Becky now moved through the maze alone. After seeing what happened to the people she was with, she moved a lot slower and cautiously. She had to constantly remember to increase her speed. She knew if she didn't make it out in time then not getting killed by those monsters would be pointless.

She listened very closely. She now knew they could be heard before seen if she was quiet. Their footsteps were softer than a person's but still loud enough to be heard around corners. Corners is where she had to be the most careful. She was confident she could run away from one in a straight line, but if they managed to grab her..... she didn't want to think about it.

She walked around corner after corner checking the time more and more constantly. 18 minutes. 17 minutes. 16 minutes. 15 minutes 14 minutes. It all looked the same. She thought she was getting close to the edge but what if the exit wasn't there? What if it was on some other side of the maze or what if this was just endless?

She missed having those 2 by her side. She didn't particularly like them and it wasn't like they could protect her. There was just something reassuring about having them there. Like if 2 other people agreed this was the right thing to do she would feel more comfortable doing it. Even if they had no good reason to base that on. It would have made her feel better all the same.

She turned a corner and jumped back behind the wall. She saw something. Not the creature, something else. What was that black thing on the floor in the middle of the hall? She peaked her head out again cautiously. They were clothes. To be more accurate, they were Tyrone's clothes.

She walked over to them. She only met him a few minutes before all this started. That idiot Calvin. If he didn't take that risk and summoned the other monster all 3 of the others might still be alive. She had to make sure he paid for that. After this she would go to the police or something. That was clearly some form of reckless endangerment.

She knelt down to examine them more closely. They were bloody and ripped. She was about to get up but then she saw a gold card sticking out of the pants pocket.

She pulled it out. She read it “congratulations player. You have completely the bonus game! As a reward you have received a 25 point skill unlock gift card redeemable for any 25 point skill after the game. This may not be combined with any other cards or bonuses.”

She remembered the game she turned down the first time. It offered a free 25 point skill gift card too. She remembered the price of failure being forced to wear ankle cuffs. Was his the same or did he gamble with the chance to potentially unleash another entity as well?

She was about to drop it and move on.

*Player Becky has found dropped loot! Would you like to claim loot?*

Wait a second, she could have this? She didn't know exactly what it would give her. She knew if Tyrone and Calvin risked there life for these cards and extra points it had to be valuable. There was no point not taking it.

“Yes, I would like to claim this loot”

*Acknowledged. This card now belongs to player Becky. Congratulations!*

She took the card and stuck it into her pocket. She would need to look into it later but getting out of here as soon as possible was the most important thing. She still hadn't found the edge yet. Even if she did it might be a while until she could search enough of the edge to find the exit. Assuming it was on this side at all.

Time was running low now. If it got too low she would need to take the risk and start moving much faster. There was only 10 minutes left now and she still hadn't found the wall. She would wait until only 5 were left. If she still hadn't found the wall by then she would start to run. She hoped she found it before that. If she had to 'exit the game' it was probably preferable to get timed out then to meet that thing...

She poked her head around the corner. It was Calvin! He seemed to be looking for the exit too. She didn't want to see him and much less talk to him after what he did, but she felt she had no choice. She was about to call out for him but remembered those things may be near by. Could they hear? She may as well assume they could. There was no point taking a chance.

She walked fast to catch up to him. For a moment she thought she might have lost him around the corners. She softly called his name “Calvin?” And tried speaking in a different direction as loud as she dared “Calvin, it's me Becky”.

He came around the corner with a small smile “Becky, I'm glad to see you're still alive.”

“Are you?” She asked

Calvin looked angry and defensive “of course, why wouldn't I be?”

Becky allowed her anger to bubble over. Something she told herself to avoid “because of you one more of those things is in here and now 3 people are dead that would probably still be alive. How could you do something so irresponsible?”

He laughed a bit at that “maybe you don't understand the situation. This is no simple game. This is life or death; usually death. In the end, if you want to stay alive you had better be sure to look out for yourself above anyone else. Some people wouldn't have even given you an explanation of what was going on. My first time no one explained what was happening to me.

They let us go out there and watched us die to test the game and see how it worked. It was the only one of the new players that made it. I've even seen players intentionally kill others to up their point total at the end of the game. All that and you accuse me of being the bad guy? Frankly, you should be on your knees thanking me for being so nice”.

She looked at him with hatred in her eyes “don't use them as an excuse. You are trying to hide behind their actions to defend your own. That I something a coward does. That's all you are. Nothing but a piece of shit fucking coward”.

He grabbed her throat and pushed her against the wall. She felt her feet leave the floor and kick against air. She grabbed his wrist trying to hold herself up and relieve some pressure. It was hard to breath. He was so strong, unnaturally so. Was it because of the stats the game gave him? Lifting her appeared effortless for him “coward?” He asked “so you think I should have gotten us all together, tried to lead you to the end and risk my own ass with you all slowing me down?

That happened on my 2nd. One vet tried to lead the 3 of us to the end together so we all could live. He tried to protect them. He failed. They ran like mice but not fast enough. They begged me to help. To repeat the mistake he made. I knew better than to do that. While it was busy with them I got away.

He dropped her and she caught her breath “let me give you one piece of advice. If you wanna live through this there is only one thing that matters. It's not teamwork or love or hope or god or fear. It's points. You get more point and you get stronger, you get faster, you get smarter and you get more skills.

When you get those the game gets a little easier and safer each time. You can run faster, you can think better and quicker, you can use more abilities to help you out of tough situations. So that is what I’m doing. I'm getting points. As many as I can, as fast as I can. If others die along the way then that's just too bad. You can't save everyone, and if you try you're already as good as dead.”

Becky said the only thing she could think of to that “We're probably going to die anyway in 9 minutes, so what does it matter?”

He laughed “you mean the exit? Well of course that's the first thing I found. It's right over there against the wall” He pointed in the general direction of where she was heading anyway. “You really think I wouldn't know where it was with my life is on the line? Don't be silly.”

Becky was shocked “If you know where it is why are you still here?”

Calvin laughed “Are you kidding? This place is a fucking goldmine!” He pulled 5 gold cards out of his pocket. “I've never seen anything even close to this. You're lucky if there's a game that gives you the chance to get just one bonus prize. They're everywhere in here.”

He put them back in his pocket “speaking of which. I probably only have time to get one more, but only if I don't waste any more time talking to you. You know where the exit is now so shut your mouth and just go there. We'll be splitting the points for finishing this game two ways instead of five. You should thank me”.

He walked to leave but then stopped “You know, there are players you would kill you to split those points only 1 way. I could easily do that if I wanted. The way you talked to me with your uppity bitch mouth was not a smart thing to do”. He looked at her silently for a moment. Maybe he said it before as a joke or a passing thought. But he was considering it now. Why split 45 points two ways?

Round it up and you only have 23.... If she was dead he could get all 45 himself. That was no small amount of points. She saw the wheels turn in his head. It was like she could read his thoughts in his eyes “who would know? There's no one here but us. People die in this game all the time anyway. I leave people to die and don't care if I put them in danger. Really, when it comes down to it, what's the difference?”

She thought of running but she knew he'd catch her. He was so much stronger and faster. Who knows what other skills he had gain since he started playing? She felt like a mouse in a corner frozen in fear facing a snake. He felt in his thick pocket the bonus cards already there. He gave that pocket a quick glance and then a smile broke on his face. “Just kidding! You know I wouldn't ever really do that don't you?” He walked around the corner looking for another bonus game.

She exhaled. He wasn't kidding. She knew her life hung by a thread in that moment. She stopped to think “if he hadn't already gain so much today with those cards would he have been in such a generous mood? Would he have found that extra 22 points too tempting to turn down for her measly life?

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

She thought she knew what the answer was. Let him keep his cards and play his game. She was getting out of this hellish maze. She walked in the direction he'd pointed. She hoped he was telling the truth. She figured he probably was since she was confident the thought of killing her or intentionally or sending her to her death didn't occur to him before that last moment.

5 minutes left. She found the wall but no door. She doubled back a little and found the wall again. This time she saw the open door. She wanted to run to it full speed when she saw it but there were too many open entrances for the monster to be hiding in. She walked slowly looking around them carefully as she made her way to it. Finally she was inside.

*Congratulations player Becky. You have completed the game with 3:42 remaining! Please stay in the safe area for the remainder of the game. If you leave this area the game will register you as uncompleted again until you are back inside. The game will end once the status of all other players still in the game is accounted for.*

She guessed that meant she needed to wait for Calvin to get his ass in the room. Then she could finally get out of here and go home. She took the card from her pocket. She tried to use it to see what would happen but it wouldn't work; the game was not officially over.

She sat and waited watching the time tick by. She was sure he would be back before 2 minutes. Just how close was he going to cut it? Did he get lost? What was the hold up. He had to have a close eye on the time at this points. 1:30.... 1:15... 1:00...

She heard his foot steps coming towards her. Damn, he really liked cutting it close. She saw him across the hall now only maybe 30 feet away. He had a big smile on his face “I found such an amazing bonus game! The best one yet. You won't believe what it...”

She saw a monster walk in between their line of sight. It turned to face her and then him “me hungry” “he look tasty” “I want his eyes” “eyes taste yummy” “I like bone though” “bone make nice crunch” “I like soft meat” It moved towards him. He backed up and looked into air no doubt at his timer. She looked at hers... :44 seconds left.

He yelled “Becky, you need to come out of there and make it come towards you. If you do there is a section here that I can use in the maze to get around him but hes too far up.”

Becky was about to go out to do it... but she stopped just as she was about to leave the room. Not out of fear or cause she saw another monster near by. She just stopped and looked at him and then at the time.

“What are you doing?” He yelled “Please Becky, there's no time.” He paused “is it that joke? Come on. I wasn't serious. I just have a weird sense a humor”. He laughed “please Becky hurry!” 24 seconds left. He said “Listen, I got some great cards here. I'll give you one.... two of them!” She said nothing “I'll give you all of them!”

Becky stepped backward deeper into the room watching. “I could have killed you! I let you live! If you leave me to die you are way worse than I am! You may as well just kill me yourself!

She heard him run towards her. Maybe trying to dodge the monster or get around it. She saw it grab him. She heard his screams “Oh my god! You god damn murdering fucking cunt! I swear you'll pay for this! Someone is going to do the same to you and I hope it hurts! Oh god it's eating me!”

She saw the time tic 3.. 2.. 1..

*Time is up. Thank you for playing!*

It was not like it just disappeared exactly. It was like an old TV that turned off and then had a white line down the middle that turned into a dot and then faded away.

*Congratulations player Becky Sue Davis. You have passed the game, as the only player to complete the game you will receive all 45 points

Would you like to spend any points at this time or see the point option screen?*

Before she could say yes something else popped up.

*Alert! for gaining 10 more points you have been granted level 2*

*Alert! for gaining 15 more points you have been granted level 3*

*Alert! for gaining 20 more points you have been granted level 4*

She thought for a moment. Why did it stop there? She gained 45 points so it should keep going shouldn't it? If she did the math then adding 10 points, then 15 more and then 20 more for 45 right? That must be it. It was 5 more each time to go up in level. So if she got 20 more next game she would reach level 5 then? It didn't really matter for now. She pushed the thought aside.

Becky continued with what she was doing with the point option screen “Yes, I would” she said in response to the question before the alerts.

NAME: Becky Sue Davis

AGE: 25

HT: 5'5

WT: 155

SKILLS: NONE

CLASS: N/A

HP: 30/30

MP: 0/0

LV: 4

STR: 13

INT: 15

DEX: 15

WIS: 15

STA: 7

CHA: 10

She saw plus arrows by the each stat. How should she use her points though? Should she just save them all for the start of next game or use some now? Not to mention her gift card for a free 25 point skill. She noticed her HP was up too. Did it have to do with adding points to strength or stamina? Maybe it was her level. She tried to see if there was a way to know.

She clicked on the STR button It lit up and a help screen popped up.

*Strength – A stat which increases both physical strength and speed! A stronger body also benefits from higher HP! Your physical muscle definition will increase but the increase will not be proportional to the strength increase as the strength this stat grants can exceed human level.*

Mmmm, she would need to know what side bonuses every skill had before she made up her mind. She clicked on them all one by one until getting to CHA.

*Charisma – A stat that has to do with ability to influence and lead. You will find yourself also to more witty and able to navigate social dynamics. You're appearance will improve as well as you raise your charisma.*

That was odd. She read it again. What did it mean by improving your appearance? She never really liked the way she looked but was this really okay? Why not just test it. She put one point in CHA.

A box came up.

*Charisma increased by one. Physical appearance will now change as a side effect.*

She wanted to see herself but she was still in the safe room. She asked the system if she could use points after exiting the game. The game sent her a message saying a player may use points but not special skills outside of the game. She exited the game and was back in her house. She ran to a mirror to take a look at herself. She didn't see much change but her skin maybe did look a bit better. She felt around her stomach. Did she loose any weight?

Looking in the mirror she used 14 more points to bring her CHA up to 25. An alert popped up.

*Charisma has increased a large amount. While the leadership and social effects will take place instantly the physical effects to avoid suspicion must be done over a period of time Time until charisma is fully in physical effect due to number of points used will be 45 days. Effects will include: weight loss, skin clarity, growing a slight amount taller, toning of body, improved facial symmetry, larger bust, whitening of teeth...*

The list went on.

Well there was no point putting in anymore points till it was done. She looked at the 25 point skill card in her pocket

See said “point option screen”

The game gave an options of skills or items. She selected skills. There were 10 point skills 25 point skills 100 point skills and 1000 point skills. What kind of skill would 1000 points give you?

She clicked on 25 point skills and looked through the options. There must have been near 50 of them. She wondered if there were that many 1000 point skills or if there were more or less skills the higher up you went. She'd guess it be less but more powerful skills the higher you went, but she had no clue.

As she was reading it she saw things like Point Stealer which looked interesting. Dark Magic user did too. She thought it would be best to pick something that would help keep her alive. Living was the number one priority. She had no idea what kind of game she may face next so she didn't know what would help the most for sure. Some skills could help certain things but she wanted something that be good for any game she may be in. She saw something that looked interesting and clicked on it.

*Summon Fairy Companion – Fairies as among the most noble and good creatures. They can offer minor healing and be an adviser on your journey. They can create light in the darkness and give knowledge on all sorts of thing related to the game. A trusty ally to have and totally loyal to their master. Their life is joined to their master so as long as you live they will live also.

Would you like to learn skill?*

It didn't look all that powerful but the minor healing was good for defense. Giving tips and knowledge for any game you were in would be great. She couldn't think of a way it wouldn't be useful for her in nearly any situation no matter what the game may be. There was no way to know except to try. She said “learn fairy companion skill, apply gift card for purchase”.

She purchased the skill and then figured she may as well save the rest of her points until she knew what the next game was. It has been a long night and she was very tired with everything that had gone on. She crawled into bed and off to sleep.

*****

2 months later.

Becky walked into work a little late. She would've never dared to do so before but now showing up 5 minutes after her shift started was not seen as a grave sin but a minor forgivable hiccup. She wore professional but form fitting clothes and a skirt to show off her body. She had started to get use to the looks men gave her when she walked past them.

She had trimmed down. Her skin was clear and healthy looking. Her hair had a natural, lush and shined when the sunlight it hit. She still wore make up but not nearly as much as before. She wasn't desperate to look 'good enough' anymore but only to look slightly more impressive. Her lips were full and blood red. There were no more bags under her eyes. Her teeth looked pearl white.

Her bossed walked up to her. She still half expected him to be an asshole. “Hey Becky, how is your morning going so far? Looking really nice today

“It's going well and thank you” she said not looking at him but getting her station ready. “Anything I can help you with?”

He flustered “Well, I just want to say you are doing really good work lately. I'm thinking of putting your name in for a promotion”. She had increased her intelligence too but her work had always been worthy of promotion. At least compared to the other incompetent shit heels that worked here.

She smiled at him “that would be so great if it happens! I'll just keep doing my best and hope it works out.”

He laughed “well, keep it up and you won't need to hope... Anyway, we are all getting together after work to have a few drinks. Would you like to come along as well? We could also sit down and talk. Maybe I would buy you a meal too as a celebration and...”

She interrupted in “you know, I would really like to but I just can't. I have a date tonight”.

She looked closely at his face delighting in the disappointment in hearing she was going out with someone and it wasn't him. She smiled slightly more when she saw it. He said “oh, okay. Well the offer still stands. Maybe we will all hang out some other night. Have fun on your date”.

She said “I will, thank you!” She sat back down at her desk. She really should get a new job. This was always beneath her anyway but particularly now. She would probably make more learning to so something else and working for herself. She could easily learn how to run a small business or just do tech freelance work.

She looked around to be sure no one was looking and then said “status screen”

NAME: Becky Sue Davis

AGE: 25

HT: 5'5.5

WT: 133

SKILLS: SUMMON FAIRY COMPANION, POINT STEALER

CLASS: N/A

HP: 80/80

MP: 0/0

LV: 9

STR: 29

INT: 31

DEX: 19

WIS: 23

STA: 15

CHA: 35

Points to spend: 13

She smiled to herself. Yes, she had a date with her favorite game tonight!