1 Prologue (2/2)
”Come with me, dude.” I hollered towards my friend.
”Uh, o-okay! I'm not a third wheel or anything in this situation, right?”
”...”
This guy. Even in a chaotic situation like this, he's still able to keep his head straight and joke around. As expected of someone with great leaders.h.i.+p capabilities.
As I ran towards the beacon, it seemed like its light was expanding towards me as well - it seemed like it was rus.h.i.+ng towards me faster than I could ever imagine. Then, both pairs of footsteps slowed to a stop. Exhausted, I turned around to look at my friend who had slowed down to a walking pace to match me.
I told him, ”Dude, I don't think I can make it any farther... This thing's too bright... And for some reason, it's getting pretty hard to run...”
”Seriously, Jon? I'm sure even someone as dumb as you can figure out the world's ending or something, and this light is our only hope! If you can't make it, you're really not gonna make it!”
*I know what you're thinking. You're thinking that I haven't truly given up yet, right? I guess you're not too wrong, but...*
”So the world's ending, you think? Isn't that quite the conclusion to come to just from what we've seen today? ...Yeah, I know. I'm just getting both of us riled up for no reason, aren't I? I just got Mr. know-it-all over here to say something really dumb!”
”Shut up! It's not like you're that much dumber than I am! Anyway, who knows how long we're gonna last here! ...How about this? Let's play a game.”
”A game, huh? You can't seriously mean...”
”When it comes down to a game, Jon, I'm always serious. And you know what it's gonna be.”
This is how he always is. Whenever, I'm feeling down about myself, he always brings the one thing to light a fire within me again. A game. I'm not going to let him provoke me too much this time, either. When it comes down to physical ability, there's no way I could lose against him. Bring it on.
”Of course. First one to reach the light wins, right? This is just like you; always picking useless fights with me, huh? Let's go.”
The pseudo-motivational speech accomplis.h.i.+ng its task, two pairs of running footsteps could be heard once more. The end was in sight. Just a little bit farther, now...
Each step closer to the goal was more difficult than the last. Not that it was too exhausting, but the already blinding light wouldn't stop getting brighter. Eventually, the light became so bright that I couldn't tell if my eyes were open or closed. My steps seemed to become more and more hurried, as if running on a treadmill that was going too fast. But I couldn't stop now. Faster. Faster. And then...
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