“THE OTHERSIDE”
A VIDEO GAME
by
Nur Alia Abd Rashid
The sound of a girl gasping for air is heard over the black screen.
FADE IN:
EXT RUINED STREET - NIGHT
TOP VIEW on the ground as the camera shakes with breathing of a girl over the scene while she runs.
AMARA (O.S)
Death.
AMARA(CONT’D)
It follows me.
Amara stops and rests briefly. She scans the rubble around her.
AMARA
(melancholic)
It never stops.
Amara looks down, her hair covers her eyes.
AMARA
The war took my friends...
She holds back her tears.
AMARA
My home—
Amara pauses as she sees her parents and her brother in a distance. She calls for them.
AMARA (O.S)
Mama! Papa! Akhl
(brother in Arabic)!
As her family walks towards her after recognising Amara and Amara takes a few steps forward. ANGLE ON Amara’s face when suddenly she is blown away and a loud sound explodes in her ears.
FADE TO: BLACK
AMARA (O.S)
--and now, my family.
FADE IN:
INT WHITE ROOM – DAY
The white room is bright. Amara stands, absent-mindedly. Then a number booms in the room.
ANNOUNCER
Number 0278. Please step forward.
AMARA
I was the 278th girl who was left
orphaned.
CAMERA on Amara’s back as she walks towards the exit. Amara passes a sign that says “The Institute.”
AMARA
Five years have passed since my
family died before my eyes.
A mechanic sound whirs, the sign
the door is opening.
AMARA
And after five years, I am to
return to the world.
FADE TO: BLACK
AMARA (O.S)
As expected, it hasn’t changed
a bit.
An exploding sound echoes and followed by the next scene: the prologue of the game.
THE END
