Game Of Survival

Chapter 41

MR E.

"What is this place? I sported a quizzical look as I stared at the Blueprint laid out on the desk.

The supervisor, the IT head and Solomon all came closer, peering at the area my index finger encircled about.

"If I'm not wrong, that's the second floor, the area around the contestants compartment." The supervisor answered.

"I'm talking about this place." I pointed to the specific area again.

"Oh…" He paused, squinting his eyes. "That's just an empty space between walls. There is nothing there."

I frowned. "Are you sure?"

"I'm very certain that place hasn't been of any use since the Arena was built. I believe that space was there due to a slight error." He answered eloquently but I couldn't get my eyes off it. I'd looked over the blueprint, checking for areas Hugh could be hiding in. Even the guards were hopeless. If anything, Hugh was extremely smart. He knew how to make the extraordinary from ordinary. And this place I stared at, I was attracted to it for a reason I knew not.

"Where was the last place James was located at?" I asked.

"At the morgue room. He went into the Air vent pipe." Solomon answered.

"And where does the air vent lead to?" I asked.

"Well, there are several paths but he didn't appear at any of those places. It was like he completely vanished." He answered and then his eyes squinted a bit. "I also remember one of the pipes passed through Hugh's room. We inquired about it but he denied seeing James."

I rubbed my beards gently while my gaze returned to the paper.

"Then there's a likely possibility James took the path that crossed Hugh's room." The IT head mumbled. "But how did they meet?"

"The only person that can answer that is Hugh himself and yet we still don't have a f*****g clue where he his." Solomon replied.

"What about Eve? Where was she last seen?" I inquired and Solomon pointed on a location slightly above the area my finger was.

"There's an Elevator there. But the cameras were hacked and it's path untraceable." He said. "But one thing we know for sure is that the elevator didn't go upwards."

"So it went downwards." I mumbled to myself while I traced the area downwards with my eyes. It gave me all the more reason to believe something was up with that specific area. The Third Arena was built to perfection; a mistake couldn't just happen randomly. And if I remembered correctly, the Third Arena was refurbished four years ago. There was a likely possibility Hugh did some tampering.

"Which areas have been experiencing hacks lately?" I asked and the supervisor pointed to the region around the second floor. My eyes widened and my lips parted slightly.

"What's wrong Mr. E?" Solomon asked.

"Gather some of your men, I need this place broken down!" I ordered.

"But Mr. E, that's just some wall and nothing else." The supervisor interjected and I glared at him.

"You've all been played, Hugh is definitely within that EMPTY space. And I wouldn't be surprised if he rigged this room." I looked around.

"No way…" The IT head exclaimed but his words lacked conviction.

I scoffed.

"Seems you don't know how dangerous this subordinate of yours is." I quoted and his lips twitched.

"What are you waiting for Solomon? This time I'm coming along with you guys." I said and he nodded immediately. Although it was still a guess, it was definitely a strong one. Tonight, I was going to end Hugh Ackerman no matter what. If not for anything but Grace.

**

JAMES

"Are you shitting me?! There's no way in hell I'm going to be any sacrificial lamb." Dave blared.

"Calm down Dave." I said on a gentle note but his agitation only seemed to have increased.

"I'm not going to calm down! We're talking about a life and death situation here!"

"Your voice is going to get their attention Dave!" Eve warned, almost hitting him in the leg but his resolve didn't waver in the slightest. I exhaled deeply and then I gripped his shoulders, making him face each other squarely. I stared straight into his eyes so he found it impossible to waver from mine.

"Listen to me Dave, You're not going to be a sacrificial lamb. We're just going to use you as a distraction. I assure you nothing is going to happen to you." I said and he relatively calmed to a certain extent. "You have the biggest role to play in this plan."

"No." He wriggled his head in denial. "I'd rather do anything than be a scapegoat."

"You're not a scapegoat for goodness sake!" I raised his voice against his.

"Oh is there another better name for my role then?"

"Dave this is not the time to be doing this. We don't have much time left." Eve interjected with a sharp frown directed at Dave. "If we don't do this now, everything we've worked hard for is going to s**t hole!"

"Well then let's find another plan!" He argued.

"You haven't even heard of the plan yet!" I pitched in frustration.

"As long as it makes me the sacrificial lamb then I don't have any interest in hearing it!"

"So what then? You want us to face them head on because that will be a very foolish idea if you ask me!"

"Of course not but let's think about another way out!"

"Why don't you come up with one then?!"

"You think I'm not trying?!"

"Well it sure looks like you're thinking of yourself rather than seeing the bigger picture here!"

"What?! Do you think I wanna stay here? Stuck in here like an animal."

"Then stop cowering and let's get this over with!"

"I refuse to play this role, it's just too dangerous!"

"Ever since we began this mission it was already bound to be dangerous or do you think it's all going to be easy?!"