Steemit Story Slam Challenge 1: Skin In The Game (A Repost)

Here is my second entry for the #ssschallenge. This one was one of my highest earners for posts. Thanks for your consideration.

The risks were clear. Life and death. Carlos had to sign a long waiver before he could start the game. But he was desperate. Using a cane, Carlos limped over to the programmer and placed the signed waiver on the table.  

"Are you sure about this?" the programmer asked.  

Carlos only nodded yes.   

"Alright... let's get started."  

The programmer helped Carlos into the body mold. It was in a seated position. The arms were out in front so Carlos could hold onto the controller. When Carlos was in the mold the programmer pressed a button. There was a light humming.  

"You... you're a good gamer right?" the programmer asked  

"We are about to find out," Carlos joked.  The programmer didn't laugh.  

"Are the rumours true?" Carlos asked.  

"About the machine? Yeah... we have no idea where it came from. People think it was an alien game that fell from a ship... either way we can't figure out how to replicate it."  

The humming got louder. The mold started to engulf Carlos, it oozed over his entire body, except his mouth and nose. 

 "Don't panic," said the programmer, "breath."  

Carlos let out a deep breath. The mold that was covering his eyes changed to a darker colour then the rest of the blue mold. It was not much to look at from the outside, but to Carlos, he could see another world.  

"It looks so real," he said.  

"Yeah it's incredible, you need to make a character."  

Carlos made a tall male. He was fit. Much better shape then he had ever been in real life. He had on jeans, but no shirt. And he added a white-headset as a fun accesory. 

 "When you are ready, press go... good luck."  

Carlos pressed the button.  

The words level 1 flashed in front of him. Carlos was on an empty street. In front of him were three treasure chests, but something was blocking his path. There was a small raptor in front of him. It came up to his waist.  

"It's cute," Carlos said.  He took a step forward.  

"Careful," instructed the programmer.  

Carlos put a hand out to touch the the raptor. But the raptor was not interested in a greeting. It lifted its talon and scrathed Carlos in the side of the arm. The mold over his arm turned red. There was a loud beeping noise.  

"AH!" Carlos yelled. 

 The mold had sharpened itself over the area were Carlos was cute in the game. It dug into his skin, creating, in real life, the same wound he had suffered virtually.  

Carlos took a step back. He grabbed a blade from his side and lunged it into the raptor. The beast went down.  

"That really hurt," Carlos said.  

"I warned you... did you kill it?"  

"Yeah." 

 "Good, you can grab your reward and leave." 

 Carlos walked up to the three treasure chests. Choose one a voice whispered in his ear. He opened the second one. A big pair of digital eyes floated in the air in front of him.  

"What is it?"  The mold turned purple over his eyes. He felt a pinch. Then a release.   

"What happened?" Carlos asked, scared.  

"Transmutation."  

"What did you get?" the programmer asked.  

"A pair of eyes."  

"Awesome, you now have improved vision. You will be able to see details for miles. You should quit while you're ahead."  

There were two paths in front of him. One said exit, while the other siad level 2. Carlos went to level 2.  

"Not yet," Carlos said as he opened the door to the next level.  

This time there was a larger raptor that blocked his path. Carlos did not hesitate. He grabbed his weapon. The raptor lunged. Carlos did a quick dodge and then decapitated the creature. Level 2 complete.  

"Another one down."  

"Nice," the programmer replied.  

Carlos choose the second chest again. This time an image of a muscle flexing came up.  The mold turned purple around the arms of Carlos. Pieces of metal were infused into his mucles.  

"Fuck!" he screamed.  The programmer looked at where the mold was working.  

"It looks like you got super-strength."  

"Why did it hurt so much?"  

"Your body doesn't take change lightly... you really should get out now."  

Carlos didn't come from better vision or strength. He moved on to level 3.  

The creature that stood in front of him looked the same as on level 2.  

"This is it?" Carlos mocked.  He went in to do the same movement, but the creature had a suprise. He spit a corrisive chemical onto the knee of Carlos. The mold heated up in the area, burning his skin to the bone. The pain would have stopped any man. But Carlos smiled. He had no feeling in that part of his body. With a press of a button, Carlos took down the third creature.  

"Are you arlight?" the instructor asked.  

"I'm fine... let's see what number 3 rewards us."  

Carlos opened the first box. A foot came up.  

"Yes!" he exclaimed.  

Super-speed. The mold turned purple around his legs. Carlos screamed in pain. But it was quick.   

"Do you..." the instructor started to ask.  

"I don't have to limp anymore,"replied Carlos  Carlos took a step towards the exit.  

"No one has ever made it this far... congrats."  

Carlos stopped. He took a second to wonder what other powers he could get? He could be a super hero. This wasn't too hard. He could pass a few more levels. Carlos turned to his left and went on to level 4.  

"Why haven't you left yet?" the programmer asked.  

"Just one more level."  

Level 4.  In front of Carlos was a large dinosaur with a large mouth. It started to stomp towards Carlos. Carlos grabbed a hold of his weapon. He would have to dodge left or right and then go in for the kill. The dinosaur lunged forward. 

Carlos choose left.  

So did the dinosaur.