Year One
July 2nd
10:30am
“You’re on in five!”
Shelby gave a slight nod and thanked the backstage helper while another straightened the microphone that was clipped onto her collar. She took a slight step to the side to align herself with the full body mirror, brushing down her black woollen suit with her free hands to make sure she looked presentable.
“Hey.” A familiar sounding voice spoke up from behind her, causing Shelby to turn around and flash a smile. “How are you feeling?” Her colleague asked, smiling softly back.
“Oh, you know. This part is always the most nerve-wrecking.” She gently chuckled, looking out onto the stage to survey the dimly lit theatre. Taking a quick glance at the audience in attendance.
She’d never seen such a large turnout.
“You’ll be fine, you’re a pro at this.” The man grinned widely. “We’ve worked our asses off for this product, the hype has been insane and our consumers love you!”
“It’s a game, not a ‘product’.” Shelby playfully scolded him, raising an eyebrow while she rolled back the cuffs of her sleeves. “And they are our supporters first, not solely consumers. We want them to have fun and actually enjoy their time playing. Not just make money. That’s not what we stand for, remember?”
The mans grin turned into a cheeky smile as he held up a finger towards her and gave it a small wiggle.
“See, you know exactly what to say. Like I told ya, a pro.”
“Three minutes!”
Shelby rolled her eyes slightly before letting out a small sigh.
“The husband and kids gonna be watching from home this time?”
“Yep.” Shelby nodded in response. “Little girls’ back for the holiday so this is the first one she’ll be watching for a while. About to go into her last year of college.”
“Really? Jesus, where does the time go, ay? I remember when she came to the office with you, had to do a school project about your job or something?”
“You’re telling me.”
“How old was she then?”
“About seven?”
Shelbys colleague placed a hand over his own heart and pulled a face as if he was in pain.
“Jeez, Shelby. We’re getting old.”
“Two Minutes!”
“And the boy?”
“At home mostly….still.” She laughed a little to herself. “But he’s still your typical twenty year old boy. Not that he’s a boy anymore, mind you. He has started to take an interest in what we do though so-”
“Hey, a potential new coffee runner for the studio?” He teased.
“Out The Shadows isn’t a family run business.” Shelby playfully raised her eyebrow again. “But, who knows. Will do him some good to have something to focus on.”
On that note, the backstage helper quickly jogged over to Shelby, fiddled with her microphone one last time before speaking.
“You ready to go on, Mrs Nix?”
She gave one last look at her colleague, giving them a small nod before turning back to the backstage helper and giving him the thumbs up.
“Let’s do this.”
*****
“Now put your hands together as we welcome onto the stage, lead developer at Out The Shadows Studios. Shelby Nix!”
The moment she placed her foot out past the curtain and onto the polished wooden stage, the theatre erupted in a chorus of cheers and applause. Both knocking her back a little while filling her with an immense feeling of excitement. Her colleague wasn’t joking, these people were hyped and it felt electrifying.
Finding it hard to contain herself, Shelby gave the crowd a quick wave. Face beaming as they continued to roar. Walking over to the host and giving the slightly older man a firm handshake before taking a seat on the metal stool beside him.
“Welcome to the stage, Shelby. Can I call you Shelby?”
“What? Pfff…of course. You don’t even have to ask.”
“It’s great to finally have you back.”
“Honestly? It’s amazing to be back and I’m so happy to see all these faces today. Hi everybody!” She bellowed out into the audience with a wide grin on her face. Giving them another wave as they began to scream joyfully back in response.
“So…it’s been eight years.”
“Indeed it has.”
“And finally!”
Shelby started to laugh along with the ever-cheering audience.
“Well, you know what they say.”
“That is so true, especially in this case. We just watched the teaser up on the screen.” The man began as he pointed up at the large screen above the stage. “And I’ve got to say, I don’t know about everybody here but I was in awe. It looks incredible!” He finished ecstatically.
“Thank you.” She nodded slightly back with a genuine smile.“Genuinely, we’ve made sure to stick to the schedule, no crunch-times but the team have worked so hard on this game.” She started to beam from ear to ear. “I couldn’t be more proud of them.”
The audience began to clap and coo, causing Shelby to playfully swat her arm at them while laughing again.
“You lot are too kind!”
“Now, I know we’ve just seen the teaser trailer but why don’t you tell us more about this game, Shelby? Any little details you can share to give context to what’s happening? Is this game a direct sequel to your award winning I.P?” The host reeled out the questions with almost no pause in-between.
Shelby let out a small chuckle before shaking her head a little. “A direct sequel? Not quite. But it is based in the same world, with the same lore so….you never know who you might bump into.” She flashed the audience a cheeky grin. “As for what’s going on? All I can say right now is that you play as the young man you all just watched. A young man that, in this new world that the characters from the first game unfortunately found themselves in, has a choice to make. It’s-”
A collection of distant, muffled screams stopped Shelby dead in her tracks. The entire theatre went silent as they looked around and whispered amongst one another. The host frowned over at the security towards the back of the theatre and gestured one of them to go poke their head outside to see what was going on. Shelby then frowned to herself as she watched the tall, hunk of meat security guard nod and take a step outside, closing the door behind him.
“Right, where were we?” The host shifted in his seat before smiling back at her, motioning with his hand gently for her to continue.
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
“The uh….” Shelby started, taking a moment to regain her train of thought. “The young man finds himself with some amazing gifts, immense power. But to use them, there’s a dark price he must pay. So, it’s up to the player to decide just how far down the path of darkness he’ll go. It’s really going to test some players mol-”
Without warning, the doors at the back of the theatre flung open. The security guard, screaming and clenching what appeared to be his forearm, tripped and fell down a few of the stairs leading down towards the stage. Shelby couldn’t exactly see what was happening from so far away, she wasn’t even able to notice that the man was now without a hand. Mass hysteria broke out amongst the crowded room as three individuals, appearing to be moving on all fours, leapt onto the security guard and began tearing him limb from limb.
The audience began to scatter as more of the blood-thirsty people began to rapidly make their way into the theatre. Soon filling the back seats with pools of blood and dismembered bodies as they made their way through the ill-prepared crowds.
Shelby couldn’t even process what was happening in front of her very own eyes. All she could do was sit there.
Frozen.
It took the host of the shows loud squeals of panic to snap her out of her state of shock. Without a moment to lose, Shelby jumped up from her stool and sprinted backstage in an attempt to put some distance between her and the deranged folk. She leapt down the entirety of the stairs to get backstage and hastily looked around.
“Shelby!” She heard a man desperately call to her. Quickly turning towards the backstage lights and cameras, she locked eyes with her work colleague and began to rush over to him.
“Shelby? What the h-” Her colleague was then promptly interpreted as he was tackled to the ground by two people, one of which bit deeply into his thigh while the smaller of the two went straight for the throat. Ripping it out in one swift motion as blood began gushing out everywhere. Even squirting as far as to get a bloody thick red stripe down Shelbys lower suit jacket and bottoms.
She couldn’t take her eyes off the now lifeless corpse of her long-time friend as they started to well up with tears. Her legs now felt heavy but she managed to muster enough momentum to slowly back away from the crazed people.
By this point, the entirety of the backstage crew and last minute recruited helpers had already fled the scene. It was every man and woman for themselves. Shelby however was so fixated on what had just occurred that she failed to notice a third blood-soaked person slowly make their way towards her from the direction of the stage. Creeping in on all fours like the predator it was, stalking its prey.
The larger person who had attacked Shelbys work colleague began to lift its head, bits of the mans flesh still stuck between what appeared to be razor sharp teeth. It glared right up at her, tilting its head slightly as she began to raise her hands.
“Please….don-” She began to whisper in a calming but shaky tone before getting cut off by a very deep growl from behind. The acoustics caused it to echo all around backstage. Her heart stopped as she realised that the noise meant another one of those rabid people were right behind where she stood. Taking a deep breath, she quickly darted her eyes around the space for a potential exit. Landing on the small corridor and doorway that led back out into one of the main foyers.
She decided that route was her best way out of this very tight situation and listened closely. Shelby made sure to pay attention to the growls and try to judge just how far away the person behind her was. After a few seconds of snarls, a high-pitch skid of shoes on wood polished flooring gave Shelby the indication she was waiting for.
With that ear-piercing noise, she quickly dived out the way as the person attempted to launch themselves at her back. Claws first. Accidentally crashing into the larger person on the body instead, sinking its claws straight into its face and causing it to let out a deafening squeal.
Using the ruckus created as a distraction, Shelby pushed herself up off the floor and sprinted towards the short corridor. Grabbing a fake metal light stand as she heard both of the people begin to scramble onto their hands and feet, sprinting after her.
With one not so elegant swing, she spun around and hit the previously creeping one square in the jaw. Knocking it on its back and rendering it motionless for a moment as its body flew back into a pile of props and alternate outfits for the guests of the show. Shelby went for another swing, aiming for the larger one but barely brushing it.
Instead, the humanoid creature leapt forward and took the light stand in its mouth, locking it between its jagged fangs and ripping it out of her hands. Biting down on it hard enough to cause the stand to break before throwing it to the side. Growling lowly before kicking its feet back against the floor and rushing to her at full sprint.
Shelby let out a small, panicked squeak before running to the door at the end of the corridor, throwing it open the quickly hopping through before slamming it shut behind her. Jumping a little in fright as she heard the person crash head first into the other side of the door. She held the door in place as they tried to break through it. Luckily for her, however large they may have been it seemed they didn’t garner the strength to actually get through dense metal. She only hoped they never would. Shelby took a deep breath before lifting her head up, her ears twitching a little as she realised that all she could hear was screams and hurried footsteps.
Regrettably, she turned around to witness a scene of disturbing and nauseating horror. Bodies littered the foyer floor, some still barely alive. Those people, some almost monster-like with sharp spikes sticking out their bodies in all sorts of places stood or lay on top of the dead. Happily eating away at their flesh and sharing dismembered corpse limbs with one another while those that still could escape ran for their lives. Shelby swallowed back some bile that was rising in her throat before noticing she had yet to be spotted by the monsters. Sticking close to the wall and feeling herself become numb through the shock of it all, she made sure to keep her heavy legs moving. One foot in front of the other as she slowly moved away from the front of the building where the foyer opened up into. She knew there was another exit on the other side of the large mall like building and if she wanted to get out of this place alive, getting as far away from the overrun main lobby was the best shot she had.
Step by step, she kept moving along the edge of the open room. Trying to come up with a plan which was, at this time, to no avail with her scrambled mind. How would she get to the other side if those people were everywhere? Had they made their way upstairs yet? What if she went upstairs and found a place to hide and wait for help?
Yes.
Hide and wait till help arrives.
Word would get out that an attack had occurred and armed forces will have to come and help.
Right?
Yeah.
Shelby nodded to herself as these same thoughts ran through her own mind, she remembered that there was an emergency fire escape stairway just down to her right which encouraged her to start moving along the wall faster. That little burst of hope was all she needed to get her legs working like normal as she ignored the cries of pain and the thick red puddles that had begun to form on the canvas white tiles like spilled glossy paint. The stench, just as bad.
Shaking, she grabbed for the door handle to the stairway and quickly opened it like the metal backstage door she had used before. Stumbling in and slamming it shut, pushing her body against it to keep it closed as she watched through the small window. Witnessing another wave of people get taken down by those creatures. She swallowed hard, thinking how that could easily have been her if she had not got to the stairs in time.
Slowly, she took a step back from the window. Catching a glimpse of herself in the reflection which the natural light had created. Sweat dripped down her dark face, her done-up black hair now a mess. She wiped her face to try and clean up a little. Wiping her sweaty hands on the thighs of her suit bottoms, taking note of the stripe of blood that had come from the death of her friend. With a heavy heart, Shelby clenched her jaw and once again did her best to fight back the tears. Taking shaky breaths as she turned to head up the stairs.
Instead, without warning, she fell back against the wall with a frightened scream. Slipping down and landing backside first. Panicked, she sat back against the wall to keep distance between her and what had caused her to get so spooked.
Opposite her, sitting at the bottom of the stairs was a young, pretty and pale woman. Her straight, medium length, light brown hair sticking to her cheeks and neck a little as she stared back at Shelby with wide eyes. Patches of blood stains covered what Shelby only assumed was once a bright white tank top and khaki three quarter shorts. It looked as though she too had been crying as Shelby noticed a small but deep bite on her shin.
Shelby took a moment and regained her composure.
“Jeez…..you scared the shit out of me, girl.” She panted slightly, giving the young lady a small smile. Trying to keep up appearances and come off reassuring.
“I-I’m sorry.” The girl whispered back, blinking a few times while remaining eerily calm. “I didn’t mean to. I….yeah.”
Shelby listened to her talk and concluded that her accent wasn’t from this area. Slowly getting back to her feet, she walked over to the lady and knelt in front of her. Feeling slightly more confident now that the screams on the other side of the door had become muffled and a little more distant.
“Does it hurt?” She asked, gesturing to the bite mark on the shin.
The woman just shook her head.
“I can barely feel it.”
“Okay, good. I think?” Shelby frowned slightly to herself, not really knowing but making sure not to spook the girl. “How about elsewhere?”
“No. I feel fine.” She whispered back again.
The girl did not look fine, by any means. She was in complete shock but Shelby agreed to take her at face value. For now.
“Did you, I mean, are you missing anybody? Did anybody come here with you? If so, I’m sure they’ll be just fi-”
“No.” The girl repeated again, shaking her head slightly before hanging it a little. “Just me.”
Shelby nodded back in response. Going silent for a moment before whispering.
“You’re not from around here, are you?”
The woman just shook her head again.
“Okay…okay.” She muttered to herself before putting on a smile again. “So…seems we may be staying here for a minute or two. You got a name, kid?”
The lady let out a barely audible chuckle and nodded. “Lydia, with a ‘y’”.
“Y? First or second?”
Lydia paused to try and figure out what Shelby meant.
“Uhh…first? Yeah, first.” She repeated, finally figuring it out.
“It’s nice to meet you, Lydia. My name’s-”
“I-I know who you are.” Lydia interrupted, now smiling up at Shelby. “Shelby Nix, right?”
“Y-Yeah…that’s right. How did you know?”
“I was there, in theatre three. Watching your interview.”
“Oh?” Shelby started by grinning back down at the lady before frowning ever so slightly. “Oh shit, I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay, I was five down from the back so, as you can see I got away well enough.” She weakly chuckled back before looking down at the state she was in. “Kinda.”
“Damn, you must have moved fast, kid.”
“Uhh…yeah, I guess you could say I did. Obviously.” Lydia gave Shelby a slight frown back. “And…not to be too rude or anything so…sorry if it comes across that way… but I’m not a kid. I know twenty may be young but I’m still an adult.”
“You’re twenty?” Shelby grinned again. “That’s….My son’s twenty, too.” She finished before suddenly feeling her heart sink.
Her son.
Her family.
Without a moment to spare, Shelby reached into her suit jacket pocket and pulled out her mobile phone. Hastily unlocking it and speed-dialling ‘Home’. Her hands shook as she moved to sit down more comfortably but all she was met with was her family voicemail. After three more attempts, calling both her children and her husband, she clenched the phone in her hand before reluctantly slipping it back into her pocket. Murmuring under her breath.
“Fuck…”
Shelby lifted her head up to meet with Lydia once again, concern creeping in on her face. Both of them just sat there in silence, not really knowing what exactly to say to one another. All they assumed they could do was just wait it out, then try to make their escape. Somehow. But till then…
What the hell were they supposed to do now?
(AN: FIRST ATTEMPT AT STARTING MY NEW STORY. IT HAS BEEN A FEW YEARS SO I’M A LITTLE RUSTY BUT I HOPE YOU ENJOYED!)
ALSO FOUND ON MY MEDIUM PAGE FOR REFERNECE HTTPS://MEDIUM.COM/@WOLVENSWARD/AFTER-YOU-DIED-B0CF5F393F25