Asylum: Saving the World

A Hidden Rule

My lower lip trembled I can feel it. This was never disclosed to us from the very start. This game is scary! I feel angry right now for being uninformed and kept in the dark. Moreover, I feel betrayed by this system. It's too dangerous. Why are they taking the lives of people for granted just because of a game? Why are they doing this to humanity? I'm a human rights lawyer and a good one at what I do. This kind of thing makes me feel so angry. I bit my lower lip so I could stop it from trembling. 

"You do know that this is illegal..." I cannot stop myself from commenting. 

That made Lyn's eyes grow big. She stared at me and breathed heavily. She seems to be stopping herself from saying more. I can see how much she is restraining herself deep inside. As a lawyer who has a background in human psychology and behavior, I am so sensitive to people's reactions and eye movements. I can sense that something is off but I am really not informed about it. 

"Your superiors know the importance of this game. It is not JUST a game. It is something that we are all responsible for. I may not be able to answer all your questions today but someday, you will know the reason why. Just so you know, giving everything up and living here just to supervise what is going on with all the players left is my contribution to the main reason for this game. This is how important it is."

I am angry but I also don't want to put her in hot water. After all, she's just a worker here as well. I nodded and swallowed hard. I stared at the closed capsules and sighed. They will live as she said but what happens next? I raised my hand and pointed at the capsules.

"D-did you just say that they will regain their strength and live again?" I wanted to make sure that I didn't imagine her answer according to how I wanted it to be. 

She nodded as her eyes followed the direction of my hand. 

"Yes. Follow me."

Without any word, she turned around and led me to a big room filled with computers. Oh, are these computers? I can see some monitors like ECG, the one that is connected to the heart to measure its beats. Or are they connected to the brain? I'm not sure.

"They are monitors for each person lying in the capsule," Lyn explained before I can even ask a question. Maybe she saw my reaction when I stared at them. "With them, I can see what's going on inside the body of each patient. They are not just ordinary monitors though. They are made with the best quality materials because we know the importance of this game to humanity. They can detect the slightest change and troubleshoot it. That's why by lying inside the capsule, the players are regenerated."

I nodded. It's still unclear but not as confusing as a whole back. At least I am a little bit assured that the gamers are not just left inside the Asylum to die. There is an attempt to help them come back to life. 

"So how long does it take for them to come back alive to the natural world?" I asked, still wanting to be clarified. 

"Two days," she answered. "That's the ideal time to recuperate."

So they will come back on the day we will play again. That's the day after tomorrow. I nodded. 

"What happens to them after waking up? Are they going to fight with us again?" I can't keep my curiosity deep within. This game is getting more and more dangerous from my point of view. For me, once something involves the life, liberty, and property of a person, that is already critical. 

"They are automatically disqualified to continue. The moment you enter in, their capsules will open and they will leave this place earlier than you, unable to recall what happened inside the Asylum. The system has programmed this to be so that there will be no gossip or word that will be taken out to the outside world."

The system. Not taken to the outside world? And why is that? Should something be hidden? I don't get it. What are they all keeping this a secret? I cannot think of any reason.

"I know you have many questions and you have many doubts right now...but can I say something from my mind?" Lyn asked and swallowed as she stared at my eyes.

I nodded. 

"Based on what I see, the system favors you and keeps you at an advantage for reasons I don't know. Among all the players inside, you're the most promising, too. Yes, you are definitely not the strongest but the most flexible one."

My jaw dropped at that? I frowned and stared back. 

"Am I? Are you sure you are talking about me? Maybe you mistakenly took me for another player. I am nothing like you said."

She shook her head and stared at me. She smiled and nodded after that as she looked at me. 

"It seems that you are still unaware of what you can really do, but it's okay. In my entire life, I have seen a lot of players and I know a real one when I see one. You're the best we've got and we need you. You're the hope that humanity needs."

I flinched deep inside. Weird. If only I'm not scared of insulting this person, I may have shown my real reaction to her. She's speaking something that appears weird to me. I am not used to hearing these kinds of words from anyone. The hope of humanity? What the ---! 

"I should get going," I said in a low voice. "I'm sorry for disturbing you."

She shook her head.

"It's okay. I understand."

I turned my back and walked out of this place. What have I gotten myself into? Or what has my frat gotten me into? Did they know all these things before pushing me into it?