CH2: The Breach

“Would you protect me, Lilah? It would appear that someone is crawling in the ventilation shaft.” I didn’t exactly need the comment and take aim towards the hatch as the handle turns and it opens. I can’t believe someone would think about this. A head peeks down from there. It’s the head of Korina. She looks around keenly and sees me. My hands are shaky and a sudden adrenaline makes me pull the trigger. I fire and hit her in the face. She falls from the vent and stumbles down screaming. She’s with the Recreationists, they are here!

“Aaah! My eye! Ah, cholera!” She screams behind cover and I keep aiming her way and keep and eye on the hatch. Someone else might come down. “I’ll go! Sorry!” A voice comes from the hatch and I can’t believe it, but I’m sure it’s Grace’s voice. I want to shout back, but suddenly I hear swish and something hit the bench. It didn’t sound like a laser at all. It sounded more like a…

“I can’t… ughh! Ty suko! You’ll pay for that!” Korina screams and I of hope I didn’t blind her eye or anything. But I also can’t let it take me off guard. Another one of those heavy hits lands on the bench and then I realize. Those are real crossbow bolts. Not very heavy or anything, but still. It’s messed up, there shouldn’t be real weapons in the game.

I peek carefully and see Korina looking my way with her left eye shut and as she’s reloading her weird crossbow weapon. The bolts have a type of syringe on the end. I would not want to get hit with one of those. Tina taps my butt and whispers a very crucial piece of advice: “Don’t get hit!” I want to kick her or something, but can’t be bothered and rather take a couple shots towards Korina. They are attacking. I wonder if the others hear us. What if they aren’t prepared?

An announcement comes from the intercom in the middle of our fight: “An hour remains of the night. When the time runs out, the game is done for the night and players will be sedated. Remain seated or in a lying position when this happens for minimal chance of potential injury, thank you.”

We trade fire and after a while Tina taps my butt again and I look at her sweating. “I will distract her.” I watch as she runs up and Korina looks and takes aim. I try to hit her, but only hit her arm and she in turn shoots Tina in the leg and makes the girl drop in one shot. “Tina!” I can’t believe it’s happening again and shoot at Korina some more and she takes cover again. I run out of usbs so I vault the bench and shoot at her so she can’t even peek and see one of those syringe bolts on the floor. I grab it and dive over to Tina and wait the bolt in hand. My heart is pounding like crazy. It’s not just because I’m out of ammo, but because I’m not sure if this will work.

“My e-eye… you can’t be serious… ah…” She groans and I hear footsteps. She’s coming closer, I peek and see her aiming to where I was. It’s my chance. I stab the dart on her side and she gasps and pulls it out. “W-wha-” She drops and makes a thump sound as she comes down. I quickly turn to Tina and find her passed out. She lost, just like that. Just as I started finally understanding her. But something is off. I didn’t hear the elimination announcement. I pull the dart out and look at it closer. It says it’s a sleeping dart. I learned a thing or two from Tina, and if I understood one thing, it was to not take things at face value.

So I check her bracelet and sigh in relief. Her HP is still full. I guess the darts really only put you to sleep. I at least want to believe that. But there’s nothing I can do right now. I turn to Korina and check my gun. I shot my last usbs just now. I do see a sidearm on her. I could probably eliminate her right now if I wanted to. But then I remember Tatiana and their relationship. I already shot Korina in the eye with my **** rifle. That might be serious damage. I do not want to make it worse by eliminating her. I take her ammo usbs and hide the crossbow in a random locker and hope that even if she wakes up, she won’t find it and use it on someone else. But I’m not the one to eliminate her. I also take her pistol and hear shooting outside. That must be the rest of the raiding party. I can’t go into the gym. I also can’t get Tina out of here. I look up at the fire exit and brace myself.