a/n: Yeah, I know, I know, having two writing projects going on in November sort of defeats the purpose of NaNoWriMo entirely. But, I just finished Avengers Arena and couldn't help but think that such an incredible cast of characters was completely wasted on a premise where three-fourths of them have to die off by default in eighteen short issues.
So we're having a do-over. With less death-match, and more slice-of-life amnesia island shenanigans. Because I say so.
DAY 1
"Ahem...wake up.
"Don't bother trying to move or talk. You've been sleeping while I got you all cleaned and prepped. Today is a very special day, after all...
"You're probably wondering who you are. What you're doing here. Dangling up there with a bunch of other teenagers who are just as confused and terrified as you are."
RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE
"Ooh...now there's molten rock lava?
"I'd like to think there'd be screaming if I let you. But it's better that you can't. I have a lot of things to explain in a short amount of time, and I can't have any of you teenage superheroes interrupting me while I try to explain the rules of your new life.
"Who is the badass boogeyman with the godlike powers and the volcano elevator? And did he say teenage superheroes? Now who could they be?
"Of course you wouldn't know. Then again, maybe you would know of me, at least—the only memories I let you keep are the ones that have nothing to do with you personally. I wanted to add an element of unpredictability to things this time around. See who all my contestants really are without the baggage from the past weighing them down. Let the real you out, without having to worry about what anyone else will think. The you you keep crammed down deep where nobody else can see.
"For anyone who guessed...
"I am Arcade. And make no mistake, children, there's a reason I don't wear a mask with my pretty white suit like some other villains you might remember. There are no villains in Murderworld—that's where you are, by the way. There's only the sixteen of you here, and I am your god. I control your motor functions, your bodies, even your breathing if I so choose. I hung you from my ceiling.
"My world is where you have been born again, and where you shall meet your end.
"Don't bother trying to escape. There's no leaving Murderworld once you're in. At least, not for most of you.
"But we'll get into that later. As far as you're concerned right now, you just need to understand that is no outside world, and no means of reaching it even if there were. You're completely cut off. Nobody is coming to get you. Trust me, even if they knew—or cared—who you were, they'd have no idea where to look.
"You want food? You want water? Medicine? It's all here, but you have to fight for it. There might not be enough for everyone, and besides, it's not like you know anyone else stuck in here floating in the sky with you. If you ever did, those memories are all mine now.
"Better to get a fresh start, I always say. For you and for me. 'Every man for himself' is the name of the game here. You can try to make some new friends if you want, but there's really no point to it. Like I said before, once the game really gets underway, the less friends you have, the better. Look around. How many of these people would you trust with your life? For all you know, they could be cold-blooded killers! Then again, so could you...
"Those of you who have been paying attention will notice the little holo-screens in front of you with your names or aliases projected on them. That's all you get. Any other information is strictly classified for now. Makes it more interesting, don't you think?
"Some of you are probably thinking why me? There's a lot of different reasons. Fate. Luck of the draw. My own sick amusement. I like to make a game with other people's lives, and you're this week's lucky winners. It doesn't really matter why.
"What matters is that all of you have something that makes you special. Something unique, and highly entertaining. Your powers and abilities may or may not be obvious right off the bat, but for your own sake I do hope you figure it out soon. If you want to survive long enough to play the game, that is.
"I'd really love to stay and chat a little longer, but I think it's high time you got acquainted with all the people you'll be spending the rest of your lives with! And you'd better not make it boring. The more bored I am, the sooner the game starts.
"And when the game starts, you all start dying. So enjoy your little reprieve while it lasts.
"I'll leave the sixteen of you to it."
He snaps his fingers and disappears.
The figures hovering in the air abruptly drop out of it—some gracefully, some not. All sixteen land on the ground without getting hurt.
Then they start to get up. Stand. Look at one other, warily. Total silence reigns in the circle for a long, tense moment.
Nobody has a goddamn clue what happens next.