A New Game

[crazyed345]

Hi all. I've been lurking for who knows how many years around here. Still, I wanted to contribute something to this community so I wrote this story in my spare time. So please, go easy on me if I didn't do this right or I had done something wrong. And all characters are copyrighted to their respective owners.

A New Game

A Chinese girl can be seen walking through some sort of jungle. She even seemed out of place with her current clothing. Sneakers and shocks. A blue t-shirt and matching blue shorts with what looked liked some team logos on both. She didn't know where she was nor how she even got there. But then again, the nightmare she had awoken to before was something that she never expected.

Yet when she started learning about that world, she didn't despair. She accepted the challenge. To her, it was almost like a game.

Except in that game, death wasn't a release.

But she knew that something was wrong here. Something had changed. This was nothing like the gloomy-looking areas where she was litterally fighting for her life against some random and ruthless killer. No...something had changed.

In that nightmare, there was always a welcoming campfire in a clearing waiting for her. Along with other people trapped in that very nightmare. Like always, she had quickly fallen asleep when one of her trials was over.

Only now, instead of waking in that campfire or in some dark and gloomy area, she found herself here. A sunny and surprisingly cool temperature jungle area. More important, she also didn't feel that dark presence around her. No that wasn't correct. She felt some presence but this felt different. Less hostile and dark. Less harmless even.

And welcoming in it's own weird way.

She shook her head. She couldn't really explain it to herself at the moment. Still, for her, it was a welcome change but she also knew to not let her guard down. There were challenges and rules in place. And no doubt, there was also something or someone dangerous waiting for her out there. Yet despite her alertness, she couldn't feel anyone threatening. Not yet anyways.

Deciding to "stealth" this one as she called it, she got down and started moving through the area at a slow pace. There was a worn out trail or sorts but she thought better of it. That was just asking for trouble from anything dangerous.

First things first though, if this was another trial, she had to find one of those machines.

Sneaking through the plant-life, she found it quite easy. She wasn't exactly being attacked by bugs, insects or any wildlife she figured were typical in a jungle setting such as this. More so, the temperature was just right. There was even a cool breeze on occasion. Not the humid and hot kind of climate for such a setting.

After some time, she started to feel more lost than usual. She had been moving in one direction for quite some time now. Yet nothing but more and more jungle. She thought for certain that she'd encounter anything different or out of place by now. Another survivor. Or something far more unwelcoming. But no, nothing so far.

Then it happened. It felt like she suddenly heard her own heartbeat. As if to warn her. She stood on alert but too late. She failed to notice the pink-looking flowers that had suddenly sprung up around her near the ground.

And the equally pink mist that they all suddenly sprayed at her.

Covering her mouth, she immediately ran from the area. Sadly, she did inhale some of the pink mist and began to cough. She suddenly felt weak and stopped to catch her breath. Still letting out some cough's, she dropped to one knee.

She felt weird...it was hard to explain at the moment but she definitely didn't feel at full strength. Was that some killer's trap? If so, she had to move before whoever planted those flowers showed up.

Still feeling a bit weary, she slowly started to make her way through the jungle again. Then her vision started to blur...she had some slight trouble seeing where she was going.

Then, she suddenly had trouble moving.

Shaking her head, she tried to take a step forward but her leg refused to obey. She tried the other with the same result. Shaking her head a rubbing her eyes, her vision finally cleared up. She then looked down and saw her problem.

The clearing she had wandered into seemed a beach-like color. Though she seemed to be stuck up to her ankles at the moment in it. She tried lifting her legs from it but it seemed to be held in place by some sort of suction or force.

But then, suddenly, she sank... Immediately past her knees.

Then, she knew what kind of trouble she was in.

Immediately looking around, she was also shocked to see the jungle itself thicken around the quicksand pit she wandered in. It was almost as if the whole place came to life when she wasn't looking. Even the path she thought she came from was gone. Now it seemed that even if she made it to the edges of this pit, there was no ground or anything else to use to pull herself out.

But she refused to give up.

Then, it happened. She suddenly saw the jungle itself part in front of her. A pathway. It was almost as if some presence had decided to grant her an opportunity to see if she could escape.

That same presence that she thought she "felt"...welcoming in it's own weird way.

Fear actually crept into her mind about the "weird" part. She started pumping her legs. Trying to get any sort of forward momentum towards the exit. There was some serious resistance from the pit but she started to make some slow forward progress. As well as slow progress downwards. The quicksand felt so thick to her. Like peanut butter thick.

But then it happened. She suddenly sank up just past her shorts. And she suddenly felt...aroused. At the same time, not so much that she wanted to do some inappropriate stuff. The fear she once had though was now replace with a sense of calmness. Relaxing even. The girl even started to blush.

She immediately shook her head to focus herself. But she knew now what that presence she felt was. The way it felt welcoming in it's own weird way. It was trying to mess with her mentally. Most likely, it had something to do with that pink mist she got hit with earlier.

Now past her shorts, she could no longer move her legs even when she twisted left and right. Using her hands, she immediately clawed at the thick surface of the quicksand. Not to push herself out but to push herself forward as much as possible towards the edge of the pit where the opening in the jungle was.

All that time, she felt that presence in her mind. Telling her to relax. Telling her to calm down. That she wouldn't be harmed. That it just wanted to play.

She didn't buy any of it and continued her struggle.

She had actually made it to the edge when she suddenly sand breast deep. Immediately putting her arms on solid ground, coated in thick mud, she tried grabbing the ground itself to pull herself out but she had no leverage at her depth. Worse, she was exhausted after all that struggling.

So close yet so far.

Again, she tried but her arms and even her legs were burning with exhaustion. It was starting to hurt to move now. Her determination was slowly slipping away...

Then, tears rolled down her face.

Everything she had gone through in her life. Getting into Esports. The falling out with her family over it. Meeting the demands for her team, her fans and even trying to please her parents. The bar hopping after letting her skills slip. Lack of sleep.

Then winding up in that dark place. Being chased by killers. Looking out for herself mostly. Wondering how and when she'll die. Come back. Die again. Still determined to beat those odds to get back home.

Now, winding up here to perhaps being subjected to things far worse than death.

But that presence...it must have heard her because like before, she was now calm. Relaxed. The blushing returning to her face. And despite the tears, she actually smiled a little. Then, she faintly heard it.

I'm sorry. You've gone through alot. I didn't know.

She didn't bother responding. Heck, she even wondered now if it was her imagination running wild. But no. If this place was...perhaps the opposite of that dark place, then this presence truly wasn't going to harm her. More important, she even "felt" the apology in some way.

Her arms then sunk into the thick quicksand. She was too tired to keep them above the surface. Then she started to feel her arms and legs warming up slightly. Then something...like her limbs were being massaged.

Closing her eyes, she simply rolled with it and enjoyed it. After everything she had gone though and the mistakes she even made, she needed a break from it all. To just let it go for at least this moment.

Then, she fell asleep, floating neck deep...

...

...

...

"...hey. You awake?"

She then opened her eyes on that. She wasn't sure how long she was asleep but it was still daylight out. She even wondered how her head was still above the surface of the quicksand pit. But then again, she knew that presence wasn't lying about not harming her.

She then looked towards the opening in the jungle that she had tried to reach earlier. There, she saw someone. A woman in fact.

And her jaw nearly dropped.

She recognized her. One of several video game icons she recognized. Her attire was that of white clothing but the setup was to make you think "ninja". But this was one of her alternate attires. But unlike a video game, here she was, standing right in front of her and above her at the edge of the pit.

She was in a squat, looking at her with concern. For her, she was almost star struck when she remembered about her predicament.

Whether it was the real her somehow or a clever cosplay, she then responded, "Go back...this place. It'll take you too..."

"Relax. I know how this place works a little...I guess you can say I'm your rescuer today", the ninja responded.

Not sure how she even knew to find her here neck deep in quicksand, she then responded, "Still, just...go..."

"Oh just stop. I know how ashamed you feel. This place got me a few times too believe it or not."

A look of surprise crossed her face at that response. How could someone as skilled as her fall for such traps? But then again, this place was alive and perhaps magical in it's own way.

The ninja then asked, "Can you get one of your arms out at least?"

"......I'll try", she responded.

"Take your time. I'm not sure if this place is ready to let you go yet. If not, I'll be right here."

She then reached out to her...and touched her face. She then wiped the tears that had formed earlier on her face.

That same determination returned, she then tried to slowly move her right arm upwards. With a loud gurgling sound, her right hand broke the surface. The moment it did, the ninja grabbed it with both of her hands and pulled the rest of her right arm clear of the quicksand.

"Ok. Don't pull. I got you", the ninja said.

"I don't think this place is ready to let me go", she then told her.

"Only one way to know for sure", the ninja responded.

She then started pulling. At first, nothing seemed to happen. She felt herself rise up slightly but then being held by the suction of the quicksand. But after some time, a loud slurp and she started being pulled clear.

Now on solid ground, she took some deep breaths while on her knees. She had been asleep but the entire experience mentally exhausted her. Plus, she had gotten lucky. She'd be stuck there forever most likely if...

"Can you stand?", the ninja asked.

Taking one last deep breath, she got up but then dropped back to her knees again.

"Don't force it. I'll help-"

"I'm fine!", she sudden retorted to the ninja.

Then, realizing what she had done, she then said, "I'm...sorry...it's just...I..."

She couldn't find the words. She always tried to be competitive. Sometimes even a loner. But to have such an outburst to that ninja of all people.

Then, she felt herself being picked up from the ground. As a display of her strength, the ninja was carrying her like she was a baby. Even though her own uniform was getting all muddy from her own body and clothes.

"We all need help sometimes. Even me", the ninja said.

Hearing that from her, she just smiled and cuddled up a little as the ninja started to carry her away from the quicksand pit. She then saw the opening to the pit seal off by many branches, leaves and tree stumps as if, indeed, this place was alive.

As they walked, the ninja then asked, "If you don't mind me asking, what's your name?"

She decided to play dumb on her part. Or at least, when it came to knowing other peoples names. No telling how the ninja would react if she told her that, in her world, she was a video game character.

"...Min...Feng Min", she said.

"A nice name. You can call me Kasumi", the ninja responded.

And for Feng Min, it was a new game.

[Solrex]

Nice story. I don't personally know what game this is from, but it was an interesting read. Kudos to you, keep writing and you'll improve to beyond perfection one day. I think I remember seeing a typo, but I can't remember. I've spent too long on the internet today around typos to remember how recently ago I saw a typo, and it's too late at night. Regardless, great story, keep writing and you'll get better, and don't be afraid to contribute. I'm only writing a comment because I personally know how it helps the writer when I do so.

[DJlurker]

Not bad at all. Kasumi I recognize, but not the other girl...