Free For All

As I woke up, I headed to the bathroom. I turned on the TV. The floor was cold and very creaky but felt nice. It made me feel like I was in my bunker despite the creakiness. I looked over my shoulder and wondered where Tyla went. As I walked into the bathroom, I looked at myself in the mirror, very dim light flickering over me as if my past was finding its way to consume me. "I heard on the TV," an announcer said.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, Welcome to the recruitment games. Here we have four factions: Light, Silent Night, Blazing Phoenix, and NightWanders here with us. Who will be the winner, and who will be buried in their grave? This game is real life, not a real-life simulator, just humans vs. humans. People die all the time, so what makes this any less different in war or just in general life?

All of a sudden the anxiety struck me like a left jab. I felt very cold, unwelcome chills, and voices were echoing. I heard those echoes, and they weren't random. They were fallen citizens and comrades, and my stomach twisted and turned, just like a snake. Those voices got louder and louder, saying, "It's your fault; you let my family die, you monster." Fallen teammates whispered in my right ear, "Killer, liar, you promised to protect us, but you didn’t." Deep down I know that it wasn’t my fault; it was too late. I started to hyperventilate, the room getting closer and closer, my breath getting shallower and shallower. I slapped my face as hard as possible, and I started to slowly come back to the present. As I glanced in the mirror one more time, I saw a silhouette of a broken soldier who was already consumed by the raging bloodlust, one can even say, the devil.

I walked back into the room as my pupils were getting back to normal to the bright sun hits me, with its radiant beam. No sign of Tyla; maybe she went somewhere. Oh well, I got my stuff on. While looking at my Kar98k, a voice came from it: "Let me consume that guilt. Let the disk list you as a killer. No, maybe Reaper? No, even better, the cynical killer." I grabbed the weapon, holstered it on my back, and smirked, as this was meant for me, as I walked to the stadium. Multiple people were all here for this; for a town this big, so many people love seeing the blood shed. I guess I have to put on a show: lights, camera, action, let the game begin. Maybe this alone will get me a label on my disk system.

Mason! I am back… Mason? What happened in the restroom? Why was the mirror shattered, and why was blood freshly dripping from the counter? Something was hunting Mason. I hope he is okay. Oh, I remember today the day when the game called body droppers began. I need to get going to see Mason in this to get a better glance of him; maybe I can try to fix him. He is like me in some sense—lonely, broken, and confused. I hope he makes it out okay.

Ladies and gentlemen, time is almost up to see the thrilling, gruesome action. Grab a good seat, everyone; now let's give some information on our competitors.

Veno, he is a thief/assassin.

Age 23

Race: white

Magic ability: stealth

Second is

Ryker, this fine gentleman, is a mage/tank.

Age 21

Race: Latino

Magic Ice, fortified magic

Third is

Dorian has no magic; rumor has it his marksman skills are something to die for, pun not intended.

Age 25

Race: Asian

Last but not least

Mason, sniper/medic

Age: 25

Race: white

Wow, this is a small list of competitors. I don’t blame them; it’s killing or being killed in this game, not to mention some of these are students graduating or about to next year. It would be such a shame to see their life end so quickly.

As I was about to walk on to the stadium, I heard a voice in the dark hall and thought it was my weapon, but no, it was Marek. No, I know better; it’s his voice saying to me, “This is a path you can choose; be this so-called cynical killer; don’t be something that we were trained not to be.” While on the other side of the hall, I heard the lost souls urging me to embrace this, and even my weapon chimed in. Now it’s time to choose; once you step out there is no returning.

Sorry, Marek. I hope you can forgive me later down the road, but I have failed everyone. Now I must embrace this urge of grandeur to ease the psychotic killing lust. As I smirked, the moment I walked onto the stage, my eyes became cold, my stance intimidating, and my glares cold to everyone who was watching me. It’s time to shine, don’t you think, Kar98k, after I already lost my sanity thinking my gun was speaking to me?

The rest of the contenders walked out, foolish, impatient, and glory-seeking, so this is the big call, family. I can see why they are this arrogant; I kind of feel bad for them. Ha, so I thought. My urge to kill is increasing; let's get to it. All eyes on me, I stared down Veno, to the point where he shivered, and I smirked as I mumbled to him as I was walking by, "You're the first to kill; better run, you little mouse." A burst of laughter came out of me; everyone looked at me. An uneasy, scary gaze came across me. It’s time; let's give them a show not to forget.

My disk system didn't give me a label; however, I can access my skills. I can already sense those screams, pleading for their lives. Huh, maybe I should embrace this side after all. This is war, right?. Right or wrong doesn't matter; it's about survival, and you bet I will win this. If I get labeled as a killer, so be it. It’s time to settle this atonement. As foolish and naive as I was deep down, I knew it was wrong, but we all make choices, and this one is mine.

It’s time!! In the past we chose to do one-on-ones, but this year it is a free-for-all. If you do not want to die, now is the time, and remember, noble families, if your son dies, you cannot retaliate, and we will know if you do one way or another. We will start off with the dessert. Gentlemen, get in the helicopter, as we will drop you off in different places.

Boomboom, boomboom, my heart races as if this were a relapse of my trauma. I have to face this; I just hope it doesn't bite me in the butt. I rappelled out of the helicopter; a loud thud echoed. I forgot how hollow the desert gravel is. There were medium-sized desert cameras everywhere; the pressure was on. I dashed to a small hill that had enough cover but was not too noticeable. I lay prone, loaded my Kar98k, and pulled the bolt back. I waited and waited; time went slow felt like a never ending loop.

I grabbed the gravel and tossed it to see where the air current was; as I peered into my scope, an enemy was spotted—one clean, precise shot as the kickback hit me like a freight train, two more to go.

I ran fast to get another vantage point, just as I was about to lie prone and wait. Veno came up behind me and tried to slice my throat; it was a real power struggle. He had the vantage since I was in a prone-like position. He snuck up behind me like a shadow, I was already lying down.

I knew it wasn't a helpless choice but could be a bad one. I couldn’t move as I tried to turn my body on my back, he pinned me, I was screaming as the sand from the desert got in my eyes, sharp little flicks of it.

I will kill you, mark my words, Mason. You're a nobody, worthless human crap. But see, I am a noble who has a meaning. You're not worth my time, so die already, you good-for-nothing twat. I will kill you, your friends, ruin you, to where they beg and plea for their measly life.

As, I was fighting for my life against veno, I remember what my mentor from my old world at the academy thought me, when in a close combat fight, move your hips squirm if you have to, if that doesn’t work, play mind games with them try to get into their head to make them hesitant, once they hesitate, then you chances greatly improve, I know your medic’s but this is war, you must be trained for all kind of combat.

I groaned in pain, I feel my body giving up, slowly loosing my strength, a voice hurdled in my mind, kill, kill this worthless piece of crap, embrace it damn it, I whispered into Veno ear, remember when I mention the cat and mouse, well you are the mouse.

Veno froze as if he think I planned this, now my chance, I threw him off of me and I got top of him, cold eyes, cynical laughter, the voice in my mind saying, finish it mason, finish him, thought it was coming from my mind, but from my disk, then a moment froze just him and me, the fear in his eyes brought me joy, as I grabbed for his knife 1 centimeter off what a pity, I will be watching you, useless mouse. As I got off of him, I grabbed my gear and started to sprint-somewhere safer. Veno came after me, screaming, for an assassin you are a let down, I grabbed my pistol, shot him in the head, no remorse from me, no nothing. The disk system, labeled me as a player killer, I smirked for some reason, I love that title.

After my battle from Veno, I was exhausted, tired, and weak. I got to a cave, ran right into it, dropping my gear, lying up against the cave wall, cold, quiet, very dim lighting as the sun was setting. I looked over my disk, so you finally gave me a label, what took you so long?. I used my Vital Surge to heal myself.

Sorry, to take too long, you were a complicated soul, but now you have also leveled up now you can use your skills now. Unfortunately once you get a title it stays forever. You are not an aggrosor, but something that not even anyone can compare too, however you can do all the things still, however. You can not retaliate if someone kicks you out, you will be taunted by foolish people. Do you understand this Mason?

I do understand, then it settled, congrats. Get some rest now you will need it later on. Oh yea would this affect my party and relationship with people I know?. Hello disk, ugh forget it.