"You can evade it, but you cannot stop it"
It's 5:00 pm and the game will start in just 1 hour and 30 minutes. We had just finished eating our early dinner and everyone was resting in the living room. We don't know what will come to us, so we preserved our energy for the last one. Excited, nervous, curious, and sad— that's how we feel. Excited to finally finish this up. Nervous because we all want to live. Curious about what's going to happen next. And sad about what negative event might happen. Hours from now and we can be done after all the efforts we exerted to reach this level. One more thing, this is our last game so it's probably the hardest. And at this level, we will know who the triumph is. Will there be single or multiple winners? This question formed in my mind has given me even more fear.
First's past disheartened me. It turns out that his younger brother, Eleventh is also involved in this game. And since Eleventh is gone early, there is no family left with him. Because of such tragedy, he doesn't want to lose me, his classmate and friend. I had no idea that his brother was the first to die in the tri-games. How bitter is it to know that your sibling is also playing the game and went first before you? First could have chosen to save his brother than me. I promised First that I will not leave him and that I will be with him in hardship or comfort. That might be my real purpose for being here.
First went to his room for a while. Trake approached me.
"Hey," he leaned over to my side, here on the sofa where I was sitting.
"Yes?" I still count on him. It's not like before that I'm more inferior to First, now to him. I already know more about First's life. But Trake's, not so much.
"Why, is there a problem?"
I smiled because he was being nice. "Is it really okay?"
"Sure!"
"Oh, all right... Trake..."
"Mm?"
"I already know you. I already remember who you are and how we met."
He was silent for a moment. "Hahaha! Really? I thought your memory would never come back. Since level 2 stage 2, I already remember you a bit, but you still haven't." And he grinned.
Why are my memories too slow to come back?
"Has your view of me changed since you found out who I am?" he asked
"I don't know. The truth is... that... kinda..." I am stuttering.
"Are you different from me? Hahaha! That's why I like you because you're funny when you're shy!"
H-He said that. My face kept getting warm.
"Hey, talk to me, haha!" And he even tickled me. Trake, this is not funny anymore. He shouldn't be playing with how I feel.
"Stop it! They might hear you!"
"Like they care. The important thing is, you already remember me."
I just sigh. Trake has been a bubbly guy since we were elementary students. Yes, he was my classmate in elementary school. We parted ways when we went into different schools when we went to high school. He went to a private high school, and I went to public. He even allegedly forced his mother to enroll him in my school but they didn't let him so he can't do anything apart from obeying his parent's decision.
I used to be close to Trake. Although he always teases and makes fun of me, he tells stories about his family problems. I was shocked that he is here in the game with me. We didn't have much communication from grade 7 to grade 9 but we met in grade 10. We see each other again after 4 years in a mini-reunion of two mutual friends.
"Cy, can I talk to you?" He called me.
"Sure"
"Can I know the answer to my question to you before?" he changed the story, so I was stunned.
"I don't know... why ..." I scratched my forehead and sweated a little.
"It's okay, Cy. I'll wait in case you change your mind. You will certainly fall into my trap." I felt my cheeks get warm. He smirked. Geez, that smirk always gets into me. Whether he's teasing me or that's just his signature face, I can't help but get annoyed but at the same time praise him for looking good. He looked like he is going to walk away.
"Kidding! Kidding! You looked scared haha! It's not like I'll force myself into you, but it'll be a bonus if you did like me, at least."
I don't know what to say anymore. I'm out of words.
"Just let me know if you've fallen for me, hahaha!" And he left me waving his right hand while turning his back on me. He tends to cover up his serious and embarrassing moments with a laugh.
In the end, up until now, I never gave him an answer. I have no idea if he's still waiting for it but what I know is he must have moved on after those years. Of all the people I met, he was the only one who called me 'Cy' so when someone called me that I knew it is him. I don't know what my heart is thinking. It's like when Trake confessed to me before, I didn't feel anything. It was as if I thought of him as best friend and brother. I can see my brother in him. My brother is kind and playful. But no matter what decision I feel, I'm thankful that I met Trake. He has been an important person in my life.
***
I struggle to remember what I wrote in my novel. If I'm right, this is the hardest game at all levels and stages—the bloodiest.
*bell rings*
"Author!" exclaimed Rochevel.
I didn't realize it was exactly 6:30 pm right now. Time flies fast when you're thinking deeply.
"Good evening, battle 7! Tonight, the time level will begin. This will be your last game, so it was made extra special."
I hold onto my chest. I can already feel the beating of it. I am sweating coldly, and I feel like I am floating. What kind of game do we play?
"The mechanics are simple..."
Something appeared in front of us from the floor, it rose. A table made of steel and with what looked like metal made on top. Wait... k-knives?
"There are seven kitchen knives on the table. You will have each of them. That will be your weapon for killing each other-"
"What? We're going to kill each other?" Rochevel asked worriedly. Her voice is shaky.
"Exactly. Your markings on your chest will be your new way of naming each other. In order to kill, target the new mark embedded on your flesh..."
I looked at my left chest and there was something colored tattooed on it. I tore my collar and saw the new marking. It is a circle that mixes brown and yellow. Something is written below the circle... Venus?
"One of those knives contains poison. A lethal poison that when the blade penetrates any parts of the flesh even with the slightest millimeter, it will cause instant death."
What is the use of our new marking? That said, the opponent must be attacked in the chest where the mark is in order to die permanently. And one in seven knives is poisonous. The poison that you don't have to stab the opponent in the chest but will kill you.
"There is no time limit. The moment that I detected only one beating pulse among the seven of you, the game is over. And the one who last stands wins."
One of my questions has been answered. There will be only one who would win this entire thing. This game is harder, no, the hardest. The simplest games among them are all but bloodiest. We have no ally now but ourselves. We should consider each other to be rivals. And all six should die.
"What if the others just run away?" Thirzen asked as if he just didn't care what was going on. He
looks composed and keeps his cool. How I wish I could at least act like him in this situation.
"In the world of reality, killing is taboo. Yet I remembered, we're in the fantasy world where killing is a necessary thing to do."
THIRZEN'S / JEREMY SOMAR'S POV
"If someone dared to escape the game, then I won't hesitate to free his/her soul."
Whoa, really? Want me to free your f*ckin' soul instead?
"The winner will claim his/her tri-victory. And remember, you can evade it, but you cannot stop it."
What nonsense does it say? Tsk. I looked at the said marking on the chest. There is a colored circle, and written underneath is 'Uranus'. Uranus my ass!
"After 30 seconds, choose your knife and the game will start... now!"
Oh, shit! I should get ahead. Can't afford to lose the knife I've been eyeing for!
I ran closer to the table and examined the glistening knives. Hmm... They are different in sizes, length, width, and handle but the material all looked the same. From the right is the largest and to the left is the smallest. Where is the poison-contained knife here? I immediately seized the biggest knife from four eyes' hands. He blows up into me and got really angry. Hehe! What a fool. He even glared at the knife I'm holding, uh no, I'm the one he's glaring at! He launched to push me away, but they stopped him and let what I did pass. Hahaha! Well, I can't blame him. His knife got snatched and I preceded him. I know that guy is mad at me. I have no clue what's going on in his head, but he has it coming! There's another guy who pulled my collar. I don't know what's gotten into him, but he's enraged. Tch. Looks like I have the talent to make someone's blood boil. It's good that I have provoked someone. This would stir their hate on me, which means more motivation to kill each other. Now that I have the biggest knife, I'm just waiting for the countdown of that hologram.
"6, 5, 4"
Make it fast, will ya? I would like everyone to see what Jeremy Somar is capable of!
"3, 2, 1, go!"
Here we go!
The luck of my number, 'thirteenth'. Hmp, luck is always on my side. Those six idiots didn't even have techniques and trick the hologram so that they could clear the previous levels and stages of the game. I always watch them play secretly and didn't bother to show myself until this level. This was a trick I gained and only I should benefit from it. I risked my life from that monster, so this is the equivalent payment of it. If the brain is not being used, just sell it! Sucks to be them. Thanks to my stupid but wise neighborhood, I learned to cheat the way of life.
"You naughty child, ha!"
"S-Stop it, please," I pleaded.
"Ernesto, cut it out! Jeremy has learned his lesson"
"He can't be fixed if he isn't pressed through an iron hand!"
"Whaaa!"
Tsk. Why do I remember that?
I don't know who my biological parents are. I was abandoned and stayed at an orphanage for 5 years when I got adopted by a stranger couple acting as my father and mother right now. I used to be weak and tearful. I used to follow orders. I used to be naive. Ever since I was a child, my father was the epitome of a demon on earth. Physical abuse, emotional abuse, mental abuse; name it, they've done it. I always wander around without letting 'em know, that's why I get reprimanded all the time. At first, I ignored it because I was young and it's natural to commit childish mistakes but when our family started to rot, I also started to rot. Mother and father are always fighting. The noise is always at home, plus the crying of my three non-biological siblings. Because of a quarrel between the two, they got separated. The four of us split. The eldest and second lived with father. The third and the youngest went with my mother. And because I was the second child, I went to my father.
Father has gambling habits that led our lives to be ruined. He would often shout at us and call us names. I also tried to run away and commit to hurting myself, but he didn't have a care. I thought when I snapped, 'F*ck! My skin can't tolerate it!' That was the first thing that came to my mind when I scratched my left wrist once. It was just a scratch but the pain when I took a bath and cleaned it with water was troublesome, so I declined to kill myself. If I can't even hurt myself, how can I die from it?
We had money when my father won the gamble. The eldest has finished school with his part-time job so I am the only one my father must sustain my studies with. I'm smart just went crazy. I had buddies who are gamblers. Those I treated as friends were traitors. They beat me to their supreme and stole all my hard-earned money. Since then, I haven't been very friendly. My classmates are also avoiding me because someone has spread rumors about my father's illegal activities. He is drowning in his debts that he sold me to work in a factory to pay off his debts. Our small house was raided, and my father was arrested for his illegal trading and gambling. Thank goodness that thing happened.
Only my older brother is with me. My mother also abandoned us together with my two siblings because she had a family with others. She forgot that she still has his two sons. My older brother and I had already rebelled, so we didn't go back to our father. I cut our ties with our toxic foster parents. My older brother also had a wife so... I became alone.
When I was home alone, the addicts on the streets became my family. I learned to steal and was involved in some illegal acts. But even once I never get myself in with gambling after my friends deceived me, why? I don't want to be like my gambler father who's making me sick out of his way of life! My new family told me the technique of human deception. I became someone. I forgot I had my real family. I forgot that I still had a dream.
I was always wondering why mother and father would adopt the three of us despite being poor but then I found out the answer. Both are involved in trafficking. When I reached legal age, they'll use me for their illegal trading. My older brother being the eldest is an accomplice because he's the real son among us. He confessed everything to me before he got married and left our father. He regretted not telling me earlier, but it was still late. Not only did our mother find a new partner but she already used my two younger siblings for her evil acts despite their young age. My foster parents used me, my older brother lied to me, my friends betrayed me, my real parents abandoned me. That only shows how the world is against me.
When I win the lottery, I'll look at them and say, 'who are you?' That's my motto. Because of this life, I can't get everything I want. When I get rich, 'who are you?' that'll be my greetings to them. They underestimated me. I have no money and nothing yet to prove. One day you will meet your Jeremy-enemy who is one of the richest and craziest people in the world!
"Son, please forgive me. I hope you come back to us... You're very much welcome to our home." Unexpectedly but I met my real mother searched for me and begged.
Home, you say? I don't have a home anymore. You left and forgot about me. Ya'll keep on bearing a child then what kind of life will you give to your children? All your techniques are rotten! There is nothing you can do even if you're sorry. It is easy to apologize but hard to accept. I ignored her and drove her away. I lived alone in my house if it can be still called a house of a human being or of a rat. Even if I'm alone, I'm happy because I'm alone but there's no longer loneliness in me. Home is not where my family is. Home is where I can find peace. Do y'know what's worse than being an orphan? Is having both parents but you can't feel them.
Months after, I've been struggling with physical pain. There are times I feel numb and in the great sore. I have no money for checkups but I'm aware there's wrong with my body. I am getting sick, literally. I can't even sustain my daily basic needs what else to pay for my medical needs. And now my own body is giving up on me. Dying in a state like this is not what I dream for!
I touched my left arm which was wounded before because of the stinky monster. I didn't imagine getting wounded like this when I can't even scratch my wrist to die. I have to do something to relieve myself of this. Nothing can hurt me physically and emotionally anymore. Because of my pestilent life, I have learned not to trust anyone. I no longer used to be weak who weeps. Ever since I joined this game, I know this is something that I should not pass by. I fear that I might cease to live because of my illness. But I won't know my path if I don't walk. In the world of reality, killing is taboo. Yet I remembered, we're in the fantasy world where killing is a necessary thing to do. I wish to live here for good but why not create my own fantasy world on earth? Amusing to see that all of them are now emotionally invested with one another. And that doesn't apply to me because this is my first and last interaction with them. I have cleared the previous games without a sweat so this one would secure my victory. Bring it on! If I can't scratch myself, then let me scratch ya'll instead. This will be the beginning of my life and the end of theirs.