Episode P.X.6
Previously on Captivity....
In the midst of a desperate and chaotic scene, a group of players struggle to come to terms with their fate, Anex's determination to return home sparks a glimmer of hope.
Meanwhile, Awandea's enigmatic presence and cryptic warnings hint at a deeper understanding of the game's true nature. The arrival of Alara, the game's guide, brings a harsh reality check as she demonstrates her ruthless power, eliminating players who dare to defy the game.
The survivors are left shattered, forced to confront the bleak truth: their only option is to play the game and hope for survival, as the line between reality and the game blurs.
ALLEGIANCE
Florida scoffed as she watched the other players moving in groups, huddling together as if their numbers could protect them from the lurking danger. "What are they up to?" she muttered under her breath, a mix of disdain and curiosity in her tone.
Anex, leaning against the air with a lazy demeanor, barely looked up from where she was playing with Nia’s hair, her fingers gently twirling the strands. "Whatever they do is none of your business," she replied, her voice calm and indifferent for there was no hope of energy left in her anymore.
Demnin, who had been lost in thought, suddenly straightened up. His mind was racing with the events that had just transpired, the tension in the air palpable. Without another word, he began walking toward the others, his expression set with determination.
Awandea, who had been standing nearby, followed him. But as they walked, something unsettling began to happen. A strange weakness crept up her legs, making them wobble uncontrollably. Her steps faltered, and before she knew it, her knees buckled beneath her, sending her crashing to the ground with a loud thud.
The sound caught Demnin’s attention instantly. He spun around, his heart skipping a beat as he saw her collapsed on the floor. Without thinking, he rushed back to her, sliding to his knees beside her and gently lifting her up. "What? What’s wrong?" he asked, his voice tinged with concern.
Awandea looked up at him, her eyes filled with a mixture of confusion and fear, but she simply shook her head, unable to explain the sudden weakness that had overtaken her.
Anex, having heard the commotion, sprinted toward them, his usual carefree expression replaced by one of worry. He knelt down next to Awandea, his hands gently supporting her. "What is wrong?" he asked urgently.
"Nothing," Awandea whispered, trying to muster a smile to reassure them, but the unease in her voice betrayed her true feelings.
Before they could press further, a voice echoed through the hall, smooth and commanding, cutting through their thoughts like a knife. "Hello players. I hope you had a good chat with your friends. It's time I announce the teams." The voice belonged to Adrena, the omnipotent presence they had all come to dread. Her words seemed to resonate through the very walls, pulling everyone back into the harsh reality of their situation.
The players exchanged fearful glances, their brief respite shattered by the reminder of the twisted game they were trapped in. None of them wanted to be here, in this terrifying world where the rules were dictated by unseen forces. But what choice did they have? They had been pulled back in, and now, they were bound by the game’s merciless grip.
As if to underscore Adrena’s announcement, a massive screen materialized in the center of the hall, its surface glowing ominously. The players watched in trepidation as a series of words began to appear on the screen, one after the other, scrolling in quick succession:
Team of six: Ten
Team of five: Seven
Team of four: Thirteen
Team of three: Sixteen
Team of two: Two
Demnin’s eyes widened as he took in the information. The sheer number of teams, and the implications of their sizes, sent a shiver down his spine. "Those in a team of two are definitely monsters," he muttered, his voice trembling with unease.
Awandea, standing beside him, nodded in agreement, her face pale as she stared at the screen. "There are only two teams in pairs," Anex pointed out, her voice low as she gestured toward the glowing list.
As if in response to their fears, Adrena’s voice boomed once again, filling the hall with its cold, detached tone. "These are the old team arrangements. There are some changes now, for some of you have lost your lives."
The players barely flinched at the announcement. By now, death had become a grim part of their reality, each loss a reminder of the game’s deadly stakes. But even as they braced themselves for whatever was coming next, something strange began to happen.
Demnin felt a sudden burning sensation on the back of his hand. He winced and raised it to his face, his eyes widening in surprise as he saw a bold, black letter B etched into his skin. "Ah… What is this?" he exclaimed, his voice tinged with confusion.
Anex leaned in to get a closer look. "That’s maybe your team number?" she suggested, though there was uncertainty in her voice.
Before Demnin could respond, Nia came bouncing over, her usual cheerfulness tinged with nervous excitement. "Look, look!" she exclaimed, holding out her hand to show them the back of her palm. A letter C was emblazoned there, just as bold as Demnin’s B.
Anex glanced at her own hand and saw two letters— AA. "I got AB," Florida chimed in, her voice less enthusiastic, more wary. Nicole, who had been quiet until now, raised her hand slightly. "AC," she muttered, the letters stark against her skin.
Finally, Awandea flashed her hand in front of them, revealing a bold E on her palm. The sight of the letter sent a ripple of unease through the group. The letters were more than just markers—they were the threads binding them to their fates in this twisted game.
Adrena’s voice returned, cold and final. "You have a day’s time. Whether you want to go back home or stay here depends on you."
"I’ll stay," Anex said almost immediately, her voice resolute. "If that is under my control…" But her words trailed off as a new group of players approached them.
The one leading them was a young man with sharp features and an air of quiet confidence. He walked up to Demnin, offering a friendly smile. "Hello there. I am Haruto, and this is Ahira. And these are Li, Min, and Qiang. We are all in Team B. Nice to meet you, Demnin."
Demnin scanned the faces before him, taking in the presence of his new teammates. After a moment, he nodded and shook Haruto’s hand. "Likewise," he replied, though there was a hint of wariness in his voice.
Li, a girl with lively eyes and hair that danced as she moved, smiled brightly. "So, we’re a six-member team," she said, her gaze shifting to Nia. "Are you Chinese as well?" she asked, her tone friendly.
Nia nodded shyly, stepping slightly behind Demnin as if seeking protection. But before she could respond, another player sauntered up to them, his smile wide and somewhat unnerving. "Oh, what do we have here? So many friends," he said, his voice dripping with mock sweetness. "I’m Hinata, by the way. Pleasure to meet you, Nia, was it?"
Nia nodded again, her grip tightening on the ends of Demnin’s jacket. The man’s tone made her uneasy, and she instinctively retreated further behind her friend.
Demnin’s eyes narrowed. "How do you know our names?" he asked, suspicion lacing his words.
Min, another member of the team, shrugged nonchalantly. "You didn’t check your player’s screen, did you? The names of the players in the team are mentioned there."
Realization dawned on Demnin, and he quickly called up his player’s screen, confirming what Min had said. Sure enough, the names were all there, listed neatly next to their team numbers. Some were also marked in a cross and he knew what that meant.
Hinata’s smile didn’t waver as he leaned in closer. "Nia," he began, his voice low and smooth, "we are your teammates. From right to left; me, Botan, Hiroto, Tao, and Wei."
Nia swallowed hard, her eyes darting nervously between the faces in front of her. She didn’t trust them—not yet, anyway. And something about Hinata’s demeanor set off alarms in her mind.
Hinata’s gaze then shifted to Awandea, who was standing quietly by Demnin’s side. "And who is that young beauty behind you?" he asked, his smile widening in a way that made Demnin’s blood boil. Awandea rolled her eyes at him, looking way.
"Someone who is none of your business," Demnin shot back, stepping forward protectively, his eyes blazing with anger.
Hinata raised his hands in mock surrender, his smile never fading. "Aw~ your girlfriend? That’s sad. I thought I could take her for me~"
Demnin’s fists clenched, his voice low and dangerous. "Keep your eyes off her."
Hinata chuckled, clearly enjoying the reaction he was provoking. "Okay, okay~ why so serious~" He winked at Awandea, his smile dripping with insincerity. Then, with a casual gesture, he motioned for Nia to follow him and the others. "If you won’t come with us, we won’t be able to work together," Tao, one of his teammates, said softly, her voice more genuine. She approached Nia, her demeanor gentle as she crouched in front of the young girl and took her hand.
Tao brushed Nia’s hair behind her ear, her touch warm and reassuring. "Look, I know you’re scared, but we’re not meanies. Okay?" she said softly, her eyes kind.
Nia glanced back at her friends, searching for reassurance. Nicole gave her an encouraging nod, smiling warmly. "Good luck, kid," Florida said with a small smile, nodding in agreement.
As Anex held Nia’s small, trembling hand, Tao slowly stepped back and rose to her feet, her presence gentle yet reassuring. “You’re lucky, you know,” Anex said softly, offering Nia a warm smile. “You’ve got a six-member team. They seem like good people, too. And if you run into any trouble, you can always text us. We’ll rush over to help, okay?”
Nia nodded, but the tension in her eyes didn’t fade. Her grip tightened slightly around Anex’s hand, a silent plea for reassurance.
Demnin, noticing her unease, crouched down beside her, bringing himself to her eye level. “Listen, Nia,” he whispered, his tone carrying both seriousness and care, “whatever you do, don’t get too friendly with that Hinata guy.”
Before Nia could respond, Awandea, who had been standing nearby, tapped Demnin on the shoulder. He turned to face her, curious about what she might say. Awandea crouched down beside him, her expression warm as she placed both hands on Nia’s small shoulders. She exhaled softly, her breath a calming presence amid the chaos of their new reality.
“Punch him hard, got it?” Awandea said with a firm but gentle smile. Her words took Demnin by surprise. He blinked at her, momentarily stunned by the unexpected advice, and then, a burst of laughter escaped him, his voice filling the space with a rare, genuine mirth. The laughter was contagious, lifting some of the oppressive weight that had settled on them since the game began.
“Yes, yes, Nia,” Demnin agreed, still chuckling. “If that idiot tries anything funny, don’t hesitate to punch him.”
A small smile tugged at the corners of Nia’s lips. The sight of her friends trying to protect her, even in the direst of circumstances, gave her a fleeting sense of comfort. “I’ll blow a good one,” she promised, her voice barely above a whisper but carrying a new-found determination.
With that, they all stood up together, a united front against the uncertainty that lay ahead. Nia hesitated for a moment, casting one last glance at her friends. They waved to her, each gesture full of encouragement and silent vows of support. Bowing slightly, Nia turned and walked toward her new team, Tao by her side. Tao held her hand as they moved forward, the others waiting for them.
As they watched her go, Florida crossed her arms in front of her chest, her right hand thoughtfully under her chin. “That Tao chick’s not bad,” she concluded with a nod. The others nodded in agreement, recognizing the kindness in Tao’s demeanor.
Demnin, still grinning from the earlier exchange, turned to Awandea. “Awandea, that was something,” he began, only to be cut off as she playfully covered her ears, pretending not to hear him.
“La, la~” she sang, trying to drown out his teasing words. Demnin, undeterred, continued to mouth his words exaggeratedly, making sure she got the message.
Nicole watched them, a soft smile on her lips. “They’ve become good friends,” she observed, pleased with the bond that had formed between Demnin and Awandea amidst the chaos.
As Demnin and Awandea continued to tease each other, their playful banter offering a brief respite from their grim situation, Ahira spoke up. “Hey, dude,” he said, his tone friendly but tinged with concern. “I like how you’ve already made friends, but you should come with us if you can. We need to get to know each other’s strengths and stuff. This nightmare is real, after all.”
Demnin paused, his laughter fading as he turned his attention to Ahira. He still held Awandea’s gaze as he began to speak, his voice steady. “We can’t help what we’re going through right now,” he said, his words resonating with the harsh reality they all faced. “That’s why we should try to be as normal as possible… and make friends.”
Finally, Demnin turned fully toward Ahira, his expression serious but welcoming. “Why don’t you join us?” he suggested. “Let’s be friends.”
Ahira looked at Demnin for a moment, then at the others, considering the offer. In a world where trust was a rare and fragile thing, the idea of forming bonds—even in the midst of a nightmare—seemed like the only way to retain some semblance of humanity. After a moment, Ahira nodded, a small smile forming on his lips.
“Yeah,” he agreed. “Let’s be friends.”
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