Of course I'd win a contest I didn't remember entering. Makes sense.
Emile scanned the train car as he stepped inside. The seats were worn, the metal dull, and faint strands of cobweb clung to almost every corner.
A faint, stale smell hung in the air, settling in the back of his throat.
It didn't feel neglected though, it just felt used.
Older than anything he had been in before, yet still maintained just enough to suggest someone cared, once.
Finding a seat wasn't difficult. The problem was avoiding the corners where cobwebs seemed determined to stick to his clothes. He tilted his head, squinting under the dim, humming lights.
Seriously, what the hell?
He sank into one of the cleaner seats as the doors slid shut behind him. Leaning back slightly, he let out a breath he didn't realise he'd been holding. Somewhere in the back of his mind, a thought nagged:
This place I'm going to doesn't even exist. For all I know, this could be an elaborate joke.
The thought left a sour taste in his mouth, but Emile found himself determined enough to disregard it, partly.
His phone buzzed in his pocket, and he pulled it out automatically, expecting an update or something. But the screen lit up, and his brow furrowed.
A single box of plain white text blinked back at him:
[First Trial Initiated]
He stared at the notification for a few seconds
Then he looked up.
There hadn't been anything there before.
Now, there was a figure at the far end of the train car.
Emile squinted.
"Hello?"
In the dim lighting, it was hard to tell if it was facing him or not.
Still, it seemed to notice him.
Oh boy.
The figure didn't move at first. It just... stood there.
Too still.
It's head tilted slightly, almost like it was listening, but the train hummed softly, and there was nothing else.
Emile's fingers curled around the edge of his seat. He told himself to stay calm.
Not that it helped. Calm didn't make sense here.
The train jolted lightly. The figure swayed with arms hung limp.
Suddenly, one hand twitched upward, almost involuntarily.
What the hell is wrong with this person?
The lights overhead seemed to become brighter.
A faint, metallic smell drifted through the air. It wasn't blood. Not exactly. But it did smell wrong enough to make Emile think twice about taking any deep breaths.
His eyes flickered to the figure's face, or at least what he could make out in the dim lighting.
Its skin was pale, patchy, and unnaturally smooth in some places, scabbed and cracked in others.
Emile cringed.
The figure took a step forward. Not quickly. But like a puppet on a string. Just, forward. Carefully deliberate, and jerky.
Then, Emile felt a small vibration in his palm.
Looking down at his phone again, Emile quickly read over the white text on his screen.
[Condition Detected: Biological Hazard]
[Classification: Common]
Emile froze. The words didn't explain anything, but somehow that made them worse. Common? That made it sound as if whatever was in front of him was routine.
Do these things just happen?
The figure advanced another step. Its gaze shifted, locking on him.
Great. Perfect. I'm the target in somebody's horror movie. Absolutely amazing.
His mind full of spiteful thoughts toward whoever was running this damn contest, Emile kept an eye on the figure.
Emile had no idea whether hiding or running were options. The car was narrow, and filled with old seats.
There was nowhere to really get away.
And yet, he couldn't just stand there either.
He would have to deal with it directly.
Somehow poised by the strangeness of the scenario, Emile reached into his bag.
This will have to do.
The figure's hand jerked up again, almost like it wanted to reach out. The metallic, sickly smell grew stronger.
Emile slid carefully along the aisle now, disregarding the issues that he had with the cobwebs before, and instead, opting to keep on his feet. As he slowly rose the further he got from the figure.
The figure mirrored every movement, just a fraction of a second delayed.
Until he reached the far end.
Emile stood with his back up against the wall.
Don't get too close. Don't get too close.
Keeping an eye on the figure who was chasing him, Emile held a pen in one hand, and his phone in the other.
And suddenly, another notification from his phone.
[A new objective has been created!]
Emile's eyes trailed further down the screen
[Main Objective - Survival]
[Difficulty: 3 Stars]
[Condition(s) for completion: Survive until arrival]
[Reward: Card Selection]
[Punishment for failure: Death]
"You're kidding me..."