Game Blocks Keep Falling on My Head

I see they’re running that blue hi-tech theme again, with the cold blue steel towers all around. That's fine with me; it's fits in with the theme of what goes on here a lot better than that candy-themed pink and rainbow design they put in when "they're" in a particularly jolly – or sadistic mood.

What this place is I couldn't tell you, but I do know I've been here for a long, long time. All I know is that if I plan on living through this, I've got to keep my wits about me. It's actually pretty routine now, except for when they throw out a red eraser cube. I've gotten pretty good at dodging those too, but they seem to be getting more accurate each game – as if "they" are putting some sort of heat-seeking technology in the cubes, the better to catch me.

The last thing I remember from the "other" world – which seems less and less real all the time – was sitting in front of my computer. Then there was a flash, and I passed out – and the next thing I knew, I was here – in a place that seems out of an infant's vision of hell! "Here" is where I am the lone participant in a type of game – although to me, it's anything but fun. The ones who are running this place seem to be entertained, as are the spectators, whom I have never seen but know must be there, for reasons that will become clear.

When I first opened my eyes after regaining consciousness, I observed a landscape that, at the time, did not make sense. Imagine being in a space with giant letter cubes hovering about, above and below – sort of like the blocks nursery school kids play with. It was dark, but there were these lights out in the distance – red, yellow, dark blue – that made it possible to see immediately ahead, but not beyond. I did see a big sign that spelled out "Wordtrix."

And of course, the letter cubes themselves were garishly lit. My first emotion, after disorientation, was wonder; how could these cubes float as they did? And even more amazingly, the cubes above started to float downwards. They would fall to the ground, or atop another cube, if the space a cube floated down to was already occupied. From the thud they made when they hit a surface, I realized these cubes were of substantial weight. And every once in awhile, a group of cubes would generate a flash of light and fly off to the side. I noticed that these groups of cubes spelled out simple words of three and four letters – "cat," "dog," "kill," and the groups took on some sort of halo Most of the cubes did not achieve this seemingly exalted status – they just stayed where they were. The whole scene reminded of some giant 3D video Scrabble game.

I stood for the longest time, watching the cubes fall, crashing into each other and forming into words. Eventually, the piles reached high, high up – and after reaching what must have been the roof of this huge space, a flame came down, as if from the heavens, to totally consume the blocks. It should have gotten very hot in the room when that flame came down, but it didn't. Nevertheless, the cubes were burned to a crisp – and the ashes were quickly sucked into the ground below.

Just what was going on here? Why was I brought here? Who is behind this circus? Amazingly, as if it could read my mind, the Voice responded. "Now that you have completed your training," the Voice said, "you are ready to begin."

I opened my mouth to speak but my throat made no noise – there must have been some atmospheric damper on sound. But I could hear the Voice – which seemed not to be attached to anything – loud and clear. "Your laser gun is lying on the table. Pick it up so that you may begin your work," the Voice commanded.

This was getting to be too weird (not that it wasn't weird until now!). I began to panic – and to resist. I tried to run in the other direction – but whatever they did to paralyze my voice they were doing to my feet, as well. I could barely move in the direction I was aiming for (not that I knew where I would escape to, anyway). Only when I moved in the direction of the table on my left – where the laser gun they wanted me to pick up lay – could I move freely.

So that was it; I was a prisoner of some sadistic beings with some sort of special powers. Resistance, seemingly, was futile. I had no options at this point but to go with the flow. So, I picked up the laser – not knowing the hell that would break loose an instant later. In retrospect, I should have seen it coming; the floating letters, the words assembling on their own. Obviously my "work" was going to be somehow manipulating these cubes into words. But what was the reward? Would I gain my freedom if I succeeded? Once the "game" began, though, it was clear what my reward would be; staying alive until the next round. As soon as I picked up the laser, the cubes started falling – but not off in the distance as during my "training," but right on top of me! I pointed the laser at a cube, and it moved with my beam. So I was able to set it on the ground.

But that was just the first cube. Now they started raining down. I moved quickly – shooting my laser at the Q's, X's, V's and anything else that fell. A million thoughts went through my mind – mostly of word I had used in my career as a Scrabble player. It was like my brain was on adrenaline as I started racking up the words - hot, cow, dog, beat, like, gig, and dozens of others I wasn't even aiming for. Any combination of letters that made a word, in any direction – up, down, or sideways, was magically transported from the playing floor to the scoreboard amid loud noises and flashes. I did miss a few blocks, which fell right near me – and from the impact and sound they made, I realized that I had better make sure none fell on me.

But then there was that glowing red block, the one I call "the destroyer." I had already seen what it could do – but the fireworks display I saw during my practice run was nothing compared to getting up close and personal with it. Anything this cube touched was obliterated – even the ashes, which appeared instantaneously after they got hit by the cube.

Finally, after what seemed an eternity, the blocks stopped falling. Exhausted, I fell to the floor and fell asleep. When I awoke, some food and water were on the table. I ate and drank - and finally, my voice functioning again, I shouted and cried out my fears, frustrations, and of course questions.

Nothing. The Voice had nothing to say. Until some time passed. Then it spoke. "Round two begins in five minutes," it said.

And it did.

And here I still am. I've gone through countless rounds. My physical needs are seen to (there is a bathroom and shower here, and someone – or something – cleans it regularly). I'm really in a bit of a bind; I can't stop playing the "game" long enough to search for a way out, because there always seem to be blocks falling. I do get a break once in awhile, but I'm usually too tired to move.

But I'm getting some idea of what is going on here. I've seen figures in the shadows and when they put on one of the brighter colored themes in this place, like "candy cane," as I call it, I could almost swear I can see what they call on Star Trek "humanoid" figures in the distance, but opaque – like they're behind a wall. I've been able to judge more or less what the distance between me and that wall is. "They" – the people behind the Voice – seem to be watching often, but not always, because I've been able to walk around and check out various parts of the space I'm in (when they are around, the Voice usually warns me to go back to my table/bed area).

I think I've got a strategy that might help me escape. One of these games, I'm going to work my way to the wall, bouncing blocks around with my laser beam – and when I get to the wall, I will rip a hole in it and see just who has been responsible for this nightmare.

Not today, though. Today my goal is the same as yesterday. To stay alive.

Oh-oh – there's the Voice.

Gotta go.

Download Wordtrix at http://www.automatongames.com/wordtrix. Free, for all Windows systems.

David Shamah

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