june event.

[falsitates]

JUNE 15, 2021

The heatwave has passed and the weather has never been better. The city is full of life once again, and the streets are busy as people return outdoors to enjoy what summer has to offer. Everything appears to have returned back to normal.

For everyone, but you.

The newcomers are given an envelope that is either addressed to their current residence or placed in their belongings. There is no return address, and inside is a New York state government-issued ID. It appears to be authentic. The residents, on the other hand, receive a similar envelope, but with a SIM card. There are no other notes.

Are these your rewards?

  MISSION BOARD

Your phone vibrates.

It doesn't stop until you pick it up and when you do, it's cold. The buttons do nothing as it shuts down, unresponsive to whatever actions that you take. Then, much like last time, white lettering on a black backdrop appears.

WELCOME TO WEEK THREE.
A NEW MODULE HAS BEEN UNLOCKED.
YOU MAY CHOOSE TO IGNORE IT.
OR YOU MAY CHOOSE TO USE IT.
AUDENTES FORTUNA IUVAT

A new section has been added to the app. It reads as 'missions'. There are currently three tasks available right now.

  BEGINNINGS OF A FOREST

The barrier continues to grow in size. Vitae's outskirts are gradually, but surely, expanding, and in its new area is a sea of trees. There has never been a forest surrounding the city, yet one is unmistakably forming. It's small, extending outside for less than a quarter-mile, and asides from its sudden appearance, there's nothing unusual about it. Only trees, the barrier, and the nagging feeling that someone is watching you.

Nobody in the city seems to notice. When questioned, they claim that the forest has always been there. In fact, the city was created in the heart of a forest, and it has remained that way since its inception. None of them are aware of the fact that these trees were never there until now.

It's as though the forest has always been there.

  DECISION TIME

By the end of the day, your phone vibrates again. A new message appears.

ALLY?
BETRAY?

One of the two choices must be selected. Otherwise, you won't be able to use your phone.

Make your choice.

Comments

[curriculumachine]

Nh...

[It's somewhat of an acknowledgement Noah said something. He doesn't return the smile, and it takes him a long moment to come up with anything to say.]

... Your hands...

[It was an attempt at a question, maybe.]

[morient]

You can see them?

[ That surprises him. Most people simply brush it off or ignore the very obvious crystalline changes altogether. Does that mean...? ]

Can you see the light barrier in the sky too?

[curriculumachine]

Yes.

[That answers both questions sufficiently.]

I'm going to...

[Mike trails off, but he moves to grab that milk crate and return it to its place out back, to avoid more conversation.]

[morient]

[ Seems like this guy isn't one for conversation. Noah is usually too polite to keep talking, but he follows Mike to within speaking distance: ]

I'm Noah. I can heal injuries and stuff like that... if you get hurt, please call me, I'll help.

[ Given that 3 people have already been seriously maimed at this point, he's not very optimistic about anyone avoiding injuries for long. ]

[curriculumachine]

[There's s tiny distressed noise, because now he feels cornered. There's nothing out this way but the bathrooms and no way to escape.]

I'm not...

[It ends in something choked and quiet, an exhale that's not really a word. Mike stares at the floor for a moment, taking perhaps too long to continue.]

I'm not going to get hurt.

[Nier had offered his services too, and Mike finds it strange because he's unaware of those seriously maimed incidents. Though...]

No, I... There was a... thing at the mall. But I'm fine. What did you want?

[Had Noah even asked a question? He can't be sure.]

[morient]

[ He's fine. That's good - between Nier and Judai, Noah has his hands full worrying. ]

I'm - well - I'm just worried. Sometimes people get attacked for no reason. It's probably because of the app.

[ There's no way to prevent it, only to deal with the aftermath, from Noah's perspective. ]

[curriculumachine]

It was probably Judai.

[There's no context given for his assumption that whoever got attacked was, in fact, attacked by Judai or his flying furball.]

[morient]

[ Noah hears this and thinks 'it was Judai who got attacked for no reason', which is true, because he got shot by a random police guy. ]

Someone else's phone exploded, stuff like that...

[ He knows Mike doesn't like to talk, so he figures if the guy says he can handle himself, then he will. ]

What's your name?

[curriculumachine]

[Just going to take his phone out of his pocket and turn it off to prevent explosions.]

Mike. It's on that... message board.

[Which he only looked at that first time himself, but...]

[morient]

It's nice to meet you.

[ One more person he'll take note of in case anything happens. ]

So, um... thanks again. And I'll see you around?

[ He gets the feeling that Mike doesn't want to talk too much. ]

[curriculumachine]

Nh...

[It's not a yes or no, an indecisive grunt. He should be more engaged with those who also have access to the app, but he can't seem to do it with any consistency. Maybe Judai was right and he should just text everything or... get a whiteboard. Hmm.]

See you.

[It sounds weird to him, fake.]