"How in the world did I end up here?" Young Adrive furrowed his brow, scanning his surroundings. A spartan room greeted him-four walls and nothing more. He sat on a single bed with a nightstand nearby, complete with a barred window that hinted at an attempt at security more than decor. A fog-clouded view outside suggested a world of obscurity with teasing glimpses of light. The wooden door was shut tight, with the silence in the room so thick you could hear a pin drop. Adrive was on duty at the morgue-then, in the blink of an eye, he found himself here. Talk about a sudden relocation! Could this be... supernatural shenanigans at play?
Chapter 1 The Dorm Survival Game
"How in the world did I end up here?"
Young Adrive furrowed his brow, scanning his surroundings.
A spartan room greeted him-four walls and nothing more. He sat on a single bed with a nightstand nearby, complete with a barred window that hinted at an attempt at security more than decor.
A fog-clouded view outside suggested a world of obscurity with teasing glimpses of light.
The wooden door was shut tight, with the silence in the room so thick you could hear a pin drop.
Adrive was on duty at the morgue-then, in the blink of an eye, he found himself here. Talk about a sudden relocation!
Could this be... supernatural shenanigans at play?
As if on cue:
[Welcome to the Dorm Survival Game!]
[Here, you will face challenges where the line between life and death is razor thin. If you die, you die for real. Like, caput. Done.]
[Each player gets their own dorm. It's your home-sweet-apocalyptic-home and your sanctuary.]
[This game round lasts for four days and is called Fright Night.]
[Survive till the end, and you'll move on to the next round-dorm and all.]
[Game settings vary each round. This round has a day-night cycle; daytime is relatively safe-so go outside, beef up.]
[Night ramps up the danger; staying in is smarter.]
[Mastering the day-to-night shift is key to surviving Fright Night.]
[Discover more as you go-seriously, who has time for lengthy tutorials in this fast-paced era?]
[Have fun, gamers!]
A translucent panel flickered into existence before Adrive.
It oozed a sci-fi vibe.
Adrive's eyes went wide.
No way. This is legit?
His skepticism spiked, but curiosity won out. He poked the panel's 'X' to dismiss the intro.
New menus popped up: [Stats] [Dorm] [Chat] [Friends] [Map] [Misc].
He hit [Stats] first, revealing his personal attributes.
---
Adrive:
Level: 1
Status: Healthy
Spirit: 11
Strength: 9
Agility: 9
Stamina: 9
Sanity: 100/100
Energy: 100/100
Life: 100/100
Satiety: 65/100
Equipment: Nada
Skills: Zilch
Note: For a reference, a healthy adult dude is a solid 10 across Spirit, Strength, Agility, and Stamina.
---
"I work out, yet I'm under the standards? Tough crowd," Adrive grumbled internally.
His exploration continued with [Dorm].
---
Room Number: 815
Level: College Freshman Woes (1)
Size: 100 sq ft of cozy
Door Durability: 30/30
Wall Durability: 100/100
Features: A door, a single bed, a nightstand, protective window bars, and an overhead light.
---
Hence the game's title: Dorm Survival makes sense now.
He tapped through more features, finding his [Friends] list emptier than a ghost town.
The [Map] only revealed his current abode.
Under [Misc], a mishmash of mini-applications, including a camera.
[Chat] was next.
Public Channel #77 beckoned.
Another game-like prompt: he needed a handle.
Old gaming habits kicked in, and he typed in 'ZeroDegree'.
Typical game chat ensued: confusion, accusations of wardrobe theft, and someone threatened by digital tough guys.
Adrive scoped out the rest, then made his move to the door.
The actual door opened-go figure.
Peering out into a dimly lit corridor, he spotted a woman across the way, a vision of beauty in panic, retreating into her room.
Admin Group Invite received: [You've been added to Newbies Group #77 as a Trial Admin-Codename Tomato].
Another chat, this one full of fruit-themed codenames discussing the timely mobilization of players and an obsession with zombies.
Adrive absorbed the intel: An hour until darkness falls, zombies on the prowl, and the dire need for resource gathering.
Eyes open now with determination, he pocketed a key from a previously ignored detail on the lock, secured the door, and plunged into the gloomy hallway, ready to hustle.
With only echos accompanying his knocks on door #840, the game was on.
Chapter 1 The Dorm Survival Game
26/03/2024
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