Game Of Survival

Chapter 7

JAMES

"No. Mine was on Imperial street. In fact, it was the only building in that area." She replied.

"So that means," I paused. "We both had different interviews." I stated and she nodded slowly.

"Oh my God, something has definitely gone wrong." I uttered, looking around in desperation.

"Yeah this is way too much for an interview just for a reality TV show. This is extreme."

"What if we were kidn*pped?!" I blurted, unable to maintain steady breaths anymore. Her eyes exclaimed too but then it relapsed back to normal.

"No, that can't be possible." She answered but her voice lacked even the slightest conviction.

"What do you mean it can't be possible? I mean we both came for an interview and suddenly we ended up in an unknown place. How do you explain this?" I chirped and I could see fear beaming in those eyes.

"B-but..." She stammered but it only made things worse. I couldn't find my brother. I wondered how he was doing. If he were safe or if he were even in another location entirely.

"It can't be possible..." She stated again. "I mean look around us. So far so good, we haven't come across anything dangerous. There are screens and cameras around us. They must be watching us."

"Well isn't it weird they chose a place like this? Besides, all these things are just your own guesses. Whatever this place is, how we landed here, it's definitely not funny!" I raised my voice. But she still maintained her calmness. But how could I? There have only been more and more puzzles ever since I awoke. Not to mention I was deeply worried about where the others were.

"You're right. They're only guesses and we can only hope it's true." She mumbled and I nodded slowly while trying to calm my agitated breaths.

"I think it's better if we stick together. At least our chances of surviving alone will definitely be higher.

Besides, we need to find the rest. We certainly can't be the only ones here in this place."

"We don't even know how large this place is." I remarked and she sighed. "Well then, let's get moving." I quoted and she nodded.

"I'm Eva." She mentioned.

"James." I answered and then we began threading the bushy path side by side.

"Daniel!" I yelled. "Daniel!"

"Who's Daniel?" She asked.

"He's my twin brother. We came for the interview together. I just hope he's safe." I mumbled and she came to a halt, her eyes fixated in our direction. I frowned and then I looked too. My eyes exclaimed. There was an unconscious man on the ground. No doubt, he was apparently part of us and without thinking, we scurried towards him.

"Hey, Hey! Hey!..." I called as I tapped his face repeatedly. Eva, on the other hand, placed her finger towards his nose.

"He's still breathing.." She affirmed and I tapped his face harder until his eyes faintly awoke. We went silent for a short while and the guy appeared as if his head was still booting.

"W-who are you guys?" He finally spoke while we helped him sit up. He was probably going through the same thing I went through when earlier on.

"I'm James..." I mumbled.

"I'm Eva. We're also applicants just like you are." She added while the guy looked around with squinted eyes.

"Where am I?" He asked.

"We don't know too. We all just woke up in this place just like you." I replied.

"Are you kidding me?" He toned.

"I wish we were." Eva replied in a depressed tone. "Do you remember anything? Like how you got here?"

"No, no." He said almost in a whisper. His gaze was on the floor as if he were trying to relive a moment. "But the last thing I remember was leaving my house and heading to the pick up spot. We entered the bus and that's all I can remember."

"Pick up spot?" I asked. The guy glanced between the two of us.

"Yeah. Why are you two acting like you weren't there?" He asked.

"Because we weren't there." I replied.

"What do you mean you weren't there?"

"Each of us here had different interviews in different locations." Eva explained.

"No way." He gasped. "Wait, are you two serious right now?"

"Why would we be cracking jokes at a time like this?" I retorted as I arose on my feet. My palms curled into a fist.

"This is crazy, what the hell is going on here?!" I yelled to no one in particular.

"Well this is not the time to be lamenting, we still have to find the others." Eve said and I nodded like a child.

"Okay can we take a pause here." The guy interjected. "I'm confused here, can any of you explain our situation?"

I was about to start when another rumbling came from the bushes. We instantly went dead silent, all of us looking in the same direction. The sound became more and more obvious. This time I was prepared for the worst. To either run or hope it was another person.

The bushes cleared and behold, it was the person I wanted to see most importantly.

"Daniel!" I pitched.

"James!" My brother yelled too, and we immediately ran to each other. Embracing each other tightly.

"Thank goodness you're safe." I sniffed.

"And you too brother." He replied.

"Okay, can someone please explain what's going on here?!" The guy interjected again causing us to separate.

"Who are they?" Daniel asked.

"Uhm this is Eva, she was the first person I met here." I gestured at her while she waved at my brother. "And this is.." I paused.

"Dave. Call me Dave." He answered.

"This is Dave, we just met." I said. "What happened? How did we get here?" I asked.

"I don't know either. Shortly after you slept, I think I fell asleep too and then I met myself in this place. I'm just as confused as you are." My brother answered and I heaved another sigh.

"Whatever reason they brought us here, I don't think I can continue any longer. I don't care if I fail." I quoted.

"Me too. This is just too much for a reality show. It's odd." Eva remarked.

"You're right, this is --"

"Attention ! Attention! Attention! Attention!..."

An automated voice blared around us. It came from the screen embedded on the tree nearby. We briskly walked towards it. And it displayed nothing but an omega sign as it kept blaring.

"All participants should head north to arrive at the Arena. All participants should head north to arrive at the Arena..." The screen kept saying but we stared at each other with confused gazes.

Another puzzle again. I wondered what surprise awaits us.