"She isn't ready to move," Karun said over the comms. Uncle Gibbard's voice came through with a steely edge, "We don't have much time, Kathy. You must move. Karun can't do it alone."
I fought back tears, my emotions threatened to overwhelm me. Things were happening too fast. Despite the searing pain in my leg, I forced myself to stand. We had known the risks when we entered the game; this was no time to falter. If we were to finish this, I had to push through the pain.
Karun helped me to my feet, guiding me toward the back door of the museum where we had taken refuge. We needed to resume the battle. He set me up at the exit and checked the refills of our virtual weapons. Uncle Gibbard's voice came through again, "Make sure you fill one real pistol, too." That was a crucial piece of advice. With the deneutralization suit and other gadgets failing, a real gun might be our only hope.
I clenched my jaw, trying to suppress the tears blurring my vision. My hands trembled as I struggled to load the gun. Karun brushed my hair back and wiped my tears with a reassuring smile. Despite my pain, I couldn't help but smile through my sniffles. "What are you laughing for?" I managed between sobs.
"Does it hurt?" he asked gently.
"Yes, it does," I replied.
"It's okay, Kathy. I'll take the lead. Just follow me."
There was no time for more heartfelt moments. We had to move quickly with the red dots closing in. Karun handed me an arm gun and we prepared to re-enter the fray.
Uncle Gibbard asked, "How many more enemies are left?"
I glanced at the virtual map above my eye level and counted nine red spots. "There are nine," I reported.
Daisy's voice crackled from the comms, "Brace yourself. The deneutralizing suit doesn't seem to work due to the electromagnetic field around the game."
Uncle Gibbard's response was firm, "Forget about the electromagnetic nonsense. Think of this as a survival battle—a real ambush! You've been shot, and that's why you're bleeding. It's a vital point. Now, get yourself up and fight or die."
His words, though harsh, brought a sense of grim determination. This was no longer a game of strategy; it was a fight for our lives. The suit's failure was just another complication. The real challenge was surviving the ambush.
Karun tried to uplift my spirits. "There are just nine left. Let's finish this quickly."
The thought of only nine enemies left bolstered my hope. Despite the pain and the numbness in my leg, I was driven by the promise of finishing this ordeal. We moved back into action. I limped to one side of the exit, insisting on walking despite Karun's efforts to help. The darkness of night was lifting, revealing the approaching assassins.
Gibbard warned, "Kathy, remember, with your leg injury, your movement will be slow. Be careful and keep an eye on all sides."
The early morning light revealed the figures of the assassins. My sweaty palms slipped on the weapon, but I tightened my grip and whispered to Gibbard, "They're here." A tall, sturdy figure emerged from the back door, and I relayed the positions of the red spots to Gibbard.
With Gibbard's guidance, I opened fire. Despite the dawn's beauty, the scene was filled with chaos and gunfire. The enemies moved quickly, and our injury left us at a disadvantage. But this wasn't just about a game—it was about our survival. I summoned every ounce of strength and aimed carefully, trying to keep the enemies at bay.
In the chaos, I made a critical mistake: I failed to keep a vigilant watch on my surroundings. As I focused on the advancing red dots, the pain in my leg was a constant, throbbing reminder of my vulnerability.
Suddenly, a chilling sensation washed over me—a cold, eerie feeling that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Instinctively, I turned my head just in time to see the shadow of an enemy closing in. My heart sank as I realized the peril I had overlooked.