MARKED BY THE CURSED ALPHA

CHAPTER 6

Kayda's POV

The smell of blood lingered heavily in the grand hall long after the gunshots had faded. No one moved. No one dared to breathe too loudly. Ten lifeless bodies lay sprawled across the polished marble floor, their eyes still open, their hands frozen in the air from the moment they had begged for mercy. My entire body trembled as I stared at them. Only a few minutes ago, they had been standing beside me, frightened and confused just like everyone else. Now... they were dead. One wrong decision had ended their lives before the Survival Game had even begun. The realization sent a chill racing down my spine. This wasn't a threat meant to scare us into obedience. They would actually kill us without hesitation. Around me, several girls burst into tears while others dropped to their knees, whispering desperate prayers. One girl screamed uncontrollably before fainting onto the floor, and another vomited beside her. My own legs felt weak, but I forced myself to remain standing. If this place had taught me anything already, it was that showing weakness could cost me my life.

A middle-aged man dressed in an elegant black suit calmly stepped onto the stage as though ten people hadn't just been executed before his eyes. His expression remained unreadable as he adjusted the microphone in front of him. "Allow me to properly welcome the remaining contestants," he began, his voice carrying effortlessly through the silent hall. "My name is Victor. I am the overseer of the Survival Game." No one answered. Fear had stolen every voice in the room. Victor seemed unsurprised. "There were originally fifty contestants selected for this year's Survival Game. Unfortunately, ten of you have voluntarily withdrawn." His gaze briefly shifted toward the bodies still lying on the floor. "That leaves forty contestants." My heart sank. Withdrawn? They had just been murdered, yet he spoke about them as though they had simply resigned from a job. "The rules are simple," Victor continued. "From this moment onward, Blackwood Palace is your world. You may not leave without permission. Any attempt to escape will result in immediate execution. Every trial will eliminate contestants. Some of you will lose because of your own mistakes. Others will lose because someone else was smarter, stronger, or more ruthless. Alliances are permitted. Betrayal is permitted. Trust is entirely your own responsibility. By the end of the Survival Game, only a handful of you will remain." A wave of terrified whispers spread across the hall. One brave girl raised a trembling hand. "What... what happens to the survivors?" Victor smiled faintly. "Those worthy enough to survive will earn the greatest honor imaginable. An audience with the master of Blackwood Palace."

The hall fell silent once again. I had heard that name twice already, yet no one had actually explained who this mysterious master was. Before anyone could ask another question, Victor continued. "Tomorrow, at sunrise, the first trial will begin. I suggest every one of you gets enough rest tonight." He clapped his hands once, and dozens of guards entered the hall. "Untie them." Thick ropes fell from my wrists, leaving painful red marks behind. My muscles ached as I slowly rubbed my hands, trying to restore circulation. The guards divided us into groups before leading us through enormous hallways decorated with priceless paintings, glittering crystal chandeliers, and polished marble floors that reflected every light above. I couldn't believe my eyes. This place looked less like a palace and more like a kingdom hidden from the rest of the world. Every corner radiated wealth beyond imagination. Yet beneath all the beauty stood armed guards every few meters, reminding us that we were prisoners rather than guests. We eventually stopped in front of a pair of golden doors. "Five contestants per room," a maid announced politely. "Everything you need has been prepared."The maid pushed the golden doors open, and every girl in my group froze in disbelief. The room before us was larger than my entire apartment back in the city. Five neatly arranged king-sized beds stood against the walls, each covered with soft white sheets and thick duvets. A grand chandelier hung from the ceiling, casting a warm glow over the elegant furniture. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked beautifully landscaped gardens, while fresh flowers decorated nearly every corner of the room. Attached to it was a luxurious bathroom with marble floors, golden faucets, a bathtub large enough for three people, and shelves filled with expensive soaps, perfumes, shampoos, and skin-care products. For a brief second, I wondered if the guards had brought us to the wrong place. This didn't look like accommodation for prisoners. It looked like a five-star presidential suite.

"Everything inside this room belongs to you for the duration of your stay," the maid said with a polite smile. "Fresh clothes have been prepared in your wardrobes. Dinner will be served in thirty minutes. Please make yourselves comfortable." Without waiting for a response, she bowed slightly before leaving. The heavy doors clicked shut behind her. For several seconds, none of us spoke. We simply stared at one another, trying to understand why people who had threatened us with death only moments ago were suddenly treating us like honored guests. Finally, one of the girls let out a nervous laugh. "Are we really supposed to sleep here?" she asked. Another walked toward one of the beds and gently pressed her hand against the mattress before her eyes widened. "It's... it's actually real." I slowly walked toward the wardrobe assigned to me and opened it. Inside hung elegant nightwear, casual clothes, sportswear, shoes, slippers, and neatly folded undergarments, all in my exact size. Beneath them sat unopened toiletries and a handwritten note that simply read, 'Welcome to Blackwood Palace.' A strange feeling settled in my chest. Whoever had prepared this room knew everything about us.

One by one, we each took turns bathing. The warm water washed away the dirt from prison, yet it couldn't wash away the fear buried inside me. As I stared at my reflection in the bathroom mirror, I barely recognized the exhausted woman looking back. Dark circles surrounded my eyes, and the bruises left by the handcuffs still marked my wrists. Drying myself, I changed into the soft cream-colored pajamas provided before returning to the bedroom. The other girls soon emerged as well, looking just as surprised by their transformation. It was strange how a hot bath and clean clothes could almost make us forget where we were. Almost. A knock interrupted the silence. Moments later, servants entered pushing several silver carts covered with polished lids. The rich aroma of freshly cooked food instantly filled the room. Roast chicken, grilled steak, seafood, creamy pasta, warm bread, colorful salads, fresh fruit, cakes, pastries, and bottles of sparkling juice covered the table until there was barely any space left.

No one moved. We simply stared at the feast in stunned silence. Finally, the shortest girl among us swallowed nervously. "This... this can't be free." Another nodded slowly. "My grandmother always used to say that prisoners are never treated like queens unless they're being prepared for something worse." Her words sent an uncomfortable silence through the room. My stomach growled loudly, reminding me that less than twenty-four hours ago, my dinner had been a piece of dry bread and watery soup. I slowly reached for a piece of bread, waiting for someone to stop me. No one did. Soon the others began eating as well, though the fear in our eyes never disappeared. We all knew this luxurious meal wasn't an act of kindness. It was the calm before tomorrow's storm.

For several minutes, the only sound inside the room was the clinking of cutlery against porcelain plates. No one spoke. We all knew tomorrow's game could be our last, making every bite feel heavier than the one before. Finally, the cheerful-looking girl seated across from me forced a smile and set her fork down. "I don't think sitting here in silence will help any of us," she said softly. "Since we're sharing a room, maybe... we should at least know each other's names." She looked around nervously before placing a hand on her chest. "I'm Emily. I'm nineteen years old. I grew up in an orphanage, so there wasn't really anyone to come looking for me after I disappeared." She gave a small laugh, though sadness lingered in her eyes. "I was working at a café when I was suddenly taken." The girl sitting beside her nodded slowly. "I'm Sophia. Twenty-two. I used to compete in amateur boxing matches. One night a group of drunk men attacked my younger sister. I fought them off... but one of them died after hitting his head during the fight. The court called it murder." She shrugged as though she had accepted her fate long ago. Sitting quietly beside the window, another girl finally spoke. "My name is Nina. I'm twenty-one." She lowered her eyes to her plate. "My younger brother got involved with the wrong people. The police found illegal weapons in our house. I confessed instead of him. He's only sixteen... he still has a future." None of us spoke for a moment. Then all eyes turned toward the last girl, who had barely touched her food. She nervously twisted her fingers together before whispering, "I'm Aria... I'm twenty. I was studying at university. Someone hid drugs inside my backpack before a campus inspection. No one believed me." Tears gathered in her eyes, but she quickly wiped them away before anyone noticed.

Four pairs of eyes slowly turned toward me. I tightened my grip around the glass in my hand before taking a slow breath. "I'm Kayda." My voice came out quieter than I expected. "I'm twenty." I paused, unsure how much I wanted to reveal. "I helped the man I loved build his company from nothing. Eight years later... he framed me for stealing fifty million dollars." The room fell silent. Emily's mouth slowly fell open. "He did that to you?" I nodded without looking at anyone. "With the secretary I helped him hire." No one asked another question. They didn't have to. The pain in my voice answered everything. Sophia clenched her fists. "That's low," she muttered. "If we ever get out of here, I hope he gets exactly what he deserves." Nina nodded in agreement while Aria quietly whispered, "I'm sorry." For the first time since my arrest, someone had apologized to me without accusing me of lying. It felt... strangely comforting.

Emily suddenly pushed her empty plate aside and looked at each of us with determination. "Listen," she said. "We're all scared. We all have different stories. But tomorrow, when those games begin, we'll either face them alone... or together." Sophia crossed her arms. "You're suggesting an alliance?" Emily nodded. "At least until we're forced to do otherwise." Nina didn't hesitate. "I'm in." Aria quickly nodded as well. "Me too." They all looked toward me, waiting for my answer. I stared at the four strangers sitting around the table. Just days ago, I had promised myself never to trust anyone again after Nathan's betrayal. Yet somehow, these girls felt different. They weren't pretending to be perfect. They weren't asking for anything except a chance to survive. Slowly, I nodded. "We'll help each other." Emily smiled brightly before stretching her hand into the middle of the table. "Then it's settled." One by one, Sophia, Nina, Aria, and finally I placed our hands on top of hers. "We'll survive," Emily whispered. "Together."

Later that night, after the servants cleared the dishes, we each climbed into our beds. The room was silent, yet I knew none of us were truly asleep. Every now and then I heard someone turning beneath the blankets or letting out a shaky breath. Beyond the enormous windows, the moon hung high above Blackwood Palace, bathing the gardens in silver light. Tomorrow, the first Survival Game would begin. By tomorrow night... some of us might already be dead. Closing my eyes, I whispered a silent promise to myself. I would survive. Not just for me... but for the revenge waiting beyond these palace walls.