Page 141 of Forbidden Game

Fuck it.

No regrets.

I successfully clip my character through a wall into a house that would otherwise be inaccessible. From here I can get to the guard, who is normally sleeping at this time of night, and murder him for his helicopter key.

“Sorry, mate.”

I headshot him with my revolver and then access his inventory for the key. My morality meter takes a dip, but this time, it’s still within the yellow. A few minutes later, I make it to the helicopter and pray that this is going to work.

I get in and begin flying it to the corner of the map. I keep going and going, aiming for a specific pixelated triangle in the mountain range. My finger doesn’t let up from the D key.

Sweat breaks out across my forehead.

I’m also eighty percent sure I need to piss right now. Those energy drinks did wonders keeping me awake, but they went right through me. Noob mistake before a three-hour run.

I just need to get this right, and then I’ll be done in no time.

My breath hitches as I watch the helicopter spin out of control, clipping through the mountain range into some unforeseen blackness on screen. It spits back out on the other side, into what looks like a control room. I quickly jump out of the helicopter before it crashes in the small space and goes up in flames. Adrenaline pumping through me, I run my character toward the NPC sitting at the large desk and merk him with my revolver.

There’s a pause as the game attempts to catch up to my actions. Finally, the code realizes I’ve just killed the final boss and sets itself back on course.

The final cutscene plays, and I grin.

I fucking did it.

I rip off my headphones and stand, letting loose a howling cheer.

A quick glance to my right shows that everyone else is still finishing. I look up at the jumbo screen, and tears bead my eyes when I see my time. Three hours and two minutes. My body shakes.

A new fucking record.

And it’s on the official books.

I did it.

The crowd chants around me, and I feel nothing but pure euphoria in this moment. Dopamine and pride flood my system. The only thing that would make this better is if Sydney were here. I have no doubt she is watching the livestream from the hospital.

God, I can’t wait to see her.

Two bodies crash into me, almost knocking me to the ground as they envelop me in a hug.

“You crushed that.” Jackson squeezes tighter, attempting to remove all the air from my body.

“Thanks,” I wheeze out.

“Yeah, congrats, dude!” Aleks grins down at me. “How are we going to celebrate?”

“Honestly, I just want to see Syd.”

“Fair.” Aleks shrugs. “But we’re going to do something eventually.”

“Oh, yeah. We’ll get proper pissed later.”

“That’s my boy.”

“All right, let’s leave the winner to do his glory round.” Jackson inclines his head to the reporters standing by. “We’ll catch you later, ‘kay?”

I give them a nod, and they file offstage.

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