The doorway opened once again, shining and shimmering gloriously. This meant a way out, a way home from almost all.
Almost.
You had seen it happen time and time again. The players passed eagerly through the threshold, gleaming with a certain pride that they had all tended to hold. One by one they would walk into that light just to return home, as though nothing had ever really happened and it was all just some bizarre dream. But it wasn't.
And then?
Just before they could pass through, the door would disappear.
This was just how the game worked. After each new game, a price had to be paid. The leader. The one who had the most impact.
This newest one, a girl of 15, stood frozen in her spot. Tears welled up in her eyes as the color ran from them, leaving behind a blank, pure white. Any traces of color from her god tier outfit vanishing. A sudden pain shot up from her hand; a screech of pain ripped from her throat as she collapsed to the hard, cold ground. The number 15883 appeared in black across the pale skin of her hand.
This once mighty Page of Heart had fallen.
You lightly rubbed her shoulder comfortingly. The '00' on your hand plainly said it all. It always had.
You were similar to an NPC. A spectator of the game. Always watching with lifeless eyes to make sure everything ran smoothly, you were one of many, yet nothing like mist of the others. You were an original. One of the two placed here from the very beginning. Programmed in. You had no story. No background. Nameless and almost alone.
There was a mere one other like you. It was a lonely existance. A sad one, watching so much death and horror. Eventually you felt as though it was time to choose a name. Something to identify with to make you feel a little more true. With black locks that occasionally fall into your eyes, thick dark frames standing distinctly before white eyes, and teeth that tend stand out when your lips curve into a smile, your generic good looks called for a simple name. One you've seen time and time again that you just seem to feel drawn to. One of the most basic, the most commonly used human names you've come across.
And what might this name be?
You held your hand yout to the fallen girl, offering her help. "Hello," you stated, your lips twisting into an inviting, toothy grin.
"My name is John."
