Chasing Shadows: An Alice In Borderlands Fanfic (Completed)

Chapter 16: Endgame

Niragi wheeled me down the sidewalk as we followed the video on the camera. I tried not to feel destitute or helpless, but it was hard.

He talked about all the things he wanted to do when we got back home. I know he was trying to help, but it just made me feel worse because something inside me told me I wouldn't make it home.

I held Karube's card in my hands, cradling it like a delicate wonder.

When we reached the subway tunnel entrance, I had to stand while Niragi shoved the wheelchair through. It hurt to put any weight on my left leg. I couldn't even manage a step without collapsing. How was I going to survive a game?

We continued on, using the flashlight from our last phones to light our way. Niragi was good at maneuvering the chair around obstacles and before we knew it, the final door shown on the camera's video came into view.

It was cracked open. Bright light and voices came from within. The wheelchair wouldn't fit through, so we left it outside. Niragi carried me in to the heart of the games.

Everyone turned our way. Chishiya and Kuina were there as well as Arisu and Usagi.

When we'd watched the video, this room had been filled with computer equipment. Now it was empty except a smallish conference table. The walls were flickering computer screens.

Niragi set me down in a chair at the table. "This it?" he asked, unslinging his rifle and setting it on the table in front of me.

The other players all gave him dirty looks.

"We could have done without you." Usagi rolled her eyes as she crossed her arms.

The computer screens flashed and the image of a woman appeared. We all gasped.

Mira.

"Welcome, players, to the final game. Please, make yourselves comfortable." After everyone took a seat, she continued. "You all know me as Mira, but that's not my real name, which I will not disclose. Instead, you may call me the Queen of Hearts. Each of you arrived here through maps placed strategically throughout the games. Congratulations for finding the real way to the final game. All of you will participate in one game which will determine whether you live to go home...or die. The game you will play will be determined by drawing one these cards." A small deck appeared in the middle of the table. "But first, does everyone have a heart card?"

I pulled out my own small deck of cards and removed a two of hearts. Karube's was safely tucked in the new jacket Niragi had found me to wear after my clothes were destroyed in Chishiya's attack.

"Hey." Niragi poked me. "Give me one."
I handed him a card from the deck.

Chishiya lay a ten of hearts on the table, but the other players looked at each other, not having any cards.

"If it's okay," I said, "I can pass these out to those who need them."

Mira...err, the Queen of Hearts gave me a nod and a dismissive wave of her hand. I handed out random heart cards from the deck.

"Everyone, place your cards face up on the table." After we did so, she said, "The lowest card number will choose a card from the deck."

My two of hearts was the lowest card.

"Fan the cards on the table, face down, and pull one."

I did as I was told with a little help from Niragi. It hurt to stretch even my goid arm out. "Which one should I draw?"

"Just pick one." Niragi sounded annoyed.

Sighing, I closed my eyes and slid a card from the line up. I flipped it over.