The bus took a left turn down the slope nearing the edge of the forest and found itself back on the highway in the middle of the broken city.
"We're finally out here.." Sandra muttered a deep sigh to clear up her mind. "It feels like it's been forever."
Everyone stared at each other.
"You're right. But, it doesn't mean we can let our guard down.." Alex muttered. He stood from his seat and looked outside.
"I know that.. Ja, let's head straight to the port, everyone.." Jayson said. He took a seat near Sandra's place and rested his head on her shoulders.
"Hhh.." Jayson gave a deep sigh of relief. "We pulled it off, huh."
"Good work out there, Jay.." Sandra said, resting her muscles from the anxiety they've gone through.
"We did work it all out.." Jay responded.
"With your lead, that's it. Well, take a rest for now. We still have a long way to go.." Sandra said.
"I know that is why I will never back down from this offer.." Jayson muttered and gave her a cheerful smile.
He gazed out the window to see the situation in the city. He knew it was bad from the time he saw it from the forest top but worst things caught his eyes and spoiled his smile.
"How could this happen in just a few hours?!" Jayson exclaimed and stood from his sear. He gripped his fist and everyone felt his rage.
Everyone saw what made Jayson feel that way and that made them feel hopeless and agitated. Emotions of fear, doubt, rage, and indifference rained their thoughts making them dull their senses as the bus traveled along the disserted and distorted street of the once lively and prosperous city of Luna.
Unmanned mobiles flood the city with explosions happening every now and then. Cracks from the buildings give falling debris from greater heights making their cruise more dangerous. Water sprinkled from pipes around the corners due to open pipes, uneven surface rampaged the ground because of the explosions and collisions, and smoke engulf the city bearing the fury and lamentations of every people who've set foot in the island.
"That building is where they shower the confetti during the parade, right?"
"Yeah.. I saw that back then... it seems so long now based on the scene we're seeing.."
"Yeah, I really find it hard to believe that this is the same city we entered with a street party and all."
"Things have gone mad, I see.."
"Ne, can we really get out from here?"
People radiated their uneasiness.
Jayson took a deep breath and whispered to Sandra, "I'm sure we can. We will definitely find a way.."
"There is no way out. It's all over, we're doomed!" a girl screamed giving everyone chills on their necks. "We're trapped here to face our deaths.." she added.
"Don't say that!" Sandra exclaimed and stood from her seat. "We can get out of here"
"Get out?! How?! Do you really think we can escape all those monsters coming after us and lurking around? We barely escaped those group of baboons, didn't we?" the girl cried. "This city must have greater threats than that."
"Yeah, we did escape and we will continue to do that." Sandra's voice modulated. She went to face the girl and talk to her eye to eye. "We just don't have to lose hope; we are driven by the thought to survive." She added.
"That's not survival! We are just prolonging our deaths." The girl sobbed and coiled in her seat. "Maybe it was better if we died there at the hands of the baboons to end this farce...Fighting is futile. We can't win against the enemy."
Sandra's eyes burned furiously; her whole being is bathed in anger and disappointment. She gathered courage and let herself lose it in front of the crowd, standing from her seat, she went to face the girl and slapped her face making her palm throb and turn red.
"Stop your nonsense you freaking bitch!" she shouted, gritting her teeth.
Everyone stared at her. Jayson and Alex were so shocked to hear Sandra's words echo on their ride. They did not expect their composed secretary to let loose like that in their situation. Jayson thought of her as a strong independent girl, full of conviction and rationality but he's surprised to know that she's more than what he thought of her.
"Please, we all need to calm down. We can get out of here safely, that's what I believe. No, I know we can because my friends will do their best to defeat the hacker. As long as we cling to hope, we will surely find a way out, we opt to survive. If you have lost your will to survive, you've just dug your own grave. Sorry to instill my thoughts and I might have sounded rude but I refuse to accept defeat. I refuse to give up!" her eyes flicker with passion. "Not now, not ever!" Sandra exclaimed.
"I made a promise..." Sandra continued. The girl was mystified when she dared to look into Sandra's eyes. "I don't want to break it no matter what. Go kick your bucket without us. The Circa... no... ORION refuses to lose!"
The girl's tears fell without saying a word.
Everyone was slapped by her words and their courage slowly welled up their spine.
"I don't want to die either.." the girl responded, now with hope in her eyes.
"I know, and we will not let you die, we will not let anyone suffer death. everyone is our responsibility like how we are responsible for ourselves." Sandra said.
They lend their ears to the words she speaks.
"Then, what should we do? The city was clothed by the hacker's might and providence. We've got no way out." Ethan said.
"If a wall blocks the way, take a pause and look around. Break it if necessary." Sandra placed her hand on the girl's shoulder. "But, if you can't break it, then turn around or jump over it. If plan A won't work, move to find another. That's just how life can continue. If we lose heart from one failure, we won't be able to pick ourselves up. We need to have the resolve to live and something might fall into place." She gave her a cheerful smile. "Is that alright?"
In the blink of an eye, the atmosphere changed. The air around did not feel cold and heavy which put Sandra at ease.
"Light will surely show at the end of the tunnel." She muttered. "We just have to continue forward and have faith."
....
The floor crumbled and debris started to fall on their heads.
"And what now?!" Kath exclaimed, dodging debris falling from side to side.
"I guess the place is crumbling to the ground..." Drake commented.
"Don't state the obvious, idiot.." Kath replied.
"Ma..ma.. don't fight people..." Hachiro said. "Anyways, we need to get outta here or we'll get crushed.." he added.
"You're right. Let's scram, Ariadne!" Michiyo shouted.
"OH!" Everyone responded and moved their feet to find the nearest exit.
They ran downstairs to reach the big door they came from but found themselves trapped. It was covered by debris that fell from the ceiling, covering their way out.
"What to do now?!" someone screamed.
"Calm down..." Hachiro said. "We just have to find another way out.."
"Does this building have a fire exit?" Kath asked.
"Kath, we don't have a fire here.." Drake said.
"Shut up, Drake! I know we don't have fire.." Kath replied.
"I don't think they have one, Kath. This place is built to trap participants to face their deaths..." Hachiro said.
"Then, where to now?"
Michiyo looked around and saw a small crack on the left side of the wall. "There!" she shouted. It was a crack big enough for a regular sumo wrestler to fit in.
The BUGS ran towards their exit. After the 3rd person got out, debris blocked the way and left only a small opening.
"Hurry up!" Michiyo yelled from the outside. She reached her hand to her teammates inside, pulling them to get out faster.
One by one the Adriadne party found themselves outside except for Hachiro who was not yet out.
"What are you doing there?!" Michiyo exclaimed when she saw him standing on the other side. "Hurry up, Haro!"
Hachiro stood looking at the crumbling palace behind the brick wall. Hearing Michiyo's voice, he looked back.
"Hurry up I said!" Michiyo reached her hand inside the hole, now covered with more blockage, offering it for him to grab.
"I'm sorry for the wait..." Hachiro grabbed her hand and she pulled him out.
"For what?!" she replied with a pant.
"Ahh.. iie, bietsu ni.." Hachiro replied.
"Ahh, so.." Michiyo sighed. "Anyway, you did great. Thanks for saving our asses..."
They found themselves outside the crumbling palace. With their own eyes, they saw it totally crumbled to the ground and made the surface tremble.
"You did great as well.." Hachiro said without looking into her eyes. "Thanks for your hard work." He smiled.
"I guess I have to re-think things about you," Michiyo said, grabbing his hand, a gesture of acceptance, wearing a cheerful smile. "Let's start anew."
"You don't have to force yourself.." Hachiro blushed at what she did. He looked away even more.
"No...Sandra was right." Michiyo said.
He flinch when he heard his friend's name.
"We need to give you more credit. What you did back there is something only you can do. That's why I thank you.." Michiyo continued.
"Ahh.."
"I'm just glad you're not an enemy, Haro-san.."
He looked at her eyes unconsciously. Without a reason to look away, he managed to say, "I'll strive not to be one.."
"Ne, everyone!" Kath yelled. "Gather here around, fast!" she said persuasively.
Hachiro and Michiyo looked at each other and realized they have to go to their teammates. Kath sat on a boulder having her watch activate a holographic image. The other members gather around her.
"What do we have here?" Hachiro said.
"The GSSTI have a plan.."
"A plan?" Michiyo asked.
"GSSTI?" Hachiro was shocked to hear the word that he fixed his sight on the holographic projection as Jayson Smart, Circa's leader, started to say something.
"Ahh..." Jayson said, looking composed on the webcam of the bus. "This is for all the participants who got this coverage. I Jayson Smart of GSSTI, with the other participants of our group who were sent to the Northeast part of the city, managed to get away from the pursuers on our route. I know you're having a hard time escaping as well, we all did, but we hope you are safe. We are headed to the port, the first stop on this island. We will gather there as one team and try to solve this death game. Anyway, it's the safest site we can think of so... I hope we'll meet there."
"They've done it now..." Drake said.
"Ne, isn't it dangerous to broadcast something like that around the city? I bet the hacker and that 'Hachiro' guy caught wind of it now.." Kath said.
"I know Jayson knew about that.." Michiyo said. "If it comes to a bet, he'll risk everything on the most beneficial one."
"You sure know your leader.."
"Not that much but knowing him, he'll do something like this.." Michiyo added.
"But, go back to the port? Isn't it unsafe?"
"It's the most ideal place we can go back and find refuge. The most ideal plan we have for now.." Hachiro said.
"We can gather around and think of a solution, huh? Is that what he was thinking?" Kath asked.
"I guess. We should head there and treat the wounded as well.." Michiyo replied.
"You're right.." Drake said.
"No!" Kath exclaimed.
Everyone looked at her with eyes full of confusion.
"What do you mean by 'No', Kath?" Drake asked, tension arising.
"It's what it implies.." Kath replied. "We successfully got the first key, right? Now that we know how to deal with the palaces, we can manage to safely get the next key.." she added.
"That's ridiculous!" Drake exclaimed. "We can't enter a battle without a crafty plan. And besides, we're almost unarmed!" he added.
"We have the spoils of war from the barn. I know we can do it. If we'll work together, we can get through it." Kath insisted.
"But..."
"We have Haro with us. I know, with his skills, we can do anything. Even luck can be hacked." Kath exclaimed.
"That's not enough! We can't just rely on Haro every time, Kath. We need to ask for more help."
"Deimos is just a few miles away! We can see it from here, look!" she pointed at the building standing tall like a scorpion's pincer pointing to the sky.
"That's impossible! We're just going to die. All our efforts from this palace will go to waste." Drake insisted.
"At least we die trying. Besides, no one here wants to die yet. We can manage, right?"
"How can you be so sure?"
"I have the info about it. Seth just sent a message."
"Seth?" Drake was shocked to hear the word. It seemed so long ago.
"Yeah...aside from the blueprint of the palace, I also wanted to save our comrades," Kath said.
"What do you mean?"
"They asked for help. They're in a dire situation. I know we are the nearest persons to come to the rescue. They need our help."
"How dire?"
"They're in a pinch. I thought we won't let anyone die? Are those words just to get us involved?"
"I know but..."
"Kath was right. We need to reach out to other participants. If there is something we can do to help them, we'll risk trying. Besides, I guess I can still manage to do something to get something we can use. With the spoils we get, it's more than enough to do a rescue operation."
"Rescue operation?"
"Yeah.. that's all we can manage for now. After that, we need to go to the port."
"But.." Kath complained.
"Backing down from a fight is still part of a strategy, Kath. We need to have a weakness to unleash our strength." Hachiro said.
"Haro..."
"Okay... it's decided then. Let's storm Deimos."