Game Of Survival

Chapter 21

JAMES

"Here are the top three contestants who performed exceptionally well." Mr. E muttered while the screen displayed images of two men and a woman.

"Miguel Garrison, Contestant Thirteen, he had a total of thirty kills. Mira Henshaw, Contestant twenty three, she had a total of twenty seven kills. Gabriel McConaughey, contestant forty, had a total of twenty three kills."

My gaze immediately darted to the crowd, searching for these three. Miguel was in the center, Mira and Gabriel were at separate corners. But it didn't matter either way, the rest of us took space away from them slowly.

Miguel didn't even flinch in the slightest. His gaze remained on the screen but in those eyes, I saw nothing but an emotionless man. Mira was coated in blood but she looked so innocent, if anyone had told me this woman could single handedly kill twenty seven people overnight, I wouldn't have believed it. Gabriel on the other hand, had a devilish smile and it made the people closer to him take further distance away from him. No doubt this guy was a psychotic man who enjoyed this.

"These people are bad news, we should stay away from them as much as possible." Dave whispered in a trembling voice.

"Yeah… especially Miguel and Gabriel." Daniel added. "The look in their eyes is terrifying."

I gulped my saliva again as Gabriel and I locked gazes. His sinister smile deepened at that moment and it terrified me to the core. I briskly looked elsewhere. Of all things, I wouldn't love to be a target of any of these three.

"We'll give you all five minutes to exchange pleasantries with the top three and after we will proceed to the next stage." Mr. E sounded and I frowned. Anger coursed through me like fine blood.

"This man is f*****g crazy!" Dave whispered, anger blooming in his voice.

"I wish I could deal with this bastard myself." Daniel growled.

"Nothing's gonna change if we keep cursing and murmuring." Eve quoted. "We should focus on how to survive the next stage."

We nodded and there was an awkward silence in the room for five minutes. Nobody moved an inch but our eyes were as alert as ever. The screen brightened again.

"Welcome to the Second stage of the Omega Show." His voice sounded in a grand manner.

"Without further Ado we shall begin the next stage. Behind the wall before you all, there are hundred bags containing food and water, clothes and weapons. Although there are about one hundred and fifty contestants, these doors won't open unless there are exactly a hundred contestants left in the room.

After twenty minutes the required numbers of contestants hadn't been reached. Then ten of the contestants will be terminated instantly." The screen instantly displayed a countdown of twenty minutes. And once again, everyone fell into a state of agitation. It reminded me of our first night at the Arena. Just like I expected, this was another m******e. Fifty of us were bound to die.

"What the hell? How are we going to have a hundred? We're more than that!" Dave mumbled.

"It's obvious, they want us to kill each other until we're hundred left." I answered and he gasped. Everyone started taking a protective stance against each other.

"We stick together no matter what." I announced, while we stood by each other in a circular manner.

As the next second came, Miguel made the first move. He brought out his knife, before I could call Jack Robinson, the whole room had turned into a battle royale. Screams pierced through my ears enough to make me deaf, some ran Helter skelter, while some busied themselves killing on instincts.

"James help me!" Dave screamed as a guy dragged him away.

"Dave!!" Daniel yelled, without thinking twice he launched against the guy. Both of them rushed each other with blows while Dave crawled under the ongoing mess.

"Leave me! Leave me alone!" Eve screamed, hitting the hefty guy trying to strangle her to death.

"Eve!!" I yelled furiously and I lurched at the guy. Hitting him hard in his gut. I didn't even give him time to wallow in pain, I kicked him hard in his crotch so he fell to the ground. I kept kicking him repeatedly so he wouldn't even dream of standing and after I had beaten him to my heart's content, I focused on Eve who had frozen.

"Eve! Are you okay?!" I queried, dragging her away from the current mess but the truth was, there was no safe place around. I could only take the damage while protecting her. I suddenly stopped as Gabriel stood a few meters before me. His eyes were glowering with lust for blood, there was blood sprinkled across his face and he licked the droplets on his lip with a devilish smile.

"Where are you running too?" He asked and I lost contact with my legs at that moment. My heart was raging like it was going to explode, my body trembled and the only thing my mind told me was to run!

I grabbed Eve's hand tighter and as I was about to make the move, he ran towards me. Hitting Eve out of the way,

"E-ve--" I stammered as he grabbed me by the neck. He raised me above the ground with just one arm. In the other, he held a knife ready to strike. I struggled in his grasp. Trying to kick him while my hands struggled to overcome the strength of his hand. Someone grabbed Eve trying to attack her and I didn't even know how Daniel and Dave were faring. I was basically hopeless! I was going to die. I could feel my breaths receding by the moment, my head was raging with a migraine, my chest hurt heaving up and down in an unstable manner, my strengths were gradually failing me.

"L-let go, you bastard!" I groaned but his grip only worsened. He was enjoying every moment of my suffering. But I didn't want to die here! I didn't!

And just when I thought it was over for me, an alarm blared almost deafening me. The screen display changed back to it's Omega sign.

"Congratulations! We now have a hundred contestants left. Anybody who tries to hurt his or her fellow contestants will be instantly terminated." Mr. E announced, only then did Gabriel let go of me.

"You're very lucky to escape me this time." He bellowed as he inched close to me. "But you won't be lucky the next time. Once I set eyes on my prey, I make sure to finish them off." He paused while my eyes twitched, everyone's attention was suddenly on us. "The moment we step out of here, you'll be my first prey."

I almost peed on my body. I had successfully made myself a target of a monster.

"Stay away from him!" Daniel blared as he sauntered towards me alongside Dave.

"You heard our host." He growled and Gabriel scoffed before walking away.

"Eve…" Dave mumbled as she joined us too. She had a slight bruise across her arm but she was at least okay. The metallic walls we were surrounded by gradually lifted and there they were, several black bags laying in wait for us.

"Each contestant is allowed one bag alone. Take your bag and return here for further instructions." Mr. E announced again and without waste, we all went to the bags. As I picked one, I briskly checked the contents in it. I didn't care about the food and water but to see if there was anything intriguing that could help. But all I found was food, water, a black t-shirt and coat, knives, bullets and a gun. Although I didn't know it's model, I knew this handy gun was much more dangerous than a pistol.

"Guys I'm freaking out…" Dave mumbled in a trembling voice.

"We almost lost our lives back there."

I nodded while my mind mentally replayed Gabriel's threat. He was dead serious. As far as I remained in here, I was still safe but the moment I stepped outside, he was going to hunt me down. At this point, the only way I could save myself was killing him. I was going to have to murder someone again.

"Guys," I said and they focused on me. "I hate.." my voice trailed off. "I hate to say this but we have no choice than to use these weapons to protect ourselves." And they nodded.

"And remember, we stick together no matter what." I added.

"No matter what." Daniel replied and then we straddled our bags to our back. Now, it was time for us to hear whatever bombshell Mr. E had.

By the time we all gathered back to the room, the screen brightened again. It was time for another dreadful news.

"Before we begin this stage, listen carefully to my instructions." Mr. E sounded and I sighed. It was probably going to be another directive for us to kill each other. I looked around the dead bodies we were surrounded by, my nose smelt nothing but blood. If these people knew they were coming to their deaths about an earlier time, they probably wouldn't have made it here in the first place.

"This stage shall last for only one hour." He said and then he went mute. I skeptically viewed the screen. Were they going to ask us to kill each other here again? But that wouldn't make any sense.

"The name of this stage is called free for all, meaning each contestant must eliminate a total of ten contestants. The first three to eliminate the required number shall be given a special offer." He paused.

"What offer?" Dave asked, staring at the screen in confusion. My frown deepened, I was equally as curious as the others.

"I'm sure you all must be curious about what kind of offer I'm talking about. Very well then, the first three to qualify shall be given the chance to skip the next stage. They will be given a room and shall be treated as guests in the third Arena."

"Third Arena?" Eve questioned. "Just how many Arenas do these people have?"

"The question should be, what kind of place is the third Arena? And what lies in there for us?" I answered.

"Death." Daniel responded. "No matter what the Arena looks like, it's purpose is simply death."

"Yeah it is, but then again…" My voice trailed off as I looked around the cameras watching us.

"It could give us a chance." I whispered enough for only them to hear.

"You have something in mind?" Dave inched closer to me and I nodded.

"What's it?"

"I don't know yet, let's survive this stage first and then we can only hope my guess is right." I replied.

"What are you thinking James?" Daniel asked and I stared at them for a while. I wasn't entirely sure but it wouldn't be proper if I hid it from them either.

I heaved a light sigh and just as I was about to spill the beans, Mr. E's voice rose again.

"After the time duration elapses, all the remaining contestants left shall be moved to the third Arena." He said.