Glory and Gore (Completed)

Chapter 46

ACT 46: Third Round (Part 1)

BLAIR

91 STUDENTS REMAINING...

Napamulat ako sa marahang pag-ugong ng makina. Bumungad sa akin ang pamilyar na mga salamin na nakapalibot—this was the same elevator we rode up to the arena. But this time, pababa ang elevator. Napansin ko ang dalawang babae na nakahiga rin. Ang isa ay kulay pula ang buhok at ang isa naman ay kulay brown. I noticed the metal gags on their mount. Nang pakiramdaman ko ang mukha ko, meron din ako. My lips were slightly opened and there was a metallic taste in my mouth.

Mayamaya pa ay tuluyan nang nagising ang dalawang babae. The brown-haired one screamed at the top of her lungs when she realized that we were all wearing mouth gags. We couldn't speak but when she saw us staring at her, she stopped screaming. Where the hell are we? I wanted to ask aloud.

Kalmado ang babaeng kulay pula ang buhok. Mataman niya lang kaming pinapasadahan ng tingin. I wouldn't blame her, after every thing we had been through, it's necessary to know the enemies you're with. The only sound could be heard inside the elevator was the gentle hum of the machine, when a voice blared from the intercom attached on the side of the elevator doors. Napakislot ako sa lakas ng boses na nagmula roon. I realized it was the familiar voice of a woman.

"I see that you are all awake now. Nagtataka siguro kayo kung bakit kayo nasa elevator. In a couple of minutes, the third round will take place in an escape room. You will be given an hour to solve the puzzles and mysteries inside a random room and get out of there alive," she giggled before continuing. "And oh, I almost forgot. Dalawa lang sa inyo ang maaaring makalabas ng buhay. So, goodluck and don't fuck it up!"

And the intercom turned off. We looked at each other after that, fear was evident on our faces. Dalawa lang sa amin ang makakalabas ng buhay. Wala rito si Xavier. Walang tutulong sa 'kin dito. I only have myself here. Hindi ko kilala ang dalawang babaeng kasama ko rito. For all I know, baka magkakilala sila.

The elevator screeched to a halt and the doors slid open only to reveal a huge room. May mga matataas na shelf akong nakikita na puno ng mga libro. Nasa isang library kami. Ang babaeng pula ang buhok ang unang lumabas. I carefully followed them out of the elevator, scanning the place. Tipikal na library—may mga mahahabang mesa na nakahilera sa kaliwa ko at sa kanan naman ay isang reception desk. The shelves were neatly organized. Lumapit ako sa isang shelf at napansin ang makapal na alikabok na nakapatong sa mga libro doon. It seemed like it hadn't been used for years. Or maybe this was just part of the game, to make us think that we are inside a real library. For all we know, this was a simulation. May mga camera din na nakadikit sa corner ng silid, maging sa mga shelf. May ikalawang palapag ang library. Isang malapad na kahoy na hagdan ang nakapaikot pataas sa ikalawang palapag. The place was magnificent, the details were so intricate that it seemed real. Nakasarado ang mga bintana at may chandelier sa kisame na nagbibigay ng malamlam na ilaw.

The placed reeked of old pages. If this was a normal day, I would feel happy. Ang pinakapaborito kong lugar ay ang library. During our breaks back at Ellis University, Celaena and I always went to the university library to scan some books. It wasn't her thing pero palagi ko siyang napipilit pumunta roon.

But this was not a normal day. Nasa isang escape room kami.

I only have a small knowledge about escape rooms. Naririnig ko lang iyon sa iba kong mga kaklase dati at sa mga post na nagkalat sa social media. Kung isa rin itong tipikal na escape room, kakailanganin lang naming resolbahan ang mga puzzles na nakakalat at makakalabas na kami. But I doubt it. We are in a game of survival. I should expect the unexpected.