GAMBLE: Rule of Cards

SHOULD YOU NOT?

“And how about you?” Paul asked Denton who was left with fewer cards after he has given Paul and Sandra three cards. Denton just shook his head like he was telling the other two that he was fine with all the cards he has for himself. Denton knows for himself that he will get to survive with just those cards with him. “Denton, for all the help that you gave us, we want you to succeed and win this game. Among us three, since Jannah was already eliminated, you are that one person who is most eligible of winning the game. If giving us these cards will cause your defeat, I would rather give it back to you.”

Denton shook his head again. “I am telling you, Paul, I am okay with these cards. I want us to have cards so we will get to succeed in the next games. I still have a lot of cards in me and yes, I will win, for you. If I win, the victory is ours and not just mine, I will make sure to give you parts of the prize money,” Denton replied. Paul and Sandra already admitted that Denton was the most eligible in winning the whole game, and so, they poured themselves to be in the escaping match and escape the hell. “I still have a lot of cards, I can still do this. I actually, really wanted to give you parts of these cards so you will have even more number of cards. The guard told me that it will be a card game, and getting a lot of useful cards will surely be helpful. Fortunately, I got a lot when I lead the zombie game. You guys keep it and not give it back to me. You both deserve to be given that to use for survival or escape.”

Sandra nodded. “Did the guard tell you what game is that exactly?” Sandra asked Denton who shook his head. Sandra heaved a deep sigh before she continued on talking. “If only the guard told you what exactly is the game that will be played on the seventh main match, we could have rehearsed it while we still have time to do it. Why don’t you ask him what exactly the game is?”

“I understand your desperation to survive and escape this game, but I do not want to resort on cheating just to win the game, Sandra. I want to win equally and the same way as the other escapers won each of their games,” Denton replied. “Let us promise to win this game without cheating, right, Paul and Sandra? The victory is more warming in our heart if we win the game without resorting to cheating.”

“I mean, it would have been the easiest way of winning the game but... as you said, let us not resort to cheating and win this round equally as the other played it,” Sandra replied. The whol team silenced after that statement of Sandra. “Should you just tell us what to do or prepare before the game, since you do not want to cheat? I think the best thing to do in our spare time is to strategize the techniques that we will be using in the match tomorrow, right?”

Denton nodded. “However, we cannot strategize about the next match if we do not know how it will go,” Denton replied. Sandra was about to argue that it was her point: to ask the guard what are the instructions of the next match, but Denton never gave her time to talk. “Since we cannot strategize, just take a rest and refresh your minds from everything that has happened today. For once, remove all the bad things that happened today from your mind, it might affect your performance tomorrow. I will wake you up once the dinner has already arrived.”

Sandra never tried to argue with Denton again and just nodded, as a response to her leader’s remarks. Denton left the other two sleep and let his eyes on. The other players are also getting their rest on the tables given to them. Denton looked at Hector who was sitting on the bed like he was thinking other things rather than the next games. All his disciples just got eliminated, most of them were eliminated in the most recent main match. Now, he was left alone, with all the other alone players. Only Denton, Sandra and Paul are the team that still has two or more players inside. By the team, that means the imaginary and self-made team by the players.

Denton felt the urine rush inside his bladder so he walked towards the comfort room. He positioned himself, standing in front of the urinal as he started on peeing. He was on the process of peeing when someone entered the room and he did not mind it. “Meet me at the infirmary after this,” said a guard, whose voice is familiar. He turned his gaze and saw a guard leaving the comfort room. He quickly finished his pee and ran to the infirmary where the lost guard is, now. “You are here.”

“Why?” Denton asked the guard who was there, standing firm, inside the infirmary, where they agreed to meet. “Why did you tell me to come here? Did you know something else? What is it that you want to tell me?”

The guard paused. A little later, he talked. “I remembered something I was not able to tell you before I left,” the guard muttered. Denton just looked at the guard, waiting for him to talk. “About the escaping match winners, I just discovered where they are throwing them out, dead and lifeless.” Denton just stared at the guard. “Now, I want you to make this. Since you still have two teammates left, let the other two be eliminated in the escaping match on the next round. That is the best way that I can still protect them. Tell them to be eliminated on purpose.”

“Are you nuts?” Denton replied with met brows. The guard never budged to what Denton has asked him. “Are you telling me to tell my own teammates to be eliminated on purpose? Why the hell would I f*****g do that?” Denton replied. His brows already are furrowed as he asked the guard about it. “Tell me, are you really trying to help me or not? Why would you suggest such a thing?”

“Believe it or not, this is the best way to save your teammates,” the lost guard replied. “As far as I know, escaping match winners are assigned to the higher level of guards and the other players who were eliminated, they were carried away to be burned and not leave any evidence that this game is existing. They think that I am a guard and I will assign myself to save the other two when they are eliminated in the game.” The guard tried as much as he can to be convincing but Denton does not even seem to be convinced. “Do it if you believe me, if not, do the otherwise. Here is one thing I want you to remember, if you did not do what I am telling you and one of them won the escaping match for the seventh round, I have no assurance that they will survive. That is all that I want to tell you.”

“But...” Denton was about to talk when the guard stepped his feet out and left him alone. Denton was left alone inside the room, dumbfounded and in dilemma of what to do. He sat on the bed and rubbed his whole hands on his face, a sign of frustration and him on dilemma. He heaved a deep sigh before he walked out of the infirmary and started on walking back to the arena.

“Here you are, Denton,” Sandra replied before she handed Denton the lunchbox that was named to him. Denton received the lunchbox and opened it. He smiled at Sandra who gave him the lunchbox. “Where have you been? We have been looking for you. I received this lunchbox for you, so here. Did you go to the infirmary? Did you meet the lost guard again? What did he tell you? Tell us.”

Denton shook his head. “We thought you met the lost guard again, so we made an alibi so, they would not look for you again.” Paul did not look worried and doubtful. Paul even smiled at Denton who was staring at them, hesitating to talk. “Why are you lookint at us? You look like you have something to tell us. Whatever it is, just tell us. Is that a strategy? Where did you go, anyway?”

“Guys,” Denton said, which caught the attention of the other two. Denton sat on the bed and looked at the other two who were patiently waiting for Denton to tell what he was about to tell. Denton hesitated at first, however, caught courage and started on mouthing what he was about to say. “I actually have something to tell...”