I'm not here. I can't be seen. Nobody can see me. I'm supposed to be invisible to the world.
I kept telling myself that I was invisible, but I could feel the heavy stares from everyone around me. Judging, disgusting, hateful, insulting stares hitting me all over the place.
Who are all these people? What is this place? Why am I standing on a floating floor? Who is that weirdly dressed man in the middle?
"I'm terribly sorry about the gruesome 'suicides' that you all had to witness," the man standing in the middle, Route, said. "However, every single one of you have been chosen for a reason."
A reason? Do we all have the same goal?
"That reason may have multiple factors, but they all share one common conclusion: The world is cruel," Route said. "Some of you are looked down by the world. Some of you are rejected by the world. And some of you don't even want to be a part of it."
Route looked directly at me when he said that last sentence.
"Now I agree with your view on the world. The world is a cruel place, but it can also be a wonderful place as well. You just have to look at it from a different perspective."
A different perspective? What's the point in looking at the world differently if we already know the reality of it? We can't escape reality. It's impossible!
"Starting today, I'm going to make sure that every one of you try and see the world from a different perspective," Route said. "However, just simply teaching you with words won't work out for any of you."
"What the hell are you talking about," said a man you looked to be in his early twenties. "I don't need some useless lecture! Let me out of here!"
"Oh I can assure you that this is no lecture," Route said. "In fact, the actions that each and every one of you will have to take will decide whether you live...or die."
That got most of the people riled up.
"SON OF A BITCH!!! WHAT DO YOU MEAN WE'LL DIE?!"
"NO WAY!!! WHAT THE HELL DID WE DO?!?!"
"I'LL KILL YOU WITH MY OWN HANDS!!!"
I, as well the person standing on a platform to the right if me, remained completely silent. I didn't bother getting a better look at the person to the right of me. I just tried the best I could to remain completely invisible.
But the thought if those thugs dying right in front of me. Their lifeless eyes. The forceful stabbing. The sprays of blood and the organs splatting all over the place. If something like that were to happen to me...
"Everyone please shut up." Route said in a demanding voice all of a sudden.
That got everyone to close their mouths. Everyone remained completely silent, waiting for Route to continue speaking.
"Now then," Route continued. "In case you're wondering, yes, the actions that you all will have to take will decide the fate of your lives. Assuming that you all remember, you had a blue holographic screen appear in front of you with a choice that said 'Yes' or 'No' on it. In this game, you all will be given random moments where you'll have to make choices again on what you will do in dire situations. You can think of it like training to become a better part of the world."
Why would anyone want to be a part, or better yet, a better part of the world. You can't make the world a better place. It's simply impossible.
"You said 'in dire situations' correct," a woman said. "Could you please elaborate on that for me?"
"Very well then," Route said with a friendly smile. "Let's say, for example, that you're in a situation where a little girl is about to be run over by a car. Time will be slowed down and you'll be given the option of either saving the girl or leaving her to die. If you do save her, then you'll have to be faced with another choice on what you do next. You might end up getting run over by a car if you don't make the right choice."
"Couldn't we just let the little girl die and not even bother?" another woman said.
"Well yes, but that's where another things comes into play. If you look down at your right arm, you'll see a holographic meter implanted into it. You're goal is to fill that meter before a certain time limit is up, and the only way to fill that meter up is by becoming a better part of the world instead of leaving it behind."
"And what happens if we don't fill the meter up before time runs out?" a man asked.
"Simple: You'll die."
"Heh, should've figured."
So he's basically forcing us to be a part of the world, with our lives being placed on the line.
"Oh, and don't even try moving on your own when time is being slowed," Route said. "You'll be stuck in one place until you make your choice. Also, you will all be paired up in two's, just so you can train up your social skills. If you have a number on your platform, then your partner will be on your right."
I looked down at my platform and saw a blue number below my feet. I turned to my right and was able to get a good look at who I was partnering up with.
It was a girl. She had short light-brown hair, emerald green eyes, and looked about my age. She had a tomboyish face and looked to be slightly taller than me. She wore a plain white jacket with a grey shirt and black sweatpants.
She turned to face me. I quickly turned away, realising that I wasn't following my rules.
Why the hell should I have to partner with someone that I don't even know? Hell, why should I even be a part of this stupid game anyways? It makes no sense.
"That's pretty much everything that you'll need to know," Route suddenly said as a bright blue light enveloped me and the girl. "You should also hold your partners hand so that you both will end up at the same place. Anyways, have fun!"
I felt my hand getting squeezed all of a sudden. The girl was holding my hand.
I wanted to tell Route that I didn't want to be a part if this. I didn't want to be a part of the world. I don't want anything to do with anyone. Not Route, not the people around me, and not this girl either. I just wanted to be on my own. I was supposed to be invisible, but now I feel even more exposed than I ever felt in my whole life.
After a few seconds, I was all of a sudden teleported into my apartment. The girl was still holding my hand. And on that day, that was when I realised that everything that I've ever worked for was being scrapped and burned right in front of my very eyes.
"Just kill me now..." I said to myself.