I fall.
Or rather…
I keep falling.
There is no more ground beneath me.
No more sky.
Just a violent tug, as if something was pulling me from inside my chest.
I'm not in pain anymore.
I feel like I'm extremely embracing
That's what worries me.
More
When I opened my eyes again, everything was black and the air was heavy.
Not hot.
Not cold.
Heavy.
I am lying on black, granular ground, like damp ash.
My clothes are undamaged.
No injuries, no stains or tears
My watch!
I put my hand on my pants, it's always there, my watch.
The screen is black.
I sit up with difficulty.
Around me…
silhouettes.
Far too many.
I'm counting.
And.
Two.
Three…
Fifteen.
Plus me, that makes fifteen players.
The rest were motionless; I was probably the first to have emerged.
Some were standing.
Others were seated.
Some were on their knees.
I approach curiously and examine their faces, one by one, but all I see are dead.
Impossible
I recognize some faces.
B-02
Too many faces.
Then I see him.
Ray Lee.
He is leaning against a kind of invisible wall, his head tilted to the side.
Her eyes are open.
"Fuck…," I murmured after the fright of a lifetime.
My voice sounds strange.
As if I felt guilty about something
Ray Lee Bogues.
He raises his head slowly.
– …Ki-Moon?
His gaze was empty.
Fatigue.
Not surprised.
– You too, huh…
– You fell.
A slight smile appears and disappears immediately.
"Where are we?" I asked.
He shrugs.
– No idea.
– maybe in hell.
"What do you mean?" I murmured, confused.
He looks around him.
– You still haven't noticed, we're all dead
CLAP!
A sharp, dry sound.
Like a door being slammed shut.
All fifteen bodies trembled simultaneously.
Then a presence arrives.
No steps.
No noise.
Just… she's here.
A tall, straight, motionless figure.
Neither man nor woman.
A dark, textureless coat.
No face visible.
When she speaks, it's not with a voice.
It's directly in the mind.
– WELCOME, or rather, delighted to see you again
Nobody shouts.
They all flee with their heads down.
They all understand, except me.
– You are dead, but that's not news to you.
Silence.
Ray Lee closes his eyes.
– It'll work.
I raise my head.
– what's going on
One of the players steps forward, a face I had never seen before.
– Who are you? Is this the next game?
The figure tilts its head slightly.
– They call me Death. Is this your next match?
No dramatic reaction.
Just an observation.
Fifteen of you have been deemed viable and will have the chance to return to the game following a victory against me.
– Are we no longer in the game?
– A variable, let's put it that way.
I don't understand
Especially the impassive and empty stares around me.
– the number and complete, the system does not tolerate waste but you are doing a favor.
A space opens up behind her.
A scene appears.
A building.
Little.
Ancient.
A hanging sign.
A bakery.
A real one.
Dirty shop window.
Oven visible inside.
Smell of burnt bread.
"What's with this nonsense…" sighs someone like me.
– This is a make-up exam.
Death is turning towards us.
– Its name: the Bakery.
She pauses.
– Three of you will be able to return to the game of the living.
A murmur ripples through the group.
Three.
Out of fifteen.
– The others will stay here.
"Just 3 this time?" Ray Lee asked.
Death does not answer immediately.
Then :
– Do your best.
I grit my teeth.
But what can I do about it?
[The rules are simple.]
The bakery door opens.
Three round tables and five chairs. Take any seat. Once seated, blindfold yourself with the black handkerchiefs on the table. I will then come around and ask you, "How many loaves of bread do you want?" Before that, you must place your hands flat on the table; this will be your change. I will count, and when I touch your finger, you will tell me the number you need so I can count back to you. Then you can lower a finger, reducing your debt. If you didn't give the correct number, you'll have to wait until your next turn to try and reduce your debt. The first person to bend all their fingers will be the winner of their table and will return to the game.
– all this just to go back to something worse, I don't really want to go back into the game.
– return to the game as players where? I asked.
Death turns towards me.
Even without a face, I feel that she is watching me.
– I'll buy some bread and everything will be fine.
Silence.
– …Bread? someone repeats.
Ray Lee rolls his eyes.
Death slowly raises its hand.
Above the bakery, a clock appears.
She has no figures.
Just a needle.
It's turning.
Slowly.
– Let's begin.
Death disappears.
No smoke.
Just
She's just not here anymore.
A long time passes.
Then Ray Lee speaks.
– Ki-Moon…
– EVERYONE HAS A PLACE, I DON'T WANT TO SPEND ANOTHER SECOND HERE
I'm looking at the bakery.
A player bursts into tears.
Another one moves like a zombie towards the table.
I remain motionless.
This game is not here to save us.
I'm watching Ray Lee.
– How long have you been here…
– when I get back into the game I'll take all that down.
He smiled weakly.
– of course, of course.
I take a step towards a chair, a bit like everyone else here.
The smell is stronger.
Disgusting.
The handkerchief tightens around my vision and the game begins.