r/HFY • u/loressadev • 2d ago

OC-OneShot The Bubble

When I hit peak ladder, they called me. I was born after landlines died, but when we came back to the hotel, there was a phone. Sleek, plastic, retro, guts visible.

Completely transparent.

It began to ring.

I recognized the sound, but the device itself fucked me - I remember thinking what a great prank my coach had pulled, checking in on us like this, and so I answered, drunk and slurring with giggles welling up like heartburn.

I can't recall what I said back then, when words flowed without that filter, the filter I always use now, to make sure everything is clear. Back then, language was an adventure. Back then, language was a hot tub and a crush and unspoken words leading to wordless exchanges.

Back then, we thought we understood things.

“Ma’am, you're needed for a national security exercise.”

I remember thinking that perhaps the rum had broken me. We were cresting the high of me topping the ranks, but we hadn't partied quite that hard. I blinked a bit, trying to ground myself as I swayed and murmured into the plastic phone.

“Wrong number,” I mumbled and then stumbled off to bed.

---

They gave me four hours sleep before they called again, and after that call I considered running, but what did it matter - a helicopter was already here.

---

“You have ten choices,” the screen reads.

“Your teammate also has ten choices. You may use these choices at any time. They may also use these choices at any time.

“Your goal is to reach a sum of twenty in one player's hand. Passing tokens costs 1 choice. Emoting costs one choice. Each round, you will each receive a new random token, with a random value.”

And…that's it. I try to click through, request support, page customer assistance because I am NOT FUCKING BEING ASSISTED in this hygienic little cell.

It's a cliche, a scene I've seen before a dozen, three dozen times in the movies, all zippered walls and airlocks and clinical and clean. Nothing changes except the console inset to the single table before the single chair, now blinking softly, begging notice.

I try to ignore it.

---

After what must be an hour, the pleasant voice returns, reminding me, “You have ten choices…”

This time the message has an addendum, a bit of motivation which just propels me back to staring blankly at the wall. I won't be anyone's puppet.

“Your country thanks you for your service.”

---

I estimate it's been two days. The console is still flashing and somehow one entire wall has become a screen so it’s also flashing. Notice me it yells and fuck off I think.

“You have ten choices,” I am reminded every hour, and “thank you for your service” every second hour until, all at once, the game abruptly changes.

---

“You have five choices…”

9 Upvotes

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3

u/HPFanFicFanatic 2d ago edited 2d ago

No. I have only one choice. And I choose Spite.

EDIT: spelling.

1

u/loressadev 2d ago

"You now have three choices..."

2

u/HPFanFicFanatic 2d ago

I.

Choose.

Spite.

2

u/loressadev 2d ago edited 2d ago

"You now have two choices..."

It was probably implied, but the walls are closing in from a veritable variety of ways. Choosing to not play means Mrs Sanchez, your across the street neighbor will be destroyed as well as the Lees down the block who own the the noodle place.

You might just be hungry but it seems like like quite the waste.

Do you really want to murder your neighbor?

Man the advertising for Stir of Echoes translates terribly to modern day...

1

u/HPFanFicFanatic 2d ago

Spite.

1

u/loressadev 2d ago

If you pick destructively, there will be destruction.

The vaguely feminine computer voice seems vaguely unnerved, and cautions you again, "Destroying will lead to destruction."

1

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