I had nowhere to go but to the stall—my home, our home.
I stepped inside and the noise of the world shut itself off with the door. The cloth walls hung still. The floor was cold. The place felt smaller than before, as if it knew someone was missing. I sat down in the corner, pulled my knees close, and stared at nothing.
I was crying without tears.My chest hurt, but my eyes stayed dry. Maybe I had already used everything I had left.
Faces came one by one. I kept thinking of the ones I lost, replaying moments that felt normal back then. Now they were memories, sharp and quiet.
Geeta, Thiri, Anita, Melissa, Zhou and Omar. They didn't deserve to die.
All inside. I was cursing my own for what happened.
What if I had acted faster?What if I had said something different?What if I had looked back one last time?
The questions stacked up in my mind. I didn't know what was going on. My mind is arguing itself. On side, I was cursing myself for everything, on the other side I was blaming the system for everything.
My body felt weak. I was tired. My breathing slowed. The corner held me in place. Without realizing when, my eyes closed.
All I know is whatever is waiting for me outside is going to be worse than before.
I slept there. My body didn't move,
UNTIL
I felt something. It's someone. Someone's head in my shoulder.
Could it be, him?
I opened my eyes. the door was open. Slowly, I started turning my head to the left.
Unfortunately, it wasn't Omar.
It was a girl. Looks like the same age of mine.
I got afraid. Who is she? I didn't recognize her face. It's new. She has small eyes.
Maybe she is from China, Japan or countries I forgot.
I didn't dare to touch her. I slowly moved and stood up.
My plan was simple. Just take what is important and get the hell out of here.
Just when I stood up. She touched my feet. Her hands were strong.
My body stopped. I looked back slowly to realize that she woke up and was looking right in my eyes.
What will you do if a girl looks at you in the eyes? Talk?
Nah, I screamed. I screamed so loud that the girl had to let me go and cover her ears.
I got the chance to run. But what did I do? I slipped and fell to the ground. Good thing I didn't got hurt.
I was going to run again. But as soon as I stood up, the girl closed the door and stood in the way.
I didn't know what to do.
Just then. She talked, "I am not here to hurt you. I am also stuck here."
It was hard for me to believe it as I was so afraid. Just think about it. If you are also stuck in a world like this, will you just go find someone and lay down in their shoulder while they are sleeping. Of course not. What is the problem with her.
I didn't say a word. I got my baseball bat and stood there silent. Ready to hit her. Although I know I will fail, but who cares to give it a try?
The girl approached me again, "Look. You have to trust me. I am just like you."
She started to move forward slowly. I got afraid. I couldn't hold anymore.
"I don't trust you." I replied.
"Why not? Do I look crazy?" She asked, "Do I look scary to you?"
"Yes, you do" I replied, "Get out of here."
"Okay, let me show you" she said and turned back, "Here, take a look at this"
It was a black watch. I didn't recognize it. So, I asked, "What is this?"
"Literally, you are acting like you don't know. The hunter came and gave everyone a watch. He will haunt us if our time runs out in the watch." She replied. "You are already wearing it, and you are asking me what it is. Wow."
"What?", I replied before looking at my right hand. There was it.
I was shocked to see a similar watch in my own hand. But I didn't know how it was there. What if she is trying to play with me.
"I bet it was you who made me wear it, isn't it?" I asked.
"Really, come here and take it from my hand" she replied.
I didn't move. I was still.
She understood and placed it in the table beside me. Then she backed away.
"Check it out, I am not doing anything to you", she said.
I moved slowly. I was afraid but I had no chance. There is only one way to find out the truth. Let's see what is on her watch.
As soon as I touched it, it shocked me. (Electric shock)
I backed up.
"You can't touch my watch and I can't touch yours." she said. "What? The hunter didn't tell you about it?"
"Who are you talking about?" I replied.
"The one who gave you the watch. Looks like you trusted him and wore it sooner. I didn't", she said.
I looked at my watch, it says 11 hours.
"What happens when the timer ends?" I asked.
"He told me that he will come and haunt us if our timer ends. That's when I realized there are more players left like me and I started searching. I found you inside and I was also tired and that is why I slept beside you", she replied. "The hunter suggested me to stay in groups to survive."
I slowly put my weapon down. "Okay! I trust you for now. But I've never met him. I don't even know who made me wear it." I spoke.
"No worries, I think he did. The time was running and everyone had to wear it", she said.
"So, what's next?" I asked.
"Let's be partners and survive together like a team." She replied.
"I am Mahmood", I said as we shacked hands.
"Oh! yeah, my name is Min-Sarah", she replied. "You got weapons here. Give me some too!"
"Oh yeah, you can choose whatever you want." I replied.
"You found a perfect place which leaded you to a perfect base", she said. "You got foods, bed and weapons."
"Yeah! I know" I replied.
It wasn't fully built by me. I didn't even choose this place for my base. It was all his ideas to make it a home.
She took some stuffs for her and came to me.
I was ready. So was she. Although I found someone to rely on, I won't forget the first and best one.
I wasn't alone anymore. But I was still missing him. Like a part of me.