The Games

Forbidden Truths

"What I'm about to tell you isn't supposed to be known by anyone, so you can't tell anyone-not even your friends. If you do, it could lead to both your death and theirs. Do you understand?" Mr. Tanner's voice was firm, his face dark with seriousness.

I forced myself to take a deep breath, nodding. If the rebellion could rattle Nick so much, maybe there was a way to use them against him. "Tell me," I urged, settling into my chair, ready for whatever dark truth was coming.

"It happened a long time ago, and when I say long, I mean really long," he began, a heavy sigh escaping his lips. His hesitation was clear, but before I could press him to continue, he did. "There were two families that controlled the world before it became the Dead Lands. These families couldn't agree on anything, and it only got worse when their children began making decisions alongside them."

He paused, shaking his head as if recalling the bitterness of it all. "The world was dying. Food was becoming scarce, and people were desperate. One family wanted to limit meals for the population while they themselves feasted. Worse yet, they suggested that the population should be culled to ease the strain."

"The Games," I whispered, the realization hitting me.

Mr. Tanner offered a sad smile. "Yes, the Games. But the other family disagreed. They believed people could grow their own food and that no one should die because of their leaders' failures. That disagreement led to one of the greatest conflicts between them."

As he spoke, the story began to feel eerily familiar. "So, what happened next?"

"The youngest members of each family-Nick and Stella-had recently come of age. They were present during the debates but stayed silent. Nick's family was the one pushing for starvation and death, while Stella's family fought for survival through innovation. When the debate hit a standstill, the families turned to Nick and Stella to cast the deciding votes."

"That's too much pressure to put on kids!" I exclaimed, shocked at the cruelty of the situation.

Tanner shrugged. "It was their world. But here's the twist: Nick and Stella had been secretly seeing each other for years. They met when they were children, sneaking away from their families to meet at a cliff overlooking the city. They grew up together, and by the time they were allowed into those meetings, they were deeply in love."

I gasped, eyes wide. "This is a love story gone wrong!"

"Exactly," Mr. Tanner replied, his face growing somber. "They planned to reveal their relationship, hoping it would unite their families. But when the chaos of that meeting unfolded, they decided to wait. For two more weeks, they kept their love hidden, hoping for the right moment to share their secret."

He stood up and crossed the room, pulling a bottle of water from a small fridge. "Want one?" he asked, offering me a drink. I nodded, taking it from him, eager for him to continue.

"Two weeks later, the families gathered again, tensions higher than ever. Nick, desperate to end the fighting, stood up and declared, his love for Stella. He reached for her hand, and when she took it, the room exploded. Their families were horrified. They ripped them apart, forbidding them from seeing each other ever again."

I could sense the pain in Mr. Tanner's voice. He was recounting more than just a story; it felt personal. "They locked Nick in his room and placed guards outside both of their windows to keep them apart. They couldn't bear to be separated, and the guards eventually felt sympathy and left their posts. It was the worst mistake they could've made."

"What happened?" I asked, holding my breath.

"Nick and Stella snuck out and met at their favorite spot on the cliff, unaware that an assassin had broken into Stella's home that night. They spent hours together, but when dawn broke, they returned home. Stella found her mother murdered, and there was a message on the door. It was from Nick's family."

My stomach twisted. "She thought Nick had betrayed her?"

"Yes. She believed he had distracted her while his family murdered her mother. Her heart was shattered, and when she confronted him, he swore he knew nothing about the murder. But Stella didn't believe him. She ended their relationship and walked away from him for good."

I stared at Mr. Tanner, wide-eyed. "So, what happened after that?"

"Nick turned cold. He helped build the wall around the Dead Lands and created the Games as a way to 'save the world.' Meanwhile, Stella left and became the leader of the rebellion."

The pieces began to fall into place. "Wait, Nick... he's a descendant of that family, isn't he?"

Mr. Tanner gave a knowing nod. "Yes. And now, he's the one running the show, just like his ancestors."

I sat back, stunned by the revelation. "Do you know who leads the rebellion now?" I asked, my mind racing with possibilities.

Mr. Tanner only smiled as he started to leave. "I guess you'll have to come back and find out." And with that, he was gone, leaving me alone with the weight of forbidden love, betrayal, and a rebellion that could change everything.