The smile on my face disappeared in a blink when I realized that Toby was the one sitting at our usual spot.
"Oh, Gray!"
"Toby," I replied in a monotone.
Toby stared at me with his endless grin.
"You're a bit late."
"Well, I did not tell you to wait."
He didn't reply, rather he turned the page of the book he was reading.
I managed to calm myself from everything that I experienced back in the first stage. But when I look at Toby, it's as if nothing dire happened to him in the first stage. And everything is under his control. Somehow similar to Jin but, also entirely different.
"I knew you'd survive," Toby said while still fixated on his book.
"Is that so?"
Toby slowly looked towards my face while saying something.
"Well, you're-"
He looked straight into my face, and before finishing his sentence his expression changed. The calm and collected face with a never-ending grin changed to something worried and somehow terrified.
I smiled, "Are you okay?"
Regaining his common expression, Toby averted his eyes and directed them to the book he was reading.
"Of course. I feel great, Gray."
"Uhm. So what were you saying?"
Toby closed his book, looked at me then stood.
"Nothing."
He returned the book to a random shelf and went out of the library.
I decided to read something while I wait for Amelka, Finnley, or Aran. Subconsciously, I picked an encyclopedia and started skimming the thick book. Time passed. The ambiance the library emits and the silence gave me relaxation. To the point where I fell sound asleep.
"Gray."
My eyes were still glued shut, and I kept hearing a familiar soothing voice. And my shoulder was also being softly shaken by someone.
"Gray?"
When I opened my eyes, I saw Amelka sitting beside me. Soon as I saw her I felt wide awake.
"Amelka!"
I said aloud while hugging her without thinking. Seems like I felt overjoyed seeing her well. Realizing what an embarrassing thing I just did, I let go of her and apologized. I kind of expected to get hit by her, so I assumed a defensive stance by raising both my hands in front and moving my head away while also closing one of my eyes.
"It's fine," she said with her expressionless face.
"How about Finn and Aran?"
Amelka stood, she went to the shelf where her new favorite type of books are located. She browsed for a bit before returning to her seat with a book in her hands.
"Finnley's on the first floor. He said he'll follow here," she said.
"That's great... Aran?"
Eyes straight to the book she was reading, Amelka browsed the book as if looking for the last page she was at.
"Haven't seen him."
"Hm. Is the first stage done?"
"Yes."
"Then-"
I became speechless. Though we don't know each other for a long time, I felt a great friendship with Aran. The thought of him not surviving the first stage made my heart beat faster.
Trying to change the topic, I asked Amelka what happened to her after the first substage where we met. I asked which gates she challenged and how did she pass.
Amelka didn't reply. Her expression didn't change. But I could see her hands shaking while changing the page of her book. Her beautiful eyes began blinking at faster intervals. There's also a drop of sweat falling down her flawless cheek. I decided not to talk about the first stage anymore.
Footsteps could be heard from the entrance of the library.
"Hey!"
"Finn!"
Seeing Finnley alive and breathing also gave me joy. Finnley went straight to our table. He sat down in the chair in front of me. But he appeared to be somehow different. It felt like he was a bit disoriented and not well.
"You look much better than I do, Gray," Finnley said with a forced smile.
"I guess I'm quick to adapt."
My answer didn't seem to please Finnley's curiosity. He also kept looking at Amelka whose attention is caught by the book she was reading.
"Is that so."
I let out a burst of nervous laughter, "Maybe I got used to it."
"Hmm. That's great for you."
But Finnley's doubtful eyes contradict the words he said. I felt his distrust. He must've thought that my personality and actions are all deceptions. How can I blame him, even I myself thought that after experiencing something like that, I would've also become insane. Yet here I am, somehow a bit used to this craziness.
Silence filled the room. The awkwardness completely enveloped us. I guess Finnley also wanted to change the topic and have a talk.
"Aran's alive."
I stood from my seat probably out of joy.
"Really?!"
"Yeah, I just passed Aran's room."
Come to think of it, Aran and Finnley's rooms are located on the same floor.
"Did you see him?" I asked.
Amelka continues on reading her book but she occasionally peeks out at us.
"No. But his door does not indicate that the prisoner inside is deceased."
"Wait, the doors will tell?"
Eyes still fixated on her book, Amelka joined the conversation.
"The doors light up red and "Deceased" is written at the glass door."
Have I passed doors that emitted red light? I've been having a good conversation with Jin and didn't bother looking at other people's doors aside from Amelka's.
With my left hand around my chin, I responded with a nod.
"But, why is Aran not leaving his room yet?"
Finnley looked at me with a serious face.
"Like some of us. He's probably still being haunted by the first stage."
Aran must've experienced something similar to what I have endured, or maybe worse.
"Is the second stage gonna start soon?" I said.
Finnley let out a sigh as he leaned back in his chair.
"Thankfully, no."
After hearing his answer, I also let out a sigh. Finnley said that he asked one of the guards on the first floor. The guard said that the next round is already planned to be executed on the fourth of December. It's great that Finnley talked with a kind guard.
I don't know how, but Finnley managed to attain more information. The guard said that after every stage they were told that there will be a day of rest for the players and so they were told to do their "guard duties" even though every single prisoner is being tightly monitored.
"Wait, is it already the third of December?" I asked.
"No. It's still six P.M."
Having a good rest, I thought that a lot of time passed. We talked and rested at the library for hours before heading down to the first floor and eating dinner. The decrease in the number of people still surprises me a bit.
As we were eating, someone approached coming from the serving area.
"Hey, man!"
"Urick, I'm glad you're fine"
Urick decided to join us at the table. I already told Finn and Amelka about Urick when we were at the library.
"Where's the old man?"
Finnley and Amelka didn't speak as they were chewing food in their mouths.
"He's fine. Aran decided to stay in his room for a while" I said.
"Well, that's understandable."
After the little talk, we ate quietly. Though I could feel someone's glare from another table. When I realized who it is, all I had in mind is an argument about whether I should be glad that she was fine or not.
We still didn't see Aran that night as Finn and Amelka decided to return to their rooms. Also not in the mood to do anything, I head back to my room. My head is filled with many things, but the softness of the bed is enough to make me feel as if I am floating in the clouds.
I know, I have been sleeping a lot but that doesn't stop me from falling into another deep slumber.
"Gather on the first floor."
Genjo's words that serve as my alarm clock didn't fail to wake me up again this time. For sure it's recorded. I know my head contains stupid arguments with itself, but somehow these arguments contribute to the things that keep me sane.
After cleaning up, I head out. I didn't see Jin or Amelka get out of their rooms. On the first floor, I met up with Finnley.
"Gray."
"Hey."
Finnley looked better this time. His smile also felt genuine.
"I apologize for yesterday."
"About what?"
"You know... when I first arrive at the library-"
"Did something happen?"
I decided to act as if nothing happened and wished that Finnley would realize what I'm trying to do and just forget about it.
Finnley chuckled, "Let's go eat."
After getting our food and heading to the tables, I saw Aran. His back facing towards us, I could see his shoulders shaking a little.
"Aran?"
Slowly, Aran looked at us. He has a worried face, he also kept on biting on the nail of his thumb. Soon as he saw us, he let his thumb go and smiled. Aran stood up and patted both of our shoulders.
"Gray, Finn. I'm really glad to see you both."
We told Aran that Amelka also made it. As well as Urick who we have been acquainted at the gate of Humility.
But it felt like our words enter Aran's ear from one side and then left on the other.
As we were talking while eating, I also kept looking at the prisoners who survived the first stage. Gathered on the first floor are the vicious old man Paulus, the "Terror of Manila" Hector, and some others including the thin guy who provoked one of Paulus' friends.
There's also Siti who still kept glaring at me, though I just averted my gaze from her.
We gathered at the library after eating. Somehow it became the meeting place of our alliance. Of course now including Urick and Jin. At first, Jin was hesitant. He said that he'll see the other members of the alliance and decide whether to join us or not. In the end, he joined.
I know for sure that our chance of survival greatly increases with them. That is if the next stages need cooperation and are not about killing each other. If it's the latter, I don't know what will happen in an alliance formed for the sole purpose of survival.
Though having Amelka, Finnley, and Aran doesn't make it feel like it is solely for survival. Since I could see how we look out for each other.
Based on the first stage, this year is about punishing us criminals by making us survive the environment and the Non-Player Characters inside the Virtual Reality. But it is still too early to say that there won't be a stage with the task of killing other players like some of the previous years.
As I browsed everyone at the table I thought, will I be able to fight to the death against these people?
In the end, I decided to brush these thoughts off for now.