GAMBLE: Rule of Cards

CHAPTER 11

“DAMN, THAT was a hard match,” Paul muttered as soon as the monitor went off. It has been five minutes since the escaping match has halted, and the battlefield was getting cleaned by the guards. The one who escaped was a reserve army who was expelled due to a scandalous video he made with his co-reserve army. That video was leaked and he decided to stay inside his house for life until he spent all his money and decided to enter the game. “He, for sure, worked for it. I am thankful I did not have to play with him on escaping match. I do think I will die for an instant.”

“He’s sharp-eyed and is used to holding guns, I think that is his advantage in this game. I am just quite jealous that he can escape this hell already while I am still stuck here,” Denton muttered as he sat on his bed. “When will I be able to escape this game?”

Paul sighed. “I actually am getting too impatient with our setup here but for sure, there is a perfect timing when we will get to escape this place, Denton. I guess we have to wait for that perfect timing that we will get to escape. However, we need to enter the escaping game in a different round since usually, there is only one player who will get to escape,” Paul muttered. “I just hope that we will get to see each other again after leaving this place. Let’s escape this place alive and meet each other on the outside world, shall we?”

“You have become one of my greatest acquaintances in this kind of place and I think, it hurts me thinking that we might actually have to kill each other for us to survive,” Denton muttered. “Sometimes, my mind would not think that an escaping match actually exist, because I do think I only have little to no chance of me escaping this place… but let’s meet outside, after we exist, that is a promise.”

Paul giggled. “Let’s not just meet each other, I will marry you outside.” Denton and Paul just giggled together. For them, that kind of joke was nothing, and they do not think of it as something offensive. “Kidding aside, I still would want to survive as I still want to see you survive on this game. You must do good on games, in cooperation with other or on your own. You still have to see your kids outside this hell.”

The monitor went on once more and the light started on lighting, signifying the activation of the rule inside the arena. “Go to your lane quickly,” Denton muttered which Paul immediately followed. His life depends on the rule so he immediately abided by it. Fortunately, Paul went to his lane, just on time. And, since everyone is already scared of dying due to the new rule, they strictly abide to it. They are already scared to die in the way they never proved themselves well. “Damn this new rule. But however, it is kind of beneficial to me,” he muttered as he looked at Hector who was looking at him. “At least, he will be unable to knock me off. That goddamn Hector, he is still not yet done with me.”

“I am actually shocked that you are still alive despite all these hellish things we are doing here inside the game,” one muttered, which caught Denton’s attention. He looked back and saw the girl who was once creeping inside the room of M’s. The girl was looking so different from who she is back then. “I actually thought you are just a lousy old man who was also a pervert. I did not expect you to survive up to this point. I thought you were just touched by the God of Luck, so you can survive up to this point.”

Denton heaved a deep sigh. “Well, I never thought you can speak things so long like this. As much as I know, you are short-mouthed and taking long really is not your forte. So, you talked long just to insult me?” Denton asked. The girl just rolled her eyes, out of frustration. “How are you? I am actually glad to still see you here. I am glad that you made up to this point.”

“Between the two of us, I should be the one surprised to see you here. As much as I can see, yes, you may be a great leader but you only survive because of that one guy, who I suppose is your boyfriend,” the girl muttered before looking to Paul who was laying down on his bed. “He’s gorgeous, why would he be with a lousy guy like you?”

Denton raised his brows. “Paul? He is not my boyfriend; he is just a friend.” Denton laughed at the thought. “You think he is gorgeous? He is not that gorgeous, based from my eyes,” Denton continued. “Anyway, do you like him? Is that why you called him gorgeous? Why are you insulting me like that? Is it because you like Paul and you hate him spending time with me a lot?”

“Shut up, old man,” the girl muttered. The girl just avoided gazes with Denton who was silently laughing. “That guy, I assume, is already old and is too old for me, not that I am comparing our ages because I like him but… why am I even explaining to someone like you? You really are not that worth my time, though. Shut up and stop bugging me, please. I am trying to get my rest here.”

“You are the one who first talked to me, remember? You talked to me to insult me,” Denton muttered. For him, it is already normal to see him as lousy and weak, as he admits it to himself that he really is. Hearing it from somebody’s mouth isn’t that striking hard and deep through his feelings. “Let’s help each other in escaping this hell, shall we? In that way, you can also be close to Paul. He is one of my comrades – no, actually, he is my only comrade and I will help you know him more. What’s your name? My name is Denton.”

“Old man, I did not come here to make friends with anybody since we are all going to kill each other in the end,” the girl muttered. Denton kept looking at her like she was a food he wants to devour. “Can you take your eyes off of me? It is really getting creepy.” Denton continued on looking at her. He was not actually creeping on the girl but he really wants to get to know the girl. “What do you want?” Denton just nodded. “Why do you want to know my name so badly? Fine. I am Jannah, if that is what you want to know. I am twenty years old so stop plotting me with your oldie guy friend.”

Denton nodded. “Okay, fine. I will not. It will really look bad if I try to plot you and Paul. I think he’s of my age but he is just looking younger than I am because he is less stressed than I am,” Denton muttered. “Whenever you need help, just turn your head towards me or Paul, we will help you with everything. Just don’t get yourself on that big guy’s, who was named Hector, nerve because I do not think I can win against him.”

The girl just smiled. It did not bother Denton but it gave him something that is really uneasy. “Should I just make alliance with that Hector guy, betray you or decline your offer?” the girl asked. She really is direct and straightforward that can make someone uneasy when talking to her. “Tell me, what is it in me that you find trustworthy? We are not even accomplice to each other. Just stay off of my area, because once you know who really am I, you are going to be disgusted and you will regret asking me to enter your comrades.”

“Think about it again, you might need our help, if ever. You know, the world we are in right now is a harsh world where we only compete to win the prize money,” Denton muttered. “I agree that only one of us will win the money but with each other, we can still help each other to escape this hell. With you liking the idea or not, since you are competing with a lot of other players here, they will have the audacity to create team and fight against you, since the desperation drives them to do so. Once that happen, you will never have anyone on your side if you did no assurance with anyone, and that is why I am doing it, to help you, at least, get out of this hell.”

The woman raised her eyebrows. “So, your plan is to let me live, at least, help me get out of this hell from this place using the escaping game?” Denton just looked at him, but the girl grabbed it as an agreement to what she said to him. “And you are doing this, for sure, because you have something behind you. You have a plan. I wanted to win this game because I want that prize money. If you will let me escape this game, then who would you want to win in this game? You, am I right?”