A Family Trip.

I jump up in fear. Heaving, as if begging for air, I clutch my chest, I can feel my heartbeat running rampant with no mercy. My breathing was unsteady, and my hands shaking. I was in no normal state. I can't remember what I was dreaming, but something was certain, it was not nice.

I carefully adjust my breathing, forcing myself to calm down. I push the heavy white sheets away and stand up. Approaching the antique mirror, I study myself. My face puffed up and red, my eyes bloodshot, my teeth chattering, and my mouth drooling. I was a complete mess.

I stare at myself, eye to eye, mesmerized by my own fear. When suddenly my head turns static, an overwhelming headache. I clutch my own head pulling my hair with both hands, and scream.

"...Ice cream?!"

A joyful, endearing voice. 

"...Let's try that...!"

An excited, endearing voice.

"..."

An image, a memory. An endearing smile. Held within my hands, the smile bleeds, its comfort and warmness persisting.

"...Close your eyes, Yousef..."

A loving voice.

Memories(?), flow through me. Memories I do not remember, images, voices, and events. In the midst of it all, an explosion. A sudden, terrorizing, intense, scream of death ends it all.

After that, it was nothing but darkness.

9.1: Deja-vu.

A distant voice calls for me, "...H...!"

"K.....Ellooo..." It grows in strength, pulling me back.

A small force is being applied to my cheek as the voice calls, "...yooo..."

Finally, coming back to myself, I lift my eyelids. Lying back, I could see someone next to me crouched poking my right cheek, his face expressing curiosity. Continuously poking, if I were to not intervene he would probably keep at it.

"What are you doing..." I lift my torso.

"Hey, you, finally awake." He didn't miss his opportunity, "Do you black out so often outside as well?"

Placing my hand over my head, I sigh, "No, it's a first-time thing for me."

"Hmmm, that so?" Suspiciously eyeing me, Avery stood up, "Let's go. We are to meet in the hall." 

He walked out without another word, seemingly to the hall.

"Okay... okay..." my head still aching in pain, I force myself out after a quick facewash.

As I step into the hall, the other 3 participants have their focus on me, Avery studying me, Tabula smiling, and Kevin waving at me. To think the most welcoming was my rival... 

With a quick nod, acknowledging Kevin, I approached Avery as it seemed like both teams were taking a different side. Avery kept silent and had all his focus on the flatscreen resting in over the chimney, completely out of place with the surrounding medieval decor.

"Now, that all is up, the experiment is to start." Said the usual monotonous announcer.

"Wait, what?" I muttered loud enough for Avery to notice, "Aren't we going to eat something first?"

"Did you not eat?" He spun around facing me, "What took you so long then?"

"There was food?"

"Yeah, it should've been on the coffee table of your room, that's where mine was anyway."

"I-I didn't notice..." I slump my shoulders. I had washed my face and rushed down, though washing had taken quite a time. I made sure to look as normal as I could leaving, I didn't want to worry anyone, but now thinking about it, Avery had already seen me at my worst...

"You are to proceed. Please, follow the handrail path." Demanded the announcer, the gate opening on cue.

Tabula glanced at us, his usual frightening smile, and stepped out. Kevin followed.

Avery still facing me nodded to his side, gesturing we should move.

"Hey... About..." I wanted to speak to him, to tell him about the dreams I had, about the memories that felt real, but what would I say? That I slept and experienced the future? That I could somehow tell how to beat the arcade games? That I could predict what the next game would be? How would anyone believe that... And to top it all off, all I could go off was a feeling. A vague 'Memory'. But...

"About?" He looked at me, curious.

"N-nothing." I waved it away. I couldn't get myself to explain such a hallucination.

He sighs and turns around, "Let's go."

We walked through the Astonishing land of what they had titled previously as "The Land of Joy." However, it had somehow only allowed me fear. Whenever I gazed at the neverending rides, I could feel a darkness whelm inside of me, calling for me to lose myself, begging me to stop. So I stuck to walking behind Avery while looking down at his feet following his step. That way I could avoid the scenery. Thankfully I was able to take in the carnival theme without much of a problem.

Eventually, we reached the first game for the day, then the next, then the one after. We passed through 5 games.

Out of the 5 games, we lost 2 and tied the other 3.

Simply, I had lost hope. We were no longer even allowed to dream, to close the 3-point lead they had covered we would have to win a similar amount of games, which was impossible seeing the previous day. But, why was he so calm? Why was Avery so indifferent? Did he not care about the punishment, did he have none to cherish away from the punishment? Was I the only person sane among these people?

While I trembled in fear, Avery continued expressionless, Tabula smiled creepily, and Kevin kept to himself consoling every so often with his teammate. On top of that, this whole place was eerie, unnerving, uncomfortable, suffocating, and dreadful. With every game a chilling sensation climbed my back, my hair standing.

So, when the next game revealed itself, a horrifying sense of dread crept me. Just, how did I know? How did know it was going to be this? 

As we stepped towards it, the black and white chessboard presented itself.

A single board with the two opposing seats on an open folding table. 

The announcer made his usual comments, adding a rule that non-participants were to stay silent, and then we were left to pick our starting member. Tabula, wasting no time, Immediately approached Avery. 

Towering both him and myself, Tabula spoke to Avery "How about we start? I am very bored." Said Tabula. The corners of his mouth curled upwards menacingly.

Avery faced me, seemingly to consult. I nod.

"When it comes to chess, I'm an amateur. Don't expect too much." Said Avery. He moved towards the white side of the chessboard. Following with a smile, Tabula occupied the dark side.

Their match was... Terrifying. For me at the very least. Kevin must have enjoyed it. Throughout the whole thing, Tabula was dominating. Avery with an amount of pieces countable by a single hand, was seemingly left with nothing but failure. Their 10-minute timer was running short on both sides, with barely any time left. I couldn't imagine the amount of stress Avery was under at the moment.

Avery, in a hopeless situation, takes his time. His side of the timer ticking down mercilessly, he intently gazed at the board. There was hope. Though not a win, I could see it. With the way Tabula has been playing up until now, I had understood his style enough to find a way to stalemate. But, I couldn't speak... or rather I was glad I couldn't. What if I was wrong? If when it came to it he played and thought differently. I would be completely off, I would be to blame for our loss.

Then, Avery made his move... huh?

Tabula followed, Avery, Tabula, Avery... What was happening? The exchange happening before me... It was exactly as I had predicted. Avery played the game I had in mind, and Tabula moved as I predicted he would. He continued, Avery played just as I had wanted to the very end bringing it to a stalemate. 

Astonished, I couldn't help but lift my gaze away from the board, and to him instead, the man who had completely read my thoughts. And there he was. For a split-second, a moment so small it could be seen as negligent, our eyes met. He was side-eying me, studying my reaction. Had he known? Could it have been possible that he knew? That he had turned psychic?

"Huh, I wouldn't call your moves 'Amature'." Tabula mused, taken aback by his own sudden draw.

"Goes to show where you're at." Avery got up heading towards me.

Tabula chuckled, "That so?"

Avery approached me, tapping my shoulder, "Your turn." He said.

I wanted to tell him, I wanted to speak to him, but yet... I was unable to. Dejected I head to the board, but am quickly stopped by Avery, grabbing my arm.

"Trust yourself a bit more." He said, looking straight into my eyes.

So... He knew? He knew what I was thinking and played? He wanted me to understand that I was right, yet I still doubted myself. I was pathetic. Thanking him, I nod and leave for my board.

"Let's have fun..." Kevin said, sitting opposite me.

"No promises." I couldn't let my heart sway now. It was either us or them, and I was not going to lose. Not for Avery, but for myself. 'To have the closest to their soul punished'. Somehow this punishment has become something of a backburner as nobody has been acting desperate, as if this was nothing but a friendly match between friends. But, to me the punishment was unacceptable, to allow harm to him would be equivalent to my death.

So, I checked. Playing with all the confidence I could muster, I checked him. Surprisingly, it wasn't difficult at all. Kevin was a complete beginner.

"Haha, other than the basic rules, I have barely played much chess myself." Said Kevin.

He was taking this all so well, it was kind of chilling. Did he not care about the punishment at all? Or did the person to fill the requirement simply not matter to him? He got up nonchalantly and walked over to Tabula.

Shortly after, I got up and headed to Avery, who was studying his wristwatch.

Following his example, I looked down at my wristwatch.

"We gained a point." Avery said, "Despite not winning both games."

"What do you mean?"

"A scenario that wasn't discussed was met, I was expecting an eccentric outcome. Yet, it was completely mundane."

To be honest, I hadn't thought too deeply about it, so I had just expected us to get a point as we had won.

"It seems like they chose to follow common sense this time around." 

This time? Had he achieved an atypical outcome previously?

"Let's go, the other team is already moving."

Following their example, we moved. With a 2 points difference, just... maybe we had a chance.

9.2: A family trip.

As we crossed the railed path, we stepped into a closed-in area. As if a shopping mall. Traversing it, an ice cream stand sat at the side. A... Very... Familiar... Stand...

"Now?!" Turning suddenly, Avery rushes towards me.

Huh...? I find myself losing my level of vision, rushing to the ground beneath me. My vision closes in on itself, my breath turns heavy, and my heart runs rampant and loud. My heartbeat resonated through my body, I could feel it burst out of my ear. My head aching in so much pain, I could claw it out for peace. And my heart begging, begging for closure to the emptiness within it. As I lost consciousness, I could see Avery get overshadowed by her.

I was a kid. Like any kid. I grew up with 2 loving parents. My mom, a stay-at-home wife, and my dad, a civil worker. Both loving and supportive, both encouraging and inspiring. I was fulfilled, and I didn't wish for anything but what I had. I was able to do well in school, to grow fast, to surpass my colleagues. Always a step ahead of those around me, yet not once did I feel lonely, not once did I feel isolated, because they were there. The 2 pillars of my self, my ego, my goals, and my future. 

I worked to make them proud, I worked to secure them a future, and I worked to make sure they were happy. They had given me so much, proven to me so much, and taught me so much, that I couldn't help but want to repay them. 

But... is that true? It's only now that I remember that after all. Until now, until this very moment, nothing as such existed.

My father is bedridden, able to speak a few words a day, he couldn't even teach me. My mother was nonexistent. I do not remember her, and neither does my father speak of her. Whenever I visited him, I could tell that I wasn't supposed to ask, that he didn't want to answer. As if taboo we both avoided the topic. My high school years were empty: no friends, no relations, and no future. For, I thought I would be betraying him if I ever made any, that I would be leaving the only family I had in this world as I stepped into society. So I hid. Hid from people, hid from responsibilities, and hid from the uncertain future. Cherishing the moments with my bedridden father, I spent as much time as I could in the blank white room.

But, I could always tell something was wrong. After all, I had suffered amnesia. Everything before that day was gone, that day I had woken in hell. The cries for help, the cries for an end, those begging for their children, those begging for their parents. A land that was made to bring happiness, turned into a nightmarish scene of war.

That forsaken day was the trigger, to all my worries, all my suffering, and the gate placed within my memories. I held her. My weak, frail, thin, and fragile arms held her. As she coughed blood, as her guts leaked out of her torso, and as her eyes bled a dark crimson. She spoke, with what faint life she had. Placing her moribund, crimson, palm over my eye, closing my eyelids, she spoke her last words.

"...Close your eyes, Yousef..."

To the very end, my one and only mother. Cared for no one but her cherished son.

How did I ever forget that day? How did I ever forget that hellscape? How did I act as if it had never happened? Cursing it all, I remembered it.

The day I wanted to go on a trip.

having finished my 9th grade, I was entering a new level of education, and many steps ahead of those on my level too. My parents, very proud, had allowed me to choose any reward. Though I had asked them to not push themselves. I understood our weak financial status so I didn't wish to burden them anymore, yet they persisted saying that I shouldn't worry at such an age... After many pushes, I gave in to my selfish part and decided on a trip. A trip to the amusement park.

My parents didn't pull any punches. Using what they had mustered, we went to the greatest amusement park in our land. Compared to the rest of the country, that place is nothing short of a miracle.

The power of tourism. I thought.

The trip was for 2 days, as they had reserved a night at the park's inn. All of it was themed to an enterprise's characters and worlds, the place was interconnected with magic. The air resounded with the jubilant cries of thrill-seekers, the perpetual melody of a carnival, and the laughs of children bustling about.

It was mesmerizing. As a kid grown up and raised in the wilderness of the third world, under the constant terror of bombings and shootings, I had to remind myself this was not a lie. That this was not a dreamscape.

But... Reality came running...

I remember, everything. And it all started with, The Ice Cream stand.

"Ice cream?!" She cried in surprise.

I flushed embarrassed, while my father chuckled.

"You both, come on!" She rushed, pulling me by hand.

She continued to toll me as I dragged my feet on the ground, I turned my gaze to the ground scared of other people's opinions. After all, the woman shouting in pure childish joy was none other than my mother.

"M-ma... please... calm down..." I forced my words, hiding my face under my outgrown bangs.

But, the unstoppable force persisted. "Calm down? And why would you?! Do you understand when was the last time I saw real ice cream!" She stated piercing through the crowd.

"D-dad! Talk to her!" I demanded with a hint of annoyance, yet he simply chuckled.

He was happy to see her like that. She was simply acting her age, after all. Or rather, the years that were taken from her due to me. having been married at 13 and becoming a mother at 14, my mother was robbed of her youth. But, that was normal. In this land, that is how it is.

Her family, unable to provide for a growing teen, had to marry her off to someone who would carry the burden. That someone was my dad, 2 years older, he was 15 when married. Having hustled his whole life, he had barely met the requirements, but then, meeting the requirements was in itself a complete sell.

But, as a then 11-year-old, too immature to understand, I felt a tinge of hatred towards the childish behavior of my mother. 

"Can we even afford this...?" I asked as my mother intently stared at the display of ice cream flavors.

"Don't worry about it," My father said, "I told you already, you are free to go as wild as you want today!" He puffed his chest.

"...Sure... Hey!"

"Hm?" My mother had already started stuffing her face with ice cream.

"Come, come now, you just heard your dad, we good." She gave a thumbs up with her empty hand.

"But...!"

"Stop it, Yousef." He handed me a cone and had one for himself "I already told you to not worry about it."

I reluctantly take the cone...It's good.

"Okay, let's go hit that line now!" My mom started.

She moved without pulling me this time, probably to not have the cone drop. So she wasn't so mindlessly having fun to forget such...

My dad soon followed, and I sighed behind.

Before I could move, a sudden conversation piqued my interest.

"...Smuggling in will not be easy,"  The voice was close, right-behind-me close, " I understand you have gained their favor, but still..."

Ice cream in hand, I nimble as I listen to the girl behind the stand.

"What we are will not go b--- ...wait, give me a moment." The girl placed her hand over the bottom of her flip phone and faced me, visibly angry. 

"What are you doing, kid?" The girl asked.

Kid? The comment was slightly out of pocket, as she didn't look much older than me. I didn't reply to her answer and kept on my dessert.

"Get out of here," She frowned, "We are closing."

"That's no way to treat a customer." I felt like I had to fight back, especially after all her comments about me being a kid. 

"Heh." she snickered. "As if you lot know how to treat a human," she mumbled under her breath.

"You know," I said, "I'm just like you. I'm from ****."

The girl's eyes widen, visibly taken back.

"****?! What are you doing here?" The girl leaned over the stall, a step away from falling over.

"Well, enjoying the place?" I wondered, biting into the biscuit cone.

"But how could someone from **** co--... Oh, I see..." The girl calmed down, her frown returning.

"Nope, whatever you just 'saw', is wrong. Just like you, my parents and I barely make it through day-to-day."

"Huh- How did you know?" She asked sincerely.

"Even a blind man could see your frown. You clearly despise them. I'm not one of them." I finished my cone.

A weak voice could be heard, "...e...lic...ello!" it came from the flip-phone she was still holding.

She glanced at it, back at me, then back at it, and finally gave a quick excuse hanging up.

"Don't act smart, kid," she said, "talk to me, properly."

I cocked my head confused, I never tried to 'act smart.' If anything I was trying to get along with her.

"Sorry," I apologized, "I just wanted to make conversation."

"Huh?!" She crossed her arms. "And why would I make conversation with you? ...Forget it. Just tell me, what do you want?"

"I'm sorry," I apologized again, "Apparently I wasn't clear enough, I wanted to make conversation."

"...You are almost as bad as them."

"That is quite the insult."

"Insulting you was the point."

"And you did a good job."

"Anyway, Answer me," She said, leaning close enough discarding the entire concept of personal space. "Why are you here?!"

"...You are making me repeat myself again."

"Just fucking answer me!" She slammed her hands onto the stand.

Woah. I cringed, glad I was already done with the ice cream. I Had not anticipated her to get so serious.

"What answer are you expecting?!" I retaliated similarly, " Or, what? Just because we are poor we are not allowed to come here?!"

She shrunk back, "N-no... That's not what I meant." Her demeanor changed entirely.

The crowds were side-glancing us, not minding it much. We were 2 children throwing tantrums, that's it.

"Hey," She said, "at 8. Meet me at 8. I get off then."

"Huh? And why should I?" I was still hurt. Reminded of the joy in my mother's laugh, and the satisfaction in my father's expression. Who was she to deny me this?

"Please," she begged, "Please, at 8. I will be waiting here."

"N--..." Her words were sincere. She faced me, her desperation plain to see.

I turn around and follow my parents. I didn't feel like answering her.

Just who does she think she is? Getting angry, and why? Because we lower class people can enjoy life? Isn't she one as well? Hell, from her scarred eye hidden beneath her long bangs to the missing finger hidden beneath her left gloved hand, she looked much worse than me.

I ranted to myself as I stomped towards the lengthy line, suddenly disturbed.

"Where were you?!" She said, holding me close to her chest, "Do you know how worried I was?"

A warm, calming embrace, making the moment-ago-frustrated me seem infantile.

"You found him?"  My dad came huffing, "Oh, thank god you did. Oh my... Just what were you thinking?"

"Mom... We are in public." I said, hiding my joy. 

"Oh, the public can eat it. If I want to hold my baby, I can." She tightens her grasp, pulling me closer.

The story I told was as follows: I noticed that the girl working the stand was my age, and wanted to make a friend. So I talked with her and then came rushing when I realized that they had left.

I explained to them what had happened, hiding the details of the conversation with the girl. I didn't want to anger them or ruin their enjoyment. My mother had taken the liberty of flexing the context into what had best fit her mind, and I'm now a playboy at the age of eleven.

I arrived at my destination, the clock a step away from its far left. I had contemplated informing my parents about the truth of the matter, but I went with the friend lie and said there would be a firework show(Which is happening). My parents said they would head there too, though separately.

They had walked with me, separating halfway as I went for the ice cream stand. Surprisingly, even at night, the crowds were as bustling as ever. From afar I could see, she had been there, the stand behind her covered with a garment of cloth, she waited patiently leaning on it.

As she saw me, she stood straight and gestured for me to follow her. She was not wasting time. The direction we were heading was opposite to that of the show. I apologized to my parents in silence.

"Here," she said, pushing the door open. 

Raiding the dark night, a flash of light blinds me. My eyes, getting used to the light, study the room.

Why was I here again?

I questioned.

Seemingly a storage, the room was filled with wooden boxes. The smell of dried wood pierced my nostrils, forcing me to pinch my nose.

"Alice, I already told you, There is no point in bringing this kid." A man said. Resting on one of the numerous boxes, he sipped on the drink he had in hand.

"No, there is," the girl who had brought me here said. "If you all won't explain, then he will have to."

Alice, as she was called, stepped in, pulling up her hair, and then tying it into a ponytail. Her wounded eye now showcased, I felt bad about ridiculing it earlier in the day.

She took a seat on one of the empty boxes amidst the group. I counted all the appearing members, with Alice, it was a total of 10.

"Now, kid--" Alice said.

"I'm not a kid." Intimidated, I had to set my grounds. "I'm around as old as you."

While it was true she had looked much more mature with the scar and missing finger, her features spoke of a similar age.

"I'm eleven, and I would bet you are close." I directed my statement at Alice, the only 'kid' in the room.

"Twelve, a year older. So, you still a kid to me."

"No, that is no---"

"Will you both shut it." While his demeanor was calm, his actions betrayed them. Kicking a wooden box to the wall, breaking it to pieces, the splinters flying around the room. The man stood up, and faced me.

He eyed me up and down, then went past me, opening the door.

"Leave, kid. We do not have time for this. I'm sorry for wasting your time, but this has nothing to do with you." The man said.

"No!" Alice cried, jumping, "I want to know! You all are lying to me!"

"Kid, leave." The man focused his gaze on me. While he had held no intimidating features, in particular, his gaze was enough. Calm, unlike his tone. It told me what I needed to know to fear the man.

"If he leaves, then you can count me out too! I can't accept what you are doing when he is here! What if there are more, Omar--!" Alice shut herself, throwing her palms onto her mouth. She had clearly said something she was not meant to.

All had turned, facing her with pure malice. She shrunk, her mouth covered as she continued shaking her head.

"Kid. Leave." The man said, his words directed at me, his heavy gaze at her.

I ran. Without a word, I ran. Terrified, I couldn't think about the time I had wasted, the excuse I would tell my parents, or the girl whom I had left behind.

Eventually, my weak legs had reached their limit, and I stopped to lean on a nearby wall. I ran a straight line, huffing and puffing as I held my chest. I wouldn't say I'm athletic, but to think just a short run like this was enough to penalize me. I was scared, truly. What I had seen, something was wrong.

I fell to the ground, my back leaning to the wall. Looking up at the moon, I continued to gather my breath. I was no stranger to death, famine, disease, or hell. But that, that man, his air, it was something else entirely.

As I said gasping for air in the alleys of the fake medieval CityWalk, I heard a set of feet approaching, running too. They were weak, leaving but a slight echo with every step.

Still terrified, I attempted to push myself up, only to slip falling on my chin.

"Ow!" I shouted, partly biting my tongue.

The footsteps stop, the echoing disappearing. Did they hear me? Did I make a mistake?! Did you rethink their decision to let me go?!

"W-who's there?" A weak voice sounded from the darkness behind.

A familiar voice.

The footsteps slowly came back, the voice continuing to call.

Making sense of my situation, I calmed down and leaned my back against the wall.

There is no need to be afraid. I thought. This all suddenly made sense to me.

Finally stepping out of the shadows, the final piece of my mystery showcased itself.

Alice walked, her air of confidence nowhere to be seen.

She pulled on her left arm with her right, her hair disheveled and messed up, her eyes swollen and red, she seemed... lost.

"So, you were throwing a tantrum?" I asked, facing her.

While I was sure I would act angry. My relief had taken over.

"I'm sorry..." She apologized, approaching me.

"Was he your boss? and the others... maybe colleagues?"

"I'm sorry..." She apologized, standing over me.

"I get it, don't worry. We all are the same. Unfeed and uncared for. To be here is surely a dream." I said, slowly understanding the situation. "You lot were stealing, right?"

"I'm sorry..."

"H-hey..." I felt bad, maybe I shouldn't have been so straightforward. "I get it, if I were in your place, I would too."

"I'm sorry..."

"You were probably trying to get some of that outside, right? Get it to your families, and others like us. I respect it, really." I had completely calmed down. All my frustration and horror had completely disappeared. Only emotion left is care for the whimpering girl standing before me.

Her head was down, looking at me. As the back of it covers the only source of light, her face appears dark as if hiding.

"I'm sorry..." She repeated, this time adding onto it. "Can you leave?"

"Oh, um, yeah, sure." I stood to leave, pity had overwhelmed my sense of pride as I succumbed to the girl's demand.

"No," She stopped me, "leave this place, go back home."

"What?" Her demand, too large to fathom, confused me, "I can't ju--"

"Please!" She demanded, her hand grasping my wrist. I could feel it, the missing force, the sense of a lie. My brain had tried forcing in the sense of a 5th finger, but it wasn't there. "Please, you have to leave!"

She begged, her arm holding a strong grip. 

"I can't, it's not that simple." I said, "Plus, my parents have a night here. I can't take away their joy and happiness. Not for me, nor a stranger."

"I-I'm sorry..." She apologized, her shock slightly wearing off. She let go of me and stepped back, "What was I thinking... Yeah, sorry." She rubbed her eyes, her index fingers deeply caressing each.

We stood in silence. Unable to bear it, I decide to leave. I'm better off forgetting all about this, the girl was simply too in over her head. This is what happens when you spoil children too much. I thought sighing.

"Anyway... It was nice knowing you, I guess." I turned around.

"Wait," She called "Do you have any contacts? A number? A phone?"

"No, but you already know that, don't you? There is no way any of us could afford to own, nor operate, one of those." I said. I waved and went towards our inn. That was that.

I went back to our room, but my parents were still not back. I had a room card, so I unlocked it and went in.

I waited patiently for my parents, pondering over everything I had seen that day.

The group over their boxes, the man whom she had called Omar. And... Something that had bothered me, yet I fell silent on it. Her name, Alice, was that... was that really her name?

Such a foreign name. I pondered.

Eventually, the day came to an end.

My parents arrived. They asked me a couple of questions, mostly in a joking manner. I lied perfectly, as I had rehearsed, and went to sleep.

The next day came, and we woke up normally. Had our prepared, prepaid, breakfast, and went out for our final day.

We went to this place, that place, I had even played a chess match with a random grandmaster who had an open seat for anyone that wished. This was truly, a land of joy.

But. Everything has a price. And this price, was not monetary.

"Hey!" I heard someone call, a familiar female voice. "Hey, here!"

As I stood alongside my parents, the girl, Alice, approached us.

She jogged over, stopping for a breath as she arrived.

"Oh. My. God. Girl you are adorable! Is this the one you've been talking to, Yousef! I always had faith in you, but this much!" My mother immediately jumped at the gasping girl.

"Huh?" Alice let out, her breath still short.

"Come on now, yousef, don't be shy! Talk to her!" 

I was pushed towards her. Flushed, I hid my gaze to the ground. It's not that I couldn't face alice. But, the way that my mother had acted in front of someone "I knew" was enough to wish death upon myself.

"A-anyway," My savior, Alice, pushed the topic aside "I just wanted to say, to recommend, you all should hit the Las&#!@%(@#!*#12----------

9.3: The Final Game.

"Yousef!" I'm slapped awake.

"bfpfbpt" I blurted out, forcing my torso up.

"Man," Avery said,"you sure know how to pick terrible times to start tweaking."

I looked around, Avery stood beside me, while Tabula and Kevin stood a couple of steps away, watching me in silence. Tablua held his eerie smile, while Kevin looked as if he was debating showing concern to an opponent.

"S-sorry, I... I just remembered something, that's all."

"Huh, I'm more surprised you understood the word 'tweaking.'" Avery said, nodding backwards, "Come on, it's getting late. I believe the next will be our last."

I forced myself up, avery looking down at me as I rose. Tabula and Kevin started moving, Avery followed.

"Avery," I called stopping him, "What if I tell you, I know what the next game will be."

"Hmmm..." He pondered, not turning around, "That would be an interesting bet."

"It's not a bet, nor a gamble. I know."

"Oho," He turned his head slightly backwards, the facing eyebrow raised, "And what is it?"

***********

We arrived, grounds unlike any we had faced before. It was clear from the outline, the following block of a building, it will not be like any other. As I, Avery, had just stated a moment ago, this was clearly going to be the final showdown.

Some might have shown despair, after-all. Seemingly to a normal person, this is the end. What about the final game, who cares? With a lead of 2 points, whether we win or not wouldn't matter. But, I had information, and confidence. Closing the gap... It's nothing short of a guarantee.

With a static, the final announcement played.

"Welcome all, this will be your final game." The monotonous voice announced. "Our final game will be..."

I side-eyed Yousef, I didn't doubt him. If I did, I wouldn't have held my confidence, after all.

"...Laser tag."

As I continued to eye him, he also turned to face me. A triumphant smirk curling his lips, evidently proud of his prediction. I nodded, returning the grin.

"The match will follow similar matchmaking rules. You are free to choose who to begin." The man said, followed by a static.

I immediately moved to tabula, this was my final decision, and simply the deciding one.

"Tabula, Let's play first." I demanded, up until now we had either went by the flow, or I had followed tablua's request. He should find no reason to disagree.

"Hmmm..." With his hand rubbing his chin, he contemplated, "What's with this? Since when did you take initiative, little Avery?"

Leaving the nickname he had given me behind, I replied, "We have been going along with your choice since the beginning. I believe I have the right to choose once at least."

"Hmmmm..." He continued to rub his chin, "Is that so? Remind me if I'm wrong, but I do not remember any formal agreement..." 

"We don't need it, I believe you are just enough to allow this."

His eyes widened at my comment, his fingers brought to a halt, and then, he laughed.

"Me? Just? Didn't take you for a joker, Avery!" The man laughed holding his slim, tall, stomach. "Sure, sure! I'm just after all, aren't I?!"

He laughed, agreeing. It was no trick question, nor was I manipulating him in any form. the man simply found no reason to refuse with a 2-point lead, and in the final game. To him, he was simply finishing early.

Chuckling to himself, he went ahead. Before following, I had to give a quick talk to my partner.

"Don't fall now, and watch the points carefully."

Stepping into the dark room, the lights turn showcasing a display.

"Please, do pick and choose whichever you find most comfortable." The voice sounded from the display, which showcased an overview of the range.

Under the display many sets of gear. All containing a model rifle, and a vest. The only difference was the color and size of the vest. Picking a blue set, I got one that was slightly oversized. My decision had no deeper meaning; I liked blue and wanted to be comfortable. Tabula went for a yellow set that seemed a bit tight.

"You sure of that?" I asked, "We are gonna be doing a lot of moving."

He chuckled, his eerieness growing by the second. "Do not worry, Avery, I will not blame it on gear." His lips curled.

"Now that everyone is ready," The monotonous voice sounded, "the first round will take place immediately. Each is to take one of the two entrances on either side, you have thirty minutes from now to the end of the round. Good luck." The screen glitched, a countdown replacing it. 

Tabula moved the closer one and waited patiently. With no other choice, I moved to the one further to the side.

A step before the iron gate, glowing stepping grounds sat. Stepping as advised, an alarm played, soon followed by the sliding of the heavy metal.

With that, our match had started.

With no concept of penalties, I feared staying behind too long, so I rushed in. Immediately finding cover to hide behind.

I studied what I could view from within my cover, not much it was, but it seemed nothing more than random corridors, and covers, placed all around. I continued to intently listen, hear, and sense my surroundings. If I miss even the slightest presence it might have been the end of my run.

While I couldn't afford to move around freely, he did. He held the point lead, thus he was allowed to lose a single point, but I couldn't. There was a small chance, a very minute cling to fate, that we might be able to hold both points as each round gets a point by itself. From the way the announcement played, giving us a much larger timespan than all previous rounds, and it being the final round.

...Or so he must've thought.

My belief was different. Sadly, I couldn't prove it. Or at least, not in a favorable method. I will have to gamble, a gamble with everything on the line. I forgot all my surroundings, understanding the stalemate me and my teammate had reached, and raised the rifle to my chest. 

As I held the trigger, I wondered. is this where the rush hits? Is this where my dopamine hits? I pondered, though for knowing it was useless. After all, calling a guaranteed outcome a gamble... was nothing short of absurd.

"And the counter goes down," Tabula said, his back leaning on the cover he has rested on for the last 29 minutes, "I wonder... Did he give up? Avery, you had me fooled. I can't believe I thought you were hiding something. Giving up now, when you can attain an outcome that differs to your loss? Was tying not enough for you?" Tabula spoke to himself.

He had played the game safe, simply hiding until the timer turned to 00:00. But, he didn't expect to be allowed to. What a waste. He thought.

...

"Ohh," Tabula stood, "So you want a final minute confrontation, is that it?" He moved, standing to the side of his cover.

He had heard footsteps coming towards him and decided to reciprocate. He had long lost his sense of excitement and was hoping for the rush of a final moment-confrontation.

The steps echoed, filling in the silence of the spacious, empty range. Both growing louder as they closed in, Tabula smiled, broadly. A smile, even he felt was unbefitting of himself.

Finally. They both stopped, Tabula hid behind a cover, looking up at the large display in the center of the range.

20 seconds. 

As he hid, growing impatient. He could hear a knock reverberate through it.

There you are! Right there, so close!  Tabula's impatience grew.

They both hid, between them a prop block, Tabula wanted to know, just where it all led. What is his plan, what has he waited for this whole time?

10 seconds. 

Finally, initiating the final exchange, Tabula heard it. Avery had stepped out of his cover.

No. Tabula calmed down, understanding the sound well. He hadn't simply stepped out.

Shot! Tabula jumped back, He is running. The sound closing in on Tabula, Avery was running past the length of the block, approaching Tabula's side.

 Tabula studied whether to run to the other side himself or find another cover, but there was no time, he would be shot in the back. In a sudden hurry, the time closing in, the sound growing closer, He was unable to make his decision. His quick-wittedness, the same that had made him conquer and take over every game since that tragedy, had failed him.

Avery jumped rushed beyond the corner, and immediately stood, his rifle aimed at Tabula's chest. With what little sense Taubla had retained, he quickly pointed his rifle at Avery.

Pulling the trigger, they both exchanged a look. Tabula in shock, Avery bored.

Both of their vests glowed red, showcasing that they were hit. And then, the alarm sounded, signifying the end of the round.

Avery brought down his rifle, and raised his arm, aiming his gaze at the "wristwatch."

...That was it? Tabula thought, enraged. His excitement, impatience, and expectations, all shattered and stepped upon in a mere second. A tie, that was Avery's choice. There was no larger trick, there was no bigger fool, it was a completely neutral, joke of an outcome.

"Check your points," Avery said, nonchalantly gazing at his wrist, "Did you get any?"

Tabula gazed down. At first, it had said 6, and then it raised to 7. He had gained a point. In a state of complete frustration, he couldn't notice the discrepancy, instead, he focused it all on Avery.

"What was that, you imbecile!" Tabula shouted, "You're done for now! You've lost! What was your game plan?! You gained nothing from this exchange, and neither will your member! What was the point of you even going through everything then?!"

Avery raised an eyebrow to the man's rage, not seeing where he was coming from. Shrugging it off, he asked, "A point? Did you get any?"

"Yeah, I got any!" Tabula stomped away, "What a waste of time."

"Huh," Avery followed, walking out casually, "what's with him?"

....

As I left the facility, I could see Tabula standing aside, clearly something had upset him. On the other hand, Kevin and Yousef were comparing points. As Yousef noticed me, he quickly rushed over.

"Avery, what happened in there?" Yousef asked, "How did that happen? Or rather, why did it happen?"

"So, you understood, then?" I asked.

"If it's their points that you are hinting at, then yeah. I understood."

"Good, now you go there and win."

"B-but, that's a bit much... Too much... There is a 3-point lead. I'm not that confident..."

"And, why?" I asked the kid, facing him straight.

"Huh?"

"Kid, you are smart, you have experience, and are athletic. Remind me, who was the ace of the soccer club, again?"

"That has nothing to do with this..."

"Kid, you know something, or at least are slowly remembering. Whatever it is, embrace it." I said, the kid hiding away, his gaze lowered. "You won the bet, right? It was laser tag. Trust yourself.

Yousef kept silent, seemingly organizing his thoughts.

"Now, let's finish this," I said, "I wanna get home already."

"Alright," Yousef nodded.

Yousef first entered the range, followed by Kevin, who nodded to me and left, shortly after.

I ignored him and went for Tabula, I wanted to closely witness his reaction to the finale.