CODE. (only the dead escape)

***HARPER

I had to get out of here.

I checked to see if anyone was coming and when I was sure the hallways were quiet, I made my move.

The hallway was very dark. Damp. Still, and too quiet. I knocked out the guard by the supply closet and tried to retrace my steps, my heart pounding in my ears.

But then-

Thud.

A faint sound behind me.

I turned around slowly.

A shadow dropped from the ceiling like a vulture.

*Who is that?*

*That's a level six player Harper! You have to be careful, you're still just level 1*

*A level six player? Come on!*

*You'll be fine if you just....*

*Yeah Chris. I got it, my chances of survival are now slim*

*Don't be negative*

*Alright, let's do this*

It was a masked girl.

Dagger in one hand. A twisted grin visible under the mask.

*Why does she feel so familiar?*

*That's because she's the same girl who tried to kill you in that hospital*

*Oh my goodness! The illusion girl! She just doesn't give up does she?*

'You just don't stay put, do you?' She said, her voice low, amused.

I exhaled slowly, reaching for my dagger.

'Funny, I was about to say the same to you'.

The masked girl didn't wait. She lunged.

Our blades clashed, steel meeting steel in a shower of sparks. I ducked, twisted, landed a swift kick to the girl's leg but she barely flinched. The girl was fast, faster than the last time. She must've leveled up.

*Harper, you have to think like a leveled player*

*But I'm not!*

*That's why you're not able to attack*

*Okay, I'll try my best and not get killed*

I leapt back, keeping my eyes locked on the masked figure. The girl moved like a dancer, her strikes fluid, deadly, precise. I parried one attack, dodged another, rolled to the side and flung a throwing knife-only for the girl to knock it aside midair.

'I've been waiting for this rematch', the masked girl whispered.

'Guess I'm that charming'.

The girl lunged again. I blocked with my forearm and was thrown hard against the wall. Pain seared my ribs. I coughed, tasting blood.

*Chris, a little help here*

*I'm trying to scan her movement. She's stronger than before. Be careful, Harper!*

I scrambled up just in time to block another slash, then used the girl's momentum to throw her down the hall. The masked girl rolled, bounced off the wall, and landed on her feet-grinning.

'Still weak', she said. 'But persistent. That's cute'.

*** IN ANOTHER ROOM

BANG!

A hooded servant rushed in.

'Miss!' he gasped, eyes wide as he turned to the masked lady-mayor's daughter-who had been watching the skirmish from a screen.

She turned lazily, 'what is it now?'

The servant hesitated. 'It's the prisoner-she's fighting a masked person. It's intense'.

The mayor's daughter sighed. 'Strange but why are you disturbing me for that?'

'But-what if she wins?'

The masked lady chuckled. 'Then it means our little girl has more enemies than we thought. Let them sort it out. I'm curious, which one survives?'

And with that, she waved him off, returning to her glass of red wine and distant gaze.

***BACK IN THE HALL

****HARPER

My breathing had turned shallow. My blade arm trembled from impact, but my eyes burned with defiance. 

*I have to end this now*

The masked girl charged again-but this time, I feinted. I let her fall into a trap: ducked under the blade, jabbed my elbow into the girl's ribs, and drove my knee up into her stomach.

The girl staggered- but not down.

Instead, she roared and slashed wildly.

The knife caught my shoulder-ripping flesh.

'Damn it!'. I stumbled.

But the pain sharpened my focus.

When the girl came again, I caught her wrists-twisted-and drove her dagger into the girl's side.

A scream tore through the corridor.

I pushed forward, shoving my opponent back. We tumbled to the floor in a heap of blood, limbs, and fury.

The masked girl coughed, trying to reach for her blade again-but I pinned her down.

'I'm done running'. My voice was hard.

And then, I struck.

The dagger slid into the masked girl's chest, straight through the mark under her collarbone.

The girl gasped-eyes wide, startled not by pain, but by recognition. Her hand trembled as she reached out and touched my wrist weakly.

'You're.....one of them.....aren't you?'. She whispered, voice cracking.

I froze, blade still in my grip. 'What are you talking about?'

But the masked girl gave no answer. Her fingers slipped from my arm, her chest rose once.....then fell.

Silence.

My breath came in heavy, uneven bursts. Blood dripped from my shoulder, my hands were sticky with it-mine and the girl's. I stood, dazed, staring down at the still form beneath me.

*Nothing?*. Chris suddenly spoke.

*What's that Chris?*

*There should be something that happens after this*

*Yeah. Escaping right?*

*No*

The corridor felt eerily silent now, as if it were holding its breath.

*I can't believe I just ended someone's life Chris*

*No Harper, all these are not real*

*This isn't over yet Chris*

I limped forward, each step heavier than the last, pain flaring in my side and shoulder. At the far end of the hall, a metallic door beckoned-one I hope would lead outside.

I pressed a bloody hand to the panel. It hissed open.

Freedom.

Just a few more steps.

But then-

BWOOP!

A harsh alarm rang out overhead, red lights flooding the hallway.

'No, no, no-'

The walls groaned as steel shutters began sliding down.

I bolted for the exit-but the door slammed shut right before I reached it.

I pounded on it. 'No!'

From the intercom above, a calm, polished voice echoed.

'Well done, Miss Harper. You've made quite a mess.'

My heart dropped.

I turned slowly, turning my back against the cold steel door.

Footsteps echoed in the distance-many of them, getting closer.

'So much for escaping quietly'.

*******

Mark and Samantha were worried sick after losing connection from Harper.

'What will happen now Mark?'

'Well, we just need to wait for Harper to come back'

'Huh?'

'Yeah. I can't do anything rash until I see her safe and sound'.