GAME
Chapter 4
Back to Two

Itsall in the game – Nat King Cole

As she circled the ledge, Garcia continued to call out to Hotch. The next level was acrid smoke, and there was water in the box. At least that was in the original game. The UnSub was changing it though. It could be anything. When she got level with the First Aid Kit, she stopped and opened it.

Water in a sports bottle and a hypodermic syringe marked 'antidote'.

Antidote to what? Garcia suddenly had a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach.

In the bottom of the box was an envelope marked 'To the players'. She quickly opened it and read the contents.

Enjoy the game, players, but please note you are playing against one another. There can be only one winner – Gamagic

Garcia screwed up the note and threw it over the edge of the ledge into the mass of roaches. She picked up the bottle and the syringe and continued feeling the wall for an escape route.

Looking at the wall there didn't seem to be any change, but she felt the slight depression with her fingers. A small door slid back to reveal a staircase going up. Checking that she still had the bottle and syringe, and there was nothing useful left behind, she stepped cautiously on the bottom step. As soon as she did so the door slammed shut behind her, leaving her in pitch darkness.

Slowly she climbed the stairs on her hands and knees. When she reached the top, she stretched her arms out, trying to feel where the passage went next. She could feel the hairs on the back of her neck prickling. She was totally un-nerved by the darkness, and her hands were shaking. She was not generally scared of the dark, but this was unknown to her, and she didn't know what to expect. And she was scared for Hotch. She kept thinking of the 'antidote' and hoped Hotch wasn't in trouble.

While she was thinking of this and not paying full attention to what she was doing, the floor fell away, and she fell forwards into nothingness. She let out a small cry as she scrabbled to hold onto the edge, but the tips of her fingers touched it and she continued to fall.

It wasn't far – only about six feet or so, but in the darkness she was utterly terrified. The landing knocked the wind out of her, and she lay still on the cramped landing trying to catch her breath. She felt around for the bottle and syringe, afraid that she might have broken them, but she sighed with relief when she found them unbroken.

She tried moving, and most of her was intact. Her right arm hurt and her right knee was twisted, Forcing herself to stand was an ordeal, but eventually she made it. She felt around the tiny four by three feet hole, there had to be a way out. She was on the verge of panic when she felt a lever in the wall. Biting her bottom lip, bracing herself for whatever the UnSub had planned, she pulled the lever.

The door slid upwards from the bottom about ten inches, and light poured in. She pulled the lever again, hoping it would open it some more and not close it. Nothing happened.

She knelt down and looked through the gap. The lower edge of the door was a metal strip and the thought of sliding under it and risking being cut in half scared her. She had to get through quickly.

She laid down parallel to the door as close as she could get and rolled through the gap. It slammed down hard as she reached the relative safety of the other side.

For a moment or two she didn't move. Her heart was beating out of her chest and her arm and leg really started to hurt. She thought it could only have been seconds she was trapped on the other side of the door, but it had felt like hours.

She straightened her glasses on her face and looked around.

Level three.

Hotch was on level two.

She had to find a way to go back a level.

-0-0-0-

'I know what this is!' Kevin said worriedly watching the video clip for the thousandth time. 'It looks like a third rate video game Pen was reviewing. I never saw the game, but she told me about it.

'This game?' Rossi said, handing Kevin the envelope that they had found in Garcia's bag. Kevin took it and tipped the CD into his hand.

'This could be it!' He said, opening the CD tray on the laptop he was using. He dropped the CD into position and waited while the computer read the files and the screen flashed to life. He quickly jumped forwards to level one.

'Look.' He said. He started to play the game. He collected the key by jumping from the ledge and grabbing the key on his way past. He picked up the first aid kit and unlocked the door. He was in level two before the roaches reached him.

'So they are playing the game for real?' Morgan said, amazed and angry. 'Why?'

'I can only say it's because Pan gave such a terrible report on the game.' Kevin said. 'She thought she had met the writer at the Gamers Convention and she'd upset him. Not much of a motive though.'

'Enough for these psychos!' Morgan said, getting really scared for Garcia. 'How dangerous does this game get?'

'Well she only got to level three, but usually the games kill.' Kevin said, trying to keep the frightened tremor out of his voice. 'And in a two player game, they are pitted against each other, with only one winner.'

'Oh god.' Rossi said. 'So Hotch and Garcia have to play against each other, not together.'

'How much does Agent Hotchner know about games? Kevin asked.

'Same as me. Zero!' Rossi said. 'We are going to have to find them.'

-0-0-0-

That was fun watching her panic in the dark! Seeing her fall was more than I could have hoped. Now it will be fun to see if she can go back to get Hotchner. He only has about half an hour before the antidote will be too late. It's a pity he's fainted. I would have liked to see some drama. The poison is quite nasty. If he wakes up there will be some pain.

So come on, Technical Analyst. If you are so bloody wonderful, get back and save Hotchner. But remember you would be better off going ahead into level four!

Let's switch to level two. What Is Hotchner doing? Ahh he is still unconscious – at least he hasn't moved since he passed out. He is lying on his back; not a good position to be in when you are throwing up!

Technical Analyst Garcia might win this by default!'

-0-0-0-

The door back to level two was just a plain door flush with the wall. Usually in a game a player wouldn't want to go back. But she was sure there would be a way.

She tried to remember what level three was. There were no clues in the room. In the centre there was a box marked 'food' which she opened without moving. The key was hanging in the centre as on level one.

If she could reach the key, perhaps it would let her get back to level two.

She closed the box and stood on it, and realised she should have brought the box with her from level one. She was not able to reach the key.

Maybe by giving up something she had, the door would open.

She limped to the door and stood in front of it, and felt the walls all around it. There were no depressions or levers, and the wall was smooth. She felt tears of frustration well up, although she was afraid of what she would find on the other side. She banged on the door and called for Hotch.

There was still no answer, and she feared for his life.

How would the rest of the team react if she let him die?

She turned with her back to the door and felt hot tears on her face.

'Why are you doing this?' she yelled. 'Just open the door for me!'

She wiped the tears off her face and turned back to the door. 'Please open it!'

As if the UnSub was waiting for her to say 'please', the door clicked. She pushed her fingers into the crack around the edge of the door and pulled it towards her. Little wraiths of yellow/brown smoke flowed through the door. She put the box in the way to stop the door from closing, and carefully stepped into the room.

'Sir?'

As the last of the smoke cleared, she saw him lying on his back. It looked as if he had been trying to reach the wall, but he was quite still. She couldn't even see him breathing.

She picked up the bottle from the floor, and noted its markings – POISON – and she took off the lid and sniffed it. It smelled like water, and she thought he may have drunk it not knowing what it was.

She put the bottle back down and crossed to Hotch. She checked his pulse, and turned him onto his side.

'Sir, can you wake up?'

There was no acknowledgement. She glanced at the syringe marked 'antidote'.

She thought it was likely that this was the antidote that would save her boss, but she was by no means certain. In the normal course of the game she would not have hesitated, but this game had much higher stakes – their lives.

She had no-one to ask. She had to decide.

She took the syringe, and saying a little prayer, she stuck it in his bare arm and depressed the plunger, emptying the contents into her boss.

'I hope that was the right thing to do!' she said. 'Sir, wake up, please.'

Hotch didn't move, he flinched slightly when she depressed the plunger as if it hurt him, but other than that, there was no reaction.

She turned away from him and watched the door opening and closing against the box she had left in the way. She rested her head in her hands and she felt tears behind her fingers.

'I am so sorry, Sir. I thought that was the right thing to do.' She turned to look at him. 'In a game it would have been.'

She thought she saw a movement, as if he was trying to open his eyes. She turned round again towards him. He looked up at her with wide dark eyes.

'Sick.' was all he said, and he turned onto his hands and knees and retched and heaved until his stomach was empty. Garcia tentatively rested her hand on the back of his neck, and when he seemed to accept the comfort, she started to rub between his shoulder blades. When he had finished he hung his head, trying to catch his breath. She could feel his skin, hot through the tee shirt he was wearing, and his face glistened with sweat.

'Sir, are you alright?'

He coughed. 'F-fine. Call me Hotch.' he said. 'We're not at work now.' His throat was sore and his voice was croaky from the acrid smoke and the vomiting.

'Yes Sir.... uh Hotch.' she said. 'Are you able to stand? We have to move quickly.'

There was a crack sound as the door closed against the box. 'The door will close in a moment.'

'I c-can stand.' With Garcia's help, he climbed onto his feet and they staggered together to the door. Garcia picked up the bottle of poison, and the box, and they crossed the threshold into the next level.

-0-0-0-

Ha! So you got to level three then, and both of you together. Pity, Penelope. You could win if you left the baggage behind. That one hasn't got the first idea of virtual games. You risk yourself, helping him.

So who is in charge now? You are doing a good job of being in charge and letting Hotchner think that he is.

Be careful. That could be your undoing!

Not that I give a damn. I just want the entertainment to last.