A Game Of Pawns

Chapter 26

As soon as Zack disappeared, it stopped snowing. I stared at the clean patch of pavement where Zack had lain just moments ago. I felt sorry for him. He had been here for so long, it didn't seem right for him to keep living and dying like this. But I didn't regret killing him. I knew that I had to keep going. I had to try to win. I don't know if my mind and soul were hardening to the evil of this place or if my anger at Zack somehow made the kill easier, but I didn't break down like I did when I killed Anne. I felt relatively calm about everything and I wondered what would happen next. Then I felt it.

A strange dizziness came over me. The world around me spun. I thought I was going to be sick. I felt all of my cuts and injuries begin to itch but I couldn't move my arms to scratch them. Then all of the colors around me seemed to melt into one grey surrounding. There was no sky, no ground, only a thick fog that enveloped me. Then, I heard voices but couldn't distinguish them from one another. I had no idea what they were saying, it was all too overwhelming. My throbbing head took all of my attention as silence overtook me and darkness blurred my vision. For a moment, I thought I had blacked out but somehow I was still aware, like my eyes had closed of their own accord and would not open again.

The blackness faded, slowly revealing my surroundings. I stood atop a familiar grassy hill, overlooking a faraway forest in all directions. Beyond that lay mountains, reaching high in the blue sky and I smelled salt in the air, though I saw no water. The sun warmed me and I took a deep breath, enjoying the peace before realizing why this place seemed so familiar. This was the hilltop from my dream. It all seems so long ago, but I remember being here in a booth from my favorite pizza place. There was no booth or any place to sit this time, but I didn't mind. I wasn't the least bit tired or sore. In fact, my wounds were healed, all pain was gone and my clothes had changed back into the green Triforce shirt I had been in when this mess all started. The only difference from the last time I was here was that I felt stronger and less confused.

A man in a dark cloak appeared in front of me and I instantly recognized the Traveler. "Congratulations on your first win, Alexander," he said in his strange, computer-like way of speaking. "I can see you will be a very interesting person to keep an eye on. Do continue to impress us."

"What do you mean? Who's watching me?"

"I am."

"That's not a great answer. You said 'us'. Who else is watching me?" He didn't say anything. "Why are you watching me?"

"All who come here are watched."

"Why?" No answer. "Come on! Give me something!" Frustrated, I gave up on my interrogation. "Fine. You're just going to do whatever you want anyway. I don't have a choice, do I?"

"That is correct."

"You know, that's bad, right? Like kidnapping or psychological terror or something, I dunno. It's wrong and you should release all of us and send us all back home. It's not too late to set things right." He didn't respond. I sighed, "what happens now?"

The Traveler cocked his head slightly and I somehow knew that he was smiling. "Now, we begin again. In the past, we have given the winner a special advantage. Unfortunately, we no longer are offering this award for each cycle."

"Then why mention it?" I asked irritably.

"Formality. However, you may consider your start into the next game, as you called it, with an advantage. Since you did not start with a weapon or ability during your first time, this time, you will, of course, start at the beginning with your weapon and ability. This should give you an easier way to begin. I look forward to seeing how you do this time."

"Wait! I'm not ready!" I shouted, not wanting the next round of the murder game to begin. My mind crowded with everything I wanted to say to him, but all that came out was, "I still don't want this! Why is this happening? Please, tell me!"

"I look forward to seeing how you do," he repeated, ignoring me. Then he vanished, seeming to melt into the background before I had a chance to ask anything else. Not that I had expected any clear or satisfying answers out of him. The lack of information was frustrating and I began to shout at nothing. "Give me answers! Come back! Oh, come on! I won't do it! I'll just...I'll just sit here!" Yeah, that'll show him.

I looked around. I expected something to happen, but nothing did. I sat down and waited. Still nothing. Reexamining my surroundings again, I looked for a path or road to follow. There were no signs of buildings or civilization. There was no way I had the patience to sit and do nothing. Where should I go? I didn't want to stay here anymore. As bright and beautiful as this place looked, it felt tainted because of the Traveler and the game.

My next thought was, 'I guess I should head towards the forest.' That's when the world around me faded from view and black filled my vision again. It was much less violent than it was last time. I didn't get dizzy at all and I didn't start hearing voices either. I don't remember making the decision to close my eyes, but as soon as I realized they were shut, I opened them.

I didn't recognize where I was. Not that I expected to, but there was a small part of me that hoped all of this would be a long, strange and crazy dream. I would wake up to my alarm and realize that I was still in my bed, drooling on my pillow, or my neighbor would start playing drums again and the whole building would come to yell at him, just as they had the night before my first dream of the Traveller. Too good to be true, I guess.

The grassy hillside with the mountain view was probably just a vision or something; I knew I wasn't there. But I also wasn't downtown, probably not even in Michigan anymore. The air felt warmer and drier. Tall trees surrounded me and the ground was mostly dirt, leaves and tree roots with small sticks and a few branches scattered around. The scent of nature was strong as if it had recently rained. Small bugs crawled on the ground and the tree bark or flew around, some of them were making buzzing noises. Birds soared high in the sky, singing to each other in soft, melodic chirps but otherwise, I didn't hear anything but the wind moving the tree branches. The only sign of civilization was a house far away above an incline where the forest started to break. Wooden stairs not far from me led up towards the house.

I had only a vague idea of what to do next. Saris had advised me back when we were in the training house, giving me a general list of things to look for at the start of a cycle. I would need to scope out the area and see where the borders of this game's map were. Finding allies was important, but not right away. First, I had to find food and water. This was my reality now. I felt my cell phone in my pocket and breathed a sigh of relief. It was still there. But now is not the time to use it. I needed to get moving and if I was lucky, I would find someone willing to team up. I hoped I would find Saris again, but the one that I really wanted to find was Demi.

I breathed in the fresh air. I had won my first game. Somehow, that made me feel stronger and more confident. I still wasn't ready to take on someone as strong as Zack on my own, but I felt like a capable player in this game. I just needed allies I could trust. Demi and Saris would be ideal since I already knew how they operated and we connect as people, not just a team, but I didn't know my chances of finding them before running into someone else. Odds are, I wouldn't see them, at least not right away, and I'd have to make allies with strangers. I wondered where they were and if they were safe. Would the traveler put them in harm's way, close to an enemy like Zack? Or would everyone be alone? Would everyone even arrive at the same time? Or did we wake up in this place at different times?

There was no use worrying about my friends. They could take care of themselves. I had a feeling that the three of us would be together again. I chuckled, thinking of Saris and smiled. He often says, "it's just a feeling," and he's usually right. Maybe, this time, I would be too. After all, in a game like this, we're bound to meet up sooner or later.

I took my first step into a brand new map and a brand new cycle in this game. A deadly game where I would have to kill to live. I was a different person than I was three weeks ago. I was no longer set into a routine, no longer disinterested in dating, no longer just a working college student. I was a strong and capable killer with every intention of getting out of this game and going home. Just two more wins to go.