365 days. Unus and Annus have one year left until their death. Trapped in strange machine, relentlessly hunted by Blank and Dark, a fight against the clock begins. Will they be able to find their way out, or will their story be lost in the sands of...
»Unus!« He screamed. Why was the room empty? There might have been a fight, but it was too messy to say for sure.
Okay. He had to stay calm now. He got this. Aside from the fact that Blank nearly killed him, Unus was gone without a trace and he had no idea what to do next, he got this. Frantically he searched to floor for clues. There was a clock, so Unus definitely made it out and back. But what happened then?
He noticed a small black notebook on the ground next to it. It was Unus' journal. He opened it up, staring at the handwriting.
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He skimmed through the notes of the last few days, and was shocked when he reached today's entry. Hastily scribbled, it read:
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As if he had only waited for Annus to discover the message, Dark spoke up over the speakers.
»Annus, my friend. Finally us more dignified men can share a word.«
»I am not your friend!« Annus cursed through gritted teeth. »If you do something to Unus, I swear I will...«
»You will what? You cannot kill me.« He made a dramatic pause. »Look. Annus. I will let you in on a little secret. You can't kill us, but right now, we cannot kill you either.«
He sighed. »Yes, yes, it's unfortunate. But as you may have realized, we can influence the environment. So, if you want to get Unus back, why not step outside? I have prepared a little... let's call it a gauntlet, shall we?«
Annus stared at the corner from where the voice was coming. »What if I don't do it?«
A slight chuckle was heard over the intercom. »Let me show you something.«
A screen flickered in the air in front of Annus. He saw Unus, strapped to a medical chair. His head was locked into a halo-esque device with needles pointing directly at his head from all sides.
»Our dear Unus is currently experiencing every possible way he could die. Past, future and present. And you know how he is, right? I don't think his meek mind can take it much longer.«
Annus gritted his teeth. »What do you want.«
»Just step through the door, my friend.«
Annus gave him the finger, but opened the door. He could do this. For Unus' sake. He stepped outside, and found himself standing in some kind of arena.
The ground was sandy, and the circular area was closed off by high walls. It reminded him of a Coliseum, and for a moment he felt as if it might have been better to heed Unus' warning.
He pushed the thought aside. At the opposing end of the arena, a gate was pulled open. Inch by inch it revealed the first challenge.
Annus found himself face to face with two beings wearing the faces of Mark and Ethan. However, the similarities stopped there and then. The creatures had long, worryingly sharp legs. It looked as if their bodies had been stitched onto grotesque stilts.
At least Dark was silent, although he was definitely awaiting a spectacle.
Annus took a deep breath, in and out. If Dark wanted to see bloodshed so badly, than bloodshed is what he would get.
