Chapter 16: What the hell

My badge gave a slight beep for attention. I picked it up only to find instructions for the next task:

"LOOK FOR A CLUE HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT. IT MAY OPEN TO A SECRET PASSAGEWAY TO ANOTHER CLUE OR SOME BONUS POINTS. DANGER AHEAD. EVERY MOVE COUNTS"

It sent chills down my spine for a reason I cannot explain. It was all really confusing. The game seemed to be so messed up that most things don't appear to make sense. I mean, like if any one of us, player or opponent finds the hint or passageway, the others would probably notice that too. It seemed unfit for the title of "NO.1 in online games" category. Or was it me who didn't adapt? Am I the one oblivious to all the tricky things?

Not knowing where to start, I randomly approached a wall and started to study it very carefully.

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

I thought my eardrums were about to explode. The siren started to ring out of nowhere and flushed everyone and everything. And then, a deafening silence. Everyone started to look around to see whether it was a false alarm but my sixth sense told me something is coming. That thing people call 'the calm before thunder' I think. Turned out, I was right because at the very moment, a wall opened as a whole to reveal a massive, humongous, a whole around twelve feet dinosaur!

For a moment I stood there gaping at it, dumbfounded but slapped myself to my senses. It was definitely one of those times, that Ivy called out to. Where opponents and players alike fight against threats. I got out the biggest gun I could find and started to shoot immediately. But that one dino seemed to have a thick armor on it because it started to roar and run towards me

uh-oh

I must really learn the difference between bravery and foolishness. Ivy ran into me.

"Great distraction Fren," she said with a slight smirk.

"We need to shoot at once." Jorge shouted at top of his voice but no one was really paying any attention to him. Even I tried to call out my team but they simply ignored me too, leaving me rather emabrassed.

"Jorge, we need to work the smart way. They won't listen but I think we're all meant to go the way that thing came outside from." I yelled back, resisting falling down amidst the panic-stricken crowd. It all felt unreal. It was even funny at a point. Why the hell am I in Jurassic park rather than Cybercity huh?

"Fren you're right. Come on Ivy" he said, grabbing her arm. It was all in vain. She wanted to stay there, to shoot that dinosaur. She kind of lost her senses to her thirst for action. I shook her violently, earning myself a very dirty look in exchange but nevertheless, pointed to the passageway.

I ran along first, seizing the opportunity when the dino was chasing players at the far end. I had time to glance back, only to see a very hostile Ivy being dragged mercilessly by an even more ferocious Jorge. I could've laughed if the situation wasn't that grave. I reached inside and it felt like I've shifted.