CODE. (only the dead escape)

INT. GAME ORGANIZATION – CENTRAL MONITORING ROOM

The vast, shadowy space buzzed with floating screens, each showing different parts of the simulated game world. Dozens of assistants worked at high-tech consoles, monitoring players, system glitches, and level data.

Natalie stood at the center, arms crossed tightly over her pristine white suit. Her eyes flared with frustration.

'Where is he?' she snapped at a junior aide.

'Um, Lord Kael entered the simulation five minutes ago... without giving his coordinates.'

Natalie scoffed, 'Of course he did.'

Her heels echoed sharply against the metallic floor as she stormed toward the private elevator.

The elevator doors slid open, revealing a dark chamber bathed in red light — a secret access point to deeper game control.

She stepped in, tapped a few glowing symbols, and brought up a classified profile:

PLAYER #0666: "The Masked Girl" — LEVEL 6

— Status: In Recovery

— Last Encounter: Failed to Eliminate Player #1023 (Harper)

— Current Location: Shadow Buffer Zone

---

SHADOW BUFFER ZONE – ISOLATED PLAYER RECOVERY CHAMBER

Natalie appeared at the threshold of a dark hallway where the air shimmered faintly. Inside, the Masked Girl was crouched by a flame, sharpening a dagger. Her mask was cracked at the edge, revealing a sliver of her pale cheek.

Natalie stepped inside.

'Playing with knives again?'

The girl didn't look up. 'What do you want?'

Natalie smiled coldly. 'I want to give you another chance. You failed your last assignment... but I'm willing to overlook that.'

The Masked Girl's fingers paused. 'Why?'

'Because there's someone I need taken care of. And you already know her name: Harper.'

A flicker of recognition passed through the girl's posture.

'She humiliated you,' Natalie continued, stepping closer. 'Now she's getting in our way. She's interfering with something far bigger than she realizes.'

'She's stronger than she looks,' the girl muttered.

'She's lucky,' Natalie corrected. 'But luck doesn't last forever.'

The Masked Girl stood, turning her masked face fully toward Natalie.

'What do I get in return?'

'Level seven. And full access to the Dark Zone. No restrictions.'

A long silence.

Finally, the girl nodded once.

'Deal.'

Natalie smirked. 'Good. Make her regret stepping into this game.'

As she turned to leave, her voice echoed behind her:

'Oh, and don't fail this time. Because if you do... it won't just be Harper who disappears.'

The door closed behind her, leaving the girl alone — mask glowing faintly in the dark.

***

Uncle Mark and aunt Samantha paced about as they waited for a signal from Harper.

'What do you think is going on with her? Is she safe?'. Aunt Samantha asked .

'I don't know. Let me check again '.

Mark kept typing on his computer but suddenly, everything became blank.

'What?....what is it now?'

'I've completely lost contact with her'

'Oh no'.

*** HARPER

Where the hell am I?

I tried to look for anything to indicate where I was but I couldn't get anything.

Whoever kidnapped me was really smart.

*Chris, are you there?*

*Sorry Harper, I could've prevented this but.....

*No,no,no,no,no...as long as you're okay. Don't worry, I've been trained for this. I'll get us out of here*

*We'll both think of something. I just need to rest for a bit*

*Okay*

Chris has really been weak these past few days but I really didn't want to overthink.

I laid down down on the hard cot in a dimly lit room.

I knew escaping wouldn't be easy—not without alerting the entire compound. For now, I had to wait, observe, and listen.

So I did what I did best: pretended.

I turned toward the wall, slowed my breathing, and closed my eyes halfway, just enough to watch the sliver of light beneath the door.

Stay still… stay quiet, I told myself.

Minutes passed before the soft creak of the door filled the room. Shadows swept across the floor.

'Are you sure she's still asleep?' a voice asked.

It was smooth, confident—and unmistakably female.

'Yes,' replied another. 'She's barely moved.'

I recognized that first voice. Cold and commanding. It was the masked lady—the mayor's daughter!

*So she kidnapped me! Seriously, like father like daughter. She's also walking the same path*

*How did you know that she was the mayor's daughter*

*I did some research*

So she's the owner of the first voice.

But the second voice…..

I blinked internally. It sounded… familiar.

'I thought you said she wouldn't be this difficult,' the masked lady hissed.

'She wasn't supposed to be,' the second woman said. 'You know how stubborn her father was. She's just like him.'

That voice.

My eyes widened behind their closed lids.

Aunt Samantha's best friend?!

No...

I recalled the woman's gentle eyes and the way she had brought them meals when things got tough. A trusted family friend. But now… she was feeding information to the enemy?

'I warned you all,' the best friend continued, 'her instincts are sharp. You should've stopped her when you had the chance.'

'We still can,' the mayor's daughter said flatly. 'She'll break. Eventually.'

The door creaked again as the traitor left. Footsteps faded.

But soon after, they were replaced by new ones—quieter, heavier, more deliberate.

*Chris? What's going on?* I asked silently.

No response.

Then, a presence loomed near. I felt it before I heard it.

'Harper.'

*It was him!*

*Who?*

*The gamekeeper.*

He stood beside me, silent at first.

Then he began to speak—softly, as if to himself.

'Curiosity,' he said, 'is a powerful thing. It pushes you forward… but it also blinds you. You should be careful, Harper. There's no turning back now. Not for you… not for me.'

His voice caught slightly.

My breath caught too. Did he know I was awake?

But he continued.

'If… if you survive this… and finish your mission,' he said slowly, 'maybe you'll finally do what I couldn't.'

A pause. A silence that lasted a little too long.

I dared not even twitch.

Then, distant footsteps echoed down the hall.

Without another word, he turned and left.

Only once the door clicked shut did I open my eyes.

My mind was racing.

What was it that he couldn't do? And what am I supposed to finish?

I looked around the room—same dull cot, same stone walls—but everything suddenly felt different.

This wasn't just a game.

It never was.

There was something far deeper going on. Something my father had touched… and now, so had I .

I sat up slowly.

*Chris, what do you think the gamekeeper meant by all he said?*

*There are lots of things that even I don't know Harper. We'll have to figure it out by ourselves*

*Alright. All I know is that all this will end with the truth*