A poem??

So young and bright and filled with fight!
The social glue when everyone flocks to you!
Now those very people you will elude,
As you prefer to spend your time in solitude!

Do you continue or chicken out?

"What's that supposed to mean? Solitude? Elude? The hell does that even mean?" Alice asked sceptically.

"I don't know, that's all that was written.." Himari tried to flip the card and see if there was something written on the backside, but was only met with a solid red color.

"I guess you have to declare either chicken out or continue? But what happens if you continue? The game doesn't make sense if it's all random poems and nothing to it.." Gretchen added.

Meanwhile, Rebecca had found the manual and had barely gotten to the "How to play" part.

"Apparently something should happen if you continue, and if you chicken out you lose".

"Well in that case I continue, obviously.."

Immediately following her declaration to continue the card burst into flames and vanished. Himari, who was holding it at the time jerked her hands towards her chest as the flames evaporated.

"What the fuck was that? Are you okay Himari??" Gretchen asked with concern in her voice

"Yea, I'm fine. It wasn't actually hot? Like, only the card caught fire, but I didn't feel anything"

The groups focused turned from Himari over to the board. Nothing had changed.. Maybe it was broken? Something was supposed to happen when Alice said continue, right? The focus then switched to Alice, who looked as though she was really unimpressed with the game. That look of dismay was however not because of the game, or it was, but not in that sense..

Alice felt a nausea wash over her, she felt exhausted for some reason. When the nausea faded, the exhaustion somewhat remained. It wasn't a physical tiredness, it was more of a mental one. Like when you're out in public and your social battery runs out. Suddenly it clicked for Alice, and she realized what the game had done.

The usually chipper and extroverted girl had suddenly become an introvert, an **** one at that. Alice looked around the room, and to her friends and her only thought was that she wanted the evening to end so that she could finally be alone. But that was terrible! Despite LOVING her friends, Alice found no motivation to be around them anymore. Social interactions drained her, whereas they'd normally energize her.

Alice's expression had changed from the usual smile she carried to a gloomy one. Rebecca had picked up on this and asked if she was alright.

"I think the game.. It made me antisocial?" Even speaking was a chore now. She'd rather curl up in a ball and watch tv or something..

"What, antisocial? How does that make sense? Unless.. The card! Elude, solitude! You'll want to avoid others and be alone!" Gretchen had cracked the case. The graveness of the situation had been overshadowed by her love for riddles and games. The rest of the girls did however not share her ..enthusiasm.

The whole atmosphere in the room changed from excited to serious. What should they do? Stop playing? What happened to Alice was bad enough, but it could be worse, right? Rebecca, who had been the first to pick up the instructions had continued reading it to find a fix for Alice.

"Apparently, if we all chicken out but Alice, she wins. The winner gets a wish, but can also choose to reverse any changes the cards did. We can also win by getting to the end first"

"Great! We can all just chicken out right now and let Alice wish herself back to normal!" Himari said, somewhat relieved.

"No, that won't work.. Says here that at least one of the players have to have gotten over half way for the game to be "Legitimate" and award the wish.." That last part completely reversed any relief Himari might've felt.

Meanwhile, Gretchen was secretly enjoying the situation. With a taste for the old and occult the homely girl grabbed the die without anyone noticing and rolled a two. The low roll caused Gretchen to moan in dissatisfaction which attracted the attention of the group.

"Did you just roll? Without even consulting with us? Do you not care what happened to Alice!?" Himari was clearly frustrated with Gretchen's selfish act.

"It's like Rebecca said though, we have to get halfway for it to count, so might as well roll with it!" Gretchen did a poor job hiding her excitement.

"Whatever, can you guys please like just be quiet? It's honestly exhausting listening to all you guys babble. I'm fine.." Alice added as she leaned in to pick up a yellow card for her friend.

Your enthusiasm is most welcome,
spirit like yours is found most seldom.
To make your world a little brighter,
we shall make your face a little lighter!

Do you continue or chicken out?