Their Games and Reality

Chapter Six:

Location: Marion Marquette Hotel, New York City, NY

Date: June 26th

"Why are you crying?" A little voice asked, Anne recognized it, it was the enthusiastic voice that had declared he loved soccer right before DeCalhasta had ushered him out.

"Your name's Antonio?" Anne asked, looking up. The boy was no more than 7. Big brown eyes with a concerned look in them, he looked like an exact replica of Pedro except the little boy had a very concerned look on his face.

"Yeah." Antonio said, "Why are you crying?"

"I'm not." Anne said, sighing, "I'm just trying to think."

"Oh." Antonio said, "About food?"

"No, about the game we're going to play today."

Antonio's face screwed up in concentration in an adorable way. "I don't get it, why do you have to think hard about a game?"

"Because this game is very strange." Anne explained,

"ANTONIO!" A voice yelled, spewing rapid Portuguese, "Quantas vezes devo dizer para não correr! Venha comigo agora, ou então vou contar à mamãe!"

Antonio hopped off the chair across from Anne immediately, "Sorry." He said, staring mournfully up at the person at the doorway. Pedro frowned down at him,

"How many times do I have to say to not run off? Plus, you're supposed to be in bed right now."

Antonio looked at his feet, "Okay. Sorry."
"And for goodness sake, it's only 60 degrees in the hotel! Go put on a jacket."

Anne tried to melt into the wall, she really didn't want to meet Pedro again. Pedro still spotted her anyway, he brightened visibly,

"Hello." He said and walked inside the small cafe.

"Huh," Anne muttered back,

"Why are you up so early in the morning?" Pedro asked, flashing a smile.

"Was that your brother?" Anne asked, changing the subject. Pedro looked over his shoulder to the doorway, as if checking if Antonio was still there. Antonio had already gone to his room though,

"Yes, that's my little brother." Pedro said, genuinely smiling, "adorable, isn't he? Just always likes to go on an adventure and will love anything blue."

"Hmh." Anne said, finishing off her pancakes quickly, then she stood abruptly, "Okay, I'm going to go downstairs for some fresh air. Bye." She grabbed her plate and utensils,

"Wait!" Pedro said, "You can ask any question about VWR and I will help you get the information! My only price would be that I could ask you a question and you have to answer truthfully."

"Any question about VWR?" Anne said, pausing to turn back to him. Pedro smiled, he had captivated her attention if only for a moment.

"Anything for you." He said with a smug smile, Anne rolled her eyes but stayed,

"How would you get the information?" Anne asked,

"My family has very close relationships with Alexander Dnibet, which, you should know, is hosting VWR, also, Ally Denoumus was once my nanny when I was younger, so I know her well too."

Anne considered that, "Okay." She said, "I'll accept the offer."

"Well," Pedro said, smiling, "What's the question?"

Anne paused, thinking, images rushed to her mind as she stared at her plate, fingering it: The psychopath maniac, Artemis and her sniper, the red filmed VWR on the side of the wall and a ton of other images flashed in her mind. But one image, that one scene kept flashing through Anne's mind.