Game Of Survival

Chapter 34

HUGH

"We're dead if we don't find James Hendrix and Eve Finley!" The supervisor blared as I sauntered into the conference room. The room was dimly lit and divided into half with a pathway in the middle. Stairs that led down to the other end of the room where an infuriated fat bellied man dressed in a suit was standing. On the left side, were the IT department and on the right was the security department. Even though I was a bit late, I could already feel the rising tension between the two departments. I quietly sneaked among my colleagues, not wanting to drag the attention of the supervisor.

"I don't need to tell you by now how furious Mr. E is. And we know what happens to us if we fail this task!" The supervisor continued as he kept gesturing in an infuriated manner besides the large projector screen.

"First it was James Hendrix and now another Contestant has escaped right under our noses. We have only forty eight hours to get these people and get back right on track. I need answers! I need clues about their whereabouts as soon as possible! So you guys better get your shits together and start doing your jobs properly!" He blared, panting heavily. In a way, I found this scenery funny and in the future, it was only going to get more intriguing.

"Sir, we might have a bit of information regarding the hacker." The head of my department muttered and the supervisor glared at him instantly.

"A bit? Are you serious right now?!" The supervisor barked and silence escalated throughout the room. "We have a major security problem on our hands right now and you're telling me all you have is a bit of information?!"

I almost burst into laughter seeing my department head and supervisor's expressions. I looked around the room, and the others were just as tense except for the Head of Security, Solomon. He was busy lighting his cigarette.

"Spill it." The supervisor ordered and my department head cleared his throat.

"According to our investigation, we noticed the hacker didn't operate outside this Island but here, in the third Arena precisely."

"What?!" The supervisor blared while some murmurs bloomed amongst us. Most of us were staring at each other with confused expressions and I just had to play along.

"Could this be the work of James Hendrix?" One of the officials from the security group asked.

"No." He asserted. "From the information we have about him, we can ascertain he's no hacker. Even if he was, it is highly impossible for someone who is on the run to break into our system."

"So in other words, you're saying there is a mole among us." Solomon finally spoke in a deep baritone. Of all the people in the Arena, he was the only one I feared the most. His ruthlessness and sharp instincts can't even be compared to any other.

"A mole?" The supervisor questioned with a confused gaze and faint traces of fear hinting in his tone.

"Who would dare to betray the authority?!"

"Whoever this person is, once I find him or her, that'll be their last breath." He let out a puff. "And I already have my guesses." He toned, eyeing our group in a suspicious manner. "The IT department."

"What's that supposed to mean?!" My department head challenged in a furious manner.

Solomon scoffed.

"You heard me right. You guys might be feeble but your brains and cunningness is unmatched in this Arena. You guys literally control the in and out of this Arena." He paused as he let out another puff. "I'm sure there's a black sheep among you guys."

"You must be crazy! I'll not tolerate you accusing my department in such an unjust manner. For all we know, it might be you guys!" He retorted. "All these problems wouldn't have happened in the first place if your incompetent guards didn't allow a contestant to escape right under their noses. It just shows how incompetent their leader is too."

"What did you just say?" Solomon arose from his seat, letting out another puff. His eyes were deadly and his group were ready to back him up.

"You heard me." He scoffed. "All you can do is bully the other departments with your mediocre strength!" My eyes widened, we were definitely going to get beat black and blue today!

"Oh really, then I hope you and your ants can survive our mediocre strength!" He growled.

"Stop this nonsense this instant!" The supervisor declared.

"Stay out of this fatty!" Solomon bellowed.

"So what are you going to hit us with now!" Some of my colleagues began yelling and bluffing and boom, the whole argument had taken another level!

Solomon was about to attack when someone from the door side started clapping. We all turned in that direction and my eyes went wide open. Silence descended immediately as we froze. My eyes weren't deceiving me. This woman, this beautiful woman was no other than Grace, Mr. E right hand person. I gulped down my saliva, things were definitely going from frying pan to fire.

Her smile was as cold as Ice and the look in her eyes was enough to send a haunting sensation across our spines. Who would have believed this woman and I used to have an entanglement before.

"How interesting." She quoted. "We have a major problem in our hands and all you knuckleheads do is fight each other like mindless idiots. It seems you guys are tired of your lives huh." She said as she started threading down the stairs. We briskly made way for her, none of us daring to say a word.

She stopped before Solomon, glaring at him like a predator. But he wasn't intimidated in the slightest.

"What? Are you going to stop me from smoking now?" He queried and she scoffed.

"It's your choice. Although if you had quit smoking a long time ago, your brains wouldn't be so fried out to let our dear contestants escape." She retorted and I almost burst into laughter. She walked past him and approached the supervisor who was obviously trembling.

"Grace," he stuttered. "I didn't know you were coming over." He said as he gestured in a nervous manner.

"Of course. Mr. E couldn't leave a bunch of idiots to handle this grave problem alone." She answered with a mocking smile. "If I came a second late, I'm sure this entire place would be a battle royale by now."

"No-- y-you mis--" He stuttered.

"Shut up." She ordered and he went mute immediately. "I've already seen enough and consider your job gone if this problem escalates. And that goes for you knuckleheads as well." She turned to us and the atmosphere became worse.

"Anyways let's get straight to business, I don't wish to remain here for that long." She said,

"James Hendrix and Eve Finley have escaped and someone hacked the third Arena. I'm sure we all know this isn't the work of James, instead, the work of a mole." She paused. "In fact, we might have moles."

The crowd burst into another round of murmurs.

"I suspect both departments." She said again and the murmur intensified. "In fact, I know it's both departments."

Solomon scoffed while he let out a puff.

"You sound quite confident for someone who doesn't stay in the Arena."

"We have eyes, Solomon. Not blind bats like you and your minions."

"Did you come here to insult us or come to help the situation?"

"Both." She shot him a superficial smile.

"Well you better skip to the latter."

"Well you better keep quiet." She retorted and he grumbled.

"Back to what I was saying." She began again. "I believe our moles are from both departments. And this should be easy to deduct if you guys had put your heads together.

First, let us begin with James Hendrix's escape. Due to the security team letting their guards down he escaped from his room. But all of a sudden, he was out of reach. No matter how hard you guys tried, none of you could locate him." She paused. "Only someone who is well versatile with the in and out of this Arena, who can completely deactivate every method to trace him, could have done this. And that certain someone is no doubt from the IT department." She paused but nobody dared to talk. No doubt, she was making sense.

And if we look at the incident that happened today, it clearly confirms that theory and it also shows that someone from the security department is involved in this. We notice that after the five minutes hack was over, the guards at the battleground were unconscious. And mind you, these guards are well trained. Not even someone like James or Hendrix can beat them. Meaning, a fellow or two guards attacked them within those periods." She explained and still nobody dared to raise a voice.

"But you all are forgetting something. Why? Why was Eve Finley saved and not the other contestant? Why not both of them? And why is this mole trying so hard to protect James Hendrix?"

I gulped down my saliva. This was one thing I hated about her. Her intuition was really sharp and it sometimes scared me.

"Which means this matter is much bigger than we think." My department head muttered.

"Something big is about to happen in the third Arena then." Solomon mumbled.

"Indeed." She affirmed. "And it is all your fault. This Arena has been standing for close to ten years now without facing hurdles but today, today marks a new history. If not for your incompetence something this dangerous wouldn't have happened. And let me remind you, if this matter takes another dangerous turn, then I can guarantee your fates will be worse than death." She said in an imposing tone.

I heaved a heavy sigh. This woman was definitely going to expose my plans soon if I don't act quickly.

"I want everyone to leave except the Supervisor and the departmental heads." She said and the crowd obeyed. I remained in my position, staring at her whilst wondering what kind of thoughts were scaling her mind.

Hours had passed and here I was in my office, fidgeting. For the first time in so long, I was feeling this pressure. I didn't know why, but I felt there was an impending danger. I could only hope James and Eve were staying put and not up to some funny business.

I was about to focus on my laptop when a knock came from my door.

"Come in." I said and the door opened for my Grace to saunter in. My eyes exclaimed and my breaths ceased the moment we locked gazes with each other.

"Grace…" I called, washing off that expression on my face.

"Hugh…" She called with a smug look as she took a seat opposite my desk. Whatever it was this woman had in store, her expression was enough to tell it was bad news. And no matter what, I had to remain as calm as possible. The slightest flinch and I would be a goner.

"So to what do I owe your visit?" I asked with a tiny smile and she squinted her eyes a bit. As if she were trying to depict what was currently scaling in my mind.

"We happen to have some suspects so I decided to interrogate them personally." She answered with a knowing smile too.

I arched my brows upwards.

"So I take it that you think I'm one of the suspects."

She nodded.

"I checked the footage of all the workers during the incident of James and Eve's escape and I found out that you in particular were absent. Off duty, better put." She paused while my heart skipped a bit. "And I'm wondering where you went to. I checked every other footage but nothing showed you were present."

"So that's your basis?" I scoffed. "In case you don't know, not everywhere in this Arena has surveillance. I was probably somewhere off jerking."

"So you're saying it's a mere coincidence?"

"What else would it be? I've been working for you guys for five years now. I'm not foolish to oppose authority."

"You see, that's exactly why I think you're a suspect." She leaned against the table, holding my gaze carefully so I couldn't waver.

"Because five years ago, you were the winner of the Omega Show contest. And if I recall correctly, you were known for your cunningness and intelligence. Not only that, your friends died. Some of them by your hands. I'm sure you still bear some resentment towards us."

I smiled as a light sigh escaped my breaths.

"If I still had resentment against you guys, I wouldn't be here."

"Why did you take up this job?"

"Isn't it obvious?" I smirked. "The money of course. Isn't that why you're working here too?"

She smiled.

"It's not the money alone, but the excitement that comes with a bunch of people killing each other for survival."

My palms almost curled into a fist but I maintained my cool regardless.

She exhaled.

"Anyways, I think we're done here. I don't think someone like you would even dare in the first place." She said but my eyes fell on her cleavage instead.

"Stop looking." She said but I smirked.

"You know, we used to be something."

"Yeah. That time has passed now."

"Are you sure?" I gave her a knowing glance.

"Lock the door." She ordered and I smiled. Even though she was suspecting me, that didn't mean I wasn't going to have a taste of her one last time.

And after this, the plan must begin!