CH1: Ambushed

I lead Grace to the bathrooms. We were lucky to not run into anyone else on the way and now, with the headphones in hand, we might actually get that hack working. It’s going to be the safe way to win this game for sure. Those high level boxes will surely have something that lets us win easily against even the Recreationists, and if we can hack our bracelets to let us access those early, we will have the clear upper hand. It all just makes sense. We turn the corner and see something neither of us could’ve predicted. Grace pulls me back behind cover and I can’t believe it. It was a safe zone… there’s no way.

I see Tatiana, the girl with the headband on her knees on the floor, her girlfriend next to her and those two other neutral party girls not far away also on their knees. Standing above them is Calliope and her Recreationists patrolling. “Huh? What do you mean she can’t move? She better will. I want her out of the safe zone!” Calliope commands Esme, the red haired girl and she goes into the girls bathroom.

We wait a bit and then see her. Wicky is being dragged out of the bathrooms as she holds her wrist and drops on her knees. “Oh fuck.” Grace lets out and takes my hand as I watch in shock. “What do you have there? Oh… you… broke it?” Calliope looks closer while holding a submachine gun on Wicky’s chest. “Why did you do such a thing?” The blonde doesn’t answer and Calliope gets up and looks around. “Where are they? Where’s my commander? It was just a couple boxes, wasn’t it?” She asks from the two that are there with her. The redhaired one and a girl with short black hair and a tall frame. “What do you want?” Tatiana groans and Calliope squats before her and sighs: “I want you guys to join my people. It’s going to be the end of the first day. We have barely made any progress here, huh? Those Retreaters are still ruining the game for us, hmm? I need you guys, come on.” She looks at the girls as they sit on their knees with guns to their backs.

We watch carefully but then there’s a change. I am sure I heard something and as I turn to look I see those two we left in the cafeteria aiming at our backs. I throw my gun and put my arms up as Grace stumbles back: “Don’t shoot! Please!” I cry out and Grace puts her guns down as well and groans loudly. The suits really make no noise when you move around carefully. It must’ve just been coincidence they went the same way as we did. I can’t believe it.