The sun rose as the girls either slept next to Aria or on the floor.
Ferrin kept sitting on the sofa silently, his eyes having closed only recently.
But his momentary peace shattered like glass as a loud sound came, piercing through his ears.
THUD!
The voice vibrated in the air for a while, almost like an echo. But of a minute level.
But it was enough for Ferrin's eyes to wearily shoot open.
His mother being the first one, getting the protocol of being showered by his weary gaze.
His eyes shifted, seeing her safe and sound, he sized the girls as they woke up with horrified faces.
"Wh-What's happe__"
THUD!
Aoci's face quivered, her eyes shutting down before slowly opening up. She asked again, "What in God's name is happening!?"
The sound felt like an army charging over towards them.
"We will only know... when we get out." Ferrin morphed into a six-feet tall monkey and jumped from the sofa.
He took Aria in hand, with the girls tagging behind, he walked towards the door.
THUD!
The mere sound caused his heart to sway, the girls clenched their fists tightly, sweat drenching them, their heart-rate shooting through the roof.
Letting out a sigh, Ferrin spun the knob with his tail causing a click to appear.
The harmless click caused the girls to twitch.
Ferrin gazed at his mother's delicate face, his gaze turning more and more resolute, 'Lend me your strength, mother!'
Ferrin pushed the door open, in response to the light encroaching upon his eyes Ferrin's pupils dilated.
His mouth overflowing in saliva.
THUD!
The rows and rows and rows of monkeys, stretching over till as far as Ferrin's vision stretched, all slammed their feet on the ground.
THUD!
THUD!
THUD!
The sound seem to ring like a bell, indicating the demise about to befall Ferrin the others.
Ferrin gripped Aria tighter.
The monkeys stood at the edges like guards, leaving wide space in the middle for Ferrin and the others to walk through.
Under the horrified view of the girls, Ferrin stepped forward, onto the road, Aria in hand and started walking through the path, sweat sliding down his moist fur to his chin before dripping onto the ground.
"Fo-Follow along!" Seilo's words stuttered as she ran behind Ferrin and meekly stared around.
Feeling a pat on her back, Ano, alongside Aoci also ran towards them and quietly followed Ferrin.
Ferrin knew these monkeys wouldn't attack him, there was no fun in this... for the Genius to be amused.
Hence he walked, albeit wearily, with a fierce headache and the voices off what if the monkeys suddenly attack and what not.
Ferrin gritted his teeth, and kept walking.
The monkeys stood at the edges of the roads, aligning the streets he was meant to tread. While those that he wasn't... they were filled with grinning monkeys beckoning him to come over like the devil in strict formations.
Ferrin kept walking, the tense atmosphere causing him to constantly secrete sweat despite the sun still being young.
Under this mountain of stress, Ferrin finally. reached the building where the... last game would be held.
Ano gulped while reading aloud the name, "Paradic Casino!"
It was the diamond hidden in the mountain of stones around it.
With lavish, stained glass windows and ample decorations, going hand-to-hand with the flashy light.
It truly did look like a paradise compared to the other buildings around it.
THUD!
THUD!
THUD!
The sound bellowed, urging them to... hurry along.
Ferrin clenched his fist and stepped inside the darkened entrance, followed by the girls.
The moment he stepped inside, the shut lights shot open.
The lights lit up one after other, illuminating the three paths in front of him.
Each path had a sign on-top. A, B and C.
Ferrin stepped towards the board in the centre, 'Choose the path of Faith and walk towards me. Or fail in your guess and be besieged by pawns.'
Ferrin's eyes shifted from room to room, 'There's no hint, the board said guess... which means... this is purely luck based.'
Ferrin gritted his teeth, before spitting at the board.
Taking a deep breath, he motioned towards the girls and rushed into passage A.
The girls followed right behind. The moment all of them stepped inside, a buzzer started ringing and a red light lit up, dying the whole place.
THUD!
THUD!
THUD!
"RUNN!!" Aoci screamed, without having to look back she knew the monkeys were coming.
Ferrin glanced back, his feet not halting in the least, hundreds of monkeys rushed into the passage while letting out beastial roars.
"KEEE!"
Their screams drowned the passage.
The adrenaline coursing through the girls giving them the strength to rush behind Ferrin.
Ferrin, seeing the girls failed to keep up with him, coiled his tail around them and zoomed off.
Excluding his head start, his speed was a notch ahead the other monkeys.
Ferrin criss-crossed turn after turn, yet the monkeys roar made it feel as if the moment he turned around, the monkeys would leap at him.
The tiny relief arrived as two turns, left and right appeared together.
Without hesitation, Ferrin. took right and zoomed off.
His ears twitched as he realized the monkeys split off.
But his expression didn't loosen as he knew he wasn't out of danger just yet.
He kept creating a larger and larger gap... but he knew this couldn't keep up. Most importantly, he wouldn't be able to fight the Genius while being surrounded like this.
As he was rushing through the path, a device caught his attention.
He paused near it, and realized the button stretching from the side of the wall was meant to lower the security gate.
He gulped and pressed the button, the sound of gears appeared, followed suit by a wall lowering from the gap in the ceiling.
But the moment he stopped pressing, the wall paused.
Everything clicked instantly, the wall or the Genius to be exact... wanted a sacrifice.
The girls also understood it clearly. They weren't fools, unease slowly spread as they circled the button.
Ferrin could imagine the Genius whispering in his ear, 'Make your choice!'
As Ferrin was about to say something, forgetting he was a monkey. Aoci stepped forward, "Go! I will do it!"
"Ao_"
"GO!" Aoci yelled at Ano, shutting her short.
Seilo gazed at Aoci's eyes, at this instant, even her heart swayed for an instance, but she realized the time wasn't right yet and grabbed Ano's hand.
"Aoci... curse us! I won't say thank you, I know that will hurt. So curse us!" Seilo kissed her on the forehead and zoomed off.
Tugging Ferrin and dragging Ano.
Aoci smiled, "I am happy! Death is finally coming. I didn't want to be alive and now... I am not a coward anymore." Aoci flashed Ano a smile, the other two running away like cowards, not having the strength to glance her in the eyes.
The door fell, just as it dropped enough to cover Ano's vision of Aoci's face, tears trickled down... not from Ano's but Aoci's face.
"But, I am a coward right!? So... shouldn't I be running as well!?" Her whisper went unanswered.
Only... the monkeys greeted her with dazzlingly faces.
As they inched closer and closer, walking step by step, the door shut down.
Looking at their smiles, a scream escaped Aoci's lips.
She zoomed back and pressed the button again, "I DON'T WANT TO DIE! I WANT TO LIVEEE!! LET ME THRO-"
Somebody patted her shoulder, causing her words... to halt.
Her gaze advertently shifted to the metal wall, it didn't even budge... the choice was made... and it couldn't be undone.
Now for the safety provided by the sturdy wall, it asked for a small price... of blood.
Aoci's trembling head slowly turned around, her shivering eyes sized up the wide smile on the monkeys face.
It tilted its head, "Keke!?"
***
As Aoci's screams died down, Ano's eyes turned wobbly.
Sniff! Sniff!
Her words rung in her ears again, 'I want to live.' Tears trickled down her face, "We killed her!" Seilo managed to hear her whisper... but she could only glance down at the floor.
'She died! Because of me! Ano's right... I killed her! I lost to the Genius again... Their blood... Ficko, Paul, Aoci... its not on the Genius's hands. It's not on the monkeys'... its on my hands! Their blood... is on my!' Something clutched Ferrin's heart tightly, he could've made an excuse, like the wall could be broken and convinced himself and Aoci to ditch this horrifying plan.
But he knew... this was a... this was... THIS WAS THAT FU*KING SHITHOLE'S GAME!!
That's right, the monkeys didn't even try to break down the metal wall. If they were really serious about chasing, they could've even used the vents! But they didn't!
Because... the player... Ferrin provided the sacrifice and fulfilled the requirements, hence... their purpose was fulfilled.
Ferrin's quivering eyes, his vertical pupils thinned into bleak lines. The veins in his eyes swelled, reddening them, his teeth, bit through his lips, 'I WILL GIVE YOU A DEATH, EVEN DEATH WOULD SHIVER FROM!!'
The thought disgusted something inside Ferrin... or something in his body. The fact that he was just a toy inside a game, worthless and merely for amusement.
The fact those he saved, he wished to save, excluding Aria, even Ano, Ficko, Seilo, Aoci, Paul, that all of them were just pawns... it bore down at Ferrin... and crippled him.
Bright white light appeared at the edge of the passage, it was coming to a close, this game of chase.
But Ferrin's view... was only darkening!
"KEEEEEE!"
***
Hearing the scream, the Genius's closed eyes shot open, "He's here!"
Heeding his words... many green eyes shot open.