𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐌, alice in borderland

004

"Rules. Guess the suit that appears on the back of your collar," the robotic, female voice that came from the tv echoed throughout the room, you and the others listening attentively. "However, you cannot see your own suit."

They started tugging on their collars, their efforts fruitless. The collar just wouldn't budge, situated firmly around your throat it almost felt like it was choking you.

"The time limit per round is one hour. Five minutes before the time is up, enter one of the prison cells and guess what your own suit is," the PA continued. While she talked, the clicking of electric lights sounded in the tunnel halls, washing over the area with its brightness. Somehow, the halls looked more horrifying than before, the shadows gathering in corners.

The others felt the same as you did. You could tell by just how they perked up and tensed further.

"If you do not guess your suit correctly, the game is over for you. When time runs out, your collar will explode and you will die. In addition, your suit will change at every round."

You weren't even going to act like you were surprised.

You were snapped out of your thoughts when a young man spoke up, stood a little distance away from Chishiya. He wore overalls on top of a yellow and brown striped shirt, and you were surprised you didn't notice him sooner. Seems you were too deep in your thoughts to even realise the change in your surroundings, and you made sure to take note of that flaw of yours to work on another time. If you made it out alive.

"But we just need to have someone tell us what it is, right?" he spoke up, chuckling with an oh so innocent smile on his face. He turns to Chishiya, grinning wide. "That'll be easy."

But he didn't receive the reply he'd hoped for.

"I wouldn't be so sure. They haven't told us how to clear the game," Chishiya said, looking back at the tv.

And on cue, the PA continued. "Solitary Confinement is a test of how much you can trust others. In addition, the Jack of Hearts has secretly joined the game as one of the participants."

Your heart dropped the same time the tv screen switched from the participants' profiles to the Jack of Hearts face card.

"See? There it is," Chishiya said almost amusedly.

"Clear condition. Every hour, this will be repeated," the PA spoke up once again. You sighed heavily, pushing yourself off the wall to properly stand beside Chishiya, said man still composed with his hands inside his jacket pockets.

Only then did you realise that he had changed clothes. You wondered where he put away that cardigan. And you also wondered how on earth he kept that jacket clean and pristine. It looked like it was brand new.

Once again, your thoughts were cut off. "The game is cleared when the Jack of Hearts, who is hiding among you, is killed."

You let the voice drone on, only partially listening. She relayed prohibited activities, such as the use of reflective objects and the use of violence or weapons to kill others.

"In other words," Chishiya started, voice raspy, "until the Jack fails to answer correctly and dies, this game won't end."

You sigh again, catching on to what he was going with. "Which means, unless we lie to the Jack, we can't clear this game and get out of here."

The guy in overalls looked over both of you in despair.

"There is no time limit," the robotic woman said.

"No time limit?" one of the citizens, an anxious man with glasses on, parroted.

"There is plenty of food," she continued, unbothered.