Chapter 16: Chaotic
1751 Words
In the blink of an eye, the group of eight found themselves back in their floor, next to the giant rock. The slippery grass was everywhere around them, and they frowned, feeling that it was no longer slippery. Ridhwan smiled, understanding their confusion. "That is your reward for making it down. You can enter this room and walk around as you please. You have proved that you are fearless."
"F-Fearless?!"
Ridhwan continued. "All of those who remained here were afraid of what that blue sky and green forest were hiding. Their fear blinded them, and they didn't want to leave. They didn't want things to change. They remained static and refused to move forward. They failed, but you did not. Your willpower and curiosity drove you down, and you used each other's strength to overcome your fear of change." He leaned against the rock and folded his arms. "This grass detects your fear. It feeds on it. Now, you are no longer afraid. Your determination made it harmless. It is as simple as that."
"Thanks. For all this information." Zain smiled. "We will come back."
Ridhwan grinned and disappeared.
The seven members exchanged glances again. "Now, we must find…"
They blinked, hearing someone crying. They climbed the stairs and found Ahlem and Jassem sitting with their child. Jassem was holding his wife as she sobbed uncontrollably.
"J-Jassem?!" Shadi frowned and blinked as his brother pointed a spear at him. Jassem's hands were trembling, and his eyes slowly widened, seeing his brother. "Brother!" he jumped on his younger brother, and they both fell on the steps of the stairs. Jassem broke into tears, and Shadi held him back, confused. "Wh-What's going on here?!" he asked.
"E-Every day, new people started appearing… I… couldn't count them anymore. Our clocks stopped working, and dates stopped showing up." Jassem spoke through his gasps and tears, but it was comprehensible enough for the others. "We… At first, we were happy because we were not alone anymore, but then… Then, everyone started fighting, mainly because of politics and… football and… random things! I don't even remember what we were fighting about! They… They all ran to the room which contained weapons and started killing each other… I… I… I didn't know what to do. I looked for you everywhere!" he whispered, running a hand through his brother's hair. "I thought something happened to you! I was so worried! I THOUGHT I WOULD NEVER SEE YOU AGAIN!"
Shadi's eyes widened, hearing the pain and frustration in his brother's voice. Jassem gasped, shaking with fear. "I was wrong… This isn't the life I want. You were right. I was wrong! I WAS WRONG! I realized that after you left. I… had nobody else to tell but my wife. She told me to come here. She told me she saw a white-haired man who was so beautiful like an angel. She said maybe we can find him again. We can find him here, and… The grass was no longer slippery. We were able to walk on it. We were running away from a bunch of people who wanted to kill us and kill our daughter. We… We locked the door and hid here. I don't remember how much time had passed, but… I… I WAS SO SCARED! I THOUGHT I WOULD DIE HERE ALONE! I THOUGHT I WOULD NEVER SEE YOU AGAIN! I THOUGHT YOU DIED AND LEFT ME BEHIND!"
"Fear of change…" Zain narrowed his eyes. "The grass ceased to be slippery for them when they broke out of the cycle, just like Ridhwan said…"
The others nodded.
"O-Outside, they're all killing each other. They think this room is no longer accessible, so they don't come here anymore. But… If we leave, we will only find bodies and blood all over the place." Jassem's eyes widened in terror as he held his head in his hand and gasped. Shadi stared at him painfully. He hugged him close and started drawing circles in his back. "Calm down. I'm here now. Your brother is here. I won't leave you anymore, I promise."
Jassem slowly nodded, unable to stop his trembling body.
"Are you the only ones who came into this room?" Fahd asked. "Are there others?"
"Yes. Yes, actually. Joud and Talal are behind, sleeping. Warda is also here. She got separated from her mother, and Ahlem took her with us. She didn't want to stay with us and chose a corner for herself. We didn't want to bother her," Jassem informed, seemingly calmer than before. "Only the six of us could get in here. We… didn't want to kill anyone!"
"Now, we're fourteen in total." Dina counted. "Seven are missing."
Jassem frowned. "Wh-What are you talking about?"
"The only way to stop this m******e is to get all twenty-one of us to agree to leave this place. If we don't do that, we will actually have to kill to get out." Fahd clenched his fists. "I… don't want that." He turned to Zain. "Warda made it. You don't need to get out there anymore. Stay here. It's safer."
"Who are you to order me?" Zain glared at him. "I will stay with you until you find your sister. Out there is a battlefield. The more fighters, the better."
Fahd's gaze saddened. "I… know…"
"So, who is going?" Zain turned to the others.
"I'll go." Shahd and Rahma said at the same time.
"We will all go," Harun said.
"No." Shadi objected. "Harun, please stay here with Dina. I… want you to make sure everyone here gets enough emotional support. Explain to them what we did when we left."
"But–"
"It's okay." Shadi smiled. "I will go with Zain and Fahd. We will try to find Menyar, Oubay, Rania and Sonia. I have an idea about where they might be. Shahd and Rahma, you go find Youssef, Oussama and Wassim."
Rahma nodded. "Youssef and Wassim should be together somewhere. Oussama is certainly in the kitchen. That's his battlefield."
"Good."
"I-If you'll absolutely go, then visit the rooms in the back." Jassem stared at his brother, worried. "They contain different weapons. But… Shadi…"
"Don't try to stop me. We need to get everyone together." Shadi patted his brother's shoulders. "I promise you that I will be careful. Don't worry about me."
"Of course, I'll worry," Jassem whispered, lowering his head. "Just… Don't die."
Shadi nodded and walked with the other four towards the small rooms in the back. They stared at the different weapons and picked guns and ammunition each, along with pocket knives. Everyone blinked as Shahd picked up a massive axe with one hand.
"I-Isn't that heavy?" Shadi smiled nervously.
"Don't worry!" Shahd smirked and slapped her chest. "I trained this body for years so it can withstand the worst tortures! Don't forget that the worst the pain, the better it feels!"
"A-Ah… I see…"
Rahma picked up arrows and a bow, and they left the room first. After the men followed suit, their eyes widened, seeing the corpses in front of the door. Zain pointed at the left side of the hallway, which led to the main hall. "I hear people screaming from over there. We need to hurry."
Shadi nodded. "I'll go get Oubay and Menyar. I have an idea about where to find them."
Fahd lowered his head, his hands shaking as he held onto his dagger. Zain seriously stared at him. "Come with me. Don't wander around by yourself. We will search for your sister and Sonia."
Shadi left them at the entrance of the main hall and disappeared into the darkness of the hallway. Zain stared at people killing each other and fighting for their lives. It was chaotic. The smell of blood, sweat and human fluids filled the room, and Zain walked in first. Nobody noticed him as their red-painted faces enjoyed the act of savagery. Zain glanced around and blinked, seeing Sonia fighting all out and screaming for survival. He rolled his eyes. "That woman is so obsessed with survival that she might kill her own daughter for it. Let's go get her."
He walked into the crowd, slashing everyone that stood in his way with a straight face and double blades. Fahd stared at him, shocked. "Y-You're… What are you… doing?!"
"I'm not killing them." Zain smiled. "I can do enough damage to incapacitate them, though."
"Who… are you?" Fahd seemed terrified, staring at Zain taking down dozens in instants.
Zain closed his eyes for a second, back facing Fahd. "Maybe if we get out of here alive, I will tell you. When I do, you also tell me who you are. Is that fine with you?"
Fahd blinked. "Y-Yes. Sure…"
Zain reached Sonia, who was in the corner of the hall and blocked her sword with his bare hands. "Stop it. You're one of us, and you must abide by the rules." He spoke, his eyes baring no empathy or affection.
His hand bled, but he didn't seem in pain. "Lower your sword. If you come with us, we will be able to get out of here alive."
She glared at him. "Why should I trust you? You can be after my life!"
She yelped as he dug his dagger next to her head into the wall, and the wall cracked. "You don't have to trust me. I don't trust you or like you either. A woman who treats her child like rubbish is not worthy of existence. However, I found myself obliged to drag you with us so we can get out of here. Don't get too cocky, though. If you refuse to comply, I will kill you here and now." His gaze darkened. "Now, what's your choice? Come with us and get out of this stinking graveyard, or stay here and die right now."
She slowly lowered her sword. "Very well… I will come with you, but you must guarantee that I will get out of here safely!"
Zain huffed and grabbed her weapon. "Walk in front of us. We will escort you."
He turned his back to her and blinked, seeing her raise her foot from the corner of his eyes. She screamed as he punched her head into the wall. "Don't misunderstand. It's not because you're a woman that I won't hit you. Gender equality, remember? You hit me, I hit you."
She wiped away the blood running from her nose and stood up. She shot a dark stare at Zain and walked in front of them.
They returned into the room and found Shahd and Rahma with Youssef, Oussama and Wassim. They brought food with them and shared it with everyone.
"Take this one too," Zain pushed Sonia into the room after making sure she had no weapons on her.
“Let’s focus on the last boss, now.”
- Writer
