Ch 5- Initiation

The world was wilder from the start;

Only, we come to know about it now.

The first person to know about Nina’s death was her mother.

Her room was on the first floor while Nina’s room was located on the second floor.

As Mrs. Taneja stated, it was approximately fifty minutes past one in the morning and she was unable to sleep. She considered taking a walk outside, in the garden area. As she moved out of her room, she found the light was still on in Nina’s room. So, she thought of talking to her instead of taking a walk in the garden. She knocked at the half-open door and let herself in, only to find out that Nina’s body was on the bed with a wide cut on her left wrist. She had a knife in her right hand and her head was turned to the right side, facing the window. With a huge loss of blood, she was dead by the time Mrs. Taneja had arrived. And as soon as she saw her dead, she screamed for Mr. Taneja asleep in their room.

Mr Gopi was eventually left in charge of reporting the situation to the police while Mr. Taneja took Mrs. Taneja to the hospital in response to her sudden Cardiogenic shock. Her body had become cold and sweaty; she had lost her consciousness and was unable to breathe. On top of all of the physical misery, she had lost her precious daughter. Life was playing its brutal games with them, two parents with only one child, then deceased. The police were informed around five past two a.m. and the rest was history.

But, nobody had witnessed what I had about Nina’s death.

A successful Suicide?  

It was clearly a MURDER!

Observing Nina’s body condition, it had to be declared- a gruesome murder.

The police were adamant and testified that she had deeply cut her wrists after consuming a common rat poison detected in her blood test. The pathologist stated that “There are whatsoever no wounds or injuries besides one sharp wrist cut and a few common scratches on her knees and hands. The method of suicide is clearly poisoning and wounding.”

“There was no note or clue that stated a forced suicide attempt, on the scene. Bullying among teenagers is said to be occurring these days which could lead to such a conclusion. But in Nina’s case, I doubt that. Since she has only one friend who is present with us and has affirmed to us that she was not bullied or harmed at school. The case of considering external or mental torture is out of the question. ---I am extremely sorry for your loss Mr. Taneja. But this was a conceded suicide by Nina. I am really sorry, but we can only do this much”, said the policeman.

Nobody could see the wretched condition of Nina’s body and the marks in her room—only I could.

Those were not delusions. Those—were not …

I was at my home, on my bed, quietly crying.  

The rest of the family were sorry for what had happened and then continued their own work. Nobody was left for me in that alone world.

It was all down on me.

Just---me.

I was trying to recall why I was hated by my family but I couldn’t find any, except being born to them.

Just then a robotic female voice announced from thin air, “Participant, Toya Kawa, serial no. 71,000 has been admitted into the game.”

“G…game?” it was happening again…. something strange was happening again with me.

A blue panel appeared in thin air, showing my personal information.

Name- Toya kawa

Age- 17 years old

Gender- Female

Height- 5’8 inches

Citizenship- Indian

Power upgrade- completed

INITIATING PLAYER MODE---- COMPLETED.

“What was that...?”

“Am I hallucinating?” I asked myself in confusion and disbelief.

“Round one will begin tomorrow. Until then- stay Alive. You will discover more as you move up the ranks. Thank you.” 

“Hey! Hey! Who are you? And what game am I admitted to?

“…………”

 Hey! Are you there?” I was annoyed and desperate.

“Do you know who killed Nina? I shouted.

Nobody answered.

I was once again, painfully left in a bizarre dilemma; swinging between reality and fantasy.