*blink* ... *blink* ... This isn't what you signed up for. The last thing you remember, a bag was being placed over your head and you were being thrown into the back of a van. You sit and wonder where you are... what day it is... what the hell happened.
"GAME SHOW CONTESTANTS WANTED!!!" the ad says. "$1,000,000 GUARANTEED!!!" Being unemployed for nearly a year, money is, shall we say, a bit tight. You pick up your phone and dial the number, expecting a voice mail message. Instead, someone answers. She gives you an address and instructs you to be there at 9am the next morning.
How many mornings ago was that? You try to move your arms, but something is holding them down. You suddenly realize your legs are strapped down as well. As you begin to gain consciousness, you feel something across your chest and on top of your head. As you open your eyes, you realize you're in darkness -- except for a green glow near your left hand. You look at it closer and see it's a computer screen. On it, you see your name at the top -- well, the name you gave the interviewer at the warehouse.
"Is that your real name?" he asks.
"Of course it is," you respond, knowing he can tell you're lying.
He writes it down anyway.
Next to your name, you see the number 0. As you examine the rest of the screen, you see other names. Who are these people? The1fifi. mavsfan41. chnorek. These have to be fake, too. Apparantly, you weren't the only one. You also see the number 0 next to their names as well.
Suddenly, you hear a thud and you're instantly blinded by bright lights. It feels like you're at the dentist.
"Are you allergic to anything?"
You respond, "Only cat dander... and morphine."
He responds with a chuckle.
As your eyes adjust to the lighting, you see roughly a dozen other people, all in the same predicament as you. You're seated in a huge circle. Above each chair you see a name; each name matches one on your computer screen. Above you, various types of machinery are visible through the lights. "What are those for?" you wonder.
"Welcome." The voice, with a distinctively British accent, seems to come from inside your head and startles you. "I am Rene Crowder, your host for this ... game." The odd pause did not go unnoticed.
"How are you with computers?"
You're confused. "In what capacity?" you ask.
The man responds, obviously annoyed, "Look. I don't write these things. Just answer the damn question."
"You're listening to me through speakers embedded into your chair. This game has no video cameras or live audience. We don't even have a script. Before I speak to you about the game, I want to explain your computers that you have no doubt already noticed. On it, you see your name at the top and the names of the other contestants below. The number next to the name corresponds to the number of other contestants that have voted for that player. In front of your right hand is a specially-designed keyboard. By pressing the key with the contestant's name, you will vote for that person. Let me show you. I'll press the key for jiemao."
A few seconds later, you hear a "DING" in your speakers. Your eyes haven't left the computer screen since Rene began speaking about it. You see the number next to jiemao's name change to 1. You look at the player to your left. A bead of sweat forms on his forehead.
Rene continues: "I think it's self-explanatory. When a player's vote count rises to a majority of the contestants, they will be ... removed from the game." Again, the pause was slightly unsettling.
You didn't have time to really ponder Rene's last statement before he speaks again. "As you can tell, there are nine of you. In this game, there are two factions:
The Golubovic
and
The Cigula
. The Golubovic comprises two of you; the Cigula comprises the rest. The goal for each group is to remove the members of the rival group before their own faction is reduced to zero. While the Cigula has strength in numbers, the Golubovic has strength in camaraderie; the Cigula members do not know each other, but the Golubovic are well aware of their team members. The Cigula may also have members that can help the town in sniffing out the Golubovic.
"You're all securely fastened to your seats. There is only one way to be freed: to be the last group standing."
"Are you afraid of anything?"
You think before answering, knowing game shows always pit you against your greatest fears. "Death."
They would never try to kill you... would they?
Immediately, you hear several "DING" sounds in your speakers, followed by a gong. As you look around confused, you again set your eyes on the player to your left, who is convulsing in his chair. You failed to look before, but you see "jiemao" written above his chair. At this time, he slumps forward and stops moving.
jiemao
(
Neutral Contestant
) has been killed.
Rene sighs, then says, "Well, it appears that some people got trigger happy. The ... game has begun."
"That's all I have. Come with me."
You hesitate, not knowing what to expect. As you follow him into the next room, something hits you in the back of the head.
