring and sprinklers are going off. The noise is getting louder by the second. The man who's holding me lets go, and they all look around furiously, trying to see what has caused this.

Then, a loud, thundering noise starts to echo louder and louder off the corridor walls. Footsteps? They continue to grow, at an unsteady pace. Definitely footsteps. The captors are milling around, confused, trying to figure everything out.

I see the shadow of another person beginning to appear. They're running, and I back up, not sure what to do.

"Alex!" He screams, his voice sounding vaguely familiar.
"Alex go, run!" He shouts.
I hesitate for a moment.
"What about you?" I yell back.
"Just go!" He answers.

I follow his instructions and take off, running down the long hallways. I push myself to go faster, and to not look behind.

And finally, I reach it. I try the handle of this door, and step inside.