Focusing back on the game, I held my breath as there was one last turn and big obstacle before the riders hit the finish line—a chasm of death. A large expanse breaking up the track appeared so wide that it would be nearly impossible to cross. Each player revved up their engines and maintained a straight line to ensure the maximum speed possible. Every one of their teammates began standing up, yelling loudly, and jumping up and down.
“GO! GO! GO!” everybody shouted.
The jump came and everyone but the guy on team two made it over. The winning team members hollered even louder and gave one another high-fives all around.
Two more events followed. They were events like capture the flag with paintball involved and some skateboarding task. I participated in the capture the flag one where two members from each team were present. For the last event, only two teams were left to go head-to-head—our team four and team one with Dylan. This one, Samantha decided to take on, pitting her and Dylan head to head in a game called Street Fighter 275th Anniversary edition.
“Get ready to lose, birthday boy!” taunted Samantha as she put down the visor to the helmet.
“Ha, you wish, princess!”
The virtual screen from the helmets was once again mirrored on the windows. Samantha’s character was Chun-Li, who wore a light blue outfit with what resembled oversized white cotton balls on her head. Dylan had chosen a character called Ryu, who wore a white gi. The rest of us had a side view of the action, whereas Samantha and Dylan only saw each other in the visors.
“Fight!” came the command and they both started attacking.
It was amazing. Their characters in precisely the same exact motion mimicked every tiny action Samantha or Dylan made. Both stood far enough apart to avoid striking one another, but on the game, the characters were beating the snot out of each other.
Samantha won the first round and Dylan the next, leaving the last one to decide who would win the game. As soon as the fighting commenced, Samantha kicked out at Dylan’s character, but he evaded her and sent a special attack. Both of them fought blow for blow until the very last few seconds when Dylan pulled another special attack and drained Samantha’s character of HP.
All the guys in the room roared in triumph at Dylan’s win as Samantha tore off her helmet in anger and shouted, “Hey, I let you win!”
“Ah, come on, Samantha. Accept some defeat, will you,” replied Max. “I’ve already accepted it. Good job, Dylan!”
“Hey, you’re supposed to be on my team!” chastised Samantha.
“Yeah, but the game’s over now.” Max flashed a white-toothed grin.
“Time for cake and ice cream,” announced the robot.
By the way everyone in the room moved, you would have thought it was a Black Friday sale of one-dollar Immersion TVs. I protected myself from the stampede and waited for everyone else to pass before I left to join in.
. . .
Finally, the festivities ended and everyone went home except for Dr. Wilcox and me.
“Hey, Allie, I’m sorry to have to do this to you again, but I’m probably still being watched just like you said. You’ll have to use the SCUBAPS to go back to the beach.”
“Don’t worry, Allie. I’ve made all the adjustments to the suit and tested it so there should be no more loss of function.”
“Okay, if it’s fixed, I’ll be fine,” I truthfully stated. I kind of liked the SCUBAPS. It was serene and allowed me to see things in the ocean I probably wouldn’t have otherwise, and if it was truly fixed, I would have nothing to worry about. An image of the beast that I had seen flashed in my mind and I quickly dismissed it.
The three of us left Dylan’s apartment and they led me to a small bay I hadn’t been to before.
“What’s this?” I wondered.
“The main docking bay is being watched. This area is used for scuba diving and has direct access to the open ocean through the tunnel past the gate that is normally sealed tight. There’s a room in the corner where you can change. Once your suit is on, I’ll use a code to override it. The door will open and you’ll be able to swim on out.”
“All right. Well, thank you for having me. I had a lot of fun, Dylan, and I learned a lot. Happy Birthday.” I hugged my friend.
“Thanks, Allie. Be safe on your way to the surface.”
I turned and stepped in through the open door into the wet bay. Facing Dr. Wilcox and Dylan, I began to reach for the SCUBAPS, but before I’d hardly moved, the door slammed shut. Through the small vertical window in the door, I could see the shocked expressions on both Dr. Wilcox and Dylan’s faces. I, too, gazed back at them, confused as much as they were.
A grinding sound became barely audible just behind me. I turned my head around and in horror noticed the gate to the tunnel opening.
Instantly, I was pounded against the door with such force that all the air in my lungs was forced out. The water poured in faster and faster with increasing strength. Within seconds, the entire place flooded and there was nowhere for me to find air in which to breathe.
I tried my best not to panic and to stay near the window so Dylan and Dr. Wilcox wouldn’t lose sight of me. I saw both of them trying their hardest to find a way to open the door. Dylan began kicking it to no avail and jabbing the open button
