Let's continue the killings...LOL


“Yoh! Kon-chan!” Sayumi greeted her friend. Kon-Kon looked up from the book she was reading and eyed Sayumi. Its break time and they just finished the first exam for the day. Konno was reviewing for their next exam which is College Algebra. She closed her book and sighed. She was glad that she studied this subject last night. Knowing Sayumi, she wouldn’t have time to review anymore because Sayumi will not stop talking to her.

“How was your exam?” Konno watched the transformation of Sayumi’s face from happy to irritation. She concluded that Sayumi didn’t do well on her first examination or she just didn’t want to talk about it anymore.

“GAAHH!!!! You’re worst than my parents!!! You’re ruining the start of my day.” Sayumi groaned. She moved back the seat beside Konno and sat in there. Sayumi sighed and calm down a little bit. “I guess I did pretty well… I’m sure what I did was enough for me not to fail.”

“Good, other wise I wouldn’t lend you this game.” Sayumi looked at Konno’s grinning face. She saw her digging her bag for something and took out a black CD-case with her name on it. Sayumi’s eyes grew wide at the anticipation.

“A game developer sent me this last night. I don’t have the time to play it yet due to our test today and tomorrow. I thought I’d lend it to you first and then you can return it tomorrow.” Konno handed the rectangular-shaped case to Sayumi. She gazed at it for a moment and then she looked at Konno questioningly. Konno observed Sayumi’s reaction. She didn’t know why she always observed her friend for many years now. She believed that it became a habit of hers. She can see exasperation from her friend’s eyes which she already knew why.

“What? Tomorrow?! That was fast!!! How am I going to enjoy this game?”

“Knowing you for the past 11 years, you would only lay down your hands to rest if you already finished it or if you were killed in the game. And I know you really like History that’s why I’m confident that you would still study a little bit even if you were itching to play this game.” Kon-Kon reached out and closed Sayumi’s wide-opened mouth.

“You’re a calculating devil…. Did you dissect my mind before that’s why you knew my every move?” Sayumi was used to her friend’s unusual habit of observing her every move. It’s as if Konno knew her much better than herself. On the contrary, she didn’t know her friend much better for Konno’s as complex and mysterious as the pyramids of Egypt. She can only see the external beauty of it but she’s having a hard time discovering the insides of that huge structure.

“I didn’t dissect your mind… I just looked at you like a specimen and studied your behaviour for the past 11 years. Well, I could say that you didn’t change very much and your patterns are almost the same.” She looked at Sayumi and she could tell what she was thinking right now. “If you are wondering how I became your friend, all I could say is that ‘opposites attract!’”

“Yeah right… Oh by the way… I really want you to meet my friend… She really wishes to play with you..” Sayumi replied while putting the CD inside her cute, pink-colored knapsack.

“You mean, Yoshizawa-sempai? I’ll play with her when I’m not busy.” Konno’s telling the truth, she became busy when they entered high school. But, she was somewhat interested in this ‘Yoshizawa-sempai’ person. Whenever Sayumi would talk to her, there wasn’t a single time that she missed to babble about this ‘sugoi’ sempai of hers.

“That’s not good… ever since you stepped into this high school life, you’re always busy. That means, you won’t be able to play with her.” Sayumi chided.

“You’re mean, I’m not that busy… I promise. One time, I’ll play with her.”

“Yey!! That’s good news!! Then let’s all play this game after our test!” Konno tried to check her schedule. She guessed it wouldn’t hurt to play again with her friend. She was about to give her answer to Sayumi when she saw her two classmates, approaching them.

“Ohayou! You’re being noisy this early in the morning.” Reina Tanaka greeted her two classmates. She studied in America when she was in elementary. Her parents decided to move back to Japan after her graduation and thus, they hired a Japanese teacher that will teach their daughter the language before they put her in a real school. Reina knew some Japanese terms but she worked hard to understand her parents’ language. A couple of months more and she entered middle high. Though she can now fluently speak the language, her fashion sense still shows the ‘Yankee’ side.

“Ohayou Reina-chan, Ai-chan!” Sayumi greeted her newly arrived classmates while Kon-Kon smiled at them. They bought some pastries and drinks from their school canteen. Ai offered some to Sayumi and Konno. The two got a small piece and tasted it.

“What’s the good news about?” Reina sat beside Sayu while Ai remained standing beside Konno. They overheard Sayumi saying ‘good news’ and if its Sayumi, its definitely linked to a game.

“Well, our genius friend here has a new game that a game developer sent to her last night.”

“Wow, that’s really good news! And then?” Ai Takahashi was the school’s number 1 cheerleader. She studied ballet at the age of 4 and was integrating it to cheerleading. With her leading the cheering team, they were the undisputed champion in the middle high division for the past three years. When she entered high school, her attention moved from cheering to gaming, thanks to the “Yankee” she met while they were taking the entrance exam.

“Then… She lent it to me today!!!” Sayu squealed. Reina and Ai looked at each other.

“PLEASE LET US PLAY IT TOO!!!” Sayumi smiled. Her parents will not be around today so it’s ok for her to invite her friends over to her house.

“Sure, why not… Let’s have fun!”

…..
“You really have a bad taste when it comes to fashion…” Reina crossed her arms across her chest. She went over to Ai’s house earlier to get her because Ai didn’t know the location of Konno’s house even though the latter was living near their school.

“And your Yankee fashion really creeps me out.” Ai answered back. Sayumi sighed and let her friends enter her house. She had no idea what’s wrong with the two. Whenever Ai was with her best friend, they don’t bicker like this for Ai always becomes the quiet type. But if Ai was with Reina, it’s a different story. It’s as if Risa was possessing her best friend’s body for Ai always becomes talkative whenever Reina was with her.

“What are you arguing about this time?”

“Nothing. I just can’t take Reina’s dress code. It seems like she would go to some midnight party in a club.”

“No I’m not! It’s you who’s wearing the worst dress now! We would just sleep in Sayu’s house and….”
“OK, STOP THAT! Geez, thank goodness my parents are not here otherwise, they might not let you stay because of your noise.” Sayumi closed the door behind her. Ai went to sit in their couch and searched for something inside her large black bag.

“Ok, we’ll be quiet. Now, where’s the game?” Reina excitedly asked. She passed Sayumi and went over to her friend’s computer. Ai took out her laptop and set it up near the table. She opened the monitor and waited for her computer to boot up.

“Hey! We’re here for our group study!” Sayumi whined. She knew her friends will not listen to her. They treat other people like they do not exist once there’s a game in front of them. She’s like that too, but when it involves her favourite subject, her attitude changes.

“Yeah right. As if you’re not itching to play this game also.” Ai retaliated.

“What’s your password?” Reina asked. Since Reina forgot to bring her Apple Notebook, she opened Sayumi’s computer instead. Sayumi went to her pc and typed the needed information. After logging her account, Sayumi moved back to give way to Ai, who’s trying to connect her laptop to Sayu’s computer by linking it to the USB port..

“Why don’t we eat dinner first so you’ll not be interrupted once you start your game?”

“I think that’s a good idea.” Ai said while taking out her controller from her bag. She placed it beside her laptop.

“I’ve cooked a lovely dinner for us!” Sayumi said in her high pitched voice. They two looked at her in disgust and went back to whatever they are doing. It’s not a good idea to let Sayumi prepare dinner. They had this culinary class last month where Sayumi put salt instead of sugar in the Banana cake that she was baking. Sayumi also put too much vinegar on the rice that they will use for making sushi. Ever since then, they made sure not to eat everything that Sayumi made without proper guidance.

“I think I’ve lost my appetite.” Ai looked at Reina and winked.

“Yeah, me too. It’s better to play this game than to eat Sayu’s food!” Reina laughed.

“BAKA! As if I’ll waste my time and energy on you guys. My mom cooked it before they left.”

“Fine, we’ll eat it.” Ai closed her laptop while Reina clicked the stand by mode feature of Sayumi’s computer to save some energy.

The three went to the dining area. Reina and Ai chewed their food really fast and due to that, Reina almost choked. Sayumi immediately went towards her friend and did an awkward execution of the ‘Heimlich maneuver’.
“What do you think you are doing?! You’re just hugging her! I’ll do it. Just get a glass of water in the kitchen.” Sayumi nodded and went to get a glass of water. Ai went to take Sayumi’s place and put her hands on Reina’s chest. She took emergency lessons before so she was confident to do the Heimlich maneuver. A piece of pork was removed from Reina’s mouth as Ai applied pressure to her chest many times. Sayumi got back from the kitchen and offered her friend a glass of water. Reina drank it and sighed.

“Thanks…. I owe you one.” Reina said to Ai. Ai just smiled and went back to her seat.

“You were eating like a pig that’s why it happened to you. The game will not go away. Be patient.”

“Sayumi… Is that you? Are you possessed or something? The Sayumi I know will act like us when it comes to gaming.” Ai looked at her friend weirdly and acted like she was scared of her. Sayumi raised her left eyebrow.

“I’m like this when our test for tomorrow is History. You know how much I love that subject! So, I’ll study first while the two of you are playing.”

“Eh? Nande? We’re supposed to play it together!” Ai asked in confusion.

“Yes, we’ll be playing it TOGETHER…” Sayumi paused after stressing the word together. “If one person didn’t forget her laptop.” Ai and Sayumi looked at Reina. The other smiled sheepishly and bowed her head several times.

“Gomen! I was so excited that I forgot to bring it.”

“What’s done is done. You can use my computer first. Just call me when you’re finished playing.” The three of them continued their diner silently. After finishing their diner, the two immediately went to the living room and continued setting up their computers. Sayumi on the other hand washed the dishes.

“Hey! Where’s the CD? Have you already installed it?” Reina screamed.

“Not yet! Kindly install it in my pc!” Sayumi screamed back. After washing, she went to check her friends first.

“Are you having fun?”

“Ai’s still uploading it in her laptop. We’ll open it at the same time.”

“Talk about surprise eh? So, I’ll just be in my room if you need something. Call me, ok?”

“Hai!” The two responded simultaneously. Sayumi left the two of them in their own world. The two were really excited to play it. Reina walked back and forth as they waited for Ai’s computer.

“YATTA! It’s finished!” Ai screamed. Reina immediately sat on the chair and got the controller connected to Sayumi’s CPU. The two of them put their headset as said in the direction of the game on the case.

The introduction of the game made their hairs rise up. The visuals were really creepy. They became excited as each second passed. They saw an old, journal-like notebook which has a metal carving of a black snake with orange streaks that served as the lock of the journal. It suddenly opened and revealed a really creepy message. It was written in a crimson red font. The font style used looked like the ones they used in a horror or vampire movies. It had the effect of dripping blood. Reina and Ai pressed every button to skip the scene but nothing happened.

“Stupid game! Why won’t you let us in!!!!” Reina almost threw the controller out of irritation. She remembered that it wasn’t hers so she just controlled her anger. Ai on the other hand was thinking really hard. She closed her eyes and analyzed each possible solution. Her controller was working properly earlier, and it’s quite impossible for their controller to break down at the same time. She thought harder and an idea hit her. It may seem impossible but due to Japan’s technology, any thing can happen.

“Why don’t we try to read it aloud?” Ai suddenly said. Reina gave her an ‘are-you-insane’ look.

“It’s written that an external controller or joystick is needed to be able to play this game. So why do you think we need this headset? If the purpose is for hearing the BGM’s, there’s a speaker in every computer right? But why? The direction in the case wrote that a headset or a microphone was needed so, it must have a purpose other than using it as a chatting tool when we’re playing online or in a LAN.”

“But is that possible? I know that the advancements in technology today especially here were great… but…” Reina was astounded at the analysis of her friend. She thought hard and tried to digest what Ai explained to her. It may seem impossible. She haven’t read any magazines or in newspaper that there’s a game that’s already voice-activated.

“It wouldn’t hurt if we try it, right?” They looked back on their monitors, sighed and read the lines written in a bloody font. They were surprised when the line vanished and a new one appeared. They looked at each other in utter amazement. Fear and excitement were clearly showing on their faces. Excitement for at last, they can now play the game and fear; for what was written was really disturbing.

“Sugoi!!!” They continued reading it until the book closed and a deep creepy voice was warning them about playing this game. The voice told a creepy story about this game while the two were creating their characters.

“This is just a game right? I’ve never heard that legend before in our area.” Reina asked her friend while she’s still busy making her character to look like a ‘Yankee’.

“It looks like Silent Hill right? Its setting is on a certain town, too.” Ai responded. Once they finished dressing up their characters, they were made to choose an ancient weapon in Japan. They knew it was ancient because Sayumi showed some pictures of it to them when they had this ‘Show and Tell’ portion in their History class. Ai chose a hand claw called ‘Shuko’ while Reina chose a huge ball with chains. And the game started.

“The place looks really creepy.” The game was in a third person point of view which the two of them likes. Whenever they are playing thriller games like Silent Hill, Resident Evil, or even this one, they always chose the third person mode so they can see if a monster will attack their backs. The two looked around the village first.

“It’s just a common village at night time. Your imagination’s running wild again.” Ai replied. A zombie girl appeared in front of them as they turn to walk inside a hut. Reina immediately raised her “Manrikigusari”. Reina’s character swung the heavy ball around and when she got enough momentum, she hit the zombie on the head to crack her skull open. The zombie vanished. The creepy voice of a man was heard again to explain what they should do. They both have a special black bag hanging from their sides to put the ‘things’ that will help them survive in this game.

“Let’s have an agreement.” Ai suddenly said. She remembered what her blabber mouth best friend was doing whenever they were playing a new game. It’s a kind of a master-servant game. The one who will lose in their decided arrangement will obey whatever the wishes of the winner without complain.

“What’s that?” Reina asked.

“Whosoever died first in the game will become the servant of the winner.”

“Deal!”

…………….
They arrived in an eerie-looking palace in the forest. Ai opened the huge, wooden door. The two of them entered at the same time.

“You picked a torch earlier right? Let’s use it. I can’t see what’s ahead of us.” Reina pressed a button and her character brought out a torch. The door suddenly closed behind them Ai run back and tried to open it but it didn’t budge.

“Ai! Look!” Reina screamed. Ai rotated the joystick and saw the impeding danger ahead of them.

“Do you think we can surpass all of them?”

“I don’t know, let’s run towards that hall.” Ai followed Reina’s lead. They entered a room full of books.

“It’s a library I guess.” Ai’s character pushed a table to bar the door. Reina scanned the area and saw something.

“Look! There’s a secret chamber behind this curtain!” They pressed the forward button to make their characters move towards the hidden room. It revealed a long and dark stairway leading downwards. They descended slowly, and saw a bed in the middle of a torture chamber at the end of it.

“Talk about weird taste.” Reina moved towards the bed to search for some clues. Their controller vibrated suddenly.

“I’m out of snakes!” Ai ran towards Reina.

“Me too… What shall we…” They both screamed when they saw a hooded figure in the door where they entered. The figure moved towards them in a blinding speed but Reina was faster; she went behind Ai’s character. They saw how the hooded woman clawed the face of the character; how she bent each of her legs and arms like a toy and throwing it on the bed. Reina tried to run away but she was caught on her ankle by a chain, pulling her up towards the ceiling.

“Oh my gosh! I’m caught!” Reina pushed every button on her controller but nothing happened. Ai was still in a trance, probably due to the reason that she will become Reina’s servant than due to the shock of how she died in the game. The figure brought out a sceptre shaped like a snake. The sceptre has two long, sharp fangs and emitted hissing sounds like a true snake. The woman stroked the left arm of Ai’s character leaving a ‘snake bite’. After a second, the figure turned towards Reina. Like what she did on Ai’s character, she clawed the face of Reina’s character. She caught some of the dripping blood and drank it.

“Ewww!”

“Gross!” Ai agreed. The two of them watched how the figure twisted the character’s neck. She let then got her sceptre and tapped the character’s left arm too. The monitor dimmed a little and the words ‘THE END’ can be seen.

“What a weird game and sceptre. Why does that figure have to get that and ‘bite’ our left arms when we…” Ai didn’t continue her next line. She wished she didn’t look at Reina so she wouldn’t see her canny smile.

“Oh brother….”

“You died first!!!! You’re my servant now!!!”

“I’ll go call Sayumi.” Ai turned off her laptop and went upstairs. Reina laughed crazily and started thinking what she’s going to do with her ‘servant’ before following her.

“Goodluck!” She said to Sayumi as she passed the stairs. She opened Sayumi’s door and saw Ai rummaging her bag for her books.

“I know what my first command is! You must do it after we finished studying.”