Game-Lock

Chapter 8: Secrets in the House

"Blake, push the door open –"

Blake slowly pushed the door open, and Austin slowly carried me inside of the house, with Rey and Hayden following behind.

"Boy, I never thought I would be happy to see these mouldy walls again, but here we are," Hayden spoke.

"Yeah..." Austin trailed off. I cleared my throat, and Austin glanced at me.

"You can put me down now..."

"Just hold on one sec," Austin said.

"I, uh, ok," I said as Austin walked through the corridor on the right, away from the doors.

"Well, will you look at that."

I turned my head and raised my brows as the walls had moved again, this time opening up to a fully furnished living room, with three couches and a fireplace against the wall. Austin slowly walked in, taking a few moments to observe the room before he set me down on the couch. He lifted up my leg and I frowned.

"I could've sworn that was bleeding," Austin said.

Hayden stood at the edge of the couch, stared at my leg and then at me. "Are you like – a mutant or something?"

I gaped a little. The pain had disappeared, and I was looking at a fully healed leg. I knew the crocodile had brutally mauled it. I felt it myself. In fact, the sickening feeling in my stomach had not yet disappeared.

"It's gone ... how is it just, gone?"

"Well, we've technically finished the level, don't wounds sometimes like reset?" Rey asked.

Austin stared at my leg, he lifted his hand and poked it.

I raised my brow. "Really?"

"This is so cool," Hayden knelt in front of the couch, and poked my leg as well.

"Guys! I am not some guinea pig!" I snapped.

Austin laughed a little before he patted my leg and stood up. "Just keep your leg up though, get some rest."

"I don't think I can rest after, that," I said. "The pain was, the pain was real."

"We were scared we were going to lose you." Rey said as he sat down on the couch across from me.

"I'm glad you're alive," Blake said. "That was scary. I don't think I want to go canoeing again."

"Real life canoeing doesn't usually go like that," I said, and glanced at Austin. "I'd actually recommend you try it in real life."

"Yeah, I'll take you when I get back from deployment," Austin said.

"You better," Blake muttered.

"Deployment? You serve?" Hayden asked.

Austin nodded slightly as he kept observing all the furnishings in the room .

"Well that explains a hell of a lot," Hayden muttered. "Like how you're just in charge so automatically."

"Well, he's kind of the one who's kept all of us alive so far," I said. "Saved my skin twice. I'm kind of inclined to trust his judgment."

"Oh, no, I ain't competing for top spot or anything," Hayden raised his hands. "I am very happy to just get ... like, bossed around. Whatever, just ignore me."

There was a moment of silence, and I turned to stare at Austin. "See anything interesting?"

"This is an old house, large family, but I don't think they were happy," Austin pushed his hands into his pockets. "I think with every level we beat, we will unlock a new part of the house, and a new story –"