Seven

Chapter 13- The Party

"My eyes are up here, six," Carmen smirked as she came toward Mario.

Mario quickly dropped the rubber into his pocket and cleared his throat. "You look nice."

"So do you," she smiled, adjusting his tie.

"I don't know if I'm looking forward to partying with the staff, but if you're gonna be there, I think it might be worth it," he smirked at her.

Though she tried her best, Carmen couldn't hold back her laughter. "Don't start hitting on me now, six. What if they tell us to fight til the death for the final game?"

"What's that got to do with right now?" he shrugged.

Mario could tell Carmen didn't know quite what to think of his new attitude, but she was definitely intrigued. She was in the same boat as him. Her life could be over in just two days. Why not live it up until then?

Mario offered Carmen his arm, still wearing the same playful smirk. "Want to be my date for tonight?"

"Well, I have some many other choices, but I guess you'll do," she smirked back, linking her arm with his.

They walked down the stairs together laughing; something neither of them had really had the chance to do since they'd arrived. There was nothing to laugh about, no reason to be happy. Until today, it had felt like a nightmare come to life. But now, Mario was letting go of his fears, accepting his fate and embracing what could be his last hours on earth.

Winston, flanked by two of the butlers, greeted them in the foyer and led them to a secret staircase that was hidden behind a bookshelf. As Mario and Carmen ascended the stairs to the third floor, they paid careful attention to their surroundings, noticing things they hadn't before; doors, windows, pictures, maps. Mario made a mental note of everything he saw in case he could find it useful later.

Finally, they were standing before a set of large wooden double doors with very intricate craftsmanship. Angels with harps were carved into the top corners, with fluffy clouds swallowing them up. It was truly a masterpiece.

Winston opened the doors and Mario's jaw nearly dropped to the floor in surprise. There was a bar stacked to the brim with every kind of whiskey, liquor and beer imaginable. There were lights- purple, pink, blue, yellow and green, flashing all around. Music played from the stereo system at the corner of the room. Carmen and Mario looked at each other with a mixture of confusion and awe. This room, nothing about it, matched the theme of the rest of the mansion. It was the first time either of them had seen anything modern beyond the monitors by which Dr. Vincent communicated with them.

"Welcome, welcome," a familiar voice said from behind them.

They turned around and gasped when they saw the tall man in the wide-brimmed hat and long, black coat. His face was horribly scarred, leaving one of his eye sockets empty. He didn't bother to cover it, which Mario found quite disturbing.

"Are you...Dr. Vincent?" Carmen asked.

He nodded, giving her a wink. "And you are Miss Carmen Santos, age twenty-two, born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, but relocated to the United States at age nine when your father remarried."

Carmen looked stunned. She shouldn't have been so surprised that this guy seemed to know everything about her. After all, that's why she was here. He knew she had done something. He knew where to find her. And if Mario had to guess, he knew exactly how to play her too.

"And that makes you Mr. Mario Banks, age thirty, though might I add, you have aged liked a fine wine. You were born and raised in College Park, Georgia, just outside of Atlanta, by your single mother, who passed away just four years ago."