The Game Must Go On Novels & Stories

I refused to look away, lifting my chin in defiance. “Do you know the kind of things they do in such games?” Alpha Nathan asked through the mind link while our eyes were still interlocked. A shiver ran down my spine, but I replied coolly, “I can’t wait to find out.” Xavier clapped his hands once, drawing my attention back. “Before we begin,” he said, “a few ground rules. First, this is meant to be fun. If anyone feels uncomfortable, speak up now and leave. Second, there is no outside interference. This is a game for adults, and we’re all here willingly. Lastly, remember: what happens here stays here.”

Imogen is the most important thing in my life right now, but I’m no idiot I can see how much of a toll it’s taking out of me. “We’ve got this, Brannigan.” Atlas claps me on the back. “Go give them fucking hell, Bro.” I intend to trust me; I want this like it’s my last meal and I haven’t eaten for a week. I tuck my head down, position my stick and wait for the whistle. The crowd is going insane, I mean so loud, the music is blasting. Hell, even the hosts are excited not knowing which way this game is going to go.

"But I'm glad the game's moving on to the next phase. If that's all—" No, that wasn't all. There was so much he wanted to say to her, and so much they needed to talk about. "Now that your game's moving forward, it means you can't leave," he said, pacing the small balcony. "You'll have to take back your resignation letter and see the game through."

Chains or not— I am not out of this game yet.

The evidence is right there. "I shouldn't. I have the game tonight. I have this rule... I don't indulge before I hit the ice. I need the hunger." "Oh." The disappointment in his voice is a knife. I almost cave. My wolf is screaming at me to forget the game, forget the rules, and take what's ours. No. I need my head in the game if we’re going to survive the Warhawks. "Isaac, if I get on my knees for you, I won't stop. I'll spend the day worshipping you until I’m too spent to hold a stick. I need that edge to win tonight."

“Then let's burn for all I care. Let's see how brave you are when there's no crowd to cheer you on.” The game was no longer about love. It was about destruction — about revenge. And I had just gotten started.

“Obviously.” “Don’t make it sound like it’s nothing. That’s insane, Theo.” “It’s necessary,” he corrects. “You don’t go into a game like this blind.” Game. Right. This is a game. Doesn’t matter if I don’t want to acknowledge it as one. I swallow and finally step closer, dropping my bag on his chair. Up close, it’s worse. There’s a column labeled PATTERNS. Another labeled TRIGGERS. And right at the bottom, underlined twice was BOREDOM = DISENGAGEMENT.

The participants stopped mid-movement, some holding their breaths, all eyes fixed on him. “You already know the rules,” Elder Cormac said, his voice sharp, leaving no room for misunderstanding. “Fight until the last day of the game. Don’t hold back. Take what is yours. Snatch everyone’s flags. The more you collect, the higher your chance to advance to the arena.” He paused for a heartbeat, letting his words sink into the anxious crowd. Then he leaned slightly forward, his gaze piercing. “But be careful,” he continued, his voice lowering, resonating like a warning echo across the field. “In this game, there are no allies. Everyone is your enemy. Good luck to all of you.”

D it won’t help anyway. 4. You must complete all 5 five aspects of the game. 5. You mustn’t ditch any round once you get the notification. 6: You must strive to win. *Failure to follow all these rules will lead to the death of one of your loved ones.’ Running my eyes through the rules, some things seem weird. The rumors about this game are quite different from what I’m seeing here. Did those people really ever play the game? I mean if they did, they shouldn’t be alive now since it’s somewhat a ‘don’t tell’ thingy.

The games of Olympia's Cup have begun, and we must play our part if we wish to see another dawn. T O B E C O N T I N U E D...