The Game Arena - A Sci-Fi Fanfiction

"Hey, you wanna see something cool?" Suha had asked, sitting down next to Yugo. The sun was setting, casting a soft golden glow across the distant skyline. Inside the apartment, long rays of shadows lined the walls and wherever there was light. It was cool and windy that day, perfect for the windows to be slid wide open, feathery curtains gently fluttering in the breeze. "I bought this from a gaming store earlier, it was on sale so I thought you might like it." 

Shifting his attention to Suha, the young boy with pitch black hair and blue highlights cried happily. "Oh cool, it's the latest FPS game that just came out! I've always wanted to try this, thanks for buying, Suha!"

"You kept bugging me about it so many times those past few days, so I knew I had to be the first one in line before it's sold out." The other replied, being a few years older. "Working at the facility really does have its perks, huh?"

"I know we've been roommates for the longest time now but...." Yugo trailed off hesitantly. "You still haven't told me what your job really was. I get that it's about coding and programming but.....what exactly are you trying to make there?" 

Suha only smiled, taking the game from Yugo and having it's CD inserted into the player right next to a computer. "That's a story for another day, dude, let's just play the game and see if it's nice." 

---

The group finally made it to the Palace of Lights a few hours later. It was beautiful, luxurious beyond compare. The building was made out of pure gold and crystalline diamonds, making it sparkle just like a gemstone. Aver couldn't help but hide a smile, and thought. Alban would have tried to steal this entire place. They were greeted by the Palace guards and brought right in, through the main entrance and towards a wide courtyard. The people that lived there and shot them weird glances, as if seeing an alien stroll by. It wasn't a surprise to Aver, knowing that they must have appeared different to what they had expected. Not just outcasts, but street thugs would be better as well. 

Aver had somehow chosen to have a room for himself. All alone, he finally let out a heavy sigh, flopping down to the floor. Spotting a nearby dressing table, he crawled over to it and sat on the soft, velvety chair. His sore, painful muscles relaxing and easing at last. Gazing at his own reflection in the mirror, Aver then thought back to everything that happened. The things that made him conceal himself, all those secrets.......it weighed heavily on him. Just how long should he continue on like this? Suha is back but, things aren't the same as how they were before. Closing his eyes, Aver rested his head on his hands, gripping onto his hair. 

He then yanked the wig off and his entire disguise glitched away. 

Yugo sniffled, his tears plopping down in rhythmic motions onto his usual blue outfit. It had been the same as before, torn and brutally tattered, covered in old blood stains. His hair was messy from sweat and his bloodshot eyes returned again. He no longer looked smooth and handsome just like Aver did......he was just, him. All alone inside the room, Yugo broke down, as emotions from all the pain he had came crashing back like a hurricane, screaming his lungs out at the failures that flashed back in the form of memories he had tried so hard to bury. Losing his friends, abandoning them for selfish desires, leaving his old life behind........the Arena, changed everyone he had loved and had also taken them away from him. Those three bars on his arm long gone over the years. 

It was too late now and he hated it. Hated it all. 

But he and the group finally made it to Aurora's Palace of Lights, a safe sanctuary for the others who still have a chance of hope. Their eyes, their spirit and courage.....he had sensed it all as clear as day. It had sparked a glimmer of motivation within his once dormant soul. Yugo had transformed himself, for reasons that will only remain personal to him. Together with the others, they have managed to achieve something that only he could dream of, wishful thinking. Now, he strongly believed that evil will not be able to haunt their nights with pain and suffering. Blissful success and peaceful harmony, brought about by the countless sacrifices of innocent lives inside the Arena. This time, he wasn't backing off anymore.....and he had done it.