The Lover's Hunt

“Welcome, ladies and gentlemen! This is a special occasion, I never thought I would be able to see such decorated people inside a single hall! Allow me to introduce myself, I will be your host and the game master of this excellent endeavor! Loki,” a thin man dressed in black suit and a mask, greeted the room full of people wearing different animals as their masks. “Without further ado, kindly turn your heads toward the screen as our participants make their entry!!!” The screen flashed a beautiful living room complete with all the things one would need and more. It was decorated with the most expensive items from the carpet to the sofa to the linens. Even the paintings on the wall would put some galleries to shame. “First is a gorgeous lady from a rough upbringing. Those curves and seductive ruby lips sure fooled a lot of people, but don't be among them. She is the leader of a big gang in the east! Controlling the dark side of an entire country with connections all over the world! Here comes “The Smiling Death” Eve!!” “On the other side of the spectrum, we have a sexy hunk whose passion for kindness knows no bound! Graduated the toughest medical school at the top of his class with a perfect record in his medical career, here comes “The Blonde Miracle” Marco!” Soon enough, the participants entered one by one, until ten gathered in the living room. All hailed different backgrounds and cultures, but all had two things in common, they were willing to risk it all to win and all were drop dead gorgeous! *In the living room* “Hello, folks! I think we should introduce ourselves to each other, after all we will get acquainted for quite some time.” … “She should be the agent from the FBI?” The one wearing the tiger mask from the spectator’s lounge asked. “Yes, sir! She is Luna,” Loki replied. … “I’m Luna, 21. I was a professor at a prestigious school in the states, but now I am here for the dream of a lot of money!” She said with a bright smile full of innocence. Her round cheeks and sparkling eyes made her look like an innocent little child, void of any malice. From her looks, none would suspect that she is an agent, or that she is capable of doing anything. “Hello, Luna, My name is Marco. I’m a doctor, it is a pleasure to meet you all,” The muscular blonde greeted with a tempting smile. ‘Hm, the information with regards to the participants were kept hidden even from the government. However, based on his mannerisms and posture, he does not seem to be lying,’ Luna thought. “Pleasure to meet you, both –” another man was about to introduce himself when a person wearing a rabbit mask entered the living room. “Good morning, participants! I am Roger, your host. I will relay everything you need to do to win this competition. First, what you need to know. In every corner of this house, cameras are placed everywhere with the exception of the bathrooms and the bedrooms. You are not provided with any device to contact the outside world and are forbidden to go out, not that you could. There are armed men guarding the doors, so you best be careful. After all, we cannot spoil this fun. Next, you are to do what is asked, no matter how much it goes against your principles –” the rabbit-masked man was interrupted as one of the ladies moved toward marco. The stunningly beautiful woman leapt in his lap and damp her ruby lips on his neck ever so slightly, licking it with her tongue, “Like this?” She asked with a mischievous grin. Marco immediately stood and moved her to the sofa. He was flustered and confusedly looked at the lady who was staring back at him. “My, my, you are more innocent than I thought. We will have a lot of fun, mr. Doctor,” she said as she stood up rubbing her fingers on his cheeks. “That’s right,” answered Roger, making the other ladies uncomfortable; however, they all knew what they signed up for, so they braced themselves. “Don't worry too much, though, love is like fruit, it is sour when eaten unripe. Who would enjoy that?” “We will take it easy tonight. We will play a game to determine who will be roommates with whom.” ‘Roommates, huh?’ Luna noted in her mind. “Oh, your roommates will be the opposite gender of course.” ‘What?!’ “HAHA! Now we’re talking!” A brawny and muscular man, wearing a tank top slapped his thigh and widely smiled after hearing him. ‘What a pervert!! Damn rotten bastard! If not for my undercover, I would have arrested you already! There should be a law forbidding disgusting people!’ Luna thought in disgust. Even the gentlemen glared at him, but the brawny man did not care. “Tarantino, it seems like you still are the sewer rat you once were,” Eve mocked. “HAHA! Big words from a busty b*tch who only knows s*x!” Tarantino laughed. “You scoundrel!!” She irked. “I suggest you sleep with a gun under your pillow if you become so lucky to sleep with me,” Tarantino said as he licked his lips, making Eve shake in anger. “Wouldn't there be any repercussions if someone commits violent acts here?” Marco asked. “If we see it happen, of course, there would be. The only truth here is what the spectators see,” Roger replied. ‘These damned dogs! There are no cameras in the rooms!’ Luna gritted her teeth in anger, but she tried her best not to show any of it out. ‘That Tarantino is a gang leader, a wanted man for crimes I cannot count with all of my fingers! He is dangerous. Being roommates with him is a death sentence for any lady here!’ “What would come of it if there is enough evidence to prove guilt?” Marco continued. “Sir, the only truth here is what the spectators see,” Roger repeated. ‘Damn you, people!!’ Marco cursed in his thoughts. “I digress, let us move to the game!” Roger then pulled a deck of cards and shuffled it in the air. “52 cards, an ordinary deck of playing cards. Each one will take turns to open a card, then someone from the opposite gender will open another card, if they are of the same number, you will be partners. Simple, right?” Roger then arranged the cards on the table in the middle of the living room. ‘Simple enough, but why is my heart pounding like this?! Damn! I have no control whatsoever on the result!’ Luna cried in her thoughts. ‘If I happen to be partnered with that pig, I may have to kill him! Ugh!’ “Ladies first,” Roger said. The ladies looked at each other, waiting to see who would step forward first, but they did not need to wait after all, as the only lady there wearing glasses and holding a book took the first chance. “3 of Hearts for Lady Dawn,” Roger announced. “I like breaking nerdy girls,” Tarantino stepped up, opening another card. ‘One in 17,’ Dawn thought. ‘The later you are in the rotation, the more probable it becomes that the second picker will get your card. This game is not just a matter of luck.’ “4 of Hearts.” “Ugh! So close!” Tarantino said. ‘Close? What an i***t,’ Dawn remarked in her thoughts. “Flip your card down, Lady Dawn. Now, it is the ladies’ turn. If you open a card with the number 4 in it, you will be roommates with mr. Tarantino,” Roger said. Luna immediately took the turn, ‘Slowpokes,’ she thought, opening the same card Dawn turned. “3 of Hearts.” “It’s like you really hate to be paired with me. I like you,” Tarantino said with a disgusting grin. ‘Ughh! I want to vomit!’ Marco then took the chance and opened another card but it was different as well. Just like this, each one of them has the capacity to deny being paired with the other. As long as they remember the position of the card different from the one currently faced up, they can deny being roommates with the other. Of course, the participants used this to their full advantage; therefore, after 5 rounds, no one had been paired yet. … “This is getting boring,” somebody with a snake mask said. “Hoho! Worry not, monsignor! Things will get more exciting!” Loki promised. … “Now, five rounds are up! A new rule will be added! Partners will be those who get the same suit! Also, each flipped card will not be turned face down anymore, but removed!” Roger announced. ‘Hmm, this will get dangerous. I need to settle for this man now,’ Dawn thought as she approached the table facing a man with long black hair and a body like that of a samurai. ‘I was hoping to get another brainiac, but that would be dangerous now,’ she thought as she stared at the 7 of Spades. “I am Dawn, I hope we can get acquainted well.” “Greetings, Lady Dawn. Theos is honored by your acquaintance,” the gentleman on the other side of the table greeted. ‘This should work out fine lest he is a snake pretending to be a man,’ Dawn thought, sharpening her eyes before flipping a 3 of Spades. “3 of Spades! Lady Dawn and Sir Theos will now be sharing a room. The deck will be shuffled.” “No–” Luna cried, but immediately stopped herself after everyone looked at her. ‘Damn! Curse my fate!! If my luck is so poor that I get paired with that pervert, I'll be damned!’ “HAHA! I cannot wait to see your no-no,” Tarantino provoked. “Pig!” Luna greeted her teeth. “Jack of Diamonds.” ‘Diamonds! There are 50 cards remaining here, 49 to be picked from, 12 are diamonds. Almost 1 in 4 chance that I draw a diamond. Damn it!! 1 in 4!’ Luna thought as she shook ever so slightly while approaching the table. “1 in 4, she's doomed,” Dawn uttered under her breath which Theos heard. “Why? That's pretty low. It is not 3 in 4,” Theos asked. “Yes, but to gamble your life in those odds, that's doom.” “Hmm,” Theos looked at Luna pitifully. ‘1 in 4, 1 in 4… 1 in 4,’ Luna kept uttering it in her head as her hand shook as she tried to turn the card. ‘Damn!!’