¶. "There's still one spot left, which of you will go"? I could tell that Jack wasn't going, and I assume he saw the same in me. The man with censored eyes began laughing hysterically. I was afraid to ask why he laughed so erraticly, but he saved us the trouble by answering, "you know, you just barely passed. By a very thin margin, yet you look so proud".
¶. I felt a chill, "what're you-"? Before I could finish my question, he raised his hand to signal my silence, "leave". His word shook the room, my knees became weak, and all courage I had turned to jelly. Another doorway opened along with a set of stairs that led upward. Jack was halfway through the door when I meekly let out, "wait". The man simply stared. He waited patiently for my coming question. "Will my friends be safe". Again, he laughed. He began walking away, but the camera stayed fixed on him. It looked like he walking in place. "They weren't your friends".
¶. I felt insulted that he could insinuate the people I've known most of my life weren't my friends. Before I could say a word, he continued, "Reeling, those were not the people you knew. They were programs meant to emulate your friends". I looked towardsJack and felt uneasy. Jack looked just as surprised as I did, but he didn't deny it. He just looked at his palms mortified. Was it all a lie? The person I thought was my brother was just some cheap program, meant to what? Test me? Play a cruel prank?
¶. As I was getting consumed by my thoughts, the man broke the silence, "you volunteered for this Reeling. All of you did". I took a sharp breath, "then my friends, they're here"? The man nodded, and for a brief second I could see his eyebrows furrowed together. I couldn't see much, but from what I could see, he looked sad. "Please tell me, where are they"? He took a seat, "Reeling they're in their own tests. You've passed. You can leave now". I shook my head, "I can't abandon my friends".
¶. He jumped up, his voice was filled with anger, "your performance was absimal, you wandered aimlessly, you had no courage, you have no strength, you died twice. Frankly the only reason you passed was because you chose to sacrifice yourself. Just leave". The atmosphere became unbearable, who I believed to be Jack and I fell to our knees. I managed to squeak, "Please, I can't leave them". He grabbed the ridge of his nose and let out a long exhale.
¶. "Reeling, each of your friends are in their own trials, far more complex then yours. If you go with them, you'll just get in their way". I could barely stay on my knees, I felt a huge crushing pressure pushing me onto my palms. "If there's a chance, I can save them, I need to do it".
¶. Without my realizing it, the man stood right before me. His eyes were still censored, but his voice somehow became far more destructive. "This is your final chance. Leave". I was petrified, I felt the weight of his words pushing me to the ground. My cheeks felt cold from where they connected with the floor. My arms were trying desperately to fight and push myself up, but I couldn't. In a hushed whisper, I squeaked, "I can't".
¶. He let out a long breath, and with it, all the pressure evaporated. I got back to my knees and begged him, "please let my find my friends. I need to help them. I need to help Jack, Meredith, and everyone else". He turned around and looked at Jack. "You don't have to worry about Jack. He's in this room". I looked towards my friend relieved, but his eyes were clouded.
¶. "Jack, if you want to leave, I won't blame you". He closed his eyes and took a breath, "I can't let you go by yourself Reeling". The man laughed to himself softly, but didn't say anything. "The others will be fine, we can leave". There was so much I wanted to say, but I only shook my head. "Alright Reeling, I'm with you all the way". He reached out his fist to signal a fist pump, but it threw me off guard. It seemed a bit out of character, but maybe I was just being paranoid. Before I could even raise my fist, the man spoke.
¶. "What a touching display, but enough wasting time". A square opened up on the floor in front of us. There's no telling how far we'll fall. The man with censored eyes continued, "Reeling. Your trial was mapped specifically for your brain waves, If you die in their trials, you will die in real life. Each trial will be completly different, with its own set of rules, stories, and goals, but if you die or fail at all, you will legitimately lose your life".
Jack yelled, "Wait! There's no telling if we can survive what's going to happen, let alone this drop! ". Though we couldn't see his eyes, the man sent a sharp glare toward Jack, "Reeling. You said you'd do anything to find your friends. Did I mishear"? I shook my head, and pushed myself to my feet. I let one of my feet dangle over void, which was a mistake.
¶. I felt the weight of my foot throw me off slightly, my heart began to race, my mind felt foggy as my eyes searched for anything to focus on, my breath was trapped in my lungs. "If I do this, will it lead me to my friends"? Without hesitation, and with absolute clarity, he said, "yes. I promise". I tried finding any clue that would betray his thoughts, but he stayed still, and even though I couldnt see it, I could tell his eyes were clear.
¶. He's the reason my friends and I are here, I have no reason to trust him, I should hate him. But I can't shake this gut instinct, if I don't jump now, then that's it.
¶. Something about him felt familiar, so I let out a breath, and jumped into the hole. Jack screamed my name and immediately jumped in after me. I don't know how, but I heard the man with censored eyes whisper, "Reeling.".