I Fix Air Conditioners in a Horror Game

My name's Lucy. I fix air conditioners.

One day, the AC unit I was working on just exploded.

Next thing I knew, I was sucked into some messed-up horror game.

Welcome to the Desert Dungeon. Forty degrees Celsius. Monsters here gotta eat people just to stop this fire from burning their souls.

Sweating buckets, I need to fixed the damn AC first.

The monsters tricked me into opening my door, then stood there gobsmacked by the cool air!

One of them hesitated, then shrugged: "Eh, we'll kill you tomorrow."

Then they all just crashed out in my living room.

So, I fixed their ACs to stay alive. Turns out, I had to fix their TVs too!

Now they're just chilling, watching TV, totally slacking off.

The System got pissed, punishing them by frying the wiring. Temp shot up to a blistering fifty Celsius C that's one hundred twenty-two Fahrenheit.

I cashed in my points for liquid nitrogen and blasted them with it.

Then I grabbed a shovel, a watering can, and some super-grow fertilizer:

"Alright folks, let's plant some trees! We're greening this desert!"

Before I got sucked into this nightmare

A fire took everything. My home, my parents. Everything's gone.

I got into MIT, but couldn't afford it. So I dropped out and became an appliance repair tech.

One day, I was on a house call, just popped the cover off an AC unit.

The homeowner asked, "So, what do you do for a living, ma'am?"

That's when I got yanked into the "Fate Twister Infinite Horror Game."

Character: Lucy, Desert Tour Group, Member.

Carrying: Electrician's Tool Kit, Rank B.

This game will be live-streamed.

Two screens popped up in front of me, like holograms.

In my personal stream chat, a few viewers popped in because I was new.

"Newbie? Damn, rough luck landing in this hellhole."

"Seriously. Avg 107F days, endless sand outside, stuck in a hotel with sealed windows. Half the players usually bake to death."

"LMAO, Rank B gear? Seriously? Haven't seen anything that crappy in ages."

I had no clue they were chatting. Terrified, I huddled in a corner, fanning myself with my hand, reading the Survival Guide:

"Welcome to the Desert Tour! Local temps peak at 107.6F during the day, 100.4F at night. The oasis 500 meters away is your only water source."

"Monster flames could consume players. Stay sharp."

"Your key card is your lifeline. Destroy it = instant death. Guard it!"

"Only your room is safe. Everywhere else is a kill zone. Beware of the monsters hunting you, and players hunting each other. Survive. Tour group: 50 players."

Current Deaths: 0/40

This wasn't a dream. I scrambled to open my tool kit.

Screwdrivers, nails, multimeter, hammer, pliers

It was literally my real-world toolkit. Seriously?

Was I supposed to stab a monster in the eye with a Phillips head?

I flopped onto the floor like a starfish. Honestly, bashing my own skull in with the hammer seemed more realistic.

It was so damn hot.

Sunset, but still a brutal 104F.

Outside the window, sand stretched forever, broken only by a patch of green.

The view looked like it was melting.

Sprawled on the floor, I couldn't even muster the energy to think about dying.

I got up, looked around and my eyes locked onto the AC unit.

The chat was buzzing about me.

"Is she gonna try the AC? Last guy who tried fixing a busted one roasted for an hour before he croaked."

"Poor kid. Youngsters can't handle any hardship, just want their AC."

"Shut up, Karen! Try sitting in 104F indoors? Bet you're some old fart sitting in your AC."

I slid the key card in.

Hit the AC button.

Nothing.

I flipped the breaker, dragged a chair over, climbed up and unscrewed the cover with my driver.

Inside? A rat's nest of wires and fried components.

Would've taken a normal person a decade to fix.

But I wasn't normal.

I was the tech who combined high-school physics with hands-on repair.

I went to work, the chat losing its mind.

"Holy crap, is she for real? That looks professional."

"No way she fixes it. Oh man, I kinda wanna see everyone else sweat while she chills."

"And she doesn't even pay the electric bill! Free AC!"

Click

Sweet, sweet 79F air hit my face.

I took a deep breath, pulling my shirt collar to cool my neck.

Then I collapsed onto the couch.

Okay, now I could think about dying.

I hadn't even warmed the cushion before ding-dong went the doorbell.

"Oh crap! Oh crap! The Monster girl is going to make a move on the AC technician!"

"She's here already? This is always the best part when a monster pretends to be a player!"

I peeked through the peephole:

A girl, maybe sixteen or seventeen, stood outside, clear burn scars on her face and hands.

"Um hi? I'm a player too. It's so hot outside can I just come in for a sec?"

She gave me these sad puppy looks.

Sad my ass! Who wears a long dress in 104F heat without a single drop of sweat?

She wasn't sweating, but I sure was.

"Uh hey maybe just press your face against the door crack?"

"You know, catch the cool air?"

The chat erupted.

"OMG, savage!"

"Let her in and it's over! Don't open it, girl!"

"Rumor is these monsters are in constant agony from internal fire. Eating people cools 'em down. Bet the AC feels like heaven."

I thought the room was supposed to be safe?

I ignored her, grabbed a pillow, and scrunched into the corner.

Around 9 PM, I checked the peephole again.

What. The. Actual. Hell.

That wasn't just an expression; it was a genuine, pants-wetting question.

Outside, besides the girl, were:

A guy literally on fire inside his clothes, a woman with a smashed, blackened face, a bone-dry mom clutching a baby, both , and a dog that looked like it rolled in charcoal

I was stunned. The chat went nuts:

"Whoa! Never seen a welcoming committee like that!"

"Girl, are you made of bacon? How'd you attract half the monsters?"

"Shouldn't have fixed the AC. Look at these monsters. AC kills. (praying hands)"

"Told ya, kid! Shoulda listened to this old fart!"

I grabbed my capybara plushie and retreated to my corner.

I wanted to cry, but couldn't. Why the monsters hang around my door? Why all of them?

Because of the AC?!

Fine! I'll I'll

Eh, screw it. Let 'em stay.

I could sleep anywhere.

The room is the safe zone and the monsters couldn't get in.

Just as I thought that, a voice only I could hear whispered:

Beep. Over five monsters seek interaction. Open your door promptly. Hospitality is key!

Introverted guests will be terminated.

I have to be hospitable to monsters?!

What's wrong with being an introvert?!

I wished my capybara would magically come alive and protect me.

Taking a deep breath, I mentally lit a candle for myself.

I turned the knob. The monsters practically stampeded in.

"Mmm fresh meat"

"Eat her! I wanna eat her!"

"Me first! I'm burning up!"

They closed in like wolves on a lamb. I held the plushie like a shield, trying not to look.

Suddenly, a voice cut through:

"Eat her? You sure about that?"

I looked up. It was the burned girl, Scarlett.

"The key card powers the AC. Eat her, the cool air vanishes."

I threw the capybara aside.

Nodded frantically:

"Yeah! Yeah! What's another day or two, anyway? Just relax! Cool off!"

The dog stopped panting.

The fire guy's flames flickered out.

The dry mom's baby stopped whimpering.

They took turns hogging the AC vent.

"Eh she ain't going anywhere. Kill her tomorrow!"

"Yeah, not really hungry right now. Gonna chill."

"Tomorrow. Definitely tomorrow."

My living room was packed with monsters. Scarlett told me to sleep in the bedroom.

Like where I slept was the issue!

Before I could move, BANG. BANG. BANG.

All the monster eyes glowed in the dark and fixed on me.

I peeked again. A guy stood there, nervously glancing around.

"You need something?"

"Sis! You're human, right? We're dying of thirst, gonna hit the oasis. Wanna come? Whoa, why's it so cold in there?!"

"Never mind that. Safety in numbers, right? Better chance against monsters."

"Man, those things freaking terrifying Let me tell you"

The night-owl viewers couldn't handle it.

"This dude is SO unlucky! I can't even imagine his face when that door opens"

"Run, buddy! Run! Unless she wants to speed things up"

"Old fart, is that you again?! Why you gotta assume the worst?"

Scarlett was suddenly beside me.

I tried desperately to signal "RUN!" through the door:

"Pass. You you should go. It's dangerous at night"

The dude wouldn't quit:

"C'mon, sis! You can tough it out one day, but two? And seriously, open up! Let me feel that AC!"

"Don't be stingy! We're roasting out here while you're living the dream!"

The chat sensed trouble.

"Hold up I checked his stream. Why's his vibe so off?"

"Holy crap! I know him! He gains power by killing other players! Total cancer!"

"LOL, cancer meets the real monsters now!"

"Open it! Open it! I need to see his face!"

Sweat trickled down my temple. Why wouldn't he leave?

Scarlett shoved me aside.

She mimicked my voice perfectly.

"Oh okay! I'm coming! Seriously dying of thirst here"

The guy sounded thrilled:

"Great! Others are hiding, scared of monsters"

Scarlett smirked:

"Wanna come in first? The AC's working."

She turned the knob. He leaped in.