The tournament

200: Explanation

I tossed and turn, feeling this weird headache that I didn't have, or never had at all.

Squeezing my eyes with the back of my hand, I wake up to another confusing vision.

Am I dreaming? What's happening in my head?

"Hello? You're awake." I heard a frail voice, I don't have to look to know it's a young girl around my age.

I don't have to look at her because I am more captivated by the fascinating environment I'm enclosed in.

The room is like nowhere I've ever been in Archiefield. The light striking everywhere is in brilliant amounts. Of course, the walls are all steel and sliver like every wall in Archiefield but shinier, fancier, and elegant than any part of the countryside.

Where I live, the walls are dirty and stained. Everyone is focus on making money to care about polishing fences.

But for a majestical headquarters, I shouldn't be surprised.

"Hey what are you doing here?" A matured voice that must belong to an older woman came up.

I glance over to the girl in some brown boiler suit that matches along with her hair color, she looks completely startled by the entrance of the woman.

"I came for my medicine." The girl answered. I don't know why but I somehow believe she's lying. Maybe because her body language doesn't seem at ease.

There's the sound of approaching heels clinking to the floor until a woman in a medical uniform appears.

"Harper, you may return later. I have some urgent need to attend now." The woman softly tells the girl I believe is Harper and kindly escorts her to the door.

I am still laying onto the softest thing I've ever felt, and have some slender pipes connected to my skin when the woman saunters back to me, with a genuine smile on her face.

"Daphne Reuben, I'm Marisa Westward, I would be your doctor your stay here until the tournament."

I have thousands of questions like 'isn't doctor Westward Bella's mother?' but the most important one in my head slips out.

"What tournament?"

"You're a participant, my dear."

Her words sent a chill of alert to my whole body. I didn't know how I manage to sit up, but I realize my palms were holding on behind me, supporting my body.

I shake my head rapidly. This must be a mistake.

"No... I'm not." I stammered.

"Calm down..." She begins but I interrupted. She doesn't get to tell me to calm down when I'm sweating like I'm seating under a heated bed.

"No, you don't get it. I'm sixteen. It can't be. There must be some misunderstanding. I'm not yet of age." I rush my words, not getting meaning to whatever she's implying.

I might not go to school or socialize with people but I do know the fundamental rights and freedoms in this bunker.

I can't be a participant, it's not possible. I'm underage.

"Daphne." She lowered her head and bring her hand to my shoulder but I instinctively shrug off.

"You have to help me." I pleaded.

"It's the courthouse decision." In her eyes there is impotency, I could see right through.

I shook my head at her, I couldn't even cry. My breathing is hyperventilating from fear.

The fact that Bella's mother who has no idea of my friendship with her daughter, is here and knew exactly how wrong this is, yet is giving me away; is so scary.

"Bella would've told you to help me."

My words caught the woman off guard, she watches me with an agape face. Marisa has the same hair color as her daughter and eyes you'd think we're made of glass.

"What?" She gasped.

"She's the only person I have. Please don't take that away from me. Help me. I'm not ready for this, I can't leave here, I can't go out there." I pleaded desperately, hoping my words could work miracle on the woman right in front of me.

All of a sudden she seemed stressed. Like every weight is loaded upon her shoulders.

She swallowed and heaved a sigh, pinching the bridge of her nose with her fingers.

"Please doctor Westward, I can't survive whatever is out there."

"Daphne." She heaved another sigh and seat beside me. "Is just a better life. A world wider and brighter than this one, where you could see the atmospheric environment. You could have the sky above you and maybe even observe the rain. It's everything everyone here would wish for, it's a one-time opportunity."

She right, that's what everyone down here wishes for but is not a one-time opportunity, it's a mandatory tournament every young adult must participate in. But fairly is not yet my year.

"Then let me come to age. The tournament is only obligatory for eighteen-year-olds. I've two years away. Why me? I'm scared."

"It's going to be okay. Just stay strong and maybe you could make history." She brought her warm hand to cup my cheek, this time I didn't jerk away, maybe I needed the comfort. She has a smile that seems like hope, but she had no idea the court members had taken away the hope I had when they executed my last parent almost ten years ago."

"I don't want to make history, I want to stay in the garbage store. At least I don't have to be scared."

"Sometimes we have to go through fear, to be strong, Daphne."

Our conversation was interrupted when the door screeched open and an older man came through, he was dressed in those fancy court members' dresses, he has facial hair peppered along with grey by the lower end.

He might have the innocent look, but you can't tell a black heart wrapped with clean skin.

Doctor Westward dismissed herself out of the room that must be some medical care unit when the man advances towards me.

"Good afternoon Miss Baldwin, I'm Professor Ephraim." His voice was husky, I could hear the courage in the tone.

"How do you know is afternoon? As far as I know, we don't have the sun underneath the soil." I sarcastically said, setting down my legs on the steel floor.

He has a content smile on his face, while he studies me with intense brown eyes. "They said you're bold and I denied. Well, now I sure believe them after the impression you made."

"Who are they?"

"Residents, Daphne." His reply was resolute.

"Well did the resident forget to tell you I'm sixteen not eighteen?"

"I know is confusing..."

"Is not confusing it's inequity. I don't understand all this." I retorted.

"That's why I'm here, child. I'm here to answer all your questions."

"First, you address me as Miss now child, how interesting."

What's his game?

"How do you prefer I address you?" He asked.

"Just tell me why I'm here."

I feel like I'm going insane like I'm stuck in a nightmare I can't wake up.

"As you're aware the yearly tournament season is already here, and this year we have thirty, eighteen-year-old kids in the competition."

"Twenty-nine." Straightaway, I chastised his calculation.

"What?" My correction must have confused him.

"If you exclude me, remember I'm sixteen not eighteen?"

"We have twenty-nine, eighteen-year-olds and sixteen-year-old participants." He repeated with a knowing smile on his face after detecting the error in his statement.

"So why me? Why not keep on with the game or find someone preferable?"

"You're the right one for this."

"How? I don't know anything about this. I don't know how to play this competition."

"That's why you're here. We are going to get you prepared." He announced like I should be elated I'm being prepared for getting exposed out there.

"For what?" I practically yelled, not getting understanding anything in this his words, or not attempting to.

"To win." He simply answers.

"Win how? I thought everyone wins." I incline my head and pull on my hair with my fingers, preferring the pain than the confusion I'm going through.

"Only one winner gets to cross to the ultimate planet."

And that got me rising my head, looking up to the man in front of me, hoping I might find any hint of joke on his expression but what I saw was earnestness.

"You're kidding right?" I exhaled a laugh, hopefully, he doesn't mean it. But unfortunately, he still has that seriousness masked on his face. And that got me losing control. "There's no way you're sending thirty kids out there and expect only one to make it, what do you require, we all kill each other?" I exasperatedly wave my hands.

"Whatever you need to survive, my dear." How can he become complacent with this?

"This is insane, you're insane." I snapped.

"Is the opportunity every kid is waiting for."

Yes, I know. Everyone in Archiefield has been waiting for a moment like this in their lives. Who wouldn't? The members of the court had promised a better life out there, they say it's nothing as we imagine. Each year the number of teenage kids, the number of participants of the year's tournament.

They claimed every participate shall be muffled and sealed to cross over to the ultimate planet. They left out the one-winner part to the society

The courthouse had promised a life full of beauty and everything one desires on the ultimate planet. They've always shown us a video of at least one single successor after the tournament is over.

They made us believe everyone survived the contest, no one had the idea it was deadly. No one had any idea there weren't any heroes but only a single winner every year. If only the parents knew their kids were probably dead, no one would agree to let go of their child.

But the court members are very smart. They wouldn't let that out to the countrymen.

My father used to tell me about the planet and how beautiful earth is, anytime we played a game he called calamity survival.

The game was all about an escape plan, it was about hiding and sneaking. Oh and using the longest paths instead of the shortest. To win you have to be brave my dad used to say. Funny how I've never won until the morning before his execution. I knew he let me win because he wanted to make me know I would be okay.

But I am not, I've never been since the day he left me with nothing but a golden stone, promising me my mother's in there. All I have to do is keep it closer.

That's when it occurs to me I've left my golden stone back at the garbage store.

"Suicide mission?" I scoffed.

But instead, his next words arises something I've never felt before. Something I can't explain. It was just a question but it was one I've never had.

"It's a chance to see your mother, Daphne. Are you willing to let go of that?"