Are You The Complete Player?

1/2 WE WERE ON TV THE WHOLE TIME?

CHAPTER THIRTEEN: WE WERE ON TV THE WHOLE TIME?

           “What do you mean? You’ve met Drew Martin before?” Krystupas asked Carmella, totally confused. Why did she never mention that before? 

           Without saying a word to respond, Carmella headed straight to where Drew stood. He was having a good laugh with Francois and Jules about something. 

           “I remember you hurting Will before. We’ve met before, in my parents’ home. My brother appeared hurt and you were there. You lied to me the whole time pretending you haven’t met me before. Was it you who sent me that note and plane ticket? Where is he? Where is my brother?” Carmella confronted him. Everyone else proceeded to listen, although most of them were pretending otherwise.

           “Carmella!” Krystupas called from behind her. 

           “What the hell are you talking about? I’ve never met you before. Girl, you’re acting so crazy. Did you have a secret crush on Selene or something?” Drew asked sarcastically with a hearty laugh.

           “That’s uncalled for, Martin. Leave her alone. She’s confused. She hit her head and…” Krystupas said.

           “I’m not confused. I remember it clearly now,” Carmella said, but this time sounding more unsure. 

           Drew let out a soft chuckle then turned his back on Carmella. He gestured ‘crazy’ to his friends.

           Aksel had been eyeing the commotion with interest. It suddenly flashbacked in his mind how it was Drew who found the room with the exit sign. Did he really find it or…?

           “Is everything okay, Aksel?” Jihan asked him timidly. They had been dancing, sort of, but he suddenly stopped moving when Carmella confronting Drew Martin caught his attention. Aksel looked over towards Basil to check if he was also watching this. But he was dancing with Hana and was not facing him so he couldn’t see for sure.

           He held Jihan again and whispered, “Nothing about all this is okay. Except this… sort of? You’re such a good dancer. You make it bearable. Anyway, I already miss my girlfriend back home. I don’t know how long I can last in this hellhole.”

           “You should join my group. Joanna Kaminska is really smart. I’m sure she’ll take you in anytime,” Jihan said. Aksel didn’t respond to the invitation. He needed to escape from this place, not to make more friends.

           “Well, well, well. Look at everyone enjoying the party. Selene Argyros would be so proud of you all. That was a good sendoff! Anyway, I want everyone ready for bedtime. Bunks are good as new now. I’ve replaced those with blood and burns on them. That’s everyone except Adela Horackova of Czech Republic, Gavro Nikolic of Serbia, and Crina Aldea of Romania. The three of you, stay where you are. It’s not yet bedtime for you.”

           Adela sighed nervously. Was WIC going to kill her now? She looked over at the two other players whose names were also called. Gavro looked as if he was going to pass out. He walked tentatively towards the spotlight and stood next to her. Crina also looked anxious, mumbling something to herself.

           “I said it’s bedtime for everyone else. Are you disobeying a command?” WIC said to everyone in a mocking tone. That caught everyone else’s attention and they all started leaving the dancefloor in a hurry.

***

           Adela Horackova woke up with a start. She just had a disturbing dream about Selene Argyros. In her dream, Selene was forcing her to pick the next one dead and she chanted her twin Tereza’s name over and over instead of picking someone else to die. She knew it was going to be a long day ahead and possibly more disturbing than the last. She had to pick 10 members for the Game #5 challenge, and she had to mark them without them noticing. A player’s bracelet shall blink if they were already chosen by one of the three leaders, according to WIC. Something that only Adela, Gavro, and Crina would be able to see. There was an ink stamped on the three chosen leaders’ index fingers, and to mark a desired member, they simply had to press their index finger on the player’s skin.

           Adela knew who the first person she wanted in her group was. She ran over towards Joanna. Joanna looked as if she had just woken up but didn’t completely notice her because she was busy talking with Adam Evans.

           “I think you really need to read it once we’re out of here. I don’t want to spoil the ending for you,” Adam said to Joanna, animatedly. Adela marked both of them gently and simply said, “good morning,” to both.

           Joanna remembered Adela being called to stay on the dancefloor the night before and she wanted to know what it was about, but Adela was already heading over to Miroslav this time. He seemed confused by her presence before him but didn’t say anything about it. 

           “Hey, Adela,” Miroslav greeted her awkwardly instead. Adela was too happy to see Miroslav wasn’t marked yet that she didn’t even hear him say her name. She was so sure Gavro would pick Miroslav first. It was such a relief to her that she got to him first. She proceeded to pick seven other players for her team. Every one of her choices was still unmarked except Keavy. She remembered her friend dancing with Gavro last night. Maybe he got to her first.  She was also happy Carmella Cortez wasn’t chosen yet. Carmella seemed so surprised to see her being friendly, but still she was polite and didn’t really shoo her away, even if Krystupas Pavlis was hovering over them the entire time. Adela hesitated before picking Luis as the last member of her group. He could be annoying sometimes but at least he was all business when it came to challenges. 

           Meanwhile, Keavy was so surprised when Gavro came over to her very early in the morning just to greet her. He had never done so before. She found him very intriguing because he rarely spoke, so she greeted him back happily. He even touched her lightly on the arm and said a joke which she laughed at even though she didn’t really understand what it was about. 

           Gavro was so disappointed to see Marek and Miroslav’s bracelets already blinking. Of course, the two girls had gotten to them first. Maybe he should have approached them before going to Keavy first. Even Krystupas Pavlis, much to his disappointment was already marked. He groaned inwardly heading over towards the rest of the guys. He was going to pick as many guys as he could for his team.

           Crina, who was the first person to wake up and pick her teammates, automatically headed over to Krystupas’ bunk first thing in the morning. She marked his arm before deciding to shake him awake.

           “Would you really have chosen me to die?” she whispered.

           “Aldea, what are you doing here so early? You startled me!” Krystupas said upon seeing her. 

           “Just answer my question,” she whispered.

           “No. At least I didn’t think so. But thanks for giving me an idea for next time. Now will you leave me alone to sleep more?” he asked, impatiently. Crina rolled her eyes but decided she couldn’t waste any more time bickering with him.  She needed to pick nine other players in her group. Krystupas covered his face with his blanket and proceeded to go back to sleep. Carmella walked towards them but stopped when she saw Crina already there. 

           “You’d probably have better luck waking him,” Crina shrugged and said to Carmella. For a second, she considered her in her team but decided maybe she would just be a distraction to Krystupas’ focus. She shook her head to herself and decided not to pick Carmella at all. She walked over to Marco instead, who was talking to Chloe Lavigne about vintage watches. Crina marked his arm. Marco’s eyes widened in amusement feeling her touch his skin, her face so close to his.

           “Jeez, Aldea, I thought you were going to kiss me,” he teased.

           “In your dreams,” Crina retorted.

           “What did WIC want with you last night?” Daniela Perez asked her. Akira who was seated beside her glanced at Crina. He was curious about it, too. He actually thought WIC already murdered Crina and the other two while they were all sleeping.

           Crina flashed a dirty finger to no one in particular and walked away.

           “She was allowed to… have s*x?” Akira asked, totally confused.

           “I think she was just saying it’s none of our business,” Chloe said shyly. 

***

           “I feel so bad for confronting Drew Martin like that last night. You were right. I think I was just momentarily confused,” Carmella said. 

           “I’m sure it meant nothing to him. Anyway, what do you think Adela Horackova is up to? It’s the first time I saw her come up to talk to you,” Krystupas said to her.

           “I saw Crina Aldea in your bunk, too. What did she want?” Carmella asked back. They shared a knowing look. It was Krystupas who spoke first.

           “WIC asked both of them to stay last night during our lights out. Do you think there’s going to be a game soon?” he asked Carmella. She looked uneasy but was thinking the same way.

           “I’m nervous. I am suddenly dizzy,” she whispered.

           “I’m Krystupas Pavlis,” he responded, then cracked up a smile. “That was my response the first time you told me that, remember? I really thought that was your name.”

           She smiled back. “At least you smile now. In the first few days, I couldn’t tell when you were making a joke.”

           “That’s part of making a joke, to pretend you’re not joking,” he responded with a chuckle.

           “You’re c…” she said, then bit back the rest of the word she was about to say.

           “Weird? People tell me so,” he said. “Wait, what were you going to say? It didn’t sound like it starts with a w.”

           She laughed but his face remained serious. She felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment. How was she going to explain almost saying the c-word? 

           “Relax,” he said, bursting out laughing. “Like I told you, part of the joke is when I look serious after joking. I know what you mean. I’m corny. That’s also something I’m proud of, a little bit.”

           Carmella was about to respond, when suddenly, the song “It’s A Small World” played through the speakers.

           “I think it’s going to be a geography challenge,” Krystupas whispered.      

           “Oh no,” she exclaimed, but more to herself than to him. How was she going to stand a chance in a geography challenge against all these tennis players who had been travelling the world week in and week out for a living?

           “Welcome to Game #5. Are you all as excited as I am?” WIC’s voice boomed as soon as the song stopped playing.