I knew that voice. The one that had comforted me through childhood, that had guided me with unwavering support, was now filled with unbearable agony. My heart raced as I screamed, "Karunnnnnnnnnnnnn!" Tears streamed down my face, blurring my vision as I pushed through the wreckage. The dawn's light barely illuminated the chaos around me, but I couldn't afford to be slowed by it.
When I reached the red wagon, the sight that met me was both heart-wrenching and surreal. Karun lay curled in a ball, his body trembling with pain. Beside him stood a tall, slender woman with raven-black hair, her smirk both menacing and unsettling. As she turned to face me, my stomach churned.
"Priya?! What is she doing here?" I stammered, shock rendering me almost paralyzed. Priya was supposed to be back home, not in this nightmarish simulation. Astrid's voice broke through my panic, "That's just another NPC, Kathy."
Reality hit me like a punch to the gut. Priya was the final assassin, her NPC form a cruel twist of fate. My hands shook uncontrollably as I raised my weapon, fighting the horror of having to shoot what looked like my sister-in-law. Gibbard's voice cut through the fog, "Kathy, shoot her! Don't hesitate!"
With a trembling finger, I pulled the trigger repeatedly. When I dared to open my eyes, Priya's NPC glitched and bled just like Nivin's had. My heart shattered as I turned back to Karun, who lay on the ground, blood spreading around him. The sight of his injury was too much to bear.
I relayed the grim situation over the comms, my voice cracking with fear. Astrid's urgent shouts urged me to stay calm, while Liam's reassurances attempted to ground me. Finally, Gibbard's voice was firm and commanding, "Kathy, focus! Karun needs immediate help. Pull yourself together and assist him."
The rain began to pour, mingling with my tears as I fought to keep Karun warm and tend to his wound. The storm outside seemed to echo the storm within me. As I worked, I cursed the game, the weather, and the chairman who had thrust us into this nightmare. My tears and the rain blended together, each drop a reminder of the hopelessness of our situation.
I managed to bind Karun's wound with my inner hoodie, my hands trembling as I worked. The cold, relentless rain added to the grim reality of our predicament. The moment felt endless, the weight of Karun's suffering pressing down on me.