Last Life, The Third Life Game Sequel

Chapter Four

Even only a few hundred feet away from the enchanting table, Grian began to regret his decision to cut ties with Bdubs and Etho. Sure, Bdubs could've chosen Etho to kill as the boogeyman instead of him, but honestly, from the way the boogeyman was described from the voice in the speaker, he was running out of time and really didn't have much choice.

He felt a prickling sensation in his right arm, and rubbed it. He only had two hearts, two lives, one yellow, one red. He suddenly felt a twinge of guilt as he remembered that the lime green life didn't technically belong to him.

After the voice in the speaker had finished speaking and the counter on their arms had decided the amount of lives they would start with, Grian had been stumbling through the woods, collecting miscellaneous supplies, when he stumbled upon Scar.

When he had first seen the stranger, his first impulse had been to attack, for some reason he couldn't place. But he stayed right where he was as the bubbly Scar introduced himself. Grian's first impression was that of an overgrown child, for although Scar was extremely well-toned and tall, he was so cheerful and even gullible. Grian had decided to take advantage of him.

"Did you know we can gift each other lives?" Grian had said, slowly advancing on Scar. "How many did you get?"

"Oh, I got six," Scar replied immediately. Grian was taken aback at the information. It seemed unfair! But he decided to continue smoothly. "So you have a lot, so why not try it out? Just to see if it works, of course."

Scar had given him a bit of a suspicious look, before evidently making up his mind. "Sure! Why not?"

Far too easy, Grian had thought as Scar flexed his left arm, closed his eyes, and summoned willpower. One of the dark green hearts on his arm had disappeared, as Grian's vision was momentarily flooded with brightness and his arm began to sting. Once he regained his sight, he looked down at the two arms, to find he had three, and Scar had five.

"Alright, now you give it back," Scar had said, reaching his arm out again. Grian had simply grinned and rolled up his sleeve. "Oh, no," Grian replied smoothly. "I don't think I will. Think of it as me holding on to your life for... safekeeping. If you ever are running out, I'll return it!" And he had run off before Scar could process what he had said.

But swindling an extra life out of Scar had only lasted for so long, before he had immediately lost it.

After walking for about an hour, Grian collapsed in a patch of tall grass. It was nearing sunset, and he knew finding shelter was what he needed to do as soon as possible. The nights here were deadly, with mutated monsters and extreme darkness, and after already surviving one he didn't want to face another. But he was exhausted already, and didn't want to move from his current position.

He laid down, basking in the warm sunset, and hoping the tall grass would at least keep him concealed.