Lightning Bringer: (Lighting Seeker Book 2)

Stand and Die

Chaos. Pure, angry, and full of despair. The banquet hall was suddenly flooded with AI's of the worst kind. Almost human in design, they were graceful as they surrounded the tables, their bright purple eyes peering around the room in a cold, calculated nature. The girls stared up at them, eyes wide and filled with unfiltered fear.

Kebar chuckled, amused by the palpable terror that struck the room. "No need to fear. They are just a precaution. To keep anyone from running. It's a very unladylike instinct. Follow the rules and everything will be fine. Now, will each person who received zero votes please stand."

Vale glanced down at her screen and saw a bright 1 VOTE blink up at her. Relief bubbled up inside, so thankful that Fox had voted for her after all.

But the relief was short-lived as Vale looked up and saw Reign's face grow deathly white. Her hands shook as she stared down at her screen, uncomprehending. Vale glanced at the two girls on either side. They stared at Reign with devilish grins. "What's wrong, Reign?" Cee asked, in mock surprise.

Reign shook her head in disbelief. "Poison. Both of you," she hissed at both Cee and Osti. She moved to stand but Vale in a moment of pure instinct reached out and clasped her hand. "What are you doing?" Reign squeaked in the final fit of anger she had left.

"Stand and you die," Vale murmured. Reign's eyes went wide. "Do you really think he's letting anyone who lost out of here alive?"

"But... he'll know," Reign said her eyes full of tears as they darted towards the head table.

"If all of this is a game, this could be a test too," Vale replied, her grip growing tighter on Reign's. "So don't... move." Reign kept her eyes on Vale as girls from each table stood to their feet, shaking in their heels, mascara leaving ash trails down their cheeks.

When the other girls at the table twitched in their seats, Vale shot each of them a warning look, tapping her metal hand on the table to make a point. No one is ratting her out.

The weeping girls were led out of the room, some being dragged when they couldn't move more than a step and all the while, Vale held on to Reign's shaking hand. When most of the AI's were gone, and the crying had subsided, Vale let out an unsteady breath.

Four AI's remained, their eyes scanning the tables, waiting. Reign's hand began to shake harder. Vale stared her down. "Don't," she whispered. She could sense that the girl wanted to run. Escape before the AI's realized she wasn't meant to be there.

A girl several tables away suddenly jumped to her feet and bolted for the door, only to be tackled to the ground when an AI dashed across the room. Reign squeaked in fear but sat still as the girl was dragged from the room, begging to be let go. Her voice echoed down the hall and went quiet so suddenly when she was out of sight, that the silence that was left behind in the banquet hall was deafening.

Several long moments passed. Two AI's remained, looking around the room, ready to pounce. "They are going to figure it out," Fox whispered.

Vale shook her head slightly, hoping to go unnoticed. "No, they won't." She turned to glance at Kebar, who took a deep drink from his goblet, seeming not to care that his so-called guests were sitting in a terrified silence before him. "Trust me." The silence continued.

Reign continued to stare at Vale, her lips trembling until Kebar finished all of the wine in his glass and clapped his hands. "Wonderful. Let us feast!"

The two remaining AI looked around the room a final time before their eyes stopped at Vale and Reign's table. Vale ignored the sweat that broke out at the back of her neck and moved down her open-backed dress.

Using her free hand to reach for her water, Vale shot the AI's a steady, calm look and took a long, deep drink of water.

The AI's stared back, analyzing her, and just when it looked like they were going to move in her direction, the AI's both turned and left the hall.

Vale let go of Reign's hand as a set of servants fluttered into the room, carrying large trays. Vale leaned back against her chair, suddenly exhausted.

Even with all of Dash's warnings, she hadn't fully understood the level of creative game torture he had been referring to. How has Sky survived so long here?

"Vale?" Reign's voice had lost all bite. She looked up at Vale, dark brown eyes filled with a new set of unshed tears. Thank you, she mouthed.

Vale gave her a quick nod. The smell of meat filled her nostrils as a large plate covered in steak, potatoes, and vegetables was placed before each of them. Elegant music began to play again.

Fox, Cee, and Osti dug into their food as the rest of the hall took on an upbeat atmosphere. If Vale had arrived at the banquet hall as the food was being served, she never would have known that girls had just been dragged out of the room screaming, voted out of the game by the others who seemed so unbothered by their departure now. Who are these people?

Vale looked up at Reign who sat staring down at her food, leaving it untouched, a lost look on her face. Vale glanced towards the head table and found Kebar staring at her.

He raised his glass in a silent toast, and against every instinct in her own body, Vale plucked up her water glass and raised it in turn, a tight smile on her face.

You'll have to play. You'll have to survive the game.