Squad Sanguis

Chapter 3: Trials Revealed

Startled awake, Oki found himself soaked in sweat, the oppressive heat of the dilapidated room closing in. Panic took hold as he noticed his prosthetic arm was missing. He desperately searched the room for his valuable artificial limb, but it was absent.

Confused and unkempt, Oki tried to comprehend his environment. The room, lacking any comfort, reflected the inner chaos he felt. The thought of upcoming trials cast a dark shadow over his mind.

Taking a deep breath, Oki sat up, feeling the heavy burden of the unknown. The trials had started, plunging him into adversity and challenging his determination in unforeseen ways.

His gaze swept the barren room, stopping at a small camera in the corner, its lens fixed on him, and an old speaker beside it. A flicker of hope mixed with fear, he moved towards the camera, his pulse racing.

"Is anybody out there?" he shouted, his voice reverberating in the silence. Time seemed to halt, with only the speaker's static answering his call.

Antonio's voice cut through the static. "If you can hear me, the trials have begun," he announced. "Be ready—once that door opens, you and the others will be released for the same purpose. That is all for now. End communication."

The speaker clicked off, leaving Oki in silence once again. His mind raced with questions and strategies, a mixture of fear and determination propelling him forward. He knew he had to stay alert, to be ready for whatever awaited him beyond that door.

Oki's thoughts scrambled to decipher Antonio's words.

The buzzer's echo filled the room, and with a mix of eagerness and anxiety, Oki moved toward the door, his hand hesitating on the handle.

With a decisive click, the lock released, and Oki nudged the door open to reveal a corridor with flaking paint and worn fixtures, evoking the air of a forsaken asylum. Amidst the decay, modern amenities like locks, cameras, and speakers suggested a hidden agenda.

Stepping into the hallway, Oki noticed others leaving their rooms, their faces etched with confusion and determination. Ten more, each with their own burdens, joined him in the dim passage.

They surveyed their grim environment, the desolate vibe of the derelict site unsettling them. Their scrutiny was interrupted as Antonio's voice filled the corridor once again through the speakers.

"Welcome, participants," he intoned, his commanding presence chilling Oki. "You are here for the Moretti family trials, where only the fittest will prevail."

"These trials will test your strength, wit, and allegiance to the Moretti family. Your stay will be neither brief nor lengthy," Antonio stated.

Whispers spread among the group as the length of their challenge was unveiled. The uncertainty hung heavy in the air, each participant grappling with the weight of the trials ahead.

Oki's mind raced. Survival demanded more than physical prowess; it required cunning and resolve. He scanned the faces of his fellow participants, seeking any sign of alliances or threats.

Oki meandered through the dim corridors, his thoughts a whirlwind of anxiety and curiosity. He was in search of a tranquil spot, an oasis amidst the palpable tension.

Finding a weathered bench, Oki took a moment to observe his fellow participants, their diverse presence the only break in the quietude, aside from the sporadic whispers of conversation and the faint sounds of nature in the distance.

A sudden tap on his shoulder snapped him back to reality. Turning, he found a woman gazing at the space where his prosthetic arm once was.

"Why do you not have an arm?" she inquired, her tone gentle yet inquisitive.