Part 9
I fell asleep.
I don't remember when.
I don't remember how.
But at some point, between the endless typing… I passed out.
Worst mistake of my life.
I wake up.
Phone in my hand.
Discord still open.
The event is still going.
My eyes burn as I look at the screen.
Fewer messages now.
Way fewer.
The chat that once moved faster than I could read… is slow.
Careful.
Like everyone is exhausted.
I scroll up.
Big mistake.
"eliminated"
"eliminated"
"eliminated"
Over and over again.
Names I recognize.
Gone.
Mods.
Friends.
Even the "Can I be mod?" guy.
…okay that one hurts less.
I scroll back down.
There are only a few people left typing.
Short messages now.
"hi"
"still here"
"cant feel my hands"
Same energy as someone running a marathon with broken legs.
Then I see it.
One of the last users types:
"i think it's over"
They stop.
Just for a second.
A single second.
"eliminated"
Gone.
No hesitation.
No mercy.
I feel sick.
This isn't funny anymore.
This isn't chaos.
This is… something else.
Then—
Everything stops.
No messages.
No typing.
Silence.
I look at the member list.
Three people left.
Two users…
And me.
Wait.
Me?
I wasn't even playing.
A message appears.
From "Server."
"final round"
My screen shakes slightly.
New rules appear.
"Rule 1: moderators must participate"
"Rule 2: last to type loses"
"Rule 3: no exceptions"
My hands go cold.
No.
No no no.
I try to close the app.
It doesn't close.
I try to turn off my phone.
It stays on.
I try to breathe.
Barely working.
The other two users start typing instantly.
"GO"
"NO STOPPING"
"WE CAN WIN THIS"
I stare at the keyboard.
If I don't type…
I lose.
But if I do type…
I'm part of this.
I hesitate.
One second.
Two seconds.
Three—
I start typing.
"…"
Because now…
I'm not the mod anymore.
I'm just another player.
And I really, really don't want to be…
"eliminated."