Chapter 7
SEVEN
T hea opens her mouth to speak, but Cer places his hand on top of hers. She inhales sharply at the contact, her body tensing. Eventually, she just shakes her head at me, her lips tipped up in an apologetic smile.
And by God, that scares me even more.
I don't get to ask her further as the music suddenly stops and the lights dim.
Thea claps her hands, her eyes sparkling with joy.
"It's starting. Oh my, it's starting," she squeals.
"Why are you so excited?" I frown. Looking back, she's been this way from the beginning—ecstatic to just be here. Does she want to compete in this so badly? Is it for a wish? What is her wish?
More questions flood my mind as I realize I know nothing about these strangers, just like I know nothing about this supposed game I've been invited to.
"It's my first time here," Thea breathes out in awe, her eyes searching the room for something. "I wasn't allowed here before," she says, almost absentmindedly.
"It's him! That's Inu." She jumps to her feet as she points to the stage.
With my attention on Thea, I didn't see that someone appeared on the stage. The lights surrounding the outer area have turned a deep red, while the floor lighting of the stage is a bright white. The audience is mostly invisible now as the focus is solely on the two newcomers.
The man—who I assume to be Inu—is dressed in a pair of black leather pants paired with a sparkly silver tank top. His bleached blond hair is spiky, reminiscent of the early 2000s. He has a pair of black sunglasses on, obscuring most of his face. He must be one of those people I've seen memes on the internet about who doesn't remove his sunglasses indoors.
Next to him is a woman, her hair just as blond as Inu's. She's wearing a silver pleated skirt that matches Inu's tank top, and she has a glittery bra as her top. Her breasts are...generous. That cleavage area alone has the men in the audience audibly panting at the sight of her, whistles and lewd jokes flittering through the club.
They both smile at the audience, waving to get more reaction out of the crowd.
"I can't believe he's here!" Thea jumps up and down.
"That's enough, Thea," Cer grumbles as he pulls her back down onto her seat. "You're going to make a spectacle of yourself."
"So what?" She shrugs, her eyes still glued to the stage. "When will I have the chance to see Inu again?" She gushes audibly.
"Who is he?" I ask, frowning.
"He's the most famous entertainer. His parties are legendary, or so I heard..." she trails off when her brother shoots her a look of annoyance.
Entertainer? So this is a reality show after all? But where are the cameras?
Oh my God! Is this live? Will I be on TV? Then the police will know exactly where to come look for me and...
"Is this being recorded?" I ask warily.
"Recorded?" Thea frowns. "No, of course not. This is an exclusive event that only a few people can take part in. It's very secretive," she tells me before redirecting her gaze to the stage and sighing dreamily as she stares at Inu.
Her brother doesn't seem too pleased about that. His facial expression is the definition of if looks could kill . I guess he doesn't share Thea's enthusiasm about tonight's hosts.
"Good evening, everyone, and welcome to the seventy-ninth edition of The Wishing Game. Are you all ready?"
The crowd follows the cue, erupting in a chorus of glee. "Yes!"
"Seventy-ninth edition?" I whisper to Thea.
She nods. "It happens once every one hundred years."
"We are your hosts for this evening. My name is Inu, and this bombshell next to me is my twin, Inara. We're going to explain all the rules and officially welcome you to the game."
More raucous cheers erupt from the crowd, together with chants of the hosts' names.
Inu smiles, putting a palm up. The crowd falls silent.
"Is he that famous?" I ask. Most of the people in the crowd seem to know them somehow.
"I told you. He's one of the biggest entertainers, but he's a very elusive figure. He DJs at clubs and hosts some of the most extravagant parties in this world."
"In this world?"
Cer clears his throat, giving Thea a warning look.
"Anyway, he's very famous in the party circles."
"I see..." But I don't see. I don't understand what everything has to do with me. Although I'm grateful to have a respite from being chased by the police, I'm starting to think I may have gotten myself into something worse.
"Your messengers should have already explained why you were chosen and what you stand to win if you prevail in the game. But I'm here to tell you that only the best can win. Are you the best?" He pauses for effect, glancing at the audience. "That remains to be seen."
"Messengers? What messengers?" I inquire, trying to subdue the panic in my voice.
Thea purses her lips.
"Doesn't matter." She shakes her head. "Just pay attention to what he's saying and you'll be fine."
I blink in confusion. Both Thea and Cer ignore me as they focus on the stage, and once more I get the feeling that they're hiding something.
"There are two hundred of you outcasts in this room today. And thousands more across the universe. You will all be competing at the same time for a chance to get your most ardent wish fulfilled. But this edition's game will be a little different," Inara says, a smile pulling at her lips. "Only five individuals out of one hundred thousand outcasts from all over the universe can win the game. That means this time you will not only be competing against the trials we've set for you, but also against each other."
The audience gasps, some voicing their complaints while others express their excitement about the more competitive nature of the game.
"Just like in our previous editions, we want the scales to be even for everyone at the start of the game. That means that all the participants will be gifted the chance to compete at peak condition. Of course, as per the rules, this gift is to be used only while you're competing in the game"—he gives Inara a look—"and at our discretion, of course."
"A gift?"
"What is it?"
"Inu is the best!"
Voices echo in the room, everyone showing their excitement.
Both Inu and Inara smile at the crowd.
"I trust you've all indulged in the special cocktails we've prepared for tonight?"
The audience responds with a resounding yes.
I find myself nodding as well, licking my lips as I remember the sweet taste of the beverage. Just a while ago, I'd chastised myself for drinking one too many glasses, but now I'm craving another one. It's quite the addictive flavor...
"What you all enjoyed was a punch mixed with a drop of ambrosia—just enough to give you all a fair chance in this competition."
I frown at the mention of ambrosia. What is that? I'm not familiar with the fruit. Others seem to be equally confused, but as the complaints resound in the room, they seem to be more concerned about the effects of the drink—or lack thereof.
"No, I'm afraid immortality is not on the menu tonight." Inu chuckles. "Although you can wish for it—and get it if you win."
"The drop of ambrosia was meant to get everyone in peak condition for the game. Shall we, Inu?" Inara shares a glance with her brother.
He stretches his arm toward her. As they join hands, a bright light engulfs the entire room. I squeeze my eyes shut, blinded by the blast.
A panicked breath catches in my throat as I bring my hands to my eyes, rubbing furiously. I dare to blink, moisture clinging to my lashes. Yet I can see—there's nothing wrong with my eyes.
My brows furrow as I glance around, trying to ascertain what just happened. But when I reach for Thea to ask her if she's all right, I'm shocked to discover the ease with which I can use my left arm. There's no...pain. No numbness. No discomfort at all.
I can move it perfectly fine—as if it had never been broken in the first place.
My eyes widen as I incredulously pat my torso, feeling for my bruised flesh and broken ribs. Where they used to hurt with just one touch, now there's absolutely no pain. Still in shock, I pull my hair to the side, searching for the place the doctors drilled a hole in my skull. If before I could feel the ridges of the sutures, now there's only smooth scalp.
"How is this possible?" I mumble in shock.
I'm not the only one in awe. As I look at the other side of the room, I spot someone who'd been in a wheelchair suddenly stand up and walk. Others who'd had various disabilities are healed as well. Even those costumed are rejoicing, although I can't see how the ambrosia worked for them.
The most striking, though, is a guy weeping on the floor. I vaguely remember noticing before that he had crutches and he was missing one leg.
But now...
How the hell could a person suddenly grow a leg?
Murmurs envelop the entire area, and while I can't make out what everyone is saying, I'm willing to guess they are all exhibiting some sort of life-changing healing.
Thea is watching raptly, a wide smile on her lips. Her brother, on the other hand, looks entirely bored. Resting his chin on the back of his hand, he releases an annoyed sigh.
"What is this, Thea? What is happening?"
Panic swells in my breast, yet at the same time, I'm physically perfectly fine. How is this possible? Am I dreaming? Am I in an alternate reality? Or, worse, am I still in a coma? That must be it because otherwise how can this be real? How can someone be healed with the snap of a finger? How can ambrosia grow a leg?
I'm either going crazy or something seriously messed up is afoot here.
"Sometimes it takes seeing with your own eyes to believe something, doesn't it?" Thea smiles at me. "Inu and Inara are minor deities of mischief and gossip, respectively. Together, they have a bit more power, hence the hand holding. But they're not that powerful. The ambrosia healed you. They merely activated its effects," she notes glibly.
"What? You... Deities? You're messing with me."
I stare at her, my mouth hanging open in shock.
"Please tell me you're joking," I whisper.
"I'm not and you know it. You can feel it," she says as she grabs my left hand. "How else would this be real, Luce?"
"I'm going crazy," I mutter to myself. A mixture of calm and restlessness fights for supremacy within me. One side of me wants to accept this as truth—the evidence is right in front of me. But the other side—the skeptical one—would rather believe I'm going crazy than admit that this could be real.
I lived most of my childhood believing that a god controlled our homeland, only to find out it was a charlatan who only wanted to take advantage of people's worship. Back then, too, I believed the so-called miracles and his divine intervention. So how can I believe this now when I've been burned before? Yet the evidence...
There's no pain. That's all I can think about. There's absolutely no pain.
"You're not going crazy, Luce." Thea pats my thigh. "Just open your mind to the impossible."
The impossible... That there are gods among us. Gods who have the power to stop pain, heal wounds, and grow limbs.
There are gods among us. And I have never in my life been more confused.
Because if there are gods among us; if there are beings with powers— true powers —then nothing is impossible.
Not even death.
"This is our welcoming gift to you," Inara says. "But as we mentioned before, this is only for the duration of the game."
"Shall we explain more about the game, Ina?"
She nods.
"The Wishing Game consists of five trials." As Inara speaks, the screen behind them lights up, showing five empty panels, each containing a question mark. "Each trial will be announced after the previous one is completed. The trials will become increasingly harder, and the last one will declare our winners. If more than five people pass the fifth trial—although that's unlikely—there will be another round to decide the winners. If not, you will get your wish upon the fulfillment of the fifth trial."
"And the rules are..." Inu pauses, a mischievous smile pulling at his lips. "That there are no rules."
Murmurs echo through the crowd.
"Yes, it's exactly as it sounds. You can use any means to win—even cheating."
"However," Inara intervenes, "you may not quit at any point during the game. Once you stepped foot into this venue, you officially entered the game. There is no way out except if you pass to the next round."
Inu nods.
"Once you've passed a trial, there will be a break before the next one starts. That is the only time anyone is allowed to withdraw. Of course, the gift we've offered tonight will be taken back, and your memory will be wiped of any knowledge of the game," Inu continues in a nonchalant manner—as if he didn't just say he'll erase the memory of anyone who wants to leave the game.
My mouth drops open in shock, but somehow I can't tear my gaze away from the stage.
"If you die at any point during the game, you forfeit your right to any future incarnations," Inara casually chimes in.