Chapter 5

     Everything is set for the first game to commence. The leaders are inside of a 10ft covered cylinder-shaped glass container, waiting on the finish line. The waves are quite strong as it hits the glass on both sides. The water level inside the cylinder starts at the bottom and as time passes by, it increases. If the members fail to reach the finish line, the leader will drown.

      All the players are also in position, standing on a long, rectangular, metal podium, ready for the game.  They will be given 25 minutes to complete the task of swimming 50 meters, getting the leader out of the cylinder and taking her back to the shore.

      “When will we start?!” someone asked, impatiently. A guy from the group beside him got irritated and decided to go closer to him and pushed him, causing him to fall into the water. The other players saw this and mistakenly thought the game has started, others thought he is cheating but nevertheless, everyone started to dive into the sea.

     This wasn’t supposed to happen, it’s a violation of the game rules because they should have waited for the signal before they started too early. As a result, the water level inside the cylinder fills up faster than it supposed to.

     Yekaterina’s group however knew it’s a violation so they waited for the official signal but they’re not exempted on the consequence of the other team’s violation. The cylinder where Yekaterina is, fills up just as fast as the others.

     Jade, seeing how this is becoming greatly unfavourable for them, nudged Andrik who is first in line and spoke. “Don’t wait for the signal!”

     But Andrik does not think he should do as he says. Ahrio got pissed, pushes him out of the way and he dives, despite the fact that he is feeling light-headed from drinking all that wine. Jade got worried so he decided to dive into the water as well, following Ahrio. He thought he needed help.

     Zayden and Blaize followed while Andrik stayed also pissed with his members because they did not wait for the signal. Both of them reached the cylinder, confused as to why Ahrio and Jade just stayed there looking, doing nothing, not even trying to break the glass lid of the cylinder. But their confusion got cleared when they saw that it is locked with a code. The upper part of the cylinder displays a screen that requires some sort of password.

     Blaize tried to look for clues around the cylinder but there was none. The water level has already reached Yekaterina’s chest and she look worried that they wouldn’t be able to find the code at all.

     Zayden punched the glass repeatedly but it didn’t break, not even a small crack. He tried again, but it was to no avail. His hand started bleeding, he looked down at it and he frowned when he noticed something. A small part of the metal was scratched revealing some numbers scribbled on it. Realizing this could be the secret code, he scraped the metal using the one on his other wrist until it unveiled a set of numbers, a9-4.

     He signalled the others to come out of the water, which they obeyed. He then showed them what’s written on the metal.

     “Scrape yours!” He instructed. Ahrio, Jade and Blaize hurriedly did so revealing all the hidden codes. On Ahrio’s, c9-3, on Jade, e9-2, and on Blaize’s b9-3.

     “We need Andrik’s hidden code as well to complete it and figure out the passcode.” Blaize said.  He looked towards the starting line where Andrik is standing and raised his one arm and pointed the metal on his wrist to inform Andrik about it.

     Confused, Andrik glanced at the metal on his wrist wondering what Blaize meant. He started scraping it off and saw the hidden code on his, d33-10. Realizing this, he immediately swims towards them.

     Jade dived under to check the remaining time displayed on the cylinder glass. 11 minutes left. They need to figure it out quick or it’s game over for them. He swam back up to tell them about the remaining time.

     Andrik reached the team and showed them his hidden code. They all placed their hands in the middle to show the complete set, a9-4, c9-3, e9-2, b9-3, d33-10.  It’s a word. He examined the codes and thought the letters at the beginning of each set must be an indicator of which comes first.

     “The order should be in alphabetical, a9-4, b9-3, c9-3, d33-10, e9-2.” Andrik explained.

     “There must be something on Yekaterina’s wrist too. I’ll go check.” Ahrio suggested before he dived back underwater.  The water level has now reached her neck. Ahrio gestured his wrist to Yekaterina and showed it to her closer. She saw the carved code and she looked at her own to check. There are three letters, i, u and m.  Ahrio saw it and swam back up again to inform the others.

     “It’s a word but It’s not one letter per number because then it would be hdhchcujhbuim. It doesn’t make sense.” Blaize said.

     “Maybe these could be a symbol.” Jade voiced out.

     Andrik shook his head, “No. I don’t think so.”

     They all stared at the codes, still puzzled and unable to figure it out. Jade checked the time again and now there’s only 3 minutes left and the water has now fully covered Yekaterina. She started to struggle with holding breath as she tried to kick and punched the glass in desperation.

     In that distressing moment, Andrik figured it out. "It's a minus sign!”

     “What do you mean minus sign?” Ahrio asked, not getting his point.

     “The dash! It’s a minus sign. We have to subtract each pair and then convert the answer into a letter.”  He elaborated.

     “Mine’s 5, so it’s letter E.” Zayden said.

     “F.” Blaize.

     “It’s another F.” Ahrio.

     “Mine’s U.” Jade said.

     "I have G. The word is EFFUGIUM.” Andrik muttered. They all know it’s a Latin term for “escape.” 

     With only 1 minute left, they hurriedly dived back under and Andrik pressed each letter of the word to unlock the cylinder glass. The top lid unlatched and opened up. Yekaterina swam out of it and up to gasp for air. She heaved, catching deep breaths to make up for the loss of oxygen minutes ago.

     The group had successfully saved their leader, the metal clasp on their wrists and ankles unclasped.  A success others weren’t able to achieve. Floating bodies of dead players who drowned scattered around the sea.

     Terrifying screams can be heard as the metal clasp tightened and cut off the failed players wrist and ankles, their leader drowned inside the cylinder glass.  Loud cheers can also be heard from the other players who completed the task successfully. Some even hugged each other in relief and joy.

     However, Yekaterina sensed a tension between her members when they furiously stared at Andrik.