Phantasmagoria
Vaughan Davenport

Iarrive at the Game Emporium with 15 minutes to spare before I entermy cubicle once again. I look around the centre and see mainlyemployees milling around. There's less of a crowd than there was thismorning, which is a good thing, because I can maybe spot who theother participants are. However, any person who I see look like theyare just here to watch, so I may not be able to spot a participant aseasily as that.

Iwatch replays of the game that me and the other participants havebeen part-taking in on massive screens plastered around the centre,and I see the level I just completed being shown. In slow-motion, Isee myself flying towards the group of Nevers in the second level,and as soon as I hit them, the screen turns into a flash of bluestarry lights. A message flashes up on screen over the image with thephrase '1000 POINTS!'

''Thatwas very impressive,'' I hear a male voice say behind me. I turn tosee a young looking man, with dark, slick hair, black-rimmed glasses,wearing a brown leather jacket with a blue top, denim jeans and blacksneakers come over to me, extending his hand.

''Yeah,I believe it was,'' I say to him as I hesitantly shake his hand.

''VaughanDavenport,'' he introduces himself as he shakes my hand assuringly.

''NashWilliams,'' I reciprocate.

''1000points, huh? You did pretty well for yourself,'' Vaughan says to meas he glances at the screen.

''Thanks.It was a hard challenge, though. Not sure if I preferred it to thefirst level,'' I say, making conversation.

''Yes,that first level was hard. That little girl was tough, but shemanaged to give me 1000 points,'' Vaughan reveals. So he'sthe guy who was awarded 1000 points in the first level then 700 inthe second.

''Sorryto have stolen your thunder,'' I say in a smug way. I can tell by theway he is smiling that I've touched a nerve. Good. I want him to seethat he's got competition in this game.

''That'salright, got to let an old dog have some fun,'' Vaughan sayssarcastically.

Oh, soI'm an old dog now?

''Ofcourse, us old dogs have got to show an example to the pups,'' Iretort. I think I'm having more fun with this guy than I had in thegame.

''Well,don't get too comfortable, Grandpa, I'll be taking first place in notime,'' Vaughan says as he begins to leave.

''Grandpa?That's childish,'' I say back to him. ''Wait, I thought you werefirst place?''

''Nope,some other guy is. I'm second,'' Vaughan says. ''I guess I'll see youon the other side,'' he says with a salute before he goes into theroom where the cubicles are. I thought that he was first.

Wait,let me get this straight.

VaughanDavenport says he got 1000 in the first, and then 700 in the second,giving him 1700 points. The only way someone else got firstplace...is to have had been awarded 900 points twice, since I tookthe 1000 points in the second level.

Iwonder who the person in first place is?

Or ishe lying to me?

''Ifthere are any more participants left in the Game Emporium, can youplease make your way to the cubicles please?'' I hear a male voicesay over a tannoy. Oh yeah, I totally lost track of time. I quicklygo through the door and into my cubicle to get ready to go in. Thelady who serviced me before came in as soon as I sat down.

''Helloagain, Mr Williams. Did you enjoy your break?'' she says to me as Iprepare myself to go into the game. I hand her my phone again like Idid last time.

''Yeah,I did. But it went so fast,'' I respond to her.

''Itdid indeed. Are you all set, Mr Williams?'' she asks me anotherquestion.

''Ibelieve I am, thanks,'' I reply.

''Good.The game will commence shortly. You will be transported to the placewhere you were last in the game before it was paused. Please makesure you prepare your mind for neural transportation,'' she says tome as I get comfortable in my seat.

''OK,''I say to her before she leaves.

''Havefun, Mr Williams,'' she says just as I hear the door close. What isit with everybody and fun? Does no one think I can have fun? Being inthis game sure makes me think differently about it. Especially sinceI've just made a new friend. Or shall I say enemy? I need to rememberthat guy.

VaughanDavenport.

''Welcometo Phantasmagoria,'' I hear the female voice that first introduced meto the game speak once more.

''Welcomeback, Mr Williams,'' she says further as the electronic visordescends over my head.

''Andgood-bye, reality,'' I say aloud as I wait for the neuraltransportation to happen.