The round started with the same deafening siren sound as earlier. It has woken up the mad dog.
We were positioned quite far away from the mad dog. Everyone who received a ball panicked and tried to stay far away from the beast and each other.
All of the players who entered the gate of Humility at the same time as me were still alive. At least everyone whose faces I have remembered.
The mad dog's movements were also strange. Aside from the differing speed when chasing each player, the beast's pattern is almost chaotic. I thought it was chasing anyone close to it that has a ball. But I noticed the mad dog passed by some of the new players who has a ball and chased those who were further away.
I told Aran to stay behind me. With no proof, it was just speculation whether someone who has a ball could hide behind those that don't. It was all I could think of and doing this is better than doing nothing. Since Aran refused to pass me the ball.
Younger and more athletic, I told him that I have a better chance of outrunning the mad dog. Aran just smiled.
"There's still a few years before I become a senior citizen. My body's still strong," he said.
From afar, I saw the mad dog slaughter another player. The beast then runs off to chase another one. When I felt the mad dog's gaze, shivers were sent down my spine. It was running in our direction chasing another player. He was the person from earlier that has a face covered with piercings.
We were backing off as well to keep our distance from the mad dog. The mad dog was fast. The player with piercings was at arm's reach of the mad dog.
But, it passed him. He was confused as well then turned back and run away from the mad dog. This is when I realized something. The beast was heading towards our way. Nervous, I asked Aran.
"What round is it for you?"
I could see Aran sweating buckets as we back further away from the mad dog. But with how fast the mad dog was running, we both know we couldn't outrun it.
"It's...my sixth round."
Though I figured out the mad dog's pattern, it was a bit late. The beast was running fast since it was after Aran. A player in his sixth round.
Our back is already against the wall. No matter how hard I rack my brain, the only way I could think of is getting the ball from Aran and hoping the mad dog will slow down when it chases me or it would be better if it changes its target.
Aran was about to give me the ball but hesitated when he glimpsed behind and saw how close the mad dog is.
"Just leave me, Gray."
Ignoring his words, I stood in front of him. I know it was not logical, but the only thought that came to my mind is, "Maybe I could still shield him."
"Old man! I'm an athlete!"
It was the black guy from earlier, he was a few meters away on our right. Seeing him in a gesture of catching the ball and his muscular body as well as a determined expression, Aran passed the ball to him.
The beast was already about to pounce when Aran threw the ball. Time slowed down from my perspective. In front of my face was the huge bulky hand of the mad dog. Seeing it up close, it just looks like a humungous human hand trying to reach me.
Instinctively, I closed my right eye and move my face away. But the mad dog's hand pass through me.
"Aran!"
When I looked behind, I saw Aran's dumbfounded face. The mad dog also passed through him.
It was close. Seems like the black guy managed to catch the ball just in the right second. He was also watching the mad dog's gesture and is ready to run, but the mad dog took off in a different direction. As the mad dog chased other players the black guy approached us.
"You guys okay?"
"Yeah, thanks," I replied.
Wiping off the sweat on his face, Aran also replied with a smile,
"Thank you."
It is rare for another prisoner fighting for survival to save someone he doesn't know. I was skeptical and unconsciously asked him in an abrupt manner.
"Why did you save us?"
He was flustered. Seeing him up close, he is taller than Finnley, and his muscular body in that sleeveless shirt made me filled with envy. Though, it was not close to the absurd muscles of the mad dog. I could also see why Aran thought that he could outrun the beast.
"I saw the old man tried to save that bastard earlier."
Not knowing the reason why Aran was in this place, he said he felt Aran's kindness. He also told us that he wasn't an athlete rather, he was once a detective. And for some reason that he doesn't want to talk about, he ended up in this place.
"Ah, the name's Urick, Urick Lane."
Aran offered a handshake, "Aran Sansurin" he said.
I also shook hands with Urick and introduced myself, "Grayson Riego."
After being acquainted with Urick, Aran remembered something and spoke.
"Ah Gray, why did you ask me which round I was earlier?"
Hearing Aran's question, Urick also seems to be curious. Both of them were all ears when I started telling them my thoughts about the task.
"The mad dog's movements were quite weird."
I told them how the mad dog sometimes passes by players who also have a ball and chased down those who were further away. Both Urick and Aran also noticed that behavior and thought that the mad dog chased down players at random.
On the surface, it does appear like that. But I remembered something crucial, this is a game. A game where a lot of people watch and so, betting is common. Also, a game always has patterns.
Aside from making it as entertaining as they can, the game masters should also attract the viewers in making bets. If the mad dog's movement were all random then betting on a player would just be like betting on a lottery, since they wouldn't know when will the mad dog chase after the ones they betted at.
"Bro, people also like lotteries," Urick said.
"You are right. But Hopeful Homicide is not a lottery."
Hopeful Homicide is the arena of modern-day gladiators. It's like cockfighting with us being the ones fighting for our lives. And one of the reasons people bet on cockfighting is because a lot of people love seeing something or someone they cheered for became triumphant.
I also told them that base on the task we could assume some types of betting for this stage. Like how many rounds a player survives or if a player would pass the gate.
From the start, the main goal of these death games is to keep the masses entertained. By doing so, its influence will further increase.
Some places even celebrate Hopeful Homicide rather than Christmas. You could see the streets filled with merchandise about Hopeful Homicide instead of Christmas decorations.
There are even a lot of people who started calling these death games "HoHo", imitating the laugh of the once-famous old man in red clothing with a long white beard who is said to give people presents.
As my explanation prolonged, I could see Urick scratching his shaved head as he waited for me to get to the point of what I was saying. While Aran was still listening closely.
Urick seems to have had enough of my chatter.
"Uhm dude, get to the point," he said.
"You are really smart, Gray," Aran said with a smile and widened eyes.
Well, I do like reading and researching. Especially random trivia and cool stuff.
I got embarrassed when Urick pointed out that I have been speaking a lot.
"So, the thing is I think the mad dog is chasing players based on the number of rounds they survived."
Urick nods his head, "Man, next time start with that," he said.
After knowing that Aran was already in his sixth round and when the mad dog passed over the man with a lot of piercings and chased Aran instead, I realized that it is the most possible reason for the mad dog's pattern. Also, it means that no one alive is in their seventh round.
Urick and Aran agreed to what I have concluded. Half of the time for this round has already passed.
"Aran, do you recognize anyone that came with you that is still alive and has a ball?" I asked.
"No, I don't"
If the mad dog were chasing by the number of rounds in descending order then,
"Urick, which round are you?"
"It's my 4th"
I also asked Urick whether he could recognize anyone he started with. He told me that the player that was being chased by the mad dog in the present is someone who challenges the task at the same time as him.
There must be a good strategy. I kept on thinking about how to survive this task that seems impossible. Aran and Urick were talking with each other as I was observing the mad dog.
"Urick, can you give the ball back to Aran?"
Urick's eyebrows wrinkled.
"Bro, you just said Aran's the only one on his sixth round. He will get targeted."
"That's the point. I'll watch the mad dog and if it heads to us, pass me the ball, I am only on my second round."
Both of them nodded their heads as they agreed with what I said. Aran stretched his arms and is in the gesture of receiving back the ball from Urick.
"Wait let me watch the mad dog."
Directing my gaze to the mad dog, Aran, and Urick were behind me. I gave a signal for Urick to pass the ball.
"Here," Urick said.
My eyes were still directed at the mad dog. Confusion greeted me. The mad dog didn't bat an eye at us. I decided to look behind to see if Urick already passed the ball to Aran.
"Did you-"
My eyes widened and my jaw dropped, I stood like a statue when I didn't see both Aran and Urick. As if they vanished in thin air.