6

"She is still waiting for me," Leo suddenly said. "I told her I would be home soon. She knows I always keep my words. Why did I have to die so unfairly? I haven't even done anything wrong. After years of trying, I finally settled down with the woman after my heart, but death is so cruel. I don't know how many days must have passed, but I wouldn't want her to wait for me when I'm not even sure if I'm going to make it out of here. She should live on and be happy, find someone good who will cherish her and give her the kind of peace she deserves. But," he broke down in tears, "I really don't want her to move on without me. Even if it's ten years, I still want her to wait for me. I want her to only think about me. If that's being selfish then let me be selfish."

Elara felt her eyes twitch at his words and it stirred something in her. She didn't see that as being selfish, but as someone who is in love and wants his woman to grab onto the last straw of hope even as he is also grabbing on. Marcus never did that. He never gave her that kind of assurance. He only made her feel like it was not safe leaving him alone in the house with her sister. Like she should always be in the office working till daybreak while she provides everything they needed at home.

Home. The sound of that alone felt distant to her now.

As she made to walk towards him and offer her comfort, they heard the sound of wheels stopping right in front of the hotel followed by footsteps approaching.

Everyone turned to the direction. Rue stood alert, gripping her hands firmly as if getting ready for an attack. Jax looks tensed and Leo just backed away. But Cipher, he had his arms crossed and his head tilted.

"WT—" Jax couldn't complete his words as he now saw faces of new people. His mouth hung open in the air and he looked at them almost in disbelief.

It wasn't just the five of them anymore, but ten other new faces. Some were young while some were older.

"Who are they?" Jax whispered to Rue who was beside him, but she ignored him instead.

"Competitors," Cipher said, his voice audible for anyone to hear. "Or survivors. The game is about to start."

A girl with blue-dyed hair stepped forward from them and asked, "Are you newbies or oldies?"

Her voice sounded sharp and authoritative, one that made Elara believe she must be one of the 'oldies'.

"Some of us are new," Rue answered her.

"Half and half then?"

"Just three, I guess," Rue said.

The girl looked at them, as if head-counting and she spoke again, "Seeing you are just five makes me believe we have to split ourselves into two, am I right?"

"The rules of the game hasn't been announced yet," Cipher spoke. "I believe you are the ones we've been waiting for."

"And who are you?" the girl asked, somewhat downsizing him with her eyes.

"Ancient," answered Cipher with barely any expression.

Elara took her time to study each one of them. They looked more organized, each wearing a colored band tied on their wrist, arm or next. She also noticed a boy with a scarred face clutching a pipe like it's a weapon.

They all look like they are prepared for whatever they were here for.

"Do you have any idea what we are here for?" someone from the group asked.

"Another game obviously," another hissed.

"Grand Hotel of Grandiose Demises," the girl spoke again. "What does that mean?" she directed her question to the five.

"That we die?" Cipher said.

"What kind of messed up name is that?" Rue exhaled.

"One that suits this world perfectly," Cipher said with a smile and dipped his hands into his pockets.

The girl cracked her knuckles and said, "The newbies, or rather—latecomers, should better catch up because I won't be sparing anyone if we were to face each other, not even the pretty," she looked towards Cipher and pulled the corner of her lips into a smirk.

Cipher muttered something inaudible, barely fazed.

The girl turned to the others and said, "Let's split up. Sam, you're with me. Three more people should join me and the rest should separate to the other side."

Elara saw the boy with the scarred face 'Sam' moving from where he is to now stand with her.

After they had separated, she said, "Fight hard! Die with honor if you must. Show them you're fearless. Let the ones left alive prove that our deaths weren't in vain but for a good cause."

From the way she spoke and the way the others wore bold expressions, Elara knew they had been together for some time and formed a bond that can't be broken. Even if they were to face each other, they won't be a weakness to the other. In the end, only the strong survives.

She heard Rue tut and walk back. Jax on the other hand looked uneasy. Elara could see him trying to gain favors from the other groups and she overhead him saying something like changing groups, only to be shooed off.

A deep metallic sound rang through the walls and Elara felt her bones vibrate. Even Leo flinched beside her.

"Showtime," Cipher muttered, like he had been expecting it all along.

A voice spoke. It was eerily calm and rich;

[Welcome to the Game.]

What followed was a cheerful applause that was obviously generated but still enough to send chills down Elara's spine.

The applause ended and the voice spoke again;

[Each of you will face trials. They could either make you strong, or break you. Complete them, and you might return to your original world. Fail...and you will be archived.]

"Archived?" Jax asked. "You mean...killed?"

"In a sense, yes," Cipher said.

Elara tried to swallow, but her throat felt awfully dry.

[To the newbies, this is the start of your first game. This is a two-in-one game and the first is...Blood Key!]

The sound of keys jingling and a table suddenly appearing at the front with a box placed on it made Elara's heart pound more than normal.

This was her first game and the first one in two, and yet, she isn't sure if she's going to make it through the first.

Surely, this is a damned world.

"To hell with you, Marcus!" she cursed him in her mind and clenched her hands into tight fists.