Game On

Chapter 10

Honto's POV

We headed from that horrendous room back to the main set where the audience was. Before I stepped back onto the stage, I looked down, instead of the bruises, paint splatters and blood that were scattered over the bodies of my teammates, there were dents all over mine, some of the bullets were even stuck in me. We all looked like hell. Sena looked like she hadn't slept in years because she was so drained, Amalia's hair wasn't glossy anymore as the water balloons had made it wet and her makeup was smudged down her face, Ricky had a limp but was clearly trying to act like it wasn't there and Cal looked worried as he patted his head desperately as his hair started to frizz.

    We waited to be called onto the stage, Sena noticed the bullets stuck in my back and helped me pick them out and I helped her stay standing with my arm wrapped around her, I made it solid so it would be easier for her to hold onto. When we were called, there was two couches, some teams couldn't fit all their members on the couches, but we could've squeezed onto one if we wanted to. We took our seats, Amalia suggested we should all sit on the same couch to appear as a unit. The lights were blinding and it took my eyes a while to adjust, even when they did and i could see our presenter, the audience were just silhouettes behind the lights, faceless beings from the second row on, i decided not too look too close so I wouldn't get too nervous, and start shaking, when i shake it looks like my skin is boiling, its a bit unnerving for people.

   Honestly, we should've been given a break to freshen up but it's clear the audience, or at least the people in the first two rows, were glad to see us in a state, especially those who disagreed with our lifestyle. It also showed everyone that we were actually in pain and it wasn't an act. Sena was slumped next to me and leaned against me. Cal's hand was on her back but she was in such a state she just smiled at him, but wasn't as flustered as usual. Amalia wiped the makeup from under her eyes angrily and Ricky seemed to be the only one who remembered he was on television because he was smiling happily at the presenter.

  "So, our underdogs have arrived! Comet Crushers!" The crowd cheered on cue. "Wow, second place on your first task. Have you proved yourselves or what?" He was talking to us like children. Everyone spoke to me like that because i couldn't reply in their language, but not to us as a group.  Amalia sat up, she had her game face on now, a confident smile that was right at home on her lovely face.

   "We're just warming up, Krend" thankfully she had found out his name before we got on stage. The presenter laughed a hearty, musical and well rehearsed laughed.

   "Well you gave us quite a show! Especially this little lady here" he gestured to Sena. I helped her sit up, she blinked back her sleepiness and plastered on a friendly smile.

   "Oh well thank you, sir" she beamed, as best she could. Krend laughed for real this time.

   "I haven't been called sir in a while. We had heard that you were the weak link! Boy, were we wrong! You're a little spitfire aren't you! You've got a mean streak" at the last sentence her face fell.

   "Pardon?"

   "What was that?" Cal straightened too. Squaring his shoulders.

   "Well you seem so sweet but all your power seems to have gone to your head."

   "What are you talking about?" Amalia asked

   "She just helped us win" Ricky chimed in. I grunted. Knowing no one but the population of a few select planets would understand me.

   "Oh, I'm not talking about here today." Krend grinned. "I mean behind the scenes. Do you all want to see the real Sena?" He asked the audience. There were cheers. Sena started to shake and breathe quicker. Cal rubbed circles on her back to calm her down.