Unraveling the Alt Code

Chapter Six: Just A Simulation

The floor slides from under me like a never ending conveyer belt as my feet thump into the black ground. It springs up a little with each step, aiding my movement. Even though I know it's just a simulation- one I've been in a thousand times before- I can't help but be a little terrified by the emptiness of the black landscape stretched out infinitely before me. It's so surreal, like noting that you would ever see on Earth; the nothingness is difficult to fully comprehend. I try not to think about it too much and instead focus on my running. My legs burn as I sprint faster and faster, every muscle is working overtime to push me 'forward'. Really there is no forward. Or backwards. Or any direction at all. I shake the confusion on my mind and desperately try and find something else to focus on. Ba-dum, ba-dum. I hear my feet pounding the floor like a drum in my ears. The sound seems to be coming from everywhere all around me all at once, but at the same time, I'm not sure that I can hear it at all. As each second passes, the ground moves from under me at a faster and faster pace, causing my breathing to become labored and shallow; attempting to steady my ragged breaths only results in protest from my lungs and I want to splutter. But the red fluorescing numbers that have just appeared in the sky tell me there is only five seconds to go. I can hold on. Four...three... two... one. A bright flash of white light temporarily blinds me as it absorbs all my surroundings. And suddenly I'm back, as if I'd never gone away, just sitting at my station.

I glance over to Ren and Fin. They are both panting like dogs. Slowly, I detach the various wires and cables from my body and stretch out my achy legs. I feel the blood flowing back though my feet and I sigh with relief. On the screen in front of me, numbers begin to appear:
Speed: 7.9
Resistance: 8.5
Oxygen: 0.6
Overall Result: 19.2
Over 19! Score! Not only is that 0.8 over my target, but a new personal best! I look up to see that Ren is standing over me, beaming from ear to ear.
"PB?" I ask.
"Yeah!" She replies, bouncing up and down in her heals excitedly.
"Nice! I've got one too, look!"
She leans over to look at my screen. When she sees my score, Ren raises her hand and we high five, before breaking into a fit of giggles like little kids. We're both still laughing when I look over to Fin. He is sitting still with his head down. He looks upset. Slowly, I walk over to him. The numbers on his screen blink meekly:
18.9 FAIL.
"I didn't have anyone to train with. That's all."
He doesn't look up, even when I place a comforting hand on his shoulder
"It's okay don't even worry about it. You were only one point off target. I'm sure the guardians will understand."
"Yeah! It's totally fine." Ren chips in enthusiastically.
Fin just nods slowly as he rises from his chair. He pauses for a moment to look back at us.
"See you at lunch."
And then he's gone.

As the door slams behind him, Ren turns to me, bottom lip sticking out in a pouty frown.
"Poor Fin. He's really misses Zed doesn't he."
"Yeah. He seemed off at breakfast too." I reply, remembering his face at the mention of Zed's name this morning.
Ren sighs.
"Well I mean he was his best friend. They were practically brothers. Of course he's going to be sad he's graduated."
"I guess." I agree. "We will have to keep an eye out for him, try and cheer him up and all that."
"Yeah." Ren nods thoughtfully. Suddenly she stops and looks at her watch. "Crap! I have class in ten mins of the other side of 'stead"
I laugh at the abbreviation of Homestead that only Ren uses. Maybe one of these days it will catch on. Maybe.
"We'll go on then, I'll see you later." I give her a quick hug as she darts out of the room and sets of running down the corridor, blonde hair flailing behind her.