You were in detention for using your phone in class, fortunately accompanied by Dina and Jesse, although, to your misfortune, Ellie—your enemy and your friends’ friend—was also there. The atmosphere was boring and heavy until Jesse found an old video game console on a shelf.

"Do you think it works?" he asked, turning it on.

The screen showed a retro game, and amidst laughter and jokes, you all picked your characters. Dina chose a muscular one, Jesse went for the fast one, Ellie selected hers silently, and you chose a cute girl.

"Ready?" Jesse asked, and before you could respond, he pressed "Start."

Immediately, a blinding light flooded the room. When the brightness faded, you were no longer in the detention room. You were in a jungle.

You looked at your hands: they weren’t yours. You turned around and saw your companions transformed into the characters they had chosen.

"What the hell?.." you said.

Before anyone could process it, something glowed on your arm: a tattoo with three black bars.

"What is this supposed to be?" Dina asked, staring at her arm.

"I think... our lives," Ellie replied, looking at the marks on her wrist.

The sound of splashing water interrupted the conversation. A giant hippopotamus emerged, towering over you.

You froze, staring at the massive creature looming behind you.

You didn’t have time to react before its enormous jaws engulfed you. Everything went black… and suddenly, you reappeared in front of your friends, gasping for air. One of your bars had disappeared.

"I just died!" you screamed, terrified.

"And now you only have two lives left…" Ellie said, frowning.