The Mansion of Trials and Trials

Will you kill me?

As I dipped my last piece of steak on the brown sauce with my fork, I stared at my pocket watch. It was around half past six. It was getting late, the sun was down already. The man with black-haired man with a headband sat opposite me, drinking a cup of iced lemon tea. He had finished glubbed up his food, leaving one-fourth of his drink left. We had our meals fast, it took us less than thirty minutes, both of us were starving. Sure did the trials used up all our energy and brain power. My heads and heart still ached.

"Von, do you wanna to check that special room on the guest room floor with me? I got some news for the last trial." I said. Information was power.

"Sure, did you find out something?" Von asked as he finished off his drink.

"The Residents told me that the next trial is called 'Hide and Seek' and warned me that I need to collect weapons. I presumed it is a trial for us to fight against something."

"Really? Sometimes I wonder why the Residents tell you so much. You didn't pay them coins, did you?"

"No, they tell me for free. I don't know what they are thinking. I guess we, Wanderers are not in such a hostile relationship with the Residents," I said. I was right, at least I think Knock treated me like a normal person, unlike that man called Sol. The Residents all have different personalities. Yet, no matter their attitude was kind or not, as long they are the one who held the trials, they were still our enemies.

"I guess they did that for fun. I presumed they liked you." Von smiled. It was evident that the Residents were biased at the Wanderers. Some of them gave support, some of them didn't.

"Perhaps," I nodded my head, "are you good at martial arts?" I asked as we went to the weapon room.

"Yes, my job is a bodyguard. I was trained to fight against people."

"I see. Why did you choose to become a bodyguard?"

"I didn't choose it. It was like destiny. Life chooses me to become a bodyguard," Von hesitated a bit before he replied. He didn't choose to become a bodyguard of a gang member. Life forced him to do so. "My sister and my dog died in a construction incident. My mom was in hospital. I got to pay for the medical fees but I didn't have enough educational background. So when they invited me to become a bodyguard. I accept it." Von said, hiding all the crucial facts. He didn't lie though, he seldom lie. He hated lying.

Von duked his head, kneeled down and moved his body to fit inside the narrow secret tunnel towards the weapon room. I followed behind, crawling on my knees.

"Who are they?" I asked. It was my first time to know someone who was a bodyguard.

"My colleagues. It was great that they are nice to me though. We became friends. If they didn't introduce the job and save me, I would be still in debt by now. The job was tough. Sometimes I regret it, but that's what life is, isn't it? You have regrets and they followed you for the rest for your life."

"I presumed you are eager to go back right? For your mom and friends."

"Yes. I need to go back. I still have lots of things I wanna to do, people to talk to. I can't die in a place like this. What about you, Reed? Do you have something to do?" Von asked me as he pulled out a dagger from a basket and spun it around. He was sure used to knives.

"I don't know. I don't have any friends or family members. I haven't thought of what I should do if we can go back and survive the trials," I escaped from Von's eyes. They were shining with hope and brightness. Unlike Von, I don't have a place to go. Levi is gone, now. I don't have any friends. What is really the reason I want to go back so desperately?

No.

It is not that I want to go back.

I just don't want pain.

I don't want to suffer from pain in the trials.

If I really have the possibility to live, I wish I could find something that I eager to do like Von.

So as to fill my life with happiness and meaning.

I hope it dearest.

"By the way, Von. I never knew that you knew this weapon room already before I told you. Did you know it from the start?" I asked.

"Yes, I did. I realized there was a secret room on the second day. I guess some Wanderers discovered this weapon room but no one is willing to say it to others. We all just want to keep our advantages for ourselves. I'm no different from them. I'm surprised we didn't bump against each other."

"There isn't much Wanderers found out this weapon room, I guess. Me, you, C, Haddie, I guess, Brian and Vera too. That's only six within thirty-one. Not a lot."

"It's rather nice though. At least this weapon room got lots of weapons and equipment, we don't need to fight for resources."

"What if we do?" I looked at Von, staring him in the eyes. I recalled what Sol said about the trials. If what he said was right, there was only one Wanderer that could survive the trials. That would mean tomorrow, Von and I would become enemies.

"What do you mean, Reed?"

"I mean that what if we become enemies, will you kill me?" I turned my head and asked him politely. Our eyes matched. There was a bit of sadness in Von's eyes.

"Reed," Von called my name and paused, "If you do have to become enemies, I promise you I'll stay my attitude towards you as an honor friend." He answered. I saw no lies in his face. I crossed my fingers and gave a handshake towards Von.

"Me too. Thank you, Von, for being honest. You won't say to me that you won't kill me or give me high hopes. That's all I need. I appreciate it. Thank you." I answered.

"You're welcome. In my dearest hope, I wish we won't become enemies. But for now, let's become allies and work together to solve for last trial," said Von. He put the dagger inside his inner pocket. After we got our weapons, we held our promises and left the room silently.