Chapter 2

  When I awoke I realized there was a breathing apparatus covering my mouth and nose much like the mask I used when I trained. I was also naked and in chains in a large cylindrical glass container. I struggled but the chains held firm. I looked around to see if there was a way of escape but there was none.

  “Captain Washington”, a voice said

  I looked up through the glass and saw a man in a lab coat.

  “Who are you and what do you want?”, I growled.

  “My name is of no importance but what I have to say may offer you a chance to leave this place and gain your freedom. Are you a fan of games?”

  “No, I was a soldier! A warrior! I don’t play games! Tell me what you want and stop speaking in riddles!”

  “My what a temper you have captain. Well I will make this as simple as possible. Suspended animation does keep your body alive but what you don’t know is that you mind is placed in a virtual reality. There you mind is imprisoned in a world full of danger.”

  “What the hell are you talking about?!”

  “Your mind is thrust into a world of violence and death a post-apocalyptic world of sorts where you must survive and humans are not the top of the food chain. If you manage to clear certain parameters you will be given you freedom.”

  “What’s the catch? I know you don’t give something for nothing.”

  “Well its very simple, we allow a select few high paying clients to watch the show and we make money off of them placing bets to see if you will die. Oh and if you die in that world you will die here.”

  “So if I survive you will let me free?”

  “Yes but just to be clear, I created this program 20 years ago and no one has managed to clear it. There have been over 5 million inmates imprisoned. The death rate is 90%.”

  “Hmm.. so 10% have survived. Not bad for because I’ve always been in the top 1%. I will take on your nightmare world and return to my life.”

  “That is the spirit Mr. Washington. Best of luck to you. You may feel some discomfort now.”, said the man.

  The tank began to fill with a thick yellowish viscous liquid. It quickly reached my waist and I felt my legs go numb. As the height of the liquid inched up my body, I lost feeling all over. It felt like I was paralyzed. Once it reached above my head my vision became fuzzy and I lost consciousness.

  After some time I awoke. I blinked my eyes several times before they began to focus. I looked around a found that I was in a small room on a bed that was just big enough for my body. I stood up and realized that I only had on a pair of underwear and much to my chagrin it was really cold. About 2 meters from me I saw a small table with piece of paper wrapped up with a ribbon. I walked over the cold ground and picked it up.

  “Status”

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  A blue screen appeared in front of him.

  Hmmm… a name? It needs to be something powerful. I got it! I’ll call myself Achilles like the warrior from Greek history.

  I touched the stats one by one and they opened up a new screen that he could look at more information.

  Hmm… this all seems pretty straight forward and I guess my martial arts background and level of physical fitness have affected this body giving me a higher level than a normal person. Well that is definitely a bonus. Now what is Sp and AP?

  I touched the AP and SP then two more screens jumped out with explanations.

  So now I have a good idea of the stats and my status screen. Now I have to find fire wood and make a fire to get warm before I freeze to death out here.

  I touched the screens and they closed one by one. I opened the door to the next room and walked in. There was a simple fireplace with nothing in it accept some ashes of something that had previously burned. I looked around and there was also a table with a chair. The place was obviously just a shelter to keep one safe from the elements.

  Alright survival training 101 is to find shelter, food, and water. I’ve got shelter so now I need to find food and water.