Chapter 24
The big monitor in front of the participants played the footage of the remaining players inside the rooms.
Everyone was watching the events unfold, and one by one, they witness people coming out of the puzzle rooms.
Jones' group came out first, they were in the maze game. It's nothing but halls of mazes, and only one path is open to the exit. There was no countdown.
There is nothing to solve but memorize the orders of the turns, in that way, you won't lose your way.
The second to come out was Genevieve, she was in building 2. More specifically, the game was about which door to open, they have 3 lives each. The countdown was 30 minutes.
And there was 6 rooms presented to them, which has two doors each. If they were lucky enough to guess right in the first side of the room, they still have 3 lives, if they chose wrong, they lose a life.
If all 3 lives run out, you lose the game and you're out.
And there was only 2 of them.
Genevieve won and had one chance left but was lucky enough to pass the last door.
The girls came out of the rooms one by one, until all that is left is Katie's group.
She was in the corner of the room, all alone in the dark. This spiked Abbigail's attention, she wondered what Katie was doing if they had 20 minutes on their clock left.
Anyone would've panicked by now but what she was seeing is utterly ridiculous. The girl was calm and composed.
Her head was turning left and right, she also looked up and down, like she was analyzing the whole situation.
It was like she was trained, she moved swiftly and quietly.
While they were equally as enthralled by Katie's performance, the audience's cheers had faded and all that was left was the sensation of a pin falling.
They anticipated what would happen next.
Katie banged her head on the generator, expressing her irritation, earning a laugh from everyone. Then the cheers started again, surrounding the whole arena.
She then looked up as if she noticed something up there. Her brows were furrowed and she looked down.
She went around the room and was finding something. It took her some time but she bent down and found a rock, big enough to hurt someone and light enough to carry.
Katie then diverted her attention up again, she raised her hand as if she was using it as aim, her index finger was pointing at something, supported by her thumb.
What was she doing? Abbigail thought.
When she threw the rock, it missed by an inch. The rock fell on one of the girls head which earned a scream from her.
Katie chuckled and went to pick up the rock from where it fell.
She then positioned herself again like the same thing she did a while ago. Her index was pointing at something, and was supported by her thumb.
Her other arm was pulled back, the rock being the main weapon against the bulb.
As if it were a slingshot.
She then threw the rock and broke the bulb. The cracks scattered everywhere and the key landed on the wires close to the girls.
The girls however, did a blood curdling scream and ran in every direction they can.
Katie's only focus was the key in the wires. She picked it up and examined it.
She then went back to the generator and put the key through the locks.
The click can be heard throughout the silence engulfing the arena.
When she opened the generator, she saw levers. 4 of them.
Only then, did Abbigail understand the game and its processes.
The goal was to pull the levers to turn off all the lights, if she didn't break the only bulb hanging above them, and broke the lock from the generator instead, they would still be inside.
They said all lights, not just the ones they can locate and touch, but also the one that lights up the place.
When Abbigail saw how Katie smiled, she also noticed how fake it was.
She giggled, seeing irritation behind her eyes. But nonetheless, she did good.
Clever girl. Abbigail thought, looking up front again.
The action earned an uproar from the crowds, cheering her, chanting her, complimenting her.
But the shouts of the others who were not paying attention to her, overpowered it.
Her look did not catch many eyes, but it caught a particular gray one.
He watched the whole thing unfold.
He arrived minutes when they got in the rooms, he was late in short, he couldn't participate once it has started, it was the rules.
The crowd bowed down to him and cheered him so loud, the sound vibrated through the whole arena.
He paid attention only to Katie, he was intrigued by her. He found her fascinating.
He was wearing white per usual, white should be allowed but he doesn't want to see the players in white and let them think they're all matchy matchy or whatever Derek calls it.
He was wearing a medieval shirt and was partnered up with a trench coat long enough for his height. He wore high black boots and black pants and a sword to match it.
And one person matched his attire.
The contrast in colors, the same way their attire was designed as if it were pre determined.
The same coat and same style from top to bottom.
Katie.
And this is, ladies and gentlemen, why you pay attention to your surroundings.
I groaned inwardly, I'm hungry. Not only did I use my brain, I used my body.
I'm. Tired. And. I. Need. Food.
So what if I'm lazy? I love being like this, feels comfy.
There was an escort waiting for us outside the room.
The cheers of the crowds engulfed us as we neared the platform. He motioned for us to follow him into the huge platform in the center of the arena where the others are.
I recognized some faces, and all of them held proud faces.
Except one, Tam- Delora. She was frowning but she held her head up high.
Looks like we finished last.
We stood on the platform and the speaker announced our arrival.
I'm sorry but did she just underestimate my knowledge and my abilities? How rude.
I held on to my number, my hands were starting to sweat and my eyebrows were furrowing. My eyes held pride and irritation.
Now I'm feeling competitive.
I held my head up high, straightened my spine and stood straight.
I fixed my gaze directly at her, looking her up and down. Judging her by my eyes, then looking straight at her dull, pale brown eyes.
She flinched when she saw me and looked away, cowering behind another girl. If you want to fight, I am always ready.
If you were in there, I doubt you'll get out with that mouth of yours.
She'll be like those girls I was in, all blabbering and nothing will happen.
I clicked my tongue, expressing my disapproval and diverted my eyes elsewhere. The host speaking caught my attention so I offered it my ears.
She must've sensed it and introduced herself once again.
She chuckled. "I'm Abbigail Whitlock Jones, firstborn of the Jones Clan. Nice to meet you again."
I shook her hand and introduced myself as well. "Call me Katie." I remember what happened when I said my name.
She giggled and spoke, "I know who you are. You're the talk of the crowd. The mysterious woman with a mysterious name. At least, that's what I hear from these species." She rolled her eyes, earning a chuckle from me.
The screen was split into four sides, I'm assuming all of those were all building 1, in just different rooms.
The same goes with building 2 and 3, they had more than 4 cameras watching them.
So she paid attention to me. Why is that?
Before I could ask her, the host had already spoken.
I'm flipping tired, my brain is aching and my stomach keeps growling. I've already slept and eaten but I need more.
I slept comfortably on the couch in the living room in this house. The house was small but big enough to home all of us players.
Our escorts go back to their own homes and sleep in their own beds.
How lucky of them.
This bed they provided us with, I do not like it at all. It's too hard and if I lay down, my body becomes stiff. It's like sleeping on a damn floor.
I was alone since everyone was given a choice to have a roommate or have a solo room. I chose the latter, as always.
I tossed and turned, not feeling comfortable in any position I could have.
How unlucky.
I groaned and got up, I'll eat any food and then sleep.
Good idea.
I take that back, bad idea. They have nothing in the damn freezer.
I don't know how to cook, all I can do is eat and clean the dishes, damn.
I groaned lowly and turned off the lights from the kitchen, I went upstairs and decided to just sleep.
I passed by a door, hearing a muffled sound. I hesitated if I should put my ear onto the door or not.
But what happened to Tammy really traumatized me. Who likes hearing moans coming out of their friends mouth? Not me, clearly.
I shook my head and continued walking to my room.
I should bathe in holy water tomorrow.
Yeah.
Early in the morning, there was a commotion going on. A lot of people were standing outside a certain room.
Me being me, I got curious so I checked it out. The door was open and people were trying hard to peek inside without pushing anyone.
I tried my best to peek but the heads were blocking me.
Too early in the morning for this shit, I'm hungry. I immediately changed my mind and went straight to the kitchen.
Hopefully food is prepared, my stomach is growling.
The kitchen was clean so I'm guessing they're in the dining room across this kitchen.
I peeked and I was right, foods were scattered on the table and each chair has a proper table arrangement.
Is it weird if I say saliva is dripping from my mouth right now? Yeah? Ok.
There was varieties of food on the table, some were prepared how it should be and some were prepared how it should not be.
If that makes sense.
I love food, with just a peek, I can memorize its physical appearance and when I taste it, I cannot and refuse to forget it's deliciousness.
I took the closest seat to the chicken, my baby. I love eating meat. The nutrients they provide me with is everything I need to live in this life.
I love vegetables also but hate some.
I sat down and thanked the maids for the preparation and the food. They beamed at me and encouraged me to take the first bite.
I did and it was heaven. The chicken was cooked well and it was delicious.
Just the right heat, hmmm. I almost moaned when I tasted the meat. It was juicy and it melts in your mouth.
Yeah, I love it.
The commotion seems to have stopped as the girls entered the room one by one.
They all took their seats like a robot and were looking down. Abbigail isn't seen anywhere, is she still sleeping?
I looked around more but the man who is standing at the door with his hands behind his back got my attention.
I looked him over, he was wearing a butler's uniform. He must be the head of the staff here.
Wait, dead?
I coughed, unable to gulp the remaining food down my throat. I reached for the water and drank it like it was my salvation.
Attacked one of us? That name, isn't she the one who tried to flirt with the former Alpha? That girl?
I heard she was the second person to come out of the room in the Enigma, how come?
Did she do something?
And the room, speaking of that room, that's where I heard the muffled noises, I dismissed the thoughts of eavesdropping because that traumatized me but, if I did eavesdrop, would I know what happened?
Dismissing those thoughts, I pretended to eat comfortably.
I was losing my appetite when those thoughts occurred to me again.
Seriously, can't I take a break?
But...
Would she still be alive if I heard the noises?
Would I still be alive if I heard it and somehow helped her?
Just what the hell happened here?
I need to find out unless I want to be the next victim of the intruder.