Pixelated

Jaybird

She's gone.

She's really, truly gone. I can't believe it. I don't want to believe it. It's just so... surreal. One minute she's there, talking and laughing, and the next... She's not.

Kat's dead. Honestly, totally dead. She wasn’t faking; she wasn’t just injured. She was gone. No second lives like you usually got in video games. No jumping back to life. The lack of her body’s shimmery disappearance was a painful reminder that this was all too real. We were smacked in the face with reality and forced to deal with the shit we'd been dealt.

I knew we were screwed when we entered the game, but I never though someone would actually die. No one suspected it, and Kat’s death hit us hard- even the other boys managed to shed a tear. 

All of the girls seemed to be stuck in some form of hysteria. Nikki and Mindy were not speaking at all; they were probably in shock. Lee was a wreck. She wasn’t crying, but it seemed like she was sobbing without the noise. Ari was hiding it; but that night, I’m sure I saw tears escaping her eyes.

Jay was, surprisingly, in the same state as the girls. His eyes were bloodshot, hair messed up, voice hoarse. Nathan told me that he thought Jay fancied Franco, and the more I thought about it, the more I came to agree with him. I had never seen him that upset before. Siva and Tom attempted to talk to him, but he got so angry that he scared them off.

“Oi, George?” I blinked once and turned to see Mindy, eyes still puffy and red, yet her voice was strong. “We-we’re having a funeral for K-Kat…” Her voice shook as she stammered. “Are you coming?” I nodded, sighing.

“I’m sorry.” She looked at me in confusion. “About… ya know.” She nodded.

“Not like you killed her…” She trailed off. At least she’s not s-suffering.” Mindy smiled weakly, and I sighed again. “Maybe she’s happier…n-now.” Her voice wavered, and her eyes teared up.

No, no, no, I thought, wincing to myself. Why did you bring it up? She’s gonna cry!  

I was right; she coughed, a hidden sob escaping. I bit my lip, not knowing what to do. Sighing to myself once again, I wrapped my arms around her, and I felt her body shake. I said nothing, as I had already said enough. I just rocked her gently, holding her.

 Oh God, help us.

JAY’S POV

How dare she fucking leave me. How dare she leave any of us. We're all going to die in this fucking video game that she's so obssessed with, and we're all gonna die with the memory of Kat bleeding out from a bullet wood, eyes lifeless, open, and unstaring. We're gonna go to hell with that one memory ingrained into our memories and tattooed on our skulls.

How fucking dare she.

 “Jay?” I turned around and glared at Stors’s short figure.

 “What?” I spat out, fidgeting uncomfortably. “Did Tom send you? Seev? Nath?”

She didn’t answer and looked at me sideways. “Kat’s funeral… We’re starting.” He eyes weren’t as red as the rest, but her voice was a little more quiet. I nodded once, regretting my previous anger towards her.

 “Oh…ok…” I stood up, following her. She said nothing while leading us to the spot Lee and Nath had picked. Ari nodded once before walking into the tent and leaving me.

I glared at Nath and Lee, watching enviously as Nathan hugged Lee comfortingly. I didn’t have anyone or anything to comfort me. If Kat hadn't been a complete moron, maybe I could have her in my arms right now, that idiot. Then again, probably not; her pride and stubbornness would most likely get in the way.