It was finally the day. The first day of Terresa Roses new life. She had been waiting, plotting; training on online simulators, that were super illegal and unregulated but well worth the risk... she hoped so atleast. She had read and watched everything that had ever been released about the three previous expeditions, and while none of the simulators ever seemed to live up to what was described, Terresa was confident that she.. would be the first to beat it.
She tossed her Ghost In The Shell bed sheets to the side, stretched, and hopped out of bed. She was never a morning person but today was special, she felt no fatigue, in fact she was more rested than ever; mind focused; going down the checklist posted in front of her. It was everything she had to do before the event started this afternoon. Though calling it a list wasn't completely accurate. The only only thing written was "SAY GOODBYE TO MAYVE!!"
Nobody understood why Terresa wanted to do something so reckless, and dumb, and insanely dangerous. Not her witch of a mother, her father, not her so called friends, nobody. The only person who didn't try to understand why, who didn't yell at her, and belittle her, or try telling her what to do, or attempt to guilt trip her, the only person who didn't try to beg her not to do it and just heard her out, supporting her decision even though it was obvious to Terresa that it was hurting them not having a say, yet understood that it wasn't there place to say anything. That person was her sister Mayve Rose.
"So mr. Kanter, you and your party of six reached the furthest into Sycronic that we have ever seen before, making it all the way to section 80..." The rerun interview played on her twenty seven inch monitor.
It was crazy, she wouldn't be seeing her monitor nor her Xbox Series X for at the most, the next five years. A bit of sadness washed over her like a light drizzle, she had gotten both of them new and for a steal, from her neighbor who had bought them for their grandson, not knowing he had already just gotten a much nicer monitor and the same Xbox not to long before. Luckily the neighbor had always been sweet to her ever since she moved into the apartment complex three years ago, and they knew how much she enjoyed gaming but couldn't afford to upgrade her old set up, if she wanted to eat for the next year. So they gave her an amazing deal on them, such an amazing deal that it was practically free, and now she would be leaving them to gather dust for the next few years.
"Maybe I should ask Mayve to stop by every now and again to start em up and dust em off." She thought outloud as she stripped, tossing her clothes all over the tiny room.
She let out a harsh laugh at the idea. Their parents would never allow it, they had promised to bring Mayve over to say our goodbyes, and even that was difficult for Terresa to believe but they wouldn't break a promise to their little angel... right? The giant pit in her stomach wasn't so sure. What if Terresa's choice had made them so spiteful, that they texted her last second saying that they weren't coming!? No! They wouldn't do that to Mayve... But would they do that to me?
She clicked on her Samsung.
9:15am 2063 June 1st
"No new notifications." She sighed. "No need to panic, she isn't suppose to be here for another hour fifteen." She forced a smile, stretched, and sniffed. Her nose curled, and she dropped her arms immediately. "Guess I forgot to shower last night."
"It's like nothing you could even fathom, it feels so real, yet at other times like a dream, it becomes your reality..." Kanter said answering a question from the interviewer.
"That's what I'm betting on." Terresa whispered softly closing the door to her tiny bathroom.
10:23am
Terresa was pacing from wall to wall, listing every reason her folks could use to wiggle their way out of bringing Mayve over, when there was a knock on her door.
"Coming!" She shouted a little too enthusiastically. She cleared the three steps from her position to the door in one leap but stopped there. All the energy from the anticipation that had been building up, came crashing down, and now she was frozen in place. What should I say, how should I act, what will she say, oh god! Will she cry... Will I!?
Another knock, this one more impatient than the last, brought her back to her senses.
It'll be fine. Reassuring herself, she took a shaky breathe, pushed past her fear, and opened the door.
Standing there; in the hallway; wasn't who'd she expected.
Missy Rose, was the matriarch of the rose family, and Terresa's mother, and she was standing inside the hallway with a blank expression; it were as if a painting of a high statis character were visiting the slums, what an uncanny sight. She was so refined and elegant, for someone who lives right down the street. She'd always say, "Just because you weren't born with money, doesn't excuse you to act like some kind of beast." She had always wanted a girl, one that would enjoy tea parties, and wear frilly dresses, and other girly crap like that, so she hated the fact that Terresa was a tomboy, and had spent most of Terresa's life trying to "fix her" that was until, she got a new play thing, and just like that she forgot all about Terresa.
Neither of them spoke, just stood there staring at each other, as if locked into sometype of silent combat.
"Sis?"
The voice of the angel herself. It broke through the tension like a wrecking ball. Terresa turned her attention away from the witch of a woman that stood in front of her, and followed the angels voice guiding her to Mayve. She was sticking her tiny head out from behind the witch, cheeks as rosey as ever.
"May! come here, let me get a look at you, feels like its been forever since the last I've seen you!" Terresa squealed, dropping to one knee to be eye level with the girl.
Mayve's face lit up. She squeezed passed the witch forgetting all her manners, and leaped into Terresa's arms, nearly knocking her over. The warmth of their reunion tugged at Terresa's heart but she pushed down the urge to cry.
She hadn't seen Mayve since their shared birthday almost a year ago; September 18th. Mayve had turned seven, while Terresa turned twenty one. The same day the witch had slapped her, after Terresa had enlisted Mayve's help telling their folks that she had been one of the people choosen to take on the "Labyrinth."
That was the last time she had seen any of them.
"Wheres dad?" As the words escaped her mouth, she regretted them instantly, wishing she could chain them back up in the furthest reaches of her soul, so they could've never grazed her tongue with their sharp sadness.
The witch snickered. "You really thought he'd come? after how you left it last time? Such a nieve child."
Terresa stroked Mayve's long beautiful brown hair; it was the complete opposite of her own, which was short and wouldn't stay straight no matter what she tried. She looked up at the witch. "No just a slip of the tongue." She said remembering the look on her fathers face when she had told them. The sadness in his eyes had almost broke her, because unlike the witch her dad had never turned his back on her for not being the perfect little girl. He had taught her so much and had been her rock, not only supporting her tomboy nature but encourging it, going so far as to teach her how to fight like a boy when the neighborhood girls had stolen her bike.
She couldn't blame him for not coming to see her off but it left an emptiness in her chest.
"And you? Why didn't you just wait in the car?" She asked blankly.
"What, and let my little baby enter some shady, broke down, rat infested, building all alone." She gave a harsh laugh. "Are you crazy."
"I'm not a baby anymore mother." Mayve defended.
"Yes well, you'll always be my baby sweetheart." The witch said in a decepitvely mother like tone.
Terresa stopped what she was doing and looked down at Mayve.
Long hair, puffy cheeks, small and adorable, refined and elegant, she had all the markings of a future diplomat, or queen if that witch had anything to say about it, and she had plenty.
"Sis?"
"Anyways, come in, make yourselves at home, mi casa es su casa, I don't have to get down to the bus station for another hour, tell me about everything I've missed, hows school, you still having a tough time in math, those boys aren't picking on you anymore are they?"
"Slow down sis, I can't keep up." Mayve said standing and straightening her sundress.
But Terresa was already over at the fridge fetching the snacks and drinks that she had gotten in preparation for today.
"Shut the door behind you." She said blankly.
"You mean please, shut the door." The witch muttered loud enough for Terresa to hear, before begrudgingly entering and doing as instructed. Hardly touching the knob as if she would contract some kind of virus from merely grabbing it.
"Just breath, you can do this." She took a deep breathe, turned around and smiled. "How do cookies sound?"
11:30
The hour went by surprisingly quick, with the witch hardly ever speaking, of course anything that did come out of her mouth, was a critique of the apartment or anything that came out of Terresa's mouth but luckily, Mayve dominated most of the conversation, informing her about what she was learning in school, and how the boys that had once bullied her were now her friends, or how dad believes one of the boys named Ben, has a crush on her so now he overreacts, everytime this Ben kid comes over.
"Yep that's just like him!" Terresa laughed. "You know, one time I brought a boy home to study," she paused to take a sip of grape juice, "and he thought the boy was sitting to close to me, so he took it upon himself, to sit in the middle of us, and wouldn't move the entire time the kid was over, it was so embarassing!"
Mayve laughed, and even though it was slight, she could see the witch smile before snuffing it out, and returning to her usual unhappy self.
"And. And then at school..." Terresa said in between choked breathe's from laughter. She picked up and clicked on her phone to check the time. "Oh wow, it's already that late." She said forcing a smile; looking up from the device to Mayve; she wouldn't return the look, instead she stared intently down at her feet.
The mood had taken a dive so quick that Terresa was experiencing a bit of whiplash. Everyone was dead silent, it was so quiet that she was afraid they would be able to hear her thoughts race. What should I do? Should I make a joke? Maybe this is a time to be more serious? Either way I can't just sit here all day, I've got to get going or I'll miss the bus. Terresa mulled over her options not noticing that Mayve had stood up.
"I love you!" Mayve cried wrapping her little arms as far around Terresa as she could. "An. and. I'm going. to miss.. you. She snotted.
Terresa was lost for a moment, and just sat there staring blankly down at Mayve balling her eyes out, until a rush of emotions hit her like a forklift, knocking her forward, returning the warm embrace.
"I. I. I love you too!" She snotted back.
They stayed liked that for a bit, with Terresa having to eventually pry Mayve off her; kneeling in front of the snot nosed girl, she looked her in the eyes, wiped a tear from her cheek, and spoke. "It'll be alright, I won't be gone long, promise, I'll work as hard as possible, and make it back in half the time." She said, wiping a tear from her own cheek this time. "And won't it be cool when your sis is the first person to conquer the labyrinth?"
Mayve smiled a bit. "Yeah."
"Right, and everyone will be super jealous, because you have a famous sister, awesome right!"
"Right."
Bitter sweet. It was obvious that she was only putting on a brave face, Terresa could tell that she wanted to cry some more; what could be done about it, if Terresa gave into Mayve's hidden tears, they would only make leaving more difficult if not impossible. She'd just have let her face the sadness by her lonesome.
"Ok I have to go now, so I'll head down with you two." She said straightening up and wiping her face, both to clean herself off, and to hide the anger with herself, as if it were written on her face.
"Ahem." The witch clearing her throat brought Terresa's attention back. "You're going to go out... looking. like that?" The shame in her voice echoed through Terresa's body, as if it were hollow.
"Yep." She answered shortly, speeding passed her, grabbing her keys from off the key rack, then moved to the door all without another word.
11:36am Outside
The air was hot and dry, so dry it made Terresa feel as if she were choking... or maybe it was the tension in the air, either way she dry coughed, hoping to release some of the pressure in her body. She was standing on the curb next to the witches red Sedan, the old thing had seen better days, she had owned the thing all of Terresa's life, and apparently it was a happy thirtieth from dad back when he didn't have a drinking problem, and worked as a pretty successful car salesman. Mayve was rolling down the window both to say our final goodbyes, and because of the heat, while the witch had just opened the driver side door and was getting seated.
Terresa waited for the window to be rolled down all the way before leaning in, kissing her sisters forhead and stroking her cheek. Despite it being so warm outside that there was already a neck sweat gathering on her back, Mayve's skin felt cool, as if uneffected by the heat. "I'll be back soon May, I promise." Mayve was trembling but managed to nod her head in acknowledgement.
"We're going now." The witch scowled.
Terresa ignored her; reaching into the car, and hugging Mayve. "Stay out of trouble," she whispered, "and if you ever miss me or just need to get away, remember I'm only a bus ride away."
"OK," Mayve finally spoke, choking down a sob she added, "I'm going to miss you."
"Me too May."
They hugged again, than Terresa backed away from the car. It coughed to life, and a moment later the two of them were off, leaving Terresa to watch as they departed until they were out of sight.
"Goodbye." She whispered; turned the opposite way, and started her walk to the bus station.
11:59am Bus Station
She had been waiting on the bench next to a young man who she expected was around her age, he was rapping along to some song annoyingly loud, even though he clearly had no talent for the task. That however was not the most pressing issue currently. Not even close. It had only been nine minutes but she could swear that it had been an eternity. This had to be a sick joke being played by the god she didn't believe in. The man smelled awful. It were as if he showered once every ten years... if ever.
"Please don't let the bus be late." She said outloud staring daggers at him.
It was uneffective; he just continued rapping.
Then the greatest sound to ever have graced her ears drove her to her feet. The bus had turned onto their street and was quickly parked in front of them.
"I'm saved!"
Still nothing.
She quicky; almost breaking into a sprint, raced over to the bus being sure to stay upwind of the man. The buses sliding doors immediately opened to the rough looking face of an old hispanic man, who was giving off an unfriendly vibe.
Nobody was getting off so she climbed up the first two steps and stopped. "Um, I was instructed to give you this coin." She said to the driver, pulling out a golden coin, a lion was engraved on one side and a dragon on the other.
The man snatched it from out her hand, and examined it, eyes widening just a bit.
"I never thought... You're one of the people who were chose to take on the labyrinth, aren't you girl?" He asked not taking his eye's off the the coin, a slight smile betraying his stoicism.
She was a little embarassed by her business being put out there for the admittedly small group of passengers but managed to shake her head yes.
He turned to face her, now smiling big. "Just kidding kid, I've already had six just like you today, three of witch are in the back right now, I'm going to have a great pay day," he laughed in the face of her confusion and added, "Go sit, our next stop is that fancy hospital of theirs."
"Oh, ok, I guess." She said walking up the rest of the stairs completely flabbergasted.
She had just found a spot in the back when she heard the driver shout, "Damn Boy! You Stink, Like A Horses Ass!" She turned, and to no surprise saw the man from the bench standing there frozen from rage.
Everyone laughed, looking at the man, and something dark inside Terresa bubbled to the surface in the form of laughter, joining along with the group.
"Either get off or go stand in the complete back away from everyone else," The driver said, "But don't just stand there or I might puke, and I'll be aiming for you kid."
"Fuck you dawg!" The man said retreating off the bus. "I'd rather walk than take this shit from some illegal, taco looking motherfucker."
"Hey don't threaten me with a good time," The driver said pulling the door shut, and added, "good riddance."
The bus began to move; everything began to calm down, and Terresa went over everything she knew about the labyrinth, and anything that maybe helpful about surviving in a world of, kill or be killed.
"Trap rooms were the death of so many," Aaron, ex "Tundra" guild leader, and also the fifth ranked mage of the second expedition into the labyrinth had stated a few monthes after returning, he continued by saying, "They were even the cause of death for a few of our more powerful members, and more than once, they were almost the cause of my own demise, it was hell going into uncharted territories of the labyrinth but of course, it was also unavoidable, as the leading exploration guild we were almost always the first to explore whatever part of the labyrinth we were exploring."
"It was crazy inside there man," Kirk, ex solo player of the third expedition, had described it in a news article written in May 5th 2062. He goes onto say, "You forget your outside self and completely become your inside self, I mean I know that sounds insane but its like... for five years I really was "Orion the Blacksmith" the same person who soloed a gurdian in order to save my injured party mates, and when I came out the game it was like... man... you know?"
"The section bosses were terrifying, no doubt but they were nothing compared to the people," Lisa, ex second in command of the "Arch Angels" guild and third ranked swordsman of the third expedition, had exclaimed on Stan Antonio's "Game With Me" podcast. She continued by saying, "Yeah the people in there were a lot of the time the most unhinged part of the experience; you'd know why the mobs were attacking you, they were programmed to do so but the people, they would just ambush unsuspecting players, some for money, or items, others to settle some petty beef, and then there were the pking guilds; player killing guilds, most were small and would be taken out by the high level parties and guilds to protect innocent players but they were just... Monsters, killing not for monetary gain but because... they enjoyed it."
Terresa was in the middle of deciding rather she would spend a few monthes as a merchant as the sound of chanting drew her attention to the window. They were close to reaching the giant private owned hospital where her body would call home for the next few years. There was a managable sized crowd being herded by what seemed like law enforcement, in front of the buildings gate opening.
"It's pretty lively out today." The driver commented.
At first the words from the group were lost from distance but as they got closer the chanting began to make since.
"The Labyrinths No Game, It kills Youth For Gains!"
Terresa had seen a few youtube videos, and tiktoks, about these people, some telling them off saying, "They just don't understand, with big risks comes big rewards." While other people weren't as nice, using juvenile insults to attack them. They were a group of people who believed that the labyrinth was an evil game, created to legally reduce the worlds population, and it was never made to be beaten.
She shook the thought off as they pulled up in front of the gate.
"End of the line kiddies, get off my bus." He opened the bus doors, "Don't forget me when you're telling your legendary stories." He laughed.
Standing, Terresa noticed a man, maybe in his late twenties, visibly shaken, eyes glued to the window. Was he one of the participants? She passed his seat curiously but followed the other two exiting. The other passengers were eyeing them just as intently, dropping her gaze to the floor she continued down the aisle, it was strange though, through her anxiety she also felt a bit of confidence. It were as if she was off to battle, and the other passengers were there to see her off. The thought brought a smile to her face.
She was halfway down the steps when the driver shouted, "Hey scrawny in the back, what ya' asleep? This is your stop!" She stopped and looked towards the direction the driver was yelling at. It was the man she had witnessed looking out the window.
So he was the other participant, cold feet maybe... Whatever. She hopped off the final steps, stretched, and started to walk forwards. The doors shut behind her. The group of people screaming "Theres no need to risk your life for nothing" made it difficult to hear herself think, no less the noises around her, so she almost jumped when she heard the bus drive off. The three of them now stood in front of a gianormous gate leading to the hospital.
The real test was beyond those gates. The thought of the approaching task made her giggle, it were as if she were the star of an anime, her life was about to become complete.
She took a deep breathe and continued her march forwards, now ahead of the other two who were clearly being affected by the ramblings of the crowd around us.
Had they not been prepared? What idoits! If this was a horror film, they would be the first two to die. I'd wager theres probably a lot of people like that; going in with no plan, thinking it's only a game, or how hard could it be, freaking morons.
She strode passed the gates, and was infront of the hospital doors in less than two minutes. She just stood there for a moment, silently going back over her plans, and once she felt like she had adequately gone over them, she pressed her hands onto the oak doors, and was about to push them open but was interrupted by someone pulling them open from the other side.
A tall, lean, light skinned, man stood, smiling politely, he was looking down at her maintaining eye contact for a moment, and then flicked up to watch other two incoming from behind. "Hello, my name is Leon, please follow me, we don't have much time before the introduction ceremony, and you three still have to check in, get examined, and hooked up, do you all have your official papers?"
They all pulled out a piece of paper marked with a lion seal. It was different every year, and was only given out a week before the introduction ceremony. The paper felt thick but looked fragile, and the seal was a beautiful glossy red.
He examined them close and then nodded. "Ok than, lets get going."
He was close enough to Terresa, that she got a whiff of his colone. He smelled nice, was nice, and he was handsome on any scale, it all made Terresa's skin crawl, it were like he had been programmed not to have a single flaw.
He turned and began to speed walk further inside the building. They followed close behind, and thats when she realized just how many people were vying for the same thing as her. The place was packed with people were everywhere, so many that it made Terresa feel a bit claustrophobic.
"You three will wait in this line." He instructed pointing to what seemed like the shortest line they had seen yet, after walking to the complete opposite side of the building, climbing a flight of stairs, then going to the middle of that floor, passing by hundreds of people standing in lines chatting or standing there quietly.
"Here you will be checked in, and assigned a nurse, a caretaker, and a proctor, who's there to keep the other two in check, so that you the player feel safe with leaving your body in our care," He recited, "You will also sign our liability clause stating, in the event of death, or mental insanity, etc etc, we are not liable for any of it, meaning we cannot be held accountable in the court of law if any of the things listed happens while in, or the result of, being in the world of Sycronic, blah blah more legal stuff you'll be able to read it over if you like while you're up there, just know if you take too long we will turn you away, got it."
We all shook our heads nervously.
"Good, now you'll have to excuse me, I must help prepare for the launch and opening ceremony, you're in good hands, um if you need any help ask the staff, they are all wearing the Sycronic logo on there shirts, um don't worry about imposters, our staff must answer all questions in the lobby, and are not allowed to leave the lobby, only a few high ranking members like myself are allowed to roam around freely who's names and pictures are all posted on the walls around, and we all wear these diamond encrusted bracelets." He said showing them the bracelest. "The nurses, proctors, and caretakers are able to move through the floors freely but are all closely monitored and must radio in where and why they are going to any place, and of course we have high tech cameras placed everywhere in the hospital being monitored all throughout the day and night, with private security posted at every door, and through out the hospital at all times, your saftey is our top priority and we spare absolutely no expense, to keep you safe."
He gave a wry smile. "Please do try to enjoy yourself, Sycronic is a very dangerous game but it is also beautiful, and expertly crafted, I know that everyone is here to try and be the first to conquer the game but don't forget, we here at Sycronic work hard to not only provide you a challenge but also, breathtaking visuals that you can't find anywhere else but in the walls of Sycronic."
He turned and without another word, vanished back into the hall they had taken to get here, leaving the three of them in silence as they just looked at each other, all thinking the same thing. "What the fuck."
5:30pm
It had taken an hour and a half before Terresa's turn to check in, and another half hour to actually check in and be assigned her nurse, caretaker, and proctor. Then another two hours and change, of light running, poking and other medical tests. Gretchen, her nurse was as icey as they came, only speaking while giving orders. The caretaker Taylor on the other hand, was pretty cool. She was a hardcore minecraft player, and had good taste in music.
"Your sister sounds so cute!" Taylor squealed, handing Terresa a bottled water.
Terresa uncapped the bottle and took a swig before speaking. "Her cat faze would've made you lose your mind."
They were talking as the nurse handled the final preparations under the gianormous, unblicking, supervision of the proctor Lin. The man hadn't spoken to Terresa even once during the entire ordeal, and the only reason she knew his name was because Taylor had told her, while her blood was being examined. I guess it was unneccessory for him to acknowledge her existance.
"You guys had a cat?"
"Nope." Terresa smiled slyly.
"Don't tell me, she would dress up as one!?"
"Not only, would she dress up," Terresa started, taking a huge gulp of water, letting the suspense build, "She would also finish every sentence with meow, and sometimes she would even let you pet her, it was the absolute, most, adorable thing I have witnessed, too this day!"
They squealed in unision.
"And when I say it was the cutest thing ever, I MEAN IT WAS FR-EAKING ADORABLE!"
"Ahem, sorry to interrupt such an enriching conversation," Gretchen spat, "But the ceremony is about to begin, so if you don't mind turning off the noise, and facing the monitor on the wall directly in front of you, that would be much appreciated."
"Sorry Gretchen." Taylor said sharing an amused look with Terresa.
The lights dimmed, and the monitor showed a countdown that Terresa had witnessed before from watching the other three expeditions. It was the countdown to the introductionary speech from the labyrinth's creator, and inventor of the "Amph Sphere" the head gear that connected to the brain and through a bunch of sciencey stuff, that Terresa didn't really understand, connected the brain to the online labyrinth "Sycronic." The genius tech billionaire, Casper Hoates (Ho-Tss).
10, 9, 8. It was actually happening, her new life would begin in less than ten seconds. Her heartbeat picked up a bit.
7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.
The screen went dark, Terresa waited in breathless silence for something to happen.
"It's that time once more!" The harsh voice of Hoates, sounded through the black on screen. "It's been twenty three years since I created the online labyrinth Sycronic, and eighteen years since the first attempt at conquering its infamous maze!" A flurry of clips displaying video footage and screenshots from inside Sycronic, flooded the screen. "It has yet to be conquered however, yet I still have hope, that one day, some brave soul maybe one of you going in today, will stand at its end, and prove to the world... that it is possible." The videos on screen slowly faded away, leaving a large number on screen, it was the cash prize for completing the game. "1500 players are all fighting, rather it be for the bragging rights to say, you were the first to beat the unbeatable, some are here simply to escape the mundane of everyday life, and some are here for that," He paused for effect. The live chat was moving to quick to read, and if she weren't so focused on the number on screen, she would be curious about the amount of people that were currently watching live, and if Mayve were among them.
"The twenty Million dollar cash prize!"
Terresa salivated at the thought of having that much money. She could uprgrade her setup, and start streaming, also thanks to the insane amount of fame she would obtain from beating the labyrinth, her streams would always have large a viewership, she would be set for life.
She would have to beat it first. She sighed and refocused on the man talking. "I don't want to take up anymore time, so this brings us to the end of the introduction speech, nurses, you know what to do, players, I wish you all the best of luck, Sycronic is harsh and filled with dangers of the likes, you would only find in nightmares. It will push you to your limits but if you are brave, and use your head in crisis, I know that, each and everyone of you can thrive, and possibly even conquer the labyrinth, and so from me and the rest of the staff here at Sycronic Games, good luck, and welcome to Sycronic - The Labyrinth Of Weeping Souls!"