I lean back in my chair, stretching languidly. "That was a hard match..." I pull out my phone to check the time. It was 1:02. "I should head to sleep..." As I stand up I get hit with a wave of nausea, causing me to recoil down to my knees. "I guess this is what I get for staying up late, playing video games in the dark..." As the words leave my mouth, I pass out into a world of darkness.
I hear a voice. Not a familiar one, not a particularly kind one either. This voice was one of a trickster. One of someone who stopped at nothing to gain what they desire. "I hope you're ready. I've chosen you to gain this ability. So I hope you use it in ways that entertain us."
I try to speak. I try to move. But all I feel is fear. Fear. Fear. Have I ever felt this way before? My heart feels like it's being clamped by a vice.
"See you soon."
I wake up on the ground, drenched in sweat. What was my name again? Who am I? Why am I alive? I stand up, grabbing clean clothes and walking to the bathroom. I look in the mirror– I look petrified. "What the hell did I dream about?"
I start the shower. And stand under the water, and start washing. "Ah..."
I finish my shower and dry off. As I finish dressing up I get a text from my one actual friend, Usato. The text reads: "Hey, you wanna go out for a bit? We should catch up."
I reply, "sure, send me the meeting spot". I slide on my shoes and grab my keys. I walk outside to see kids playing in the street. A ball flies towards my face, it seems like it's going in slow motion, but I can't move out of the way. I can see it, but my body can't react...
The ball hits me square in the face. I stumble back and pick up the ball, debating throwing it back at their faces. "Be more careful next time." I say, throwing the ball to the ground and head to the meeting spot.
As I arrive, I wait. And wait. About ten minutes after the meeting time, he arrives. "You're late.", I say. "Nah, you're just early." He replies with his usual laid back tone. "No, you're just late." I push myself off the wall. "It has been a while though, Usato. Where we going?"
"We haven't been in a while, but the arcade." He says with kid-like enthusiasm. "Let's go." I reply with a small smile on my face.
We start walking towards a station. "You got taller!" He says as he walks ahead slightly. "I remember I used to tower over you in middle school." I chuckle, a sound I haven't heard in a while, only he can bring out this side in me. "Maybe I have. Looks like we're about the same height."
We enter the station and wait for a train on a seat.
"Well, I still have to be taller. I am more mature after all." He says with a dramatically triumphant pose. "You fold when you see a female though..." I say teasingly.
"I-I do not!" Usato says embarrassed.
I give him a smug look as the train appears. "Whatever you say, dude.
We enter the train and sit close together.
"Hey..." Usato says. "Why can't I remember your name...?"
I laugh it off, "you're joking, right?" The train arrives and he agrees, but deep down inside, I know he's not. Because... Not even I remember my name.
We arrive in the city and the sight of a huge crowd awaits us. "There's the arcade, let's go." He says as he starts walking.
"Sure, let's go-" We stop in our tracks and stare into the sky. A huge dark gash appears and a window appears in front of me and everyone else as I can see. The screen flashes with a welcome screen. "Welcome, please choose a name."
"What the hell...? Is this some movie...!?" "What's going on!" Screams and shouts are heard as everyone panics and runs around in a frenzy. But a voice comes from above.
"You're all fish on a cutting board." The voice booms with venom as a massive silhouette descends from the gash. We all feel one thing. FEAR.