Games

Ch 33: Please Stay Safe...

I don't utter a sound as the ground rapidly grows nearer to my face. I'm too terrified – or possibly just too tired – to scream, so I stay silent.

"Skybrine!" the GameMaster shouts, and then suddenly I'm in a totally different room. "Skybrine, are you alright?"

"I-I- I- I'm fine... I think..," I trail off, still shocked from my near-death experience. "W-Where- Where are we?"

His eyes suddenly harden, and the worried look in them disappears. "We're in a random room that I created out of thin air. If my magic is working correctly, this room should be located right above the Living Quarters. And, hopefully, it will be invisible to the others..."

"The others are still on a bridge in the middle of nowhere."

"Oh, right. We're fine, then."

"Why did... why did you save me?"

"What? I didn't save you."

"You saved me."

"Fine, I saved you."

"Wanna tell me why?"

"Reflexes."

"And why is it a reflex to save my life? I thought you hated me!"

"I do hate you! You're just like your monster of a father!"

"Look, I understand that He's a monster, and I get that I'm His son," I say, tears gathering in my eyes even as I try to blink them back, "but that by no means makes me a monster, too!"

His eyes seem to soften, and I roughly rub my eyes with my gloves. "Skybrine, I- I never really considered that- w-well-"

"No, of course you didn't consider it!" I interrupt him, glaring at him but only getting angry at myself. "No one considers it! They see my eyes and think, 'Oh, stay away from that kid. He's dangerous, he's the son of Herobrine.' They think I'll kill them if they so much as bump into me on the streets! They assume that I'm a terrible monster just because my father is!" I lean against the wall and then sink down to the floor, hugging my knees to my chest. "Because of Him and His reputation, I can't decide my own fate, it's all planned out for me! No matter where I go, there are people running from me and people trying to capture or kill me and people trying to shield their children from me and people cursing and spitting at me and people telling me how evil and uncaring I am even though I want to care, I want to so badly!" I sob, banging my head back against the wall and closing my eyes. "And I hate it, I hate it so much!"

"I- You- Y-Your father- I didn't- I thought that after I-"

I rub my eyes again and stand, slowly and shakily. "Please t-take me back to the mini-challenge."

The GameMaster frowns, staring at me with regret. "What?" I laugh rudely. "Is the bad, scary GameMaster actually feeling bad for what he's done?"

William's expression shifts to one of hatred. "No. No, you aren't going back to the mini-challenge. Instead, you're going to stay in the Living Quarters."

I raise an eyebrow. There has to be a catch.

"The others will continue the mini-challenge without you. However, since you will no longer be there to be annoying, the 'no death' rule is void from here on out."

My jaw drops. Ty, Ty could get hurt, Ty could die-

They could all die!

"No, you can't do that!" I protest, fighting to keep my voice firm. If it shakes, I'll look less threateningly – not that I ever looked threatening in the first place.

He shrugs, obviously not caring what I think.

"But- But your viewers, remember?"

"The viewers won't mind a bit more drama. A death or two won't hurt their opinions of the show."

"Their opinions of the show are already horrible," I hiss.

"Exactly. How could they get any worse?"

I bite my lip, trying to think of a way out. I come up short. "Please," I beg. "Please don't let them die."

"I don't know," the GameMaster says casually, smiling a little. "I'll do my best. But my reflexes might not be good enough to catch Ty. He looks a bit unsteady, doesn't he? He looked especially shaken after you fell. I don't think he'll make it."

Rage and fear shoots through me. A small thought pokes at my mind in the midst of these feelings, though – Ty and Jason and all the others must think I'm dead. But that doesn't matter, does it? Of course not, not when they might actually be dead in a few minutes!

"You can't, don't!" I shout. "This is wrong! This entire game show is wrong!"

William huffs. "I'll bring the living ones back when the mini-challenge is over, Skybrine," he says lowly.

I shake my head frantically, ready to continue arguing pointlessly as long as it keeps the GameMaster from going back and continuing the mini-challenge-

PIGGLEBIGGLEBOOMZAPBANGTSSSS!

No, no! I quickly glance around to find myself in the hallway of the Living Quarters. No, I can't be here! I have to be with the GameMaster, I have to make sure he doesn't-

"Have fun, Skybrine!"

No, I will not have fun! I will break out of here and find the freaking GameMaster and pound his face in and possibly murder him on the spot.

"Geez, you're desperate, now, aren't you?"

Not in the mood, Dad! Ty's life is at risk! The lives of everyone in Team Crafted are at risk!

I jiggle the knob on the door of the Living Quarters, but it won't budge – it's locked. Unfazed, I pound on the door as hard as I can, trying to break it open.

What am I doing!? I don't even know where the bridge is, and I can't break a door down! I bang my fists against the wood harder as angry tears build up in my eyes. Stupid GameMaster! Why can't he just be a decent human who understands how important life is?

"Let me out! Let me out!" I scream, taking a few steps back and then ramming my shoulder into the door.

"That won't work, Skybrine. I've supported the door with iron, and even if you did manage to break through the door or any other part of the house, I've surrounded the Living Quarters with a – well, a force field of sorts. You won't get out."

"No! I will!" I howl, beating the door harder still. "I have to! I- I- Ty is- Jason- I can't-" I let out a sob, sinking down to the floor and leaning against the battered (but still firm) door. "I can't- I can't just- I have to do something..."

"Ha, I like seeing you in pain while I'm over here in my secret place, striking flowers with lightning and generally just having a good time."

I start to screech out insults and threats at Him, but then something crucial registers in my mind.

I am Skybrine.

I jump up and run to my room. I have to get my powers back, I have to go save my friends-

"Is there something in that room that you want?" the GameMaster's smug voice asks, and my eyes widen.

"Uh, n-no?" I lie badly, walking more casually now towards my room.

"Well, I think it would be safer to lock the doors to all the rooms, just in case," the GameMaster says as if we were having a regular conversation. "Don't you?"

"No!" I shout, but my door is already bolted shut. I pound on it a bit and then run back to the Living Quarters' front door. That one is still holding strong.

Of course it is! Of course. There's no way I'll ever get to Ty. It's not possible, it never was possible. I lean back against the door again and close my eyes as tears flow from them, wetting my cheeks and getting salty water on my glasses' lenses.

This is all my fault! Why on earth did I force them all to come? I'm such an idiot, such a fool! How could I believe that we were actually strong enough to defeat the GameMaster?

"Ty..," I whisper, wishing on every star in the universe that he'll manage to survive the mini-challenge. "Please stay safe..."

Have a good week. :)