"You are a mysterious girl that torments my confused feelings"
"What is this thing?" my classmate questioned.
"A castle perhaps," I replied as I looked up at the castle.
He turned to me and laughed. "Why are you undisturbed to see such thing?" he asked with light laughter.
"You should get used to seeing strange things because we're here in a strange planet," then I smiled subtly.
I just noticed that his vibe seems different now. Yesterday he's preoccupied but now he's talking to me.
"Why are you talking to me?" I suddenly questioned him as he raised his left hand and protected his eye from the sunlight.
He turned to me. "Is there something wrong with that?" He also has a sense of humor. But I just narrowed my eyes at him. "Okay. The truth is, I don't know either. But when we fought the monster last night, my memories are in turmoil. I felt a sudden feeling that urges me to do something important."
"Important? What is it?"
He looked away. "I still don't know but the one solution to know that important thing is to know you more."
I raised my eyebrow. "You don't know me? But you remember that you're my classmate?"
He nodded his head in agreement. "I know it's weird. Everyone's weird. This memory of ours is confusing us from illusion to reality. Just after the monster died, it's like someone whispered to me to be close to you. And I guess, nothing's wrong with that." He said with a reassuring smile.
I don't know what I should feel. Happy? Annoyed? Frustrated? Because I am puzzled with him.
"But why do I remember you?" I asked.
"You know me?"
"Yeah, but all I know is that you're a classmate."
He sighed. "Too bad. I thought, I'll know my name." I sighed from what he said. "By the way, do you know what the name of our school is? 'Cuz I don't, how stupid of me."
I looked at my necktie and his polo pocket. It has a circle and the logo of a school, but it does not have the name of the school. Strange and impossible without a school name but only a logo.
"I don't know either," I answered.
"Really? So, it's not just me. But what I remember about the name of our school is that it starts with the letter V. I'm a hundred percent sure of it and it's a public school."
He even remembers that detail.
"You know…" he stared at me. "You are a mysterious one."
"H-Huh? Me, mysterious?" I was a little surprised and even pointed to myself.
"The moment when I woke up inside the glass capsule and found myself floating in the middle of nothing, you just glared at me and calmly scanned the galaxy while everyone panicked and shouted for help. You also defeated the monster using your head. You analyzed the situation and observed the weird behavior of the monster. And now, you're expressionless upon seeing this castle thing in front of us. You weren't even shocked. "
He laughed again after finishing his statement. What's so funny about that? Am I that strange to him? I'm annoyed because I want to know more about who I am, but I don't know how to do it myself.
"And lastly..." He has another message. He stared at me again, so I also stared into his brown eyes. "Everywhere I go, I feel incomplete. I feel there's something that I missed. I feel that I can't live when I lose that significant thing. And when I started talking to you, I feel that you will be the key to find that thing." R-Really? Is that how he thinks of me? "You are a mysterious girl that torments my confused feelings." His gaze prevented my eyes to avert from him as he continued his phrase with a question. "Just who are you?" We were both stunned as we stared at each other. As much as I want to answer his question, yet I don't know either.
The coolness of the breeze is whispering my ear. My long hair caressing my cheeks, my dark blue skirt is above the knee, my swaying in the wind dark blue necktie. His brown eyes, pointed nose, thin lips, messy hair, and fair skin. As I looked at his physical attributes, it made me think that he has a foreign blood. I was just about to ask him about it but then we both have no definite memory at all.
"Oh, wait. Why don't we give each other our pen names for the meantime?." He's right, it's hard when someone doesn't have a name.
"Hmm..." I stopped for a moment. "You know you're also mysterious to me. It's like there's something about you that I want to know. And if you're weirded out of me, I'm weirded out of you too."
"Hahaha! I think we have mutual feelings."
"Mutual feelings?" I looked away because of what he said.
He nodded and clasped his hands as if to say he was innocent. "No, not that. I mean, we're both confused with each other."
I calmed down because of that. I thought that maybe he thought of me as someone who's snobbish just like how I perceived him. "I'll think about what to call you," I said.
"All right, I'll wait for that." he replied with a smirk.
It was fun to talk to him. Has a sense of humor and seems sociable—different from my impression before.
***
We went back to our huts, and everyone was awake. I noticed that the other boys were digging.
"What is that?" I asked them.
"Ah, they dig for the two who died," the bubbly girl replied still scratching her eyes. She just woke up.
Some boys have just finished digging a grave for the two deceased boys. As I recall, one has brown hair with brown eyes, and one has a short light blonde hair with tanned skin and piercings. They were mauled by the monster and didn't survive. It came to me that I thought we're on this planet, we will also be immortal because the impossible becomes possible. Unfortunately, the two died in a superficial way. I saw a corpse that had just been covered with a banana leaf and buried in the pit. The corpse is unrecognizable because it was mutilated. We prayed for their souls and sympathized. There were tears and sadness filled the atmosphere. Hopefully, their souls will be at peace. Even though our relationship was short, they will be a part of my heart and mind.
"There's only one corpse there. The other one is nowhere to be found but someone saw him attacked by the monster. We don't want to assume that he also died but no one has seen him after that." The chubby leader said. He combed his curly hair using his fingers. "I hope that we'll stay 22 till the end." he reflected a hint of grief to our hearts.
There's only one corpse buried in here and that is someone who has a brown hair. The disappearance of the boy with light blonde hair and piercings brought us into question. No one can confirm if he has been eaten out alive or his corpse is lying somewhere. If he's still alive, he should look for us. It's bad to think that he might really be dead, but that's the most probable scenario that could've happen. I strongly hope and pray that we will remain whole as the remaining 22. We put away our belongings and started gathering food in the forest again.
"What? There's a castle?!" our chubby leader is shocked at what he heard. Maybe someone discovered the castle, or my classmate reported it. "Leave what you're doing first, and we'll go to the castle by the river." he ordered us.
"What's that again?" my bubbly friend asked about on what's happening.
"Hurry up!" commanded by the leader wearing eyeglasses.
We immediately ran and they were all startled looking up at the mysterious castle in front of us.
They were amazed and could not believe it.
What could be inside that castle?
LOCATION: Metal Castle TIME: Morning
Everyone except my classmate and I were left speechless and gaping.
"H-How the h-hell?" my bubbly friend said stuttering. "No! What's that? Why is there something like that here? What happened to the river?"
"Ah, is it the river? There really wasn't a river there."
Everyone looked at me and I could see the curiosity in their eyes.
"What do you mean?" asked the boy with his hair up.
I composed myself first before explaining. "When we first came here, the river was too quiet, but it was too shallow. I also thought that there was something at the bottom of the river. This castle is hidden under the water. There has been a hidden castle underneath and it was only surrounded with artificial river water to make it look like a real deal. So, the castle is made of a metal so that water cannot easily penetrate inside. The castle rose for unknown reason and the water evaporated."
Silence enveloped us after I said that. The others just nodded and looked again at the giant structure in front of us.
"How did you find out?" the modest girl asked.
"I just got weirded out by it and I also didn't expect that my speculation was correct."
"Leader, what are we going to do?" asked someone.
The leader with eyeglasses thought first. "All right, let's explore the castle whether it's safe for us to enter. There must be a reason why it's there. It seems to be inviting us after all."
"Roger!" Everyone approached.
The gate is metal black with a sharp end. Quite a sight from where we were standing was a large door that was probably the entrance to get inside the castle. In my estimation, this castle is up to eight floors and is about 50-60 meters wide. What I wonder is why I don't see any significant windows in the castle, instead seemingly black rectangular shapes but they don't look like windows.
"How do we get in?" a girl asked with braided ponytail.
I did not speak out and even the others are closely watching the castle. There is no lock at the gate that is usually found in an ordinary gate of a house.
"There's no lock. Let's go in," suggested a boy who is excited to get inside the castle
"Wait, we don't know what's in this gate. There might be a trap here, who knows?" the chubby leader interrupted.
What if we take some of the wood somewhere and push the gate with wood but it seems to be locked and doesn't really want to be opened. I touched the steel gate. It was a bit hot due to the sun as it conducts heat. I stared at the center of the gate's closing. I can't open this alone.
"Help me," I called the others. Before others helped me, my classmate went to me first with no doubt. He didn't hesitate to help me which made me think he knows what I'm doing.
I saw their confused faces, yet they helped me to push the tall gate with full force. When the two gates gradually separated for about four inches apart, it automatically opened that we almost tripped.
"The gate is also made of steel. It doesn't have a lock, but it hasn't been opened before. What closes this gate is magnet. There is a strong magnet in between of the gate's gap, so that even without a lock, it was tightly closed. Strong force is needed because the magnets are strongly attached to each other. And when the two gates gradually slide apart, it opened on its own. Suppose the magnet no longer attracts." My classmate explained. I was glad that we thought of the same thing and solution. He also stepped out to explain the logic to others. "Come on, let's go in."
This gigantic gate cannot be opened alone. It appears that the gate is encouraging us to help each other and meant for us to enter to. We immediately passed through the gate and were exposed to a large door also made of steel. The gate immediately closed again after all of us entered.
"We're trapped!" shouted someone.
They forcefully pushed the gate to reopen it. We worked together but a strange force and stronger magnetic force blocked us. Earlier, it was relatively easy to open but now it is impossible. It is also not possible to climb the gate because of its height and straight structure that no hands and feet can hold on to climb. We can do nothing but find another way to either escape from the gate or find a way to enter this door.
"Isn't it risky to enter? The gate can't be opened, and we're trapped in here." a girl with short hair and bangs' concern.
She has a point. Why bother entering the castle if we're already trapped in its gate? But I have a strong feeling that something is telling us why we need to enter this castle. Surprisingly, I am not anxious that we're already trapped here, instead I prefer to go inside and see its inside. I looked at the door, it has no doorknob and lock. I was thinking if this thing also involves magnet, but I'm not sure about it.
"Hey, no!" shout of a boy with cool dreadlocks.
Everyone looked at that boy. He raised his right arm and, but his left hand is missing? I approached the boy who is panicking.
"How did that happen to you?" I asked him as I was about to help him but I've no idea how.
"I-I don't know. I just held the door and then I felt like I was being pulled and then my other hand is gone!"
"Let's go in. That's the entrance. We'll just go through that steel door." A boy with spikey red hair said and only a few followed first because others are afraid. "This might be a better idea. The gate won't open. Why don't we try going inside the castle then we'll have a place to live, just in case." he ended.
I entered and I felt a strong gust of wind touch my face and I was surprised that we were already inside the castle. What we saw inside the castle amazed us. It was as if we were in a movie of antiquity. Just like the castles of kings and queens, it also looks like this. There is a red carpet, chandeliers, huge red and gold-colored sofas. There are ornaments beautifully designed. There are also carved figures on some parts of the wall. There are paintings, mirrors, small tables, and candles. At the middle, there are two stairs, left and right side. The walls and pillars are cream-colored, others are gold. On another floor I could see doors, probably rooms. What a lavish interior design. The decor is beautiful. If I were to stay here, maybe I would have nothing more to ask for.
"Man! It feels like I'm a royalty!"
"I'd prefer a modern style."
"So… we're staying here?"
*bell rings*
Everyone stopped at what they were doing when we heard a very familiar sound. While amazed at what we witnessed, we heard a bell usually heard at school. Wait, where did I hear that sound again besides at school? We looked around and something appeared in the middle of living area.
A hologram…. There is a white screen and a big capital letter A in an old black font. This is the hologram we saw when we were in the middle of space!
"Greetings, we meet again," was the opening phrase of the hologram. Its voice is still very much the same as it was previously.
"What-"
"Whaaa! You're the hologram in the galaxy!"
"Why are you here?!"
We were all surprised by this sudden welcoming. What is its purpose and how did it appear?
"I have a name. Call me 'Author', that's why it's letter A."
Author? Author is the name of that hologram?
Oh yeah, glad to know that the hologram has a name, but I don't know mine—I don't even know if I have one in the first place. I still don't remember anything other than the ones I remember since I landed in space. Author is its name because it dictates our fate? The one that writes our story of past, present, and future? As if we're the characters and this place is the setting. Just thinking about it is unbelievable.
"What are you doing here?" the leader with eyeglasses asked the hologram—he asked Author.
"I'm here to update you your information," Author replied.
Update? Information? Will it ever tell us who we really are?
We all frowned as we stared at the hologram just across from our eyes. We also let Author speak because our curiosity was eating us away.
"As you can see, you have already infiltrated this place. It's your second day here on the nth planet." Just as expected, we are already on the nth planet. "Even though it's only your second day here, you've encountered challenges from your new world. First, the Neinuko's attack. Second, this castle."
"Neinuko? The monster?" I couldn't help but ask.
"That's right. All the trials you've encountered, are part of the game."
"Game?" I added.
"I think you already forgot. The tri-games started yesterday from the very moment you woke up floating in the river. The monster called, Neinuko, was your first challenge." So that was it. The game has already started without preparing us. "The tri-games consists of three. The first level, called wealth level—where your mind will be tested. The first level consists of three stages, meaning you will play three times for the first level. And the prize for this level is money."
Another question formed to me from what it mentioned about the prize which is money.
"Second level, called health level—where your both mind and body are needed. It has only two stages and the prize is life. Third level, called stealth level—where mind, body, and heart are involved. It has only one stage. This is the most critical level and the prize for this one is time."
I was stupefied and left silent in my position because of what it said. I barely understood anything. No, I was able to understand most of it, but my mind can't absorb it yet.
"Why are we going to play? And what's the prize you're saying?!" asked by a pretty girl with long light brown hair.
"You were chosen because of your difficulties in life—in your former planet which is earth. You were chosen because you have the courage to face life's trials and desire to change lives.
You all have your own problems. Money, life, and time are the big categories of it. You still don't understand because of your confused memories but when you play the game, you will gain your precious memories. I am sure, you are all desperate to get your memories back. It is simple. To gain your memories, you should play the game."
I thought so! That hologram took our memories! Yes, I am desperate to bring back all of it. I don't want to live and die without knowing at least myself. Smart move, Author. For us to regain our memories, we must play tri-games.
A cute girl with pink curly hair and bangs spoke. "I don't care about the prizes. Just take me back, please."
"While you play the game, your memory gradually returns. You will know your purpose why you're here and you will even thank me for having you in this game." Why would we even thank Author for dragging all of us here where our lives are at stake?!
"You are currently at wealth level," Author declared. "That's right! The Neinuko you fought last night is stage 1. Congratulations for clearing level 1 stage 1! However, there was an unfortunate loss for the 2 of your co-players." It abruptly came to me the grief that we experience after losing two of our friends from that monster.
"The challenge for stage 2 will charge you at any moment." How crazy can this be? Why can't we have time to grief for a moment that any time from now, stage 2 can start! We all aren't prepared for any of this yet we're all like preys feeding to predators.
Our chubby leader stepped forward. "What will it be this time? Another beast but a wilder one?" he scoffed.
"I suggest you to be careful. You would never know when something will attack you." Is its simple and subtle answer. "Lastly, check out your arm, your dominant arm's shoulder."
I looked at my right arm because of what Author said. I am wearing my short-sleeved blouse, so my shoulder isn't visible.
"Behind your sleeves, is your ordinal number name."
I can't lift my white short-sleeved blouse, so I unbuttoned the first three buttons of my blouse and slipped the collar down to my right shoulder. I got puzzled to see that there was a tattoo on it.
Zero and two, 02. These are the numbers tattooed on it. I don't know when I got a tattoo when I was still on earth but did I really get a tattoo?
Author disrupted us. "That will be your temporary name. And it follows:
1st as First
2nd as Second
3rd as Third
4th as Fourth
5th as Fifth
6th as Sixth
7th as Seventh
8th as Aeith
9th as Ninth
10th as Tenth
11th as Eleventh
12th as Twelf
13th as Thirzen
14th as Forzen
15th as Fifzen
16th as Sixzen
17th as Sevenzen
18th as Aeizen
19th as Ninezen
20th as Twentieth
21st as Firstwen
22nd as Sectwen
23rd as Thirtwen
24th as Fortwen."
I noticed that our number names are strange as if they were mixed with other spelling or language. It's a bit unusual but it also seems to be derived from the English ordinal number. The boys are classified in odd numbers while girls are even numbers. I remembered it one by one then took note of it carefully because it must be an important information.
Author resumed after we read the temporary names it was referring to. "You will also notice that from black, the color of the number changes on your skin. From color black to gold means your life span increases. The more effort you fight, the longer life span you would have. Make it as one of your goals to change its color fully into gold."
I looked at my shoulder again. The black edge is fading, that means my life span is increasing!
The hologram screen changed from pure white with an old font of letter A, it became our profile. There are 24 pictures of us like a 1 inch by 1 inch picture wearing a school uniform. Below our picture are the numbers 01-24 same thing that's currently tattooed on us and a corresponding ordinal number names.
According to our number names is the arrangement of our profile placing me in the first row second column. I noticed something strange. I saw two of our friends who have passed away. By looking into their pictures on hologram screen, they are named in ordinal numbers, Eleventh (11th) and Thirzen (13th). The words 'game over' are tagged below their pictures with a watermarked big red X mark.
"Two of your comrades died at level 1 stage 1. They died because they are weak, and nothing can be done about it that's why it's already a game over for them." Someone's fist clenched from what we all heard at what Author just said.
"Hey! You don't know their sacrifices!" shout of a boy with dark blue long hair.
I can understand his anger. I recognized that the three of them were together when Eleventh and Thirzen were still alive.
"I know, I know. That's why nothing can be done about it. If you don't want to die, then live. But in order to live, you must fight."
My hand just went numb from the pent-up anger. Author is aware that human life depends on this game, yet it calmly speaks as if we're nothing but preys. We might not know each other well but you can't just trample other people's lives even if we receive a prize.
Our pictures disappeared and the white screen returned with the letter A on it.
"That number names of yours were already embedded right after you entered the castle. This is a closed area therefore you will live here while waiting for new challenges and next stages. And I assure you that you'll enjoy this cozy place. But more importantly, enjoy the game!" Author said with a mocking tone.
Many questions still formed in my mind. I am not satisfied with the answers I got.
"Go and find the answers that you seek... Good luck." then the hologram disappeared like a bubble before our eyes.
"I have more questions!" I yelled but none can answer me now. We had a lot of questions, but we only got a few answers.
I held the tattoo on my arm. It looks like a simple tattoo, but it's embossed on the skin.
Author mentioned that at any time something would attack us. It did not mention what kind of game it was for stage 2. We should not be complacent just because we are in a nice and comfortable place. This castle is too fancy to my liking and might deceive us to let our guard down. We're supposed to be always alert and ready.
The last thing that Author said is stuck in my head. "Go and find the answers that you seek..."
If there are up to three levels and many more stages, we will have a really hard time. Just last night, the one with the monster had our two friends. How about in the next levels and stages to come? We're not even halfway there. This is all just the beginning and just thinking about it, makes me nervous.
"Let's do this! Don't let what that hologram said cause fear. It will be better to search this castle and check if we can find anything," an encouraging word from our chubby leader—no, he's Firstwen (21st). I saw it there in the hologram profile screen earlier. And our other leader who wears an eyeglass is Third (3rd).
Before carrying out the plan, others couldn't move right away but got disturbed of what Author said. But there are still those who smiled and laugh the topic off to lighten the mood. As for me, I was left standing in the middle of the living area and stared the alluring chandelier above me.
Gradually, the castle was filled with noise when they are now introducing each other with the names Author temporarily gave us. I have no idea how long we are using these names, but this is better than nothing. This is probably the first thing that something good has happened here. Author gave us names that it also stole our real names from us. Quite ironic, isn't it? Others took an action then went up to the second floor to search the entire castle at the command of the two leaders. I was still left standing awhile and deeply thinking about the events.
"Oy!" the talkative—I mean, wait, I forgot her number name. She ran to me while having the biggest smile I've seen from her so far. She put her arm around my shoulder. "What's your name, huh? Hurry up!" she giggled.
I slipped down my sleeves to show to her my tattooed number.
"You, that's you! Your name suits to you!" I don't know how that number name suited me but I'm glad to hear that compliment. She lifted her short sleeves on her right arm. "And I'm Aeith!" Aeith because she got 08 numbers tattooed on her right arm. She was so eager to approach everyone to tell them her name. She gave me a big hug.
"Guys!" I heard a cute voice approaching us. She is modest in act and speech, as well as her voice that went well with her petite figure. She smiled at us. "Finally, we have names!" She held out her right hand as if to shake hands. "My name is Fourth!" Her number is 04. She grabbed my right hand for a warm handshake as if this is our first-time meeting.
I see in them the fun behind the bitter and confusing things that are happening to us and will happen next. Somehow my problems disappeared for a moment when I saw them smiling because of a small thing. Even for this short period, I want these smiles to last.
I smiled at them and said, "I'm Second. Glad to meet you."