Downstairs

Part One: Takami

    “Dude, we’re getting crushed! What are we gonna do?”
   
“I have an idea Jason! On the count of three I’m gonna try moving forward, and I need you to cover me!”

“Got it!”

“Alright. One, two-” we heard a strange noise that didn’t come from the game, so we stood up and looked around. There was no one else but us in the house that could’ve made any noise, so we were very spooked. We heard a slamming sound from behind us and turned back around. There was a pink stuffed bunny t-posing on the wall. 

“Takami… what the hell is that?” Jason’s voice was shaky as he spoke.

“I don’t know. Look at the line of stitches on its stomach. Looks like it was torn open.” I took a step forward.

“Don’t go near that thing! We don’t know what the hell it is or how it got there. What if it’s some sort of demon voodoo or some shit?”

“That’s ridiculous. All that shit’s fake. Right?”

“You’re asking the wrong guy. Just get away from it.”

“Well someone needs to see what the fuck’s going on. If not you, then I will.” I continued to approach the plushie cautiously. I reached for it slowly to poke it, clenching my eyes shut. When I felt its soft faux fur, I opened my eyes and looked at it. I turned around feeling accomplished. “See. Nothing happened.”

“Ta… Taka… mi…” Jason was shaking and lifted his hand, pointing behind me. 

“What?” I turned around to see the bunny’s stitches torn open, and glowing hands reaching out from it. I screamed and stepped back. Turning around, I tried to run, but the spectral hands took hold of me and pulled me back. I kept screaming, reaching out for my friend. He got up to reach for me, but it was too late. I had been pulled into the bunny’s stomach. The small pink bunny magically stitched back shut, and fell to the carpet floor.

“Takami?” He walked up to the bunny and picked it up, and screamed as he tried to tear at the stitching. 
         .                     .                      .
I was falling, surrounded by nothing but pitch black darkness. I have no idea what just happened, but I was too busy screaming in fear to think about anything. Suddenly I saw grey. A concrete floor below me, and I was heading towards it fast. I braced myself, wrapping my arms around my head, and slammed into the ground. I sat up slowly, catching my breath. Blood was dripping from my nose. I lifted my head, and saw that I was surrounded by teens staring at me with dead eyes. I jumped back in fear.

“Who are you? Where am I?” They stayed silent. A girl with black hair walked up to me, reaching out her hand. She helped me to stand up and spoke:

“So you’re new here, huh? You must’ve had quite the fall. Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I think… But-” she pulled me close.

“Well you won’t be for long.” 

She stepped back and sidekicked me, knocking me back to the ground. I coughed and looked up at her. The angry look on her face sent chills down my spine. I tried backing up, but she kicked me again. This time, in my face. I was shaking, trying to get up again, but she stepped on my back and held me down.

“Why are you doing this?”

“It’s crowded enough here as it is. You have no idea what it’s like here. Trust me, we’re doing you a favor. Everybody, come and get the fresh meat.”

“Huh?! Wait!” all the teens surrounding me ran up and started beating me senseless. Punching, kicking, scratching, and hair pulling. I couldn’t fight back and it seemed like forever. Suddenly, an alarm went off and all the kids started scrambling. 

“Stop!” a man’s voice shouts. He walks past all the kids, looking at them with a stern face. “Since you all want to start a fight, you can be in the next match!” cries echoed through the room. He walked up to me, knelt down, took hold of my hair, and lifted my head. “As for you newbie, you can have a front row seat.” I blacked out.
.                               .                             .

“Ugh.. my head. Wait.. I can’t move!” I was tied up and freaking out. 

“Newbie’s awake! Hey there buddy. Welcome downstairs.”