Everywhere was silent as he stood in front of us, while we knelt with our hands tied behind our backs.
"Good day, young ones," he said, his voice deep and distorted, as though it emanated from the very depths of the earth. He continued forward.
"I know everything feels out of place for you all since you were abducted. But I'll be blunt. Each of you will endure a harsh life from now on if you don't follow the rules I'm about to provide. I'll explain everything clearly."
An eerie silence settled over the area, as if the very air were assessing each of us. He moved from person to person, pausing when he reached a blonde girl with a strong physique and piercing green eyes.
"What's your name, little girl?"
She hesitated, clenching her jaw so tightly it seemed it might shatter. Noticing her defiance, he knelt, grasped her jaw, and squeezed. Her silence enraged him, and his grip tightened as if to crush her resolve.
"When you're asked a question," he growled, his voice even deeper, "you should answer promptly."
Realizing her silence was futile, she finally spoke, her voice faint with exhaustion. "Seraph."
"Good," he said, satisfied, and moved on. He stopped in front of another girl, his gaze expectant.
"My name is Elara," she whispered fearfully, understanding the weight of his stare.
He didn't seem interested in us boys, sparing only a few seconds to glance our way before returning to his original position.
"What a wasted effort," he muttered, clearly displeased. "I'll be straightforward. I've wasted enough time already."
With a sigh, he continued, "I don't think it matters much, but I go by the name Ra Kali. I'll be your caretaker from now on. You were all abducted from your homes, schools, or wherever you were for a specific event that will take place in the forest ahead. It's a simple game. The winner will be granted freedom and can return to their normal life."
He gestured toward the dense forest. "This is a game of survival. Within the Arboretum, there are points with limited food sources. But survival through mere sustenance would be too easy. You must acquire three identical badges to survive. The hint for their location is: 'An'yami ni ki o tsukete, ha ni chūi shite, ippo ippo ga eien ni kewashiku naru deshou.'
"You have three weeks to collect all three badges. If you fail, well... your maker won't be far from you."
Ra Kali's mirthless chuckle sent chills through the air. "With that, I'll leave you to prepare. 'Gambare kudasai,'" he said, then turned, disappearing into the ship's shadows.
We remained kneeling as guards watched over us, their eyes cold and indifferent. The atmosphere was suffocating. No one felt comfortable—least of all me.
I hadn't eaten in what felt like forever. My hair was a tangled mess, my breath reeked like a sewer, and my body was filthy beyond words. I wondered what the others were thinking, though I knew getting close to them would only endanger me.
Elara shivered, fear and confusion evident in her trembling frame. Seraph, though calm, wore a mask of irritation. As for the bald one? He was a mystery, and I decided not to waste thought on him.
The other boy seemed too calm, which irritated me. Something about him made my skin crawl.
Elara approached Seraph, likely seeking companionship. I observed from a distance, knowing it was a foolish move. Seraph's icy glare was enough to freeze anyone in place.
"You should be more worried about yourself than making friends," Seraph said, her voice smooth but steely.
Undeterred, Elara turned to the bald man. "What's your name?"
"Nova," he replied in a monotone, his gaze fixed on some distant point. No smile, no nod—just the name.
Elara, taken aback, hesitated before pressing on. "So, Nova... what do you think about all this?"
He glanced at her briefly before returning his gaze to the horizon. "It's a game," he whispered. "A game of survival."
His words lingered, heavy and foreboding. Elara fell silent, realizing that Nova was a man of few words, an observer, not a participant.
As the days turned to nights, we grappled with our fears and adapted to our grim reality. Seraph took the lead, organizing resources and formulating strategies. She remained wary of Elara, sensing a hidden ambition beneath her fear.
In the shadows, Ra Kali observed us, savoring the chaos he had orchestrated. He knew the true test lay ahead—outwitting, outlasting, and ultimately outplaying one another.