Beyond the Walls

Game Four

That night… It was impossible to know the time of the day in the four corner room without a door or windows. Only by the room turning dim, that player can say ‘It’s night time’.

Players are able to relax in their own space knowing they can’t lay hands on each other. It was a bliss time for everyone, well everyone except Lucas.

With a blanket all over here, he squirms and turns a few times a minute. Whenever he closes his eyes, flashes of images in the duration of games have been haunting him. Giving up he threw his blanket and sat down looking all drained and exhausted.

“Ah!” He gasped when his peripheral vision caught a figure on his side.

It was Aaron sitting on Elijah’s bed.

“Hey.” Aaron said, giving a piercing gaze at Lucas.

Unable to look at Aaron, Lucas only bowed a little of his head in acknowledgement of greetings.

“Was it all true?.... You manipulating things?”

‘Manipulating? That’s a strong word. If Lucas was given a chance to manipulate things, he would’ve rather escaped here than stay in this hell…

‘Huh?’ A thought suddenly passed by him.

“Should I take that as a yes?” Aaron continued frowning.

Distracted, missing his chance to defend himself. It would look like a lame excuse if he denies it after his silence.

“I think so. . . It was true after all, I knew there were people hiding in the room next to the stadium’s exit.” He admitted it.

“Why didn't you say anything? If you did, we wouldn’t be in this situation.”

“Because….”

‘I don’t trust any of you.’

He hid his first thoughts.

“Because…. I don’t trust Brandy and Unica, they were against the plan… if somehow, they betrayed the group I hoped, that the people in the room would take care of them.”

“But that didn’t happen, that fucker is still here…” The glare was diverted to the other side of the room.

“Yes…I think, it’s either, they saw Brandy’s gun or they observed how many can enter with a single card.” He blurted out his conclusion after seeing Brandy’s flashbacks in videos of Ranking.

“You are really smart and because of that you’ve saved us multiple times. That’s why I want to give you a chance to hear your real thoughts. How did you see Hiraya?”

Lucas thought he was going to ask about the last round, when Athena accused him of using them as bait.

“I, I thought Hiraya kind of resembled my mother. Warm and trustful…Looking at her made me think of my mother’s kindness and how much she suffered during the apocalypse…”

Aaron, who was frowning, frowned more harshly and slowly turned to rounded eyes as he watched Lucas’ look transitioned into something else.

Meeting Lucas’ unusual look, it reminded him of Lucas’ expressions caught in the video multiple times.

It’s a serious and blank expression as if he was hypnotize or he is just really indifferent and unfeeling.

“...They are the kind of people bound to get advantage and left to die in this kind of environment.” Lucas continued.

Lucas remembered it. Just like Athena had said, his impression on Hiraya’s heroic acts are dumb acts.

Hiraya bravely shields for the beaten Penelope even with a gun pointed at her head.

“THAT CAN’T STAY HERE! DAMMIT! AM I THE ONLY WHO KNOWS WHAT WILL HAPPEN? THAT THING COULD TEAR US ALL APART!” Brandy shouted, losing his mind on the fact that Penelope can turn to a newly turned undead any given moment, that day.

Though he is unimpressed by Hiraya's actions he is also not with Brandy’s outbursts.

He looked briefly at Penelope’s and turned his head down as others discussed ‘that’ matters. He remembered the past events during the apocalypse and had arrived at a decision.

‘She needs to die.’ He side glances at burning with fever Penelope.

“I will take responsibility for her.” Hiraya stood firm for her.

‘Why is she insisting on saving her? If the management will give her a vaccine, then maybe she could be saved…but if not….Should she die with her instead?’ Those were his exact thoughts as he watched her wipe Penelope’s forehead.

“Why are you here?” He blurted out.

Knowing that Hiraya is running an orphanage and somehow Aaron is attached to her, killing her is now out of options.

A small snide and inaudible remark came out of Lucas as he reminisced that day.

“My mother and Hiraya are not for this kind of World.”

It felt nice getting it out of his chest and finally admitting it. He blinked once then he could feel his eyelids getting heavier.

“...”

Lucas fell asleep while sitting down.

It wasn’t even 4 hours after he dozed off when the ringing of the system woke everyone up. Lucas came to see a blanket covering him up to his neck. He pulls it off and walks his way to the centre.

*Ting Ting Ting

[Welcome Players! Game Four will commence in 24 hours]

[23:59:59]

The countdown has begun. Just as when players are starting to get back, the system’s voice continues.

[Game Four: Team Battle]

“...!”

[Players will be divided into two groups, five members in each group and these groups will race to finish the task. The first team to finish the task will be the sole winner of the games

*Time Limit : 00:00:00]

*Ting

[...Announcing the Leaders for each group. . . for Team 1, it will be led by the Rank 1 Player. . . Team two, will be led by the Rank 2 Player]

Liam and Lucas' picture was displayed in the hologram as the system announced it.

[...Team Leaders, will be the one responsible for recruiting other players into their group. Remaining rules will be announced at the start of the fourth round…]

[Good Luck Players!]

*Beep

The hologram was replaced by the Rest Zone’s Rules.

Lucas was still out of it. He slowly turns to look at Liam’s direction. Players are flocking at him.

‘Of course they will want him’

The video, skill set and ranking are all for this moment. Though their best skills are displayed, betrayals and bad reputations are also in the same boat. Besides wanting in the same group as the first placer, being in the Lucas group, the Team 2, seems to be inferior if you compare two leaders together.

After the video was aired and Athena’s revelations, nobody had talked to him but he could feel their gazes. He was isolated like he had some plague or disease.

Nobody will want to be in the same group of someone with skill sets of ‘Cunning, Choreographer, Actor…’

But despite that Lucas remained calm.

The group can only have 5 members, meaning, whether they like it or not, the rejects will come to his group.

He went back to his bed and slept. It has been long since he had rested this comfortable. The reason why the game masters intervened before anyone could be injured in the brawl from earlier hours, was because of this.

Needing 10 players for the next round and no need of convincing anyone because of their exact number, Lucas had been peaceful as he closed his eyes.

“Is he serious? He should be getting on his knees begging anyone to be in his group.” The 10th placer complained to Liam on his side.

“Because there is no need for him to beg.” Liam answered.

“But why? Look at him, even his previous group was not coming to him.”

Liam controlled his patience.

“That is because he knows I can only take 5 in my group.”

“Ah yes, that’s right! We should kick someone from our group, it’s that son of b***h right?” The 10th placer frowning tilt his head on Brandy’s nervous disposition.

*Thud

Brandy knelt on the floor and started begging.

“B,boss! I, I” Brandy tried but Liam slapped his hand away and bent down as he pulled up Brandy’s face.

“I saw it all, you piece of trash! Three of my good soldiers died because of you. I saw how to leave them just to save your thick skin. Thank the rest zone rules, and you didn’t die by my hand now… but I’ll see you in the next round, you son a bitch.” He said.

Liam was no saint but he has this undeniably charisma that attracts others and top notch skills.

‘Too bad, I can’t have you… but yeah I will take the best you have.’ He glanced at Lucas' direction briefly before he went to Aaron’s side.

“Will you come and join my group?”

Aaron came to stare at him and sighed. “Let me think about it.”

“Hey, you have another spot available?” Athena came on, with her hands in her pockets.

“Athena, What are you doing?!!” Elijah came in.

“Yes, you are welcome, Come to our side, once you are done. … Aaron right? Come to our side once you are decided.” Liam said.

“Athena, what are you thinking? Why are you joining that group?” Elijah asked as soon as Liam was a few steps away.

“Because I need to win. That’s why I am abandoning the drowning ship.

One hour had not passed yet but he is almost done completing his group while Lucas is still dozing off, Brandy is still pleading, and Aaron is still undecided.

“Liam, who will you kick out if that man decides to join?” The third placer asked.

“Hmm…”

“Is it Kiko?” Referring to the 10th placer, the third placer continued.

“I value loyalty.” He smirked as if in cue, Aaron was on his way to their group.

“Have you decided?”

Aaron took a moment and answered. “Yes”