The Holographic Trickster

Chapter 8 - A third member

"Did you kill those five men back at the village?"

I still get no answer. This is starting to become threatening. I feel surrounded, but at the same time I'm not. There is nobody else around. At least I think so. I move my hand slowly towards the sheath which is hanging on the side of my belt. I'm about to pull up my knife when I lose the sight of the person who were standing just a few meters away from me.

"You are the daughter of the svikari, you'll be facing your fate when the time for battle arrives, and I shall be there to please the gods."

My hand is interrupted by an arm, pulling my arm behind my back and a hand, which is not mine, grabs my knife. They put the knife up against my throat. I'm almost not able to breathe. One movement with my head can make the knife slice my throat. I stand still, not moving a single muscle. When I get a feeling that everything is over, I hear the sound of a unfamiliar voice in the distance that's getting closer.

"Hey brother watch out, here I come!"

Before I get to do anything, I black out.

I hear shooting, It's dark, black, nothing can be seen. My surroundings are filled with empty, black space. I listen to the shots and start to run towards where the gunfight is happening. Many guns are shooting at the same time, must be a lot of people fighting eachother. I continue running until the black space disappears and everything around me becomes nature and blue sky. Trees, buildings and a bridge appears from nowhere and I find myself in an unknown area. I look around, trying to find anything that might tell me where I am. The shooting is gone, there are no guns or people to see. I move my gaze around, finding nothing.

"Please, y/n-."

No, It can't be. Tears are starting to roll down my cheeks. This can't be true, I know he's alive. He can't-.

"You must... help... me."

Elliott is coughing blood as he's trying to crawl towards me. I meet the gaze of his lifeless eyes. His body is filled with holes from bullets that have penetrated his skin. Blood is covering his clothes and pale face. I throw myself on my knees before him. He stops moving, showing no sign of life. This is not happening, he can't be dead.

I struggle to see because of all the tears, fighting their way through my eyes. I lay my hand on top of his. Elliott's hand is cold as ice. This doesn't feel right, this is not Elliott. He's alive, I continue telling myself as I cry, he's alive. I gather all of my strength in a loud scream.

"y/n."

Elliott? No, this is not his voice. I wipe away my tears, focusing my eyes on what was Elliott's body. It's not him anymore. The same person I met in the forest, the one with the gas mask. He's lying where Elliott was.

"You're dead."

In a sudden quick movement I sit up and open my eyes. My breath is almost taken away. What was that just now? It felt so real. Elliott! I glance around, trying to figure out my surroundings. I'm sitting on a matrass in the corner of a room, not my room. Was I dreaming? Where the heck am I?

I start hearing humming, not further than a few footsteps away. There is a large man with gray pants and dark hair standing in front of an oven, cooking something that smells delicious. As curious as I am, I try to get a look at what he's making. It's impossible, he's blocking the view. I would do anything to set my teeth in whatever that guy is cooking, because as things are now I can hardly feel my stomach. I haven't eaten since that pizza.

The man turns around and I meet his face.

"Ah, you are awake!" He says, enthusiastic.

The man steps to the side, letting my eyes past his large body. Now I see, he made soup, I think? With a ladle he pours some of it in a small wooden bowl.

"I thought maybe you would be hungry when you woke up. You've been away for a while," he says, walking towards me with the bowl.

He crouches before me, giving me the bowl and a spoon.

"Here you go."

I take the bowl.

"Thank you."

"Careful, it's still pretty warm."

I answer with a nod.

He stands up, and before he walks over to the oven, I use my opportunity to ask him where I am.

"You're somewhere in the middle of the woods, not so far away from where I saved your life" he's says, walking back to where he was standing before.

I remember to have fainted after being knocked out by that gas mask person. What happened to me after that must have been a dream. Elliott never died. Of course he's not dead. He's not even here.

"Gibraltar! I think that raccoon is gonna come after me, that little guy didn't look so happy after I dropped the trash bag on him. My excuse is that it's dark outside, and I can't see shit."

I meet Elliott's eyes, his beautiful brown eyes, as he appears from around the corner. I don't know how long he has been gone, I don't even know what time on the day it is, but that doesn't matter anymore. Elliott is back!

"Elliott!" I scream his name out loud. I start sprinting towards him, almost running him down. When I reach him, I lay my arms around his neck in a hug.

"Calm down, lucky charm, I've only been gone for twenty four hours."

"Twenty four hours? It feels like years! Never leave me like that again. Your mother can handle her self from now on."

Elliott chuckles. It feels so good to hear his voice again. I've feel so empty without him.

"So, should I leave you two alone or?"

"It's fine, just stay," I say, although it would be nice to have a moment alone with him right now.

"Gibraltar my friend, this is y/n, and my number one fan."

That smirk and cocky face of his. I've wanted to put my fist in that since day one.

Elliott continues, "Also the second member of our team."

Does he mean team, as in Apex team? I remember to have heard Ajay, the pharmacist from town, say something about how the squad system in Apex works. That each team must consist of three members to participate in the games.

"Hello, my name is Gibraltar as you may know by now."

He reaches out his hand before me.

"I'm y/n," I say with a smile.

With my hand almost hidden in his, we do a handshake.

"This is gonna be awesome!" Elliott says in excitement.

I wish I could say the same. Elliott grabs both me and Gibraltar in one big hug.

"Just four more days now. We are gonna win!"