Into the Game

Chapter 3

The bag turned out vaguely helpful. Inside it had a small water bottle, you know, one of those little tiny ones the size of your hand, some dried food, a jacket and a blanket. She took a while to rest, laying next to the tree. It wasn't easy, as she had to face the tree so she didn't see the deer, and the bugs that made a high pitch buzzing sound, but none the less, it was helpful.

A while later, she assumed it was an hour or so, she turned around and got up. She gasped at what she saw. Or actually, what she didn't see. The deer was... Gone. She walked hurriedly to where it was and the grass was completely undisturbed.

Deep in thought she ran her hand through the grass and it felt cold. Extremely cold. She leapt up in shock. She needed to get out of here, and fast.

She grabbed the bag and started on her way.

💠

She had been walking for quite a while. The sun had shifted in the sky pretty far. And something in her bag was rubbing against her back. She shifted the bag but it still bothered her. Finally she sat down with the bag and found a semi-sharp rock. After tearing open the canvass, she pulled out a folded piece of card stock.

Unfolding the paper, she began to read it, until a small drop hit the corner of it and the corner melted away.

"That can't be good," she mumbled, as a drop hit her arm. Squealing she looked at the burn and took her hint. She ran blindly, trying not to get hit by these acidic drops. Suffering through burn after burn she saw a cave ahead. She dashed into it and collapsed onto the cold stone ground. She was speckled with raw, red patches. Although it hurt terribly, she clenched her teeth and looked around. In the corner sat;

"Ice packs?" She said crawling towards them. That's when she realized that something was wrong. This was too perfect. It wasn't random. It was planned. And monitored. She fumbled over to the edge of the cave and looked around, but only saw trees and rain. That's when she remembered the note, so she pulled it out and ran her finger over its burnt corner before beginning to read.

Seems someone doesn't play well in heat. Hope this next challenge's bark is worse then it's bite.

She pondered the last few words until she heard a twig crack outside of the cave. She put the note down and crept to the edge, and she heard rustling. Someone was walking! Someone was here!

"Hello? Hello! I'm..." She trailed off as she realized her mistake. "Hope this next challenge's bark is worse then it's bite..." She tried seeing into the forest but everything was quiet. Then she heard a growl.

As fast as she could she grabbed her bag and a small box sitting next to it, not questioning how it got there. She ran farther into the cave until she saw a door. She hesitated, but then she heard the running, coming closer by the second. She flung open the door and slammed it behind her just as something collided with it.

She slid down against the door and examined her surroundings. It was a room. A small one, but a room none the less, and with the noises outside she figured this would be easy to accept. The room had a small lightbulb hanging from the ceiling and a cot in the corner. In the past she might have scoffed at the room but considering the alternative, the room was beautiful. The bed creaked eerily as she sat on it and set the box next to her. For a while she simply stared at it, unsure whether she could trust anything this world provided. Finally, she decided it hadn't tried to kill her yet, so what was the harm in opening it?

She slowly put one hand forward and opened it, her eyes clenched shut. After a moment, she opened one eye, then the other. Inside the box was a small dagger in a sheath, and a post it note.

See? Not everything I do is evil. Well, it is, but things wouldn't be as much fun if you couldn't defend yourself.

I. So this was controlled by a person. Or a highly intelligent computer... No, that was just years of video games talking. It was an I.

She decided her best option was to sleep, as it was her only option. So she laid down on the cot and closed her eyes.

She dreamt of wolves and running, of poison streams and of skies pouring acid. She dreamt on and on, all the while the red and black swirls closing in on her vision. The hole was about to close completely, when the screams started. That was when she woke up and realized they weren't a part of the dream. It was Jena again. Then they stopped as suddenly as they started.

That was when she noticed how cold it was. She walked to the door but there was no cold air coming in. Just stale, warm air that smelled of dog. She heard taps and clicks of the wolves still pacing. So that was not a way out. She walked and sat down on the bed when she noticed a ton of cold air blowing on her ankles. She got up and pulled the cot aside, revealing a trap door. It explained the cold, the handle was freezing! There was a note on it too.

Good thing you have a jacket. Bundle up!