Roomscapes I - survive

Chapter 19 ~ Frozen and targets

** VALENTINA'S POV **

They knew I would react like this, they knew I would freak out and stand frozen, and unsurprisingly, they were correct. I seemed to be unable to move, and I was standing there like an idiot, waiting for something. Anything. I tried to look into his eyes as he ran towards me, but it was useless. That orange figure was just a projection of Cameron, and I knew very well I would never see the real him again, and that it would be idiotic to think that if I looked in that thing's eyes I would see him, the real him. The one that joked and made funny faces all the time, enlightening the mood. The one with the flawless sparkles in his eyes, the one who saved me from inevitable death... but then again, also the one who killed my best friend, and Kristen. Also the one whose mission was to bring me to his team to my death, and also the one who-- no matter how hard I tried to deny it-- I had feelings for. But thinking about all the bad things he did didn't fix anything. He was still my enemy, and I bet he wouldn't think twice before killing me. It took everything in me to think about every single thing he did wrong and how much my feelings of hate towards him needed to develop because of it, but when I finally did it.... when I finally found myself heat up and my face redden with anger, I grabbed my bow and aimed at the only part I could think of that would hurt the most even though it was just a projection and was not able to feel physical pain. I aimed at his heart, and sure enough, the arrow hit its target flawlessly, and I pictured fake Cameron as the real Cameron, the arrow brushing against his suit and digging into his flesh, his blood starting to spill and his eyes glossy, him falling to the ground helplessly, thinking of who knows what, and with gritted teeth manage to produce an unappealing sound, indicating-- even though it was clear-- the pain had struck. I don't know how I managed to not go over to his side and start sobbing, wanting to kill myself, but I did. Killing that projection got me teary eyed, and I noticed my hands shaking violently, causing me to almost drop my weapons. I forced myself to stop and stood quietly, waiting for something to happen. What now? The voice of a woman, completely different from any other voice I've heard, exploded out of somewhere and the words echoing through the room were clear, "Puzzle Complete." Oh. That was it, it was over. I couldn't believe I had already been at the verge of tears, I had been frozen in fear, I had been extremely angry, mad, and it was only the beginning, only the first puzzle. The first hour, maybe less. Without doubt and with frustration building up inside of me, I knew there was more to come, much, much more.

I sighed and rubbed my eyes and I bent over to pick up one of the arrows that had failed to hit its target. If I wanted to win, I had to have enough supplies to do it, and I obviously didn't want anyone else to pick it up after I was gone, since it meant they would have an advantage. No matter how hard I tried I couldn't get Cameron out of my mind, and all I could remember from my first puzzle that I had just completed was his face when I pictured him as the real Cameron. I felt a wave of dizziness wash over me, What if that meant something? What if that means he's dead? Or that I killed him? No. That's nonsense...  I tried to force my thoughts about him out of my head, but it was hopeless.  I knew I couldn't and wouldn't forget him. I bent down once again to grab another arrow, and only minutes had passed since my first puzzle had ended. It seemed like hours. While trying to decide which way to go now-- since there were three doors, one to the right, another one left, and one right in front of me-- I heard a noise, and panicked, as usual. "Will you ever shut up about your triton Daniel!? We know how cool it is but I'm pretty sure no one cares!" I heard someone say, confused on who it could be. Oh. Maybe one of the new competitors, Eli or Jacob, and the other one was most likely Daniel, since his name was said in the conversation--if that's what it was. "Fine, but you have to admit, bro, it's awesome!" I pictured what they would look like, coming through one of the halls. Which one? Which one are they coming from? "I have a name... it's not bro" the voices were getting closer, and my panic was not getting any better, "Fine, Eli" I found myself already jogging towards the nearest door, which seemed to be the one straight ahead. I ran and ran until it was dark enough to be considered safe. I ducked to see what was happening without getting caught and killed, "What is this supposed to be?" one of the boys--Eli, I assumed-- said, he was a bit tanned and was holding an axe. What? How did they get weapons? Maybe this was their second puzzle? Maybe I should get going to catch up with everyone else-- if that's the case. Despite how much I wanted to go and get to the next puzzle, something about the scene before my eyes made me find it curious and forced me to stay and watch. I knew how dangerous it was but for a second I didn't care. I had nothing to lose, anyway, well besides my life. 

Fifteen minutes later the projections had started and they were shooting orange projections, not missing a single one. I was somehow surprised when I realized they were getting about ten times as many figures than me. Huh? I quickly let the thought go as sounds coming from the right hallway woke up my senses. I tensed up and put a hand over my mouth to stop me from screaming as an arrow randomly exited the hallway, flying through the room, and hitting Daniel's leg. Ouch. He screamed and I suddenly fought the urge to go help him. Eli was now carrying him towards the hallway they came from, and once they were gone, nothing else happened. No more arrows, no more movements, nothing. I was starting to panic and consider leaving before things get any worse when a girl, her hair in a braid, walked out of the hallway into the room, she looked different from many others...she looked... satisfied, it was like hitting Daniel made her happy.  I stared curiously as another guy exited the hallway behind her, his face covered in a sarcastic, evil grin, "Should we finish'em?" he asked, running his hands through his hair, "No." the girl smirked, and turned towards the guy, "Let's leave the fun for later..." she smiled, and so did the other guy, which made me want to go out there and punch both of them to death. "Jordyn! Chris!" another guy came out of the hallway, and as soon as he stepped out I recognized his face, it was Parker. How did they make allies so soon? It was only about two hours into the game... "Someone's coming, he's far away and might turn to go somewhere else instead of here, but just in case..." Jordyn stopped him by nodding impatiently, "Ok, I got it, let's just take the way straight ahead," she nodded and looked my way, and she stiffened when she realized I was there and I could see her facial expressions change and she smiled at my innocent look, "Hey... I guess we have guests," she moved her head towards me, showing her allies where I was. Parker just looked at me, his face worried. A list of ways I could escape played in my head, but were interrupted by Chris's chuckles, "I'll kill her," he smiled and got his axe, and before he could do anything, the puzzle was playing, which meant he could no longer get through to my hallway, thank god. Jordyn was still smiling, and her smile grew bigger as she got her bow and arrow and I wanted to scream, "Hey Chris, the only thing that could get past this are arrows, you know, to kill the projections...."  his evil smile widened as she explained, and I tensed up, not knowing what to do. If I moved, they would get me with the bow, and if I stayed, they would eventually get me, too. So I got up and looked at her, hoping for the best, "Say good-bye" she said and aimed, let go, and watched the arrow miss my head by less than an inch. I screamed but someone put his hand over my mouth, "You're going to let them think you're weak? Or do you just want people to hear you and hunt you down and kill you?" his mouth was too close to my ear, and I felt his hot breath against my skin as he moved back slowly, moving my frozen body along with him. Once we were far away, he stopped, and turned me around to face him... him-- by the way-- was the one person I couldn't stop thinking about yet wanted to kill, and I felt like having a breakdown when I looked into Cameron's soft, comforting eyes. He looked at me and I caught a tear making a way down his cheek, and without thinking, I placed my cold hand on his warm face, wiping the tear. I don't know if it was his surprised, happy look, or the relief to see him here that made me wrap my arms around him, crying into his shoulder, "I'm sorry... I swear, I'm so sorry..." he was crying too, I felt it, and his grip tightened as he pulled me closer to him, and I wondered how on earth I was supposed to kill the person I thought I loved....

(Ok guys I made this chapter rather long (like some of you asked)... so please vote? Only if you liked it, I'm  not making you, of course, but it would be awesome! Thank you so much for reading and I'm really glad some of you enjoy the book! Please let me know what you think and I'm trying not to make this a lame book... I'm trying my best to make it good, I promise. If you wonder how I come up with these weird events...it's music... admit it... it's addicting... xoxo, Val)