SURVIVAL 20: POINT OF VIEWS part 1.0

"First, Second! Third saw a white building over there. Call the others and we'll go there.” Fifth announced.

We immediately left the tent and ran to the white building that Third had seen. It is a white building with 2-stories. There are no windows. We went around to find an entrance door. We turned around and saw the single door that was gray and made of steel. It opened on its own as if we were being let in. When we entered, the door closed automatically.

LOCATION: Inside the unknown infrastructure TIME: Morning

It's as cold and spacious. The walls are all white and the floor is translucent blue in crystal material. The interior is round and has holograms on the side. There are 12 transparent glass room cubicles forming a big circle. There is a glass tube-looking thing lying inside each room. I wonder what that stuff are for.

*bell rings*

"Greetings everyone, welcome to Health Level: Stage 1!"

We searched for its hologram.

"Only my voice that you're about to hear. Now, the battle 12, please proceed to your respective area and take your seats," Author commands us.

"What are we going to do there?" Ninth asked with his arms crossed.

"Please proceed and sit inside," Author insisted.

I saw a number at the top of the glass rooms, so I entered the one with the number 02 on it. I sat on the soft and comfortable chair. The small glass room door closed automatically. I sat on a chair it provided. The backrest suddenly receded, so I was slightly lying down. I felt my hands and feet bound. Something blocked my whole face like a helmet. I was lying down when the transformed chair into bed that and went inside the glass tube. Something emits white smoke.

Abruptly, I heard a robot speaking—it wasn’t Author.

"Activating ... 30%... 45%... 56%...” Activating what? ”71%... 89%... 98%... 100% complete.”

I see hologram texts and pictures that I can't understand because the picture looks all black and blue. I can’t comprehend all of these. My eyelids weighed down. I closed my eyes.

"Congratulations to all junior high completers"

"Let's take a picture!"

"Why aren't you smiling? Stop being a killjoy”

W-What are these?! I see figures of people who seem to be talking to me, but I only see their bodies with blurry heads and faces.

"We're finally done with this school year."

"We’re done with acads but you looked like you still haven't slept, Heavien. Hahaha!"

"Let's do arcade first!”

Who and what are they to me?!

"Letting you go is the last thing I would do”

"Whaaaa!" I screamed out loud.

I opened my eyes, and at the same time helmet-like thing that covered my face opened. The backrest leaned forward, and I sat down. I felt pain in my nape. I felt the grip on my hands and feet loose. I closed my eyes and cried because of the memories that came back to me. I already know who I am ...

I am Heavien Cyre Luvitos.

I touched my new embossed tattoo. Moments later, we heard Author's voice. We are out of the glass tube.

"The battle 12, for your next game, the Health Level: Stage 1, you will be playing as a pair:

First (1st) and Second (2nd)

Third (3rd) and Fourth (4th)

Fifth (5th) and Aeizen (18th)

Thirtwen (23rd) and Aeith (8th)

Ninth (9th) and Sixzen (16th)

Ninezen (19th) and Sectwen (22nd)”

I am paired with my classmate, First. Not all of us are partnered with our original partner because some did not make it to this stage.

“The next game is a virtual reality game. As a pair, you will play as one. One will be the player - the one who controls the character who is inside the game. And of course, the other one is the character itself who will be transformed into the real settings of the game.”

Another game I’m not familiar with but from the sound of it, this will be another challenging one.

"The reason all of you entered the capsule before the virtual reality player and character selection, is to give a gist how it will feel like to be the character lying inside the capsule. You will communicate with your partner while inside your room to decide who’s who. Two minutes will be given... Now!”

I turned to my right where First was. There was a cubicle made of glass separating us.

I stood up and went near him. "F-First. What are we going to do?" My palms stick to the glass as I call out to him.

There was a trace of concern in his eyes. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. You don't have to worry...What are we going to do?"

He was silent for a moment. "Okay, you'll control me, so I'll be the character inside the game.”

"Huh? Does that mean we're going to play a real game?”

"One will be the controller outside of the game and one will be the puppet in the game. A virtual reality, that is.”

"If it's really a game between partners, shouldn't we take it seriously?"

"All levels and stages that we play must be taken seriously because this game is no child's play." What he quoted made me reflect for a minute. All games here should be taken seriously.

"Are you sure about what you said?”

"It is a better choice for you.”

Just for me? We should both benefit from our decision.

"No, First," I disagree with him. "You should be the one who will control me because you know more than I do. And I'm going to be your follower.”

"That can’t be!" I am startled by his reaction. He was still calm before but instantly his eyebrows came closer.

"But-” He cut me off.

"I'm being serious here, Second. I regret it about a thousand times for not protecting you." He sounds too serious.

What? Is this what concerns him? He is worried too much about me.

"This game is not like it used to be a group. Now it’s just the two of us and… There’s a chance that they will be our enemies.” This is no longer a team-based game.

"Not that I care if I'll be in trouble. I’ll see to it that there’ll be no harm coming to you.”

"Think hard, First. There's little to no chance we'll win if you're not the player. Besides, I don't know anything about games. I don't want you to lose because of me, because...” I paused for a bit. “I can see in your eyes that you're willing to win till the end.”

"Well…”

"You said it yourself that this is not a joke game. If you are the player and I am the character, we have a chance to win, and I am sure that no harm will come to me if it’s you." I replied to assure him that this will be a better decision.

"I-I won't let you... I already told you. Why are you being so defiant?" he insisted. This might be the first time that we argued.

I smiled at him sparingly. “I trust you, First.”

"Second”

"First, please.”

We were both silent. I could not see his face or expression when he turned his back.

"Time's up! Now, for the game players, please proceed to the control room while the characters will remain.”

He was already out of his room. I smiled secretly. Others have also left. They went straight and entered the said control room. Before he could finally enter, First approached me. He pressed his palms to my glass room and stared at me. I also pressed my palms, so our palms met with a glass in between.

"Good luck," I mouthed with no voice coming out of my mouth.

My eyes blinked immediately when he mouthed something. I was distracted when he said something, but I couldn't hear him. ‘Please… come… back… safe’. Please come back safe. He then gave me a reassuring smile. When he turned his back on me and before finally entering the control room, I saw the letter L on his nape— probably the first letter of his real name. Just like mine, I have the letter H.

I came back to reality and sat down. Fourth sat on the floor, looking anxious. Aeizen is calm and expressionless. Aeith bites her fingernails on her right thumb. Sixzen walks back and forth and looks uneasy. Sectwen is glaring into nothingness while standing. They made the same decision as ours. It appears that all pairs have the same decision.

"As for our players..." Author is already there. "Kindly sit down.”

I sat down on the chair and then it transformed again, the same as what happened earlier. Something hit my face again like a helmet. The backrest moved backward so I was barely lying down. My hands and feet were tied.

"Teleportation process ... 25%... 46%... 58%...”

The robot voice again speaks. I have also seen images move spontaneously in holograms even when no one is touching them. I saw an image of a place.

W-Wait, did the robot mention 'teleportation'? How?! We’re going somewhere but no one knows where, how, and why.

"67%... 84%... 91%... 100% complete.”

After a few countdowns, this was the last thing the robot voiced. "Game release!”

The inside of the glass tube released white smoke again. I don't know what will happen, but I know for myself that I and First can do this, we all can do this!