The Hunt

[33] Mind Puzzles Are Solved

Something unsettling ate away at my mind as I thrashed around in my bed. Deciding to lay on my back, I stared at the ceiling, my eyes brimming with tears.

I don't know why but my heart hurt. I knew my plan and I knew exactly what I had to do but whatever I say to convince myself, I still felt horrible.

It was already midnight and the entire day, the three of us sat down with Hector and pretended the best we could.

After he left to do his known tour around the building, I finally asked the questions that couldn't wait to be set free. At last, I did get the answers and let me tell you... they made me hate Hector within seconds.

First, Brandon explained to me that Pantovax contains strong sedatives that caused me to pass out. He told me that Mark and some others carried me to the hold of the ship that did nothing but take lots of lapses around the building until I woke up to make it seem as if I was brought here.

Second, he said that my presence didn't change anything other than Hector's way of thinking. The original plan was Hector wanting to send forty-eight kids to an 'arena' and wait for them to die... but when I came into the picture, he decided against it. Why? Don't even get me started.

That day when we all stood in the cafeteria awaiting our death call, there was this claw-like machine that had a bowl in front of it with folded papers that supposedly had our names written in them. Well, sorry to burst your bubble but that's not what that was.

Truth is, the papers were spotless. Not one single drop of ink on them. Mark and Brandon knew exactly who to call out and why. Most importantly, they were told to yell out those specific names.

Starting with Vela and Sarah. It was no coincidence. Hector chose Vela so that she would be Sarah's only priority. Meaning that she wouldn't be free to make friends with me because she'd be too distracted trying to keep her younger sister alive.

Soon follows Kenric. See, Kenric and I weren't really on good terms before he died because the jerk left me awake all night so he could get his 'beauty sleep'. Truth be told, Hector knew Kenric doesn't like low ranks, just like his mother and thus, he picked him.

Next and definitely last is Aiden. Now, Aiden is the one person who plays the biggest role in keeping the others away from me. Furthermore, Hector wanted the soon-to-be Chief with us for two reasons.

One being to die. Two being, as you know, avoid the eminents from getting close to me. How does number two work exactly?

Well...

Aiden is an important person and he's not just any high rank. He has the most impact on the others, the ability to order them around and to keep them from breaking his rules.

Hector knew that if Aiden hated me, he'd make sure the others do too. He knew Aiden isn't the type of guy to break Levilnor's rules even if he wasn't present there. He knew Aiden would be suspicious of me because Hector even went as far as to order Brandon to show him his tattoo in an indirect way.

His plan wasn't just thought through, it was clearly written down on paper because a filthy mind like that, wouldn't be able to come up with something so gruesome. Or maybe it can if it's Hector's.

I got up and turned the lights on; it was dark and everyone was supposed to be asleep but I wasn't one of them.

Something about Sarah's death kept bugging me. It was the first and the weirdest one of all the losses we encountered in that arena. Mostly, it was the only one I kept replaying in my head.

The thing is, she was killed by a lion and as I remember saying before, lions do not live in the jungle. Amelia did tell me that there were a couple more animals who didn't belong in a place like this but Hector captured them anyway and put them in there with us. Sadly, a lot of them passed away because they're not used to being in a place with different climate circumstances than their natural habitats and of course, because their usual source of food was absent.

He wanted to speed up the process of our death yet still got deers stumbling around the jungle. Somehow, we only came across a lion and not a useful animal who could've lasted us for three days at most. Did he also plan that? Or did he not and we're just plain unlucky?

Because at this point, there's nothing impossible for him. That's why her death is stuck in my mind. Photographically too.

I changed out of the pyjamas I was given, and got into whatever I found in the bathroom before slipping on some sneakers and walking to the door. I so badly wanted to check on the eminents and that's what I was going to do.

Hector had offered me an office yesterday and I had to agree so I wouldn't fuel his subsiding suspicions of me. Plus, right now, it would be the perfect place for me to secretly help the others using the two who were there to save me.

A/N Now there are still a couple of things that aren't entirely out but they're not really that important plus everything has its own time and place. However though, If there is something that you don't really understand, I suggest you ask away before I get too far into the story.

Stay peaceful and thank you for making it that far, it means a lot to me❤✌