The Three Day Survival Game

I stood lifeless, scanning for details that might resemble the ones from my dream. As the abandoned city started to materialize, cold sweat ran down my spine.

Karun spoke urgently, "Move fast, let's get out of this. Let's cross the levels quick."

I nodded in a daze, my eyes wide with fear as I observed the shifting landscape. Every change in the environment mirrored my nightmares. With every pawn placed in its exact position, the game began.

We found ourselves in the middle of an old, abandoned city. Shivers ran down my spine as I recognized the surroundings—the city looked exactly like the one from my nightmares. Karun exclaimed, "Ah, so this is the setting for the second level? Pretty dramatic, eh? An old, abandoned city with broken, ragged buildings and a storm above."

He looked at me, noticing my lack of response. I stood there, dumbstruck and horrified.

I couldn't process things straight. Was this a dream, or was it really happening?

Karun's voice snapped me back to reality. "Hey, don't lose your head now. It's not time to think, better stay alert," he said, pulling me to the side of a building to hide.

We crouched behind the crumbling wall, peering out cautiously. The city was eerily silent, the only sound being the distant rumble of thunder. The storm clouds above swirled ominously, casting dark shadows over the deserted streets.

Karun kept his voice low, "We need to stay focused. This is just another level, another challenge."

I nodded, trying to steady my breathing. The familiar setting had thrown me off balance, but Karun was right. We had to stay alert and keep moving.

I finally broke out of my daze, blinking rapidly. "This... this feels like a dream."

Karun cut me off. "Yeah, more like a nightmare! But cut it out." He smacked my head hard enough to definitely wake me up. I yelped in pain, "Whaaat? Why are you—"

Karun shushed me, signaling for silence. I focused and heard a faint beeping above my head. The alert sound rang in my ears. Looking up at the virtual map fixed above eye level, I saw red spots swarming with an alert symbol.

It was the checkbox we had checked before entering the game to notify us of ambushes. It had activated, alerting us to an imminent threat. Seeing the alert symbol, we readied the weapons we had chosen at the start. The more obstacles we cleared, the more our weapons would upgrade and additional bullets would be added, aside from the 50 each we got from the store.

Karun nodded, signaling, "Let's do this." We sprang into action just as the first shot hit the broken wall we were hiding behind. Damian's voice came through the comms, guiding my movements, while Aiden took Karun's side.

We fired back. This was a deadlier game than the first level, more intense and demanding. The sky opened up, and it began to rain, the thunder rumbling so loudly that it masked the sound of our enemies. We relied entirely on the map. If not for our attack-neutralizing suits, we might have been shot dead; we wouldn't have survived the first half.

The shots were critical as the level progressed, hitting vital points and causing more pain than the first level. We lost count of the enemies, but we estimated there were more than 50 against just the two of us. It was a grueling match that lasted 3 hours. The maze of broken buildings, scattered cars, and dark clouds made it easy to get lost, but the virtual map helped us regroup each time.

The game ended with Karun taking down the last red spot with a headshot from over six meters away. The automated voice announced, "Obstacle 1 cleared. Adding bonus points: current points: Kathy: 112, Karun: 96."

I sighed with relief. "Finally, obstacle 1 clear. How many more do you think there will be?"

Karun replied, "Definitely more than two. Remember, we had the chance to check the box for notifying the first two obstacles?"

"Yes, that's right," I replied.

I thanked Damian, who had guided me through my clumsy movements during the battle, and Karun thanked Aiden. When we asked about the enemy count, the number shocked us: "we are estimating it to be around 72" replied Ryan and that they were still processing how the enemy count kept increasing, which would help us approximate the numbers in future obstacles.

Feeling a sudden pang of hunger, I asked Astrid for the time. "It's past 2," she said. Daisy suggested, "Let's take our lunch before the next obstacle comes."

We found a relatively safe building and settled down to eat. We had brought our lunch outside the game, and the brief respite was a welcome relief from the constant tension.

As we unpacked our food, Gibbard's voice came through the comms, "You two did well. Remember to stay alert and keep your wits about you. The challenges will only get tougher from here."

I nodded, though he couldn't see me. "Understood, Gibbard. We'll be ready."

Karun looked at me, his expression serious. "We need to move fast and clear the obstacles. No more delays."

I agreed, determined to make up for my earlier hesitation. We reviewed the half-decoded cheat code, planning our approach for the next level.

As we ate, we exchanged thoughts and strategies.

"This game is testing us in ways we hadn't anticipated," Karun said between bites. "But with every obstacle, we're getting stronger and more resilient."

"True," I replied. "But it's also throwing us curveballs. That first obstacle... it was too close to my nightmares. It's like the game knows our fears."

Daisy chimed in through the comms, "It's designed to challenge you both physically and mentally. The more you push through, the more you'll grow. Just remember, we're here to support you."

"Thanks, Daisy," I said.

Astrid added, "And remember, you're not alone. We're watching your every move, ready to help whenever you need it."

As we finished our lunch, Karun and I felt a renewed sense of determination. The break had given us the chance to recharge, and the team's support bolstered our spirits. We were ready to face the next obstacle, whatever it might be.