Game Of Survival

Chapter 8

JAMES

"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.

"So are we going to head north?" Dave asked and we all stared at him as if he had said something foolish.

"Of course. It's not like we have a choice in any way." I replied whilst staring at the screen that suddenly went off.

"So I wasn't wrong then. We weren't kidnapped." Eve mentioned and I stared at the camera hanging on the branch.

"Yes. But we don't know if we're safe either. For what it's worth, we don't know what surprise we might find at the arena." I replied.

"It's certainly going to be something beyond our imagination." Daniel interjected.

"Remember what Mr. O said? That the third and final stage is a test of our bravery." He said, holding my gaze carefully.

"But this is too much of a test. Dumping us in a place like this without our permission..." I exhaled.

"Wait wait, who's Mr. O?" Dave chirped and my brother frowned. He was equally as confused as Dave.

"He was the man who interviewed us." I answered before threading forward and they followed too.

"Wasn't he there for the interview?" Daniel asked.

"Nope! Apparently they held three interviews at different locations."

"Maybe even more." Eve added and my brother's frown deepened further.

"What do you mean even more?" He questioned.

"We don't know either. This place just keeps giving us more ridiculous puzzles." I replied.

"We can only hope they give us the answers to our questions at the arena." Eve said.

"Somehow, I feel things might be exciting once we get there." Dave chirped and I only heaved an inaudible sigh. I didn't know whether to feel relaxed just yet. I didn't even know what to think anymore. I could only hope Eve and Dave were right. Hopefully it wasn't something horrific that we would meet at the Arena. And after about thirty minutes, we finally arrived at a circular cleared space. It was ridiculously large and at the center, there were hundreds of dark green backpacks. The color perfectly blends with the carpet grass. Above the bags, was a huge screen that stood tall enough to the tree's height.

We came to an abrupt halt immediately, reviewing the entire place.

"Well," Daniel muttered. "This is certainly not exciting."

"Wait, we're not the only ones here." Eve mentioned, pointing to our right. Indeed she was right, there were at least thirty people gathered in that direction and they were staring at us too. The three of them quickly headed towards their direction but I remained in my position. Wondering what these bags were meant for or the contents they contained. Once again, they had successfully set up another puzzle. I frowned and in a strange way my curiosity took control. I slowly took steps towards the center like one who was bewitched.

"James! Come on, what are you doing?" He raised his voice and it tousled my attention. I returned my gaze to the center, deliberating on whether to continue or not. But from the looks of it, even those people who arrived before us didn't touch the bags, so why should I be the odd one. Hence, I turned away. Walking towards their direction.

"Were you planning on checking the bags?" One of them asked.

"I was just curious, that's all." I replied.

"We all are, but I don't think we should do anything for now." The guy muttered.

"Yeah, let's just wait." A lady chirped beside him.

I nodded before sitting on the ground beside them.

"I'm Jason by the way." The guy beamed a smile at us.

"And I'm Linda." Said the lady beside him.

"I'm James." I said in the same mannerism.

"I think I remember you guys." Linda mumbled, pointing at Daniel and I.

"You do?" Daniel sported a quizzical look.

"Yeah, we were at the same interview together. You two were the last to arrive for the interview if I'm not wrong." She said and I actually felt a bit of relief inside me.

"Really?" I grinned. "You're the first person we've met who attended the same interview with us."

"Is that so, there are few of us here too." She pointed at some of the other applicants separated from us. "But I'm sure the others will soon arrive."

I nodded.

"No doubt we're gonna have plenty."

"Yeah!" Jason nodded in assertion. "Although I didn't share the same interview with you three but I certainly did with Eve." He paused while he glanced at her.

"And from our side alone, I think we were a hundred or so."

"Yeah, we were around that figure." Eve confirmed. "How about you Dave?" She asked and our attention all fell on the guy.

"Well my side should be close to that or so I think."

He responded.

"So we're estimating about three hundred." Daniel quoted.