I lean back in my chair, stretching lazily. "That was a tough game..." I pull out my phone to check the time. It's 1:02. "I should go to bed..." As I stand up, I get hit with a wave of nausea, causing me to drop 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 darkness.
I hear a voice. Not familiar, and not particularly kind either. This voice belongs to a trickster. Someone who stops at nothing to get what they want. "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 squeezed by a vice.
"See you soon."
I wake up on the ground, covered in sweat. What was my name again? Who am I? Why am I alive? I stand up, grab clean clothes, and walk to the bathroom. I look in the mirror– I look petrified. "What the hell did I dream about?"
I start the shower, stand under the water, and begin to wash. "Ah..."
I finish my shower, dry off, and get dressed. Then I get a text from my only real friend, Usato. It reads: "Hey, you wanna go out for a bit? We should catch up."
I reply, "Sure, send me the meeting spot." I slip on my shoes and grab my keys. When I step outside, I see kids playing in the street. A ball flies toward my face; it seems to go in slow motion, but I can't move out of the way. I see it coming, but my body won't react...
The ball hits me right in the face. I stumble back, pick it up, and consider throwing it back at them. "Be more careful next time," I say, tossing the ball to the ground, and then I head to the meeting spot.
When I arrive, I wait—and wait. About ten minutes past the scheduled time, he shows up. "You're late," I say. "Nah, you're just early," he replies in his usual laid-back tone. "No, you're just late," I push myself off the wall. "It's been a while, though, Usato. Where are we headed?"
"We haven't hung out in a while, but the arcade," he says with a kid-like excitement. "Let's go," I reply with a small smile.
We start walking toward the station. "You got taller!" he says, walking slightly ahead. "I remember I used to tower over you in middle school," I laugh—a sound I haven't made in a while, only he can bring this out of me. "Maybe I have. Looks like we're about the same height now."
We enter the station and sit on a bench, waiting for the train.
"Well, I still have to be taller. I'm more mature, after all," he says with a triumphant pose. "You fold when you see a girl, though..." I tease.
"I-I don't!" Usato stammers, embarrassed.
I give him a smug look as the train arrives. "Whatever you say, dude."
We step onto the train and sit close together.
"Hey..." Usato says quietly. "Why can't I remember your name...?"
I laugh it off, "You're joking, right?" The train pulls in, and he agrees, but deep down, I know he's not. Because... I don't even remember my name.
When we reach the city, a huge crowd greets us. "There's the arcade, let's go," he says and starts walking.
"Sure, let's go-" We stop abruptly and stare up at the sky. A massive dark gash appears, and a window opens in front of us. I see the screen flash with a welcome message. "Welcome, please choose a name."
"What the hell...? Is this some movie...?" "What's going on!" shouts and screams erupt as everyone panics and runs around wildly. But a voice booms from above.
"You're all fish on a cutting board," it says venomously, as a huge silhouette descends from the gash. We all feel one thing: FEAR.