Lovely Warfare

Chapter Three

All plans of an alliance was thrown out the window as soon as Emma realized that Queen Bee Charlotte was there. Not only did she have to deal with her in real life, but also now in the only place where she's ever felt different?

The game hadn't started yet, and Emma doubted that either one of them would be able to kill one another until it began. Even so, Emma made up her mind right then and there that she would be the one to  kill her first. Maybe Charlotte would cry and never play the game again.

As Emma thought this, Charlotte, who still had her knife to her throat, stepped back. "Who would've thought I'd see a familiar face," Charlotte commented.

"I'd hate to be playing against complete amateurs. You should be pretty good, right? I mean, you always carry around those gaming books so you have to be challenging."

A part of Emma instantly grew annoyed, "What makes you think you're better than everyone else?" She questioned.  Her tone seemed to surprise Charlotte, and even Emma felt strange hearing her voice laced with venom. It wasn't a tone Emma ever used, after all, most times she quietly scampered past the Queen Bee.

Charlotte's surprise melted away and she smirked, "You'll see how skilled I am. Haven't you heard, don't judge a book by its cover?"

"I doubt you even read books," Emma responded, her words slipping out despite herself.

"How rude," Charlotte said, as if Emma was the problem.

A  bell in the distance began ringing and though it was loud, the sound was like a sweet lullaby no doubt to gain everyone's attention and start the game.

Emma turned and began heading up the stairs to see what was going on; she would need a clear advantage point when the game began after all.
The sound of footsteps behind her let her know that the Queen Bee was close behind.

When the two reached the top, Emma made sure to step back and allow Charlotte to stand in front of her so that when the game started, she would finish her before she had a chance to continue.

Charlotte stepped close to the edge and leaned over, "Something isn't right," she commented.

Believing it to be a trick Emma responded with, "What do you mean?"

"The sky is glitchy."

Emma frowned and approached the edge to peak out. Her eyes widened in shock. Just as Charlotte had said, a weird grey and black static flashed across the previously vibrant blue sky. This wasn't supposed to happen. The phenomenon was not a part of the program, that much Emma knew. The books said nothing of the occurrence.

Then, the static flashed dark plunging everything into darkness. Massive shrieks emitted from the players down below and panic immediately flooded Emma's mind. Amiss the darkness, large bulky red letters appeared seemingly relaying a message. As her eyes ran across the words, Emma's body became numb.

"For everyone playing this game, you will not be able to escape this reality without first achieving the golden achievement. Then, and only then, will escape be unlocked. Be warned, there are only three lives per person. If you die in game, you truly die," Charlotte muttered, reading the words aloud.

Emma couldn't believe it. It had to be a joke. For a moment, Emma convinced herself that it was simply a bad joke until she tried to exit the game.

Normally to exit, one had to merely say the word exit and a small button would appear. Emma and several others said the word but the button that appeared simply said, could not access.

"This can't be," She muttered, saying the words again and receiving the same message. Squeezing her eyes shut Emma tried to think back to the guide book hoping to remember any sort of reference for what was happening or, at least, a backup exit route.

"This is stupid, do they really think a silly trick like that will work? As if people will die in the real world over some game," Charlotte scoffed.

Emma forced her eyes open and stared at Charlotte. The Girl appeared completely confident that it was a joke, and it brought a faint sense of relief to her.

As Emma glanced back at the sky, the bulky red letters vanished to be replaced with a new set of red that spelled out: Don't believe, just watch.
Then, the words vanished all together to reveal what appeared to be a low quality video of some sort with a lone figure sitting in an all white room.

The white color nearly blinded Emma due to the suddenness of its appearance. When her eyes adjusted she noticed that the figure was a man who looked to be in his mid to late twenties. He sat in a chair facing them, seemingly unaware that he was on video.

The man nodded, as if he had received instructions and reached to his side where the latest Vicro set laid. He put the equipment on and appeared to have entered a game. Out of nowhere, sparks began flickering out of the Vicro headset and everyone watching screamed.

The man began shaking vigorously, foam pouring out of his mouth as smoke spilled from the machine. The horror continued for three minutes before it stopped. Someone unrecognizable clothed from head to toe in white approached him and examined him for a moment. The headset was removed and the man was given a light push causing him to fall to the ground completely stiff.

The video faded off plunging everything back into black. When the red text appeared again it read: If you still have doubts, then die. See for yourself. All the best, and let the games begin.

The glitching sky reverted back to its previous beauty but the horror of what was seen still burned in everyone's mind. Emma was stunned. Glancing at Charlotte she could tell that she too was at a loss for words.

"I--" Emma opened her mouth to speak but was instantly cut off.

"I'm not going to die. I can't. I'm too young, too pretty to die. I won't die over a stupid game!" Charlotte shouted. When she looked at Emma her face was white, void of all color. It was obvious, she was terrified.

Emma clutched her sniper. She had planned to kill Charlotte in the game, but not for real. There was no way she could kill someone else, even if it was her. But Emma wasn't so sure about Charlotte. Could miss perfect actually kill someone else? They were the only two there, so it meant that one of them could kill the other.

Charlotte wanted to live; everyone did. That meant people would be desperate, desperate enough to kill everyone else if it meant their survival. But Emma couldn't do that, her conscience wouldn't let her. At the current moment with no will to kill Emma was at a disadvantage. In the spur of the moment she shouted, "Let's team up!"

Naturally, Charlotte's eyes narrowed, "Why?"

"B-because two is better than one. If we team up we can have a higher chance of survival."

Emma's heart hammered in her chest.  She was scared. She didn't want to die and she didn't want to kill. Being in a team would mean she didn't have to kill as long as someone else did it for her. It was the perfect scenario. The only problem was, eventually they would have to kill each other.

Charlotte remained tense, holding her blades tightly in her hands. "This is a competition, we're supposed to kill everyone else, not team up. I bet you think I'm stupid, that I'm some sort of ditzy blonde. Well I'm not. If you think I'm going to let my guard down and allow you to kill me then you're wrong."

"It's not like that!" Emma responded, "I swear I won't kill you! We'll help each other out! I can protect you from afar when you get up close to kill someone and vice versa! Otherwise another sniper player could kill you when you're back was turned!"

Emma bit her lip. She hoped she gave a sound argument. They didn't have time to negotiate since the game had already started. It was all or nothing.

Searching Charlotte's face in desperation, she held her breath as Charlotte seemed to have come to a decision.