Chapter Two 

Board Games

[Welcome Player 34478]

“What- player?” my mind a haze, as I look at the ash black, see through screen, with golden lettering in front of me.
[Complete the Board to Return Home]

“Board? What board” I look about to see many people just like me. Some in pajamas, others in work clothes, and many in school uniforms. All, however, wear one thing in common, a confused expression.

[Failure to Complete the Board Results in Death]

“Death”

“What”

“Oh my gosh” 

The mutterings of others cloud my thoughts, while I try to remember the last thing I was doing. “I think I was playing a game.”

“Right! that game” a boy, who looks to be late teens prompts me “I was playing a new game that just got released” he looks towards the ground “Player’s Board” he snaps his fingers.

“Yea, I was playing that game to.”

“Me too, is this related to that game.”

Others start to chime in to solve this perplexing situation.

[First Round – Sorry Not Sorry]

[Teams of Six]

[Rules are as followed-]

[You must round the board completely before returning home. Each square has a corresponding task, complete the task to finish your turn- failure to complete your task results in a penalty- If you land on a piece with another player – first to complete corresponding task wins]

“So, what? Ledo with a twist?” My glare intensifies “this cannot be real” I close my eyes “Imma count to ten and I will be back in my room.”

[Round Start In…]

“One”

[One]

“Four”

[Two]

“Seven”

[Three]

[BEEE-]

[BEGIN]
“Nine.”

“Ten”

Squinting my eyes open, only to see black surrounding me, I hear steps getting closer “Why are you still here” I shout in aggravation. The strange teen boy from before stands before me.

“You think I want to be here” the boy from before snips back “I just wanted to play one last game before heading to bed and here I am” he flails his arms in the air “stuck with some crazy chick yapping at me.”

“Excuse me” I swerve my neck back “And here I am stuck with a snot nose little twerp that doesn’t know how to respect others”?

We both exchange insults a few more times before another person shows up “and who are you” we both snap our attention at him.

“I’m Derek” a man in a black business suit gestures calmly “I believe we should all take a breath” he points to the screen.

[Once all Six players unite, the game shall begin in earnest]

“Earnest? I thought the game had already begun” the boy questions.

[Currently selecting teams]

“Well, that explains it, we are the pieces of the game” I flap my hand the in air, before smacking it against my leg “somebody else is playing this sick game” I strain my voice, holding back a screech of anger.

“I would have to agree” a soft voice squeaks from behind “this surely is a sick game” a little girl, looking to be in middle school, uniform and all comes crawling out of the corner.

“Alright, four down, two more to go” the boy gestures in defense “is this really happening” he visibly shutters at the thought.

“Okay Stella think” I demand aloud “what kind of tasks will they dish out” rubbing my temple, my mind races to all the possibilities “fights, puzzles, trivia, and what else” my words travel.

“Racing” the boy prompts

“Maybe sports?” the girl adds.

“What? That’s just stupid” the boy taunts.

“Anything goes” Derek steps in “we must be prepared for anything.”

“WOOOHOOO” an exclamation sparks from nowhere “This is the coolest thing ever” another boy about late teens, comes hyped up on energy “Yo what up dudes!” he fist-bumps Derek, passing him by, patting the girl on the head “and dudets” by passing the boy his age. He meets steps away from me. “And hello to you” he playfully puts his hand on his chin, giving a funny face. That, it is little hard to swallow a chuckle. “The name’s Timothy” he holds his hand out, palm facing up.

I instinctively reach out for a handshake, when he kisses the back of my hand “what the- “I pull away reflexively slapping him across the cheek. Gasping at my actions “I am so sorry, what were you thinking” I reach up, pulling back as he looks at me with a smirk.

“No worries, babe” he smiles “no harm, no foul.”

With his cringy words, it’s hard not to slap him again. Just then Derek steps between Timothy and myself. “Timothy was it” He questions.

“Yea what’s it to you, old man” Timothy growls.

“We are not here to fraternize” Derek directs him to the situation “There are five of us, and six to a team” Derek explains.

“One more and its game on” the teen boy tells, with a subtly quiver in his tone.

“Try again” a new voice sparks “Its game on now” the woman with a pencil skirt, and white blouse stands there with three-inch heels and a furious expression. “I cannot believe I did this” she mutters next to me “I sneak off to the roof once and this happens” she begins to nip at her already chewed nails “I am going to be so fired.”

[Let the games begin]

The screen flickers, as the ground rattles, the surroundings brighten. In the distance there are giant buildings, like mansions. The six of us stand in one huge pale tile.

[Player 22468 – Team Green]

[Player 78546 – Team Red]

[Player 65730 - Team Green]

[Player 34478 – Yellow]

[Player 90233 – Team Blue]

[Player 870-]

Blurring out the echoing, automated voice. I zone in on my number “So, we are team Yellow?” I question.

“No” the young girl “I’m team red” she frowns.

“I’m team yellow” Derek adds.

The woman in heels “team blue”

Timothy chimes in “team yellow, with my dear” he tries to sneak closer to me, but Derek steps in.

The teen boy mutters “team Green.”

“Was it some type of mistake” I gesture, trying to figure it out.

“I don’t believe so” Derek chimes in “See” he points to how right outside the tile we are in, is a blue mansion, to the right of us is a red one, and looking left of us is one for green.

“So, what? this babe, you and I only round half the board” Timothy questions “sounds like the little girl got it made” he smirks.

“Are you stupid, or can you not read” the young girl snaps “remember the instructions.”

“Complete the board before returning home” I state recalling the rules “that mean- “

[Player 20378 move eight spaces]

The screen echoes, “that- that’s me” the teen boy stammers “I- I don’t want to play.”

[Player 20378 move eight spaces]

“I don’t want to” he stands in place “I pass my turn.”

[Player 20378 move eight spaces before you forfeit]

“Forfeit? Is that an option” the groups in the distance as well as the six of us shuffle about in surprise “wait?” I cut in before he says anything “remember the rules” I bring attention.

[failure to complete the board will result in death]

The six of us flash to when we first saw the ash-black screens.

[Complete the Board to Return Home]

“UGH!” the boy flails his hands about before stepping over to the board. Hesitating “I swear if I die, I will haunt whoever put me here” he mutters, stepping one foot in front of the other until

[Tile of Truth]

The screen flickers, while the kid gets slurped into the board.

[Player 20378 answer three of the five questions truthfully]

“What? Truthfully? Not correctly” is pondered aloud.

“Well, we knew this wasn’t a normal game” the woman in heels ticks her tongue “but this is going a bit far.”

We stand there as onlookers, as a boy not even considered an adult, quakes in the center piece, as he awaits the questions.

[Question 1]

[What is your name]

“What? Um- Peter”

[…]

[Correct]

[Question 2]

[What is your biggest fear]

“Um- he looks about- d- death]

[…]

[Incorrect]

“W- what- how do- “he quickly quiets as the screen asks another question.

[Question 3]

[Do you wish to die]

Peter falls quiet, his expression grim as he faces the floor.

[Question 3]

[Do you wish to die]

“N- “he grips his hand into a fist “Yes- I mean no- I don’t- but I did before.”

[…]2

[Correct]

[Question 4]

[Answer truthfully and you will complete this task]

Peter breaths in deeply waiting for the next question.

[What is your dream]

Peter, as if defeat, falls to his knees “I- I don’t have one” his eyes cloud with tears]

[…]

[Correct]

[You have completed this task]

The screen flickers, spitting Peter back on the tile he was on earlier, leaving Peter gasping for fresh air.

[Player -]

[Player -]

Another few players went, and by some luck all have passed smoothly.

[Player 34478 move sixteen spaces]

A shiver ran down my neck, it is not like it was the biggest number called, and by far the smallest, yet something told me to steal myself.

I step onto the board, pacing myself, one breath, one tile. Stepping onto space sixteen, I prepare, clenching my teeth as the screen twitches.

[Tile of Ability]

The floor opens, having me fall into the jaws of the board. Just to spit into the middle of the crowd. “Tile of Ability?”

[Option 1]

[Option 2]

“What?” my jaw drops, as this is a first for the game to give options “Um- can I see the options?” I shrug, seeing if the game is listening.

[Option 1 – Win]

[Option 2 – Survive]

Left speechless, for one the screen answered. And second, it only gave me a single word for each option. “If it’s an option between win or survive” I hesitate “I’ll pick win each time” I shudder, as I begin to double guess my choice.

[Option 1 – Win]

[Good Luck]

“Ah-ha” I can’t help but laugh for even the board wished me luck. “Why- “the ground trembles once. Then trembles again. Leaving me with only one choice, to turn around as the ground trembles for a third time. I stand there to witness a literal monster.

“You, stupid game” I curse aloud, stepping back “you expect me to win against that” I shout in anger bonking my head on the boarder “this damn game is rigged, rigged I tell you” I huff, as the monster stomps closer. I look about to see if there is anything.

The board is bare, as it’s just me and the beast in place of the dice, on the plain center just like a game of Ledo.

The beast towers triple my height and that’s with him hunched over, with only his claws the size of my head, not to mention his three finger hands could grip my body two-fold, wings a third of his height, as for his two gaping fangs dripping with blood, his mouth pools with it, as if blood is his saliva.  

I scan the area once more, when my gaze catches a glimpse of the monster’s hind legs. I rush over, slipping underneath. I grip his one giant toe claw, and yank up, leading the beast to yelp in pain.

A pang of guilt eats at me, as I climb the darken, greasy fur of the beast’s leg. Taking the large claw, easily bigger than myself, not to mention heavier. I struggle to heave the claw over my head as I pierce the beast in the side. But it was but a shallow stab. Like an ant I crawled all over, stabbing from one area to another. For the beast, resembling an itch you cannot scratch, I was that itch.

Before long, the claw dulled and was making even shallower stabs. “Don’t think I will give up that easily” I shout, with what little energy I have left, I heave the claw one last time over my head and it plummets down right into the beast’s eye. As he screeches in pain, he weaves side to side slamming into the boarder repeatedly, his claws inches from me, I cling to his eyebrow. However, he violently stirs, back and forth in agony, my grip loosens, and I begin to fall, at the very last moment, I clench the claw that sticks out of the monster’s eye, but, I and the claw are too heavy, for the eye to bare, the claw sinks further into the eye, taking notice, I shift my weight more and more. I sink deeper into the beast’s eye, the more violent the monster shakes, banging against the barrier, the tighter my grip is, and the heavier my bounces are. Eventually, the claw sinks deep, and the agonizing screeches cease.

Resulting in me and the beast plummeting to the ground, the only thing I can do at this moment is brace for impact, clenching every part of my body, I leap into the furs of the beast.