The sun dyed everything it could see in orange, while the bus ran across the busy streets of Casablanca ,slowly slipping among the cars at rush time.

Mazen : "No that i mentioned Sami, would he play the game. I was out of mind that damn day, so i forget to ask him.”

Fahd : "I don’t know, should we pay him a visit.”

Mazen : "No i am tired, not now.”

Fahd : "I’m too, we can rest at his house a little bit.”

Mazen : "Hmm ok, but call him first, in case.”  

Fahd : "… I can’t reach him.”

Mazen : "Ask him later if he calls you back.”

Fahd : "Ok.”

Mazen : "By the way which one of the test was the most scarier for you?”

Fahd : "The first one man wow, been cut to pieces, it’s damn painful, and scary as hell. It sucks with that damn baldy enjoying it.”

Mazen : "Yeh true, and that final touch was depressing, making him deaf they are crazily creative haha.”

Fahd : "Deaf, how did you know?”

Mazen : "You didn’t try talk to him.”

Fahd : "Why would i talk to that bastard, plus if his deaf i was mute there”

Mazen : "Hhh, then what about the rat i found it scarier, if that baldy cut you to pieces that rat gonna cut a way smaller.”

Fahd : "Yeh It was scary, but i was planning to bit it first.”

Mazen : "Hahaha, you would look like a disabled snake, but it's brilliant idea man haha.”

Fahd : "It look like it’s our stop, let’s go.”

Getting off the bus they say their goodbyes before each of them went their ways.  

Sitting on the sofas around the table, taking dinner with his family, he was watching out from his father, he was a master at stepping on someones tail, and there is a particular subject that he avoided him so long for. He even skipped the family gathering for dinner a whole month to achieve that. 

“Hey son when will you present your project.”

‘Damn, he finally remembered, sorry dad but it’s too late for you haha.’

“Ah i forget to tell you, i was busy with the project and some procedures that follow, it passed last week, and it was successful. Even the judges…”

“What!!! What did you just say.”

“It was good, even the judges…”

“How could you not tell me about an important event like this. This disappointing son!!”

His eyes fired a frightening stars, if it was his childhood days, his fur would standing on end, but all it did know is to make him lower his eyes quietly waiting for his father tantrum to finish or for an opportunity to retreat.

‘Am I crazy to tell you, plus seeing what happened that day, i will not regret it ever.’

“I wanted to benefit you with my long experience, to prepare and work out your speech. I was going to attend your presentation and give you courage, and talk to your teachers and the judges ….”

‘You sure had a lot of plans dad, and that’s exactly why i didn’t tell you in the first place.’

His father was an inverse version of himself, the kind of person that consider himself at home everywhere without even the need of a word of courtesy, he knew that he will embroil him in some awkward situations, doing whatever he want, saying whatever came in mind. He keeps him in cold sweat not knowing what will come of the mystery box.

His bad temper lasted more than he expected, but a call from his friend saved the moment.

“Yeh Fahd, what the prooofessssor said.. Ah it’s about the report.. ah ok, hmm... aha.. yes”

Pretending that it’s an important call he slipped away to his room, not looking back.

Fahd : "What the hell are you talking about?!!”

Mazen : "Ufff you just saved my life, what’s up?”

Fahd : "What’s going on man!!”

Mazen : "Forget it, i was stuck with my father until you called. So?”

Fahd : "Ahh.. haha, ok. Sami just called, i was doing nothing so i called you. He said he’s going for it, behind his family’s back. He didn’t know if he would continue but he is in for the moment.”

Mazen : "that’s great. same here, until my family start to ask about my plans, i will keep it a secret. Which time does he have the test.”

Fahd : "It seems that bastard was early aware of the game. He will pass at 8:00, i think that’s the first group. But even i received a different appointment. I will start at 2:00. you?”

Mazen : "Yeh same, mine changed to 2:30, it brought forward by 3 hours, it seems a lot of people withdrawn from their own.”

Fahd : "Don’t forget that girls won’t need the second test.”  

Mazen : "Yeh i forget, so each of us will go alone, good luck and don’t wet yourself again hh.”

Fahd : "I told you i didn’t, beside we are done with scary movies.”

Mazen : "There’s another liquid for tomorrow, you know!”

Fahd : "Haha, oh yes i forget, make sure you are lying on your back then, it will not a be a big problem piercing the roof.”

Mazen : "what the hell are you talking about!”

Fahd : "you must have gathered a lot of pressure in your balls,

you might kill somebody if you lie otherwise.”

Mazen : "Ok! I’am hanging up, goodnight.”

‘His right, I am.. i don’t like this virgin word, i’m pure! pure my ass, is there any other word. Anyway this is a problem i’m in clear disadvantage compared to others. experiencing the graphics, along with the memory loss effect, and getting to know the crazy people working on the tests, i’m not sure anymore.’

‘Yeh, I said that i am confident of my morals, but what about my desires. i wasn't even able to control my feelings the presentation’s day, i thought that i get over my past week self, but the surprising situation proved” “otherwise, the tests will be way more surprising. what if i failed this damn test, i must know more, would they report me to the police as potential criminal. What if my family finds out. Damn this is serious, i should take a look for more informations and that contract that i just accepted without reading it.’

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

There was some gossips about VR companies sending reports about assaulters to the police, labeled as a potential criminals, but a game still a game, an assault while thinking it’s real is more serious, he will be practically a criminal. And in the worst case, if the information leaked somehow it would be a disaster. Society didn’t tolerate this kind of crimes, he himself didn’t. He didn’t know the ratio for him to do so, but he see it kind of possible.

He went through the informations trying to find something related.  

“Ok it’s safe, they will keep the result confidential, it's good that they take in consideration that they put us in unusual situations, and who'd have known i will be thankful knowing that passing the tests didn’t necessarily mean admission, that man talked about it, but i didn’t realize its importance, the limited seats is a good cover in the worst case.. But that bastard knew that i succeeded the mental strength tests, if i failed now he would guess it!! Shit, with his big mouth!!”

“Damn it’s better if i withdraw, it’s dangerous, scary, but why the hell i can’t afford to do so. It even get me more excited, to know myself more. We are really strange creatures.”

“Let’s just sleep, let nature take it’s course.”

------- the test time ------

Approaching the building, he found it deserted, nothing like yesterday, not even a single person could be seen.

“What the hell does the zombie apocalypse started or what. Don’t tell me i’m late, it can’t be.”

He couldn’t relax with this ambiance even after assuring that he was on time using his smartphone. Only when he got in the building he could see a few men.

‘Ah, so we are the leftover.’

Before they head to their capsules, the man directed them to an office for blood samples, it was a fast operation with retractable pen like syringe.

Heading to his new room, their steps echoed in the wide surrounding, creating a scary mood in proportion to the fewer people in.

‘Strange! i felt like i lost my mind for moment.’

Jogging in the forest alone, a human shad could be seen far ahead leaning to a tree beside a windway. As he was approaching the person appearance started to clear out.

‘Is that a woman, what the hell is she doing alone in the in the forest, it’s not safe for her to be here in the middle of the week. It’s deserted.’

‘Should i advise her to leave!’

Reaching an appropriate distance he could tell that it’s a beautiful women, her long black hair was swept to the side hiding her face, a perfect skin covered her slender figure. sitting knees up, some gems could be seen up and down the white dress that was there only for decoration, a stunning body that calls for the devil. his breath started to get stronger and stronger along with his heart goes boom with each of his steps, while his eyes kept fixed on her. maybe noticing, she turned her face toward him, revealing the last piece of her perfect beauty, a full moon like face colored with blue eyes coming out of fantasies. The moment she moved her head, he put his legs over his shoulder before running as fast he could away from her, only when he was out of the woods that he stopped to catch his breath.  

“puff... she scared.. the hell out of me, there’s no way a normal woman like that would be here, i tried to keep my guts, damn i don’t believe in ghosts, but this looks exactly like a preludes of sorts, like in those damn movies.”

As he was bowing for breath, a beautiful legs that he know stepped in his field of vision, the blood in his vines freezed as his breath stop midway with a braking sound, not able to rise his head, expecting the real one this time, a nightmare face. Not long after but enough for his soul to leave, the crack took him back, allowing his breaths to flow again.

“What the hell is that! i thought that we finished with kind of courage tests, and what’s with that last move, is it payback for the test’s failure or what!!, those crazy bastards”

“Damn i need to relax let’s do some yoga.”

“But ufff, that women, wow if didn’t take it as a ghost back then, it was really hot stuff.  

He crossed his legs, closed his eyes, his hands rested on his knees. And he started breath deeply. No long ago the system asked him to start the next test. Making him nearly fell off the chair out of surprise.

“Shit! I can’t get used to this.”

As he approved the process started again

Fiddling around with his smartphone, walking in the night in an empty street. Not aware of his surrounding, a shock wave devastated him from the back, flashed through his head before it took his consciousness. Feeling dizziness he opened his eyes, looking mindlessly for a while. When he recovered a little he recognized a moist ceiling, a dim light was coming from a small window in the door.

What the hell !!

Looking around him, he found someone lying in the other corner. Immediately he rushed toward him hoping for some answers, he stopped as soon as he took a good look at him, while his thoughts took another turn. It was a women, the tranquil light didn’t hide her stunning sexivness, the tight outfit let on her curves, while tears over some crucial parts added more effects, realizing that he is alone with this, a clear gulp penetrated the silence, as hormones played their games, awakening the animal inside. This latter didn’t hesitate to whisper his hypnotises, trying to take control.

“This is too much for my heart pufff, who’s the hell puts me with this women here, are they trying to kill me or what!!”

He kept right there not moving, hesitating, looking to and fro her, revealing the fight going on inside of him, until finally his shaking hands extended toward her chest, but instead of unbuttoning the rest he kind of covered her a little. Dangerous move, but he was just trying to do something in the right way to finish his struggle.

‘I can’t just do this, she’s in this shit like me, and just imagine if she wakes up, how the hell would you justify yourself.’

He was thirsty like a man that found a well after a days of struggles in the desert, he will not ask permission, would he! no he would even fight for it, if that what it takes, so was the temptation, except that his life didn’t depend on her, nor she was a well. So he responded to reason, to his weakened conscience, pulling what’s left of his will together to get away from her.

“I really don’t know how to judge myself now, i was really about to do some evil, and i still have the desire to. it’s really hard, just a moment before it was like it’s not me anymore, or rather another version of me, my reason, my will, nearly gone.”

He leaned on the door, trying to figure out something from behind the bars. All he could see is another detention room against him and another door to his left. So he could only think of taking the door down, backing off he slammed his shoulder brutally against the door again and again.

“I have more than one reason to get the hell out of here.”

Soon the crack formed swallowing him back.

“This one was close pufff, this test really is consuming to the will.”

“It’s really easy for us to think that we are good, only by experiences one can tell, who he really is.”

He wakes up again with headaches, but this time it was a larger, and well lighted room, thing that showed that it was cleaner also. Looking around, he backed off a little bit founding three men with him, eyeing them with caution. one of them confidently approached. He looks to be in his late forties.

“Welcome newcomer, don’t be afraid. You are our brother now.”

“Why.. why i am here?!”

“We are livestock for them.”

“What do you mean?!”

“They will milk your blood until someone needs your organs.”

His brows knitted in disbelief, while words betrayed him keeping him silent with a intense stare.   

“Don’t be afraid, it might take a lot of time for that to happen, and if you are lucky, they will take a part that keeps you alive, one of your kidneys, a part of your liver, even your eyes. Can you believe it that one day you will be happy for your eyes to be taken. See i’m one of the lucky ones.”  

He raised his shirt showing some trace of a surgery in his side, letting Mazen finally make sense of what was said to him.  

“But what the hell, why me ?”

“Boy don’t bother, we tried as well, the only link we found is that we all have been hit while in an empty area in the night, it seems we are the lucky ones who won their lottery. But don’t worry much, at least they give us a good service until then.”

He leaned on the wall sliding sitting down, he didn’t says anything putting his hand on his head in a calm shock, when he started thinking again his feeling was confused to choose, the grief for what’s awaiting him, hatred toward those who kidnapped him, anger of his bad luck, depression, despair….. Not long after his laughers could be hearing summing all of those.

‘It’s really amazing, what a nice end, of my meaningless life. or is it better, i believed in god so i may have some better chance there!! Hope so.’

After some time drawn in all kind of thoughts, the door suddenly opens throwing a girl inside, closing afterward before Mazen reach it.

“Don’t bother yourself boy even if you get out, this place is well guarded, just in the corridor outside there is tree dogs guarding the cells. Ok guys brings us our guest that we patiently waited for.”   

The other two guys comply to his command, they bring up the shuddering girl from the corner, then they sat her in front of him, each of them holding one hand fixing her down. The man didn’t hesitate to rip her shirt, thing that brought Mazen out of his shell.

“What the hell are you doing!”

“I told you that they serve us well, wait obediently for your turn boy and i will let you enjoy yourself to the fullest.”

“But that’s.. that’s wrong....”

“We all gonna die anyway”

He didn’t know what to do, or what to think in this chaos, while an intense fight broke out inside of him.

‘That’s right man you can’t just die without even touching a women. It’s a too miserable of a death.’

‘No it’s a dirty act, you can’t go so low.’

‘She will die too, do think a lot, It’s not like you will hurt her or something, she might welcome some pleasure as well.’

‘No, look at her, what if she’s your sister, would you say the same’

‘You don’t have a sister’

‘What about your mother. shouldn’t you help her instead.’

‘No no no you can’t, you can’t beat three men, you will only make what’s left of your life more miserable.’

‘And you will lost your last chance of pleasure.’

Finally, it seemed that he set his mind on something, the man was busy to care much about him approaching, until he stormed his head with a kick bearing everything he's got. Before the others realize what's happening another strong blow sideways followed, with a switch of his legs smashing the face of one of the men holding the girl. Before he faced the last one, he felt his body rising from the ground as the third one tackled him midair, instinctively twisting his shoulders he managed to make them spin, landing on the man making him take the fall shock, overpowering him and taking advantage of his position he forcly took position tightening his thighs around his belly, storming him with punch until the man’s desperate hands protecting him, surrendered with his consciousness fading away.

When Mazen turned with fear on the eyes, remembering there’s more to worry about, but no one was moving. The first one received an head-shattering kick in the temple, while the other was lying under a blood dripping stains over the wall. Only then he felt some comfort and relied on the wall getting his breath back.

‘If i’m dying anyway, I'd rather go a good man.’

Looking at the girl, tears was streaming down her cheeks, though a strange smile warmed her face, it found its way to his heart. Finally the crack appeared again taking him out of his misery.  

“What a damn test, i can’t help but curse each time, but what’s with this feeling, this is the first time after a dman of a test i felt something good other than relief, a kind soft warmth flow in my chest, i feel kind of happy, it’s a unique taste of happiness... actually I never felt like this in my life!”

“Now that i think about it, I was really heroic there, isn’t i hahaha. Anyway with this, i think i will pass. Let’s go”

As if foretelling his friend called right away.

Fahd : "So how did it go?”

m*well, I passed the tests somehow, but i didn’t receive an admission notice yet. What about you?

Fahd : "Yeh same, i didn’t receive a disqualification, i mean an admission notice.”

Mazen : "Haha, disqualification! there’s something to it. What did you did man!”

Fahd : "You are just imagining things!”

Mazen : "You know that i can find out if you didn’t show me you tests’ notices later”

Fahd : "You skeptical bastard, can’t you turn a blind eye”

Mazen : "How could i not care about my friend! Haha, just say it, your secret is in a well”

Fahd : "Oh man, seeing those twin peaks smiling to me ufff, i couldn’t help playing with them a little, hey but i succeeded the last test”

Mazen 'It’s my turn teasing you a little’

Mazen : "so it was you the pervert after all, haha.”

Fahd : "damn you bastard, what about you, you are lying right, how could you resist only if you are eunuch or something”

Mazen 'eunuch! This bastard,  i will not let you this easy’

Mazen : "don’t get depressed comparing yourself to me, your friend is a hero level after all, you didn’t even see what i did for those bastards in the last test. I saved the princess. Hahaha.”

Fahd : "A hero my ass, keep pretending. It might be your complex about women that save your ass.”

Mazen : "don’t try to hide you disgrace behind pitiful excuses, the situations exceeded any complexes, you must agree that i’m noble haha”

Mazen : "anyway what about Sami?!”

Fahd : "he said that he passed all the tests”

Mazen : "does he know?”

Fahd : "what?!”

Mazen : "about your shame! Haha”

Fahd : "tell him if you want, do you think i care!”

Mazen : "OK i’m hanging up, i will put the news in the class group”

Fahd : "you bastard! you said that you will keep it a secr…”

Mazen 'Hahaha hope he goes crazy over it, this is a good day isn’t it’

He hang up letting his friend in doubts, he was on top of the world enjoying all the success that he has that day.