Terry Schott - The Game

THE GAME

Terry Schott

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the authors imagination or used in a fictitious manner.

Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Copyright 2012 by Terry Schott

All rights reserved.

This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

This book idea came to me years ago, and I became very good at making excuses for not writing the story down. None of them were very good, but they were extremely effective.

One day I decided to post the first six chapters (all I had written) and ask my Facebook friends to take a look. My commitment was that I would post one chapter a day for six days. I thought maybe one or two people would say it was pretty good and encourage me to write more, which would push me to write maybe a chapter every week or so until the book was finally complete. By the sixth day of posting my friends had shared my website with over 140 others and people were beginning to get excited about the story.

This continued for the next three months and I didnt just write a chapter or two, the support and encouragement allowed me to write the entire first book!

There have been over three thousand visits to my website and many, many excited people who could not wait to read the next chapter as I wrote it.

I dedicate this book to all of you my friends who wanted more from me than I wanted for myself.

It is with a smile on my face that I deeply thank you for your encouragement and support.

This book exists through me but because of you, and for that I am extremely moved.

Special thanks to Kerstin Hutchinson for putting my cover together, and for also being an awesome webmaster.

Thank you, Alan Seeger, for proofreading and editing so quickly and efficiently. I am thankful beyond words that you entered my circle at this point in time. I look forward to a long and mutually prosperous relationship with you.

He woke up in a white room.

The walls, ceiling, floor, lights everything was white.

He couldn't remember how he got here. He recalled pain, followed by a sense of leaving his body, floating above it and watching people surround him. Then he was enveloped in darkness and moving slowly towards a tunnel of bright light. The closer he got to it, the faster he moved, until he was streaking towards it at an incredible speed. Suddenly he slammed to a stop and lost consciousness. Now he was in this room, lying on a table with a white cloth draped over his body. He remembered stories like this that involved people dying, or almost dying, and being drawn towards a bright, white light. People sharing these stories had all been revived by doctors, moving away from the light and returning from death's door. He'd never heard of anyone going into the light and living to tell about it. Near death experiences? That was it! The white light was associated with dying, or almost dying. No story had ever mentioned a room like this.

Am I dead? He asked out loud. His voice was different than the one he had used just a short time ago, much different. No longer deep and raspy, it sounded younger, more like 16 than 74. He distinctly remembered being 74. Holding a hand up, he noticed it wasnt a 74-year old, thin, frail, wrinkled hand. It was the strong young hand of a teenager. He groaned softly, Ah, crap. I am dead.

Kind of, a voice said. But not quite.

Turning his head towards the voice, he saw a kid, about 18 years old, with a friendly smile on his face.

Welcome back, stranger. You had an incredible run that time! Glad to see you back safe and sound.

Back? From where? The man sat up much quicker than he imagined possible. His body was strong and young, not old and weak. It felt both strange and exhilarating at the same time. He swung his legs over the edge of the bed and turned to face his visitor. And where am I? I think Ive been here before... but Im not certain.

The kid laughed. Oh yes, youve been here before, many times. Dont worry, Zack, your disorientation wont last long. You remember reality quickly once you come out. Well have you out of here and home in no time at all.

Come out? Zack asked. Come out of where?

The visitor grinned. I always enjoy the look on your face when you realize youre not dead. You just came out of the Game, Zack, and on this last play, you got your best score ever !

Memories began to return. The young man sitting in front of Zack he did know him!

Youre Kyle, right? Weve been friends for...

For forever, man. Kyle nodded. Yeah, there you go. You're going to slowly remember real life over the next few hours. Your brain has to fit a lot of information back into your head that it left behind when you entered the Game you cant remember life out here when you're playing. Are you hungry yet?

Zack nodded. At the mention of food, he realized that he was starving. Kyle laughed. I bet you are! Its been a while since youve had real food. While youre in the Game, the nutrients they pipe into you keep you alive, but that goop is nothing like the real thing. Lets go to the dining room and get something to eat.

Zack stood up, bending down to put on shoes that were sitting beside the bed. He was dressed in white, comfortable clothing, and he had a bracelet on his right wrist. It pulsed with colour, gold flecks inside a green light. Zack asked Kyle what the colours in the bracelet meant.

Those colours mean youre a celebrity ! Kyle said. But we can worry about that once youre fed and up to speed on whats happening.

How long have I been out of touch? Zack asked.

A little while, but nothing to worry about, Kyle assured him.

They entered a long white hallway lined with closed doors on both sides, each door with its own number and small badge of colour near the handle. They passed people traveling in pairs made up of a person dressed in white like Zack, and the other dressed in regular clothes. Zack noticed that each person in white was younger than him, and their bracelets pulsed with different colours; one was red with silver flecks, another blue with bronze many different colour combinations. Some were the same as others, but none were green with gold like Zacks. They entered the dining hall, a large white room with tables and a cafeteria style eating line. Kyle guided them to the line and gave Zack a tray to carry. Kyle ordered some items and handed one of the two plates of steaming food to Zack to put on his tray.

The two friends found an empty table and sat down to eat. A few minutes into their meal, Zack couldn't help but notice that many people were staring in their direction. When he asked Kyle about it, he chuckled. Everyone in here knows who you are, Zack. Like I said earlier, youre famous . Many of them want to come over and talk to you, get your autograph, talk about parts of the game they liked, stuff like that. The rules don't allow that, though. No one is permitted to talk to other players in here. It could mess up their minds. So they are all excited to see you, but considerate enough to leave you alone. Kyle smiled. For now, at least.

The boys ate in silence. Zack was famished and shoveled the delicious food into his mouth as fast as he could. Kyle seemed content to eat in silence, standing up to get more food for Zack when he ran out.

Finally, Zack announced he was stuffed, and the two stood up. Whats next? he asked.

Now we make sure your brain and body are fine. Follow me.

Kyle walked over to the wall by the door where a white box with an opening in the bottom was attached. Put your hand with the bracelet in there, count to five, then pull your hand out.