Lr stories part 1: Power royale

Chapter 24: Lovely Voice, Part 1

**Announcer 1:** "Ladies and gentlemen, the tension in Power Royale is reaching new heights! Forty-five contestants are still in the game, and the stakes are higher than ever. You know what that means—fewer deaths, more strategy, and a whole lot more surprises!"

**Announcer 2:** "Precisely. When the numbers dwindle, the players tend to become more cautious, more calculated. Every move is measured, every encounter potentially deadly."

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The trio moved silently through the darkened forest, the moon casting long shadows over the dense underbrush. William led the way, his senses on high alert, every crackle of a twig or rustle of leaves setting his nerves on edge. Behind him, Angelo moved with the grace of a panther, his animal instincts keen, while Kindliker stumbled along, his clumsiness nearly giving them away more than once.

"Keep it together, Kindliker," William hissed, glancing back over his shoulder.

Kindliker muttered an apology, wiping sweat from his brow. He had been on edge since the announcement of the jackpot rule, knowing full well that any advantage could mean life or death in this game. But it wasn't just the new rule that had him rattled—there was something in the air tonight, a sense of impending danger that he couldn't shake.

Angelo, ever the optimist, tried to lighten the mood. "Hey, at least we're still in this. Could be worse, right? We could be dealing with that crazy senator again."

William smirked, his thoughts briefly drifting back to Bordy's last words. "Yeah, well, I wouldn't mind if we ran into another idiot who thinks they can take us on. I could use a warm-up."

Before Angelo could respond, a faint melody drifted through the trees, barely audible at first but growing louder with each passing second. It was hauntingly beautiful, the kind of voice that demanded attention, that made you want to stop whatever you were doing and listen.

William froze, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the darkness. "You hear that?"

Angelo nodded, his muscles tensing. "Yeah, I do. That's not good, is it?"

Kindliker's face went pale. "Shokaria," he whispered, his voice trembling. "It has to be her."

William cursed under his breath. He had heard of Shokaria—everyone had. The former pop star who could control minds with her voice. She was dangerous, not just because of her power but because of how easily she could turn allies against each other.

"Stay close," William ordered, his voice low. "And whatever you do, don't listen to the song."

But it was too late. The melody grew louder, wrapping around them like a siren's call, and William felt a strange compulsion to follow it, to let it guide him deeper into the forest. He shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts, but the song was relentless, pushing its way into his mind, its lyrics seductive and powerful.

"I—I can't stop it," Angelo muttered, his voice strained. He fell to his knees, clutching his head as if trying to block out the sound.

William gritted his teeth, his hands balling into fists as he fought against the pull of the song. He could feel the metal in the ground beneath him, the cold steel of his weapons, but it was all slipping away, replaced by the overwhelming need to obey Shokaria's voice.

"Angelo, fight it!" William shouted, desperation creeping into his tone. "You have to—"

Before he could finish, Angelo's eyes snapped open, but they were different now, glazed over, unfocused. He stood slowly, his movements stiff and robotic, as if he were a puppet on strings. Without a word, he turned and began walking toward the source of the music, disappearing into the shadows.

"Angelo!" William called after him, but there was no response. He cursed again, turning to Kindliker, who was trembling in fear. "Stay here! Don't move!"

Kindliker nodded, too terrified to do anything else. William took off after Angelo, his heart pounding in his chest. He couldn't lose another teammate, not like this. Not to Shokaria.

As he ran, the melody grew louder, the words clearer. They were simple, repetitive, commanding Angelo to follow, to leave everything behind and come to her. William pushed through the trees, his mind racing. How could he stop her? He had no power over sound, no way to block out the music. And Angelo was already under her spell.

He burst into a small clearing, and there she was—Shokaria, standing in the center of the space, her long, dark hair flowing around her like a veil. Her lips moved as she sang, her eyes locked onto Angelo, who was slowly making his way toward her.

William skidded to a halt, his mind scrambling for a plan. He could feel the metal in the earth, the steel in his weapons, but nothing he could think of would stop her before she took complete control of Angelo.

Shokaria's eyes flicked to William, a smile playing on her lips as she saw the desperation in his face. She held up a hand, and Angelo froze in place, still under her spell.

"You're outmatched, William," she said softly, her voice still carrying the melody. "You can't stop me."

William's jaw clenched. "You're not taking him."

Shokaria tilted her head, her smile widening. "I already have."

With that, she sang a final, commanding note, and Angelo turned to face William, his eyes empty, devoid of any recognition.

"No!" William shouted, but before he could react, Shokaria took a step back, her song shifting to a different tune—one that commanded Angelo to follow her.

Without hesitation, Angelo moved toward her, his body under her complete control. Shokaria gave William one last, triumphant look before she disappeared into the shadows, Angelo right behind her.

William stood there, breathing heavily, his mind racing. He had lost him. Angelo was gone, taken by Shokaria, and there was nothing he could do.

But this wasn't over. Not by a long shot.

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**Announcer 1:** "Oh, baby! Did you see that? Shokaria just played a perfect tune, snatching Angelo right out from under William's nose! This is why she's one of the most dangerous players in Power Royale!"

**Announcer 2:** "Indeed. Shokaria's ability to control others through her voice is a powerful weapon. William's going to have to think fast if he wants to get Angelo back. The question is—how far is he willing to go?"

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*To be continued...*