Chapter 7: The Struggle Begins

Tuesday Night – Home

Let me tell you something: when you've spent most of your life with a phone, PlayStation, and Wi-Fi, switching to a book feels like stepping back into the Stone Age.

I flopped onto my bed, staring at The Maze Runner like it was some ancient artifact. I had borrowed it. I had smuggled it home past my mom's suspicious gaze. Now, all I had to do was read it.

Easy, right?

Wrong.

I lasted exactly five minutes before my brain started screaming for distractions. Normally, I'd check my phone. Scroll Twitter. Watch YouTube. But no. My phone was gone. My PlayStation was gone. My entire reason for existence was gone.

Desperate, I flung open my wardrobe and dug through my old stuff, hoping to find anything to keep me entertained. That's when I saw it.

My old PSP.

I had completely forgotten I still had this thing. I grabbed it, heart racing, and pressed the power button.

The screen stayed black.

No. No, no, no—

I grabbed the charger and plugged it in. The little orange light blinked to life. It was alive.

I almost cried.

Now, I just had to keep it a secret. If my mom found out, she'd probably throw it out the window.

I quickly shoved The Maze Runner under my pillow, just in case she checked on me, then lay back and waited for the PSP to charge.

I was back in the game.

Wednesday – School

The next morning, I walked into school with the confidence of a man who had defeated the system. I had secretly played a few rounds of Tekken 6 last night, and it felt amazing.

Azri immediately noticed. "Oi, why do you look so happy? You like reading now?"

Rina snorted. "No way. Look at his face. He cheated."

I smirked. "Maybe."

Azri's eyes widened. "No way. You found something."

I nodded. "PSP."

Rina gasped. "Mana, you genius."

Azri shook his head in awe. "You're telling me… all this time, you had a backup console?"

"Apparently, yes."

They both looked at me like I had just discovered fire.

But then, just as I was about to brag about my gaming comeback, I heard The Voice.

"Mana."

I froze.

That wasn't Azri. That wasn't Rina. That was—

I turned around slowly.

My mom.

Standing at the school gate.

Holding.

My.

PSP.

Rina whispered, "You're dead."

Azri nodded. "Nice knowing you, bro."

I had two choices:

1. Run.

2. Accept my fate.

I chose Option 3: Panic.

—Mana, Jan 2017