I brought a pen and notebook.

Wrote down all their names.

Their middle names.

Their nicknames.

Their hobbies and habits.

Everything I could learn.

Their favorite food. Their childhood fears.

I learned every detail I could before it began.

To remind myself that they are human.

And to remind them too.

I have always been an empath.

I learned them all so well.

I talked to them, and actually listened to everything they had to say.

When the games began, I just stood there. Started reading out loud.

They watched me in stunned silence.

But none of them killed me.

And strangely enough.

They didn’t kill each other either.

The game makers might kill us all.

Or maybe they’ll start listening and learning too.