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phynewrites · 1 year

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Open Drabble 3.2

Soooo this is actually a continuation of a previous open drabble I did back then, which you can read here

Hope you enjoy!!!

“Thought you’d be here, Hero”

Hero, who was staring at the bay, looked to her right. Standing there was Villain. The colors of the sunset draped over his faint smile. Hero was surprised, but she smiled and said, “For our paths to cross again the second time, are you sue you’re not following me?”

Villain walked towards her and sat beside her, on the bench that overlooked the sunset in the bay. The sky, which bled orange and pink, was now splashed with dark blue and signaling the call of the evening.

“The truth is, I was looking for you,” Villain said, keeping eye contact on the bay. Hero merely nodded and asked why. “To tell you I’m participating in the game.”

Hero looked up at Villain. His face was solemn, saying those words as if they meant nothing. “What?” Hero asked, perhaps she had misheard. She was disappointed when Villain repeated, “I’m participating.”

Suddenly, Hero was angry. They talked about this, but he said he wouldn’t. She thought his words were genuine. She thought he wasn’t lying to her.

She stood up and faced him. “Why? What happened to all the talk about finally finding happiness and living a new life?”

Villain didn’t even meet her furious eyes. He bowed and exhaled deeply. “I didn't lie to you, Hero, if that’s what you’re thinking. Something happened a while back. Someone here returned with us. He is targeting me. He attacked me. Forget about living in peace, with him around I will never be at peace.”

“ Who is it?” Hero asked. I don’t understand. Who might he be referring to? To everyone’s knowledge, only [Superhero B and C] were his enemies. Who could completely turn his mindset after that heartfelt talk? Maybe his mind was not completely made up about changing. Maybe he was just seeing who the fool is? Maybe her intuition about him being genuine was clouded. The possibilities are limitless, but the same thing that was certain earlier was present: That she had to keep her guard up around him just in case she was right that he was fooling her.

“I can’t tell you.”

“Why?”

“Then he will come for you too. Trust me. It’s better this way.”

Hero desperately wanted to know, but she does not want to risk it. There’s a possibility that whoever this is might not be someone from their timeline. It may be someone unknown to her yet that is hostile. Right now there are two things she doesn’t like: Uncertainty and the fact that she would have to at least trust Villain’s words on this one. If that other person is truly dangerous and the fact that knowing about them will put her in danger, then she might risk not knowing. After all, she was assigned something to do.

‘Then I guess it can’t be helped.’

Villain watched Hero’s brows furrowed with anger. After a while, her expression started to calm down. With eyes closed and shoulders slumped, she let out a breath and sat beside him again. She looked him in the eyes and said, “Then can I ask you a favor?”

Villain let out a weak smile. “Anything I can help you with, while I’m still here.”

“Let me accompany you!” Hero determinedly blurted, clasping her hands together as if begging the Villain to accept her request. “I’ve heard the gatekeeper allows entering players to know the rules and the player standings. I want to know if [Superhero B and C] are still alive. Did they make progress? At least let me have that information.”

Villain thought that of course, Hero would ask that. His smile broadened as he stood up. “Very well, then we shall go.”

They walked together in comfortable silence. By that time, the city had been bustling with lights and vehicles. The sky was enveloped in darkness, and as they near their destination the black color of the sky became opaque. It was as if the void was eating the stars. It felt Hero with dread and amazement, for it was not like this the first time she had approached the cube. There was no vacuum-like atmosphere around it, and it made everything feel ominous. But this also made her curious about what was going on inside. She consistently looked at the sky and whipped her head around to observe the surroundings. She couldn’t gauge how Villain felt. His stride was monotonous as he walked in front of her. His shoulders were down and his arms swayed in the rhythmic motion that he moved. He also didn’t jerk his hide sideways as she did.

Then, the sky became a gradient of black to purple. The cube began to appear in their sight. It stood tall at approximately 300 ft. with purple glowing light emitting from its cracks. Hero felt a chill, but she brushed that off. She was not there to enter anyway. She was there to know the information.

The cube was facing them directly right now. All that was left to do was wait.

From one of the glowing purple cracks, a black orb appeared. It squeezed itself out of the crack. Hero and Villain had to step back and watch. The block goo continue to ooze from the cube until it materialized into a slim humanoid figure. Purple lights appeared on its head.

“Welcome,” uttered a coarse, low voice that belonged to the gatekeeper.

Villain stepped forward and said, “I am here to declare participation.”

The purple eyes glowed brighter. If they listened closely, it seems like there was a cackle of thunder. Although the gatekeeper had no teeth, Villain and Hero could picture a wide grin forming on its face. “Affirmative, player 587,268 and player 587,269.”

“Hold on!” Hero screamed instinctively. “Only one of us will join!”

Why did it count her without confirming her participation? Was it because of the mere fact that she went with Villain?

The gatekeeper uttered nothing for a moment. “Affirmative. Opening gate for one player.”

The purple light in the cracks disappeared as it diverged, revealing an arch in the cube behind the gatekeeper. No matter how Hero tried to strain her eyes to catch a glimpse of what was inside, it was no use.

“The rules are simple,” the Gatekeeper said. “Each player must eliminate another player to earn Merits. Each player has a fixed Merit Value, which another player can obtain as their Merit when that player is eliminated. Merits are the primary currency. Merits can be spent on lifelines, which will be implemented for the entirety of the game unless another player nullifies a lifeline.”

It brought its ‘hands’ together before continuing. “The following lifelines are already in implementation.” He gestured to the side of the arc and words started to write themselves in the bright purple ink on the black walls of the cube.

1. Transfer of merits between one player to another

2. Merging of two players as one

3. Absorbing Merits of killed players along with their Merit Value

4. Indiscriminate access to information about players

5. Option to use merits to nullify another player’s abilities.

Hero’s brows furrowed. She recalled when she accompanied [Superhero A and B], there were no lifelines yet. The gatekeeper continued. “All players are provided with a screen to remind them of the rules and the lifelines, as well as a uniform.” Hero swore she heard a little chuckle. It was a little ridiculous to have a screen and uniform though for a killing game.

“Do you wish to proceed?” It asked.

Villain was about to blurt out a yes, then he felt Hero nudge him, a little rougher than she had intended too. He looked at her with annoyance but she stared back. Then, he remembered his promise to her “Before that, may we see the player standings.”

The gatekeeper said nothing and gestured again to the black wall where the lifelines were listed. [Superhero A and B] were not listed at the top. They first thought of searching thoroughly through the list, but there were already more than a hundred thousand players. Where did all these people come from?

Villain decided to ask the players named [Superhero A and B] instead. The screen flashed:

Player no.: 2359 Player name: Superhero A Merit value: 550 Merits acquired: 4,264 Merits spent: 0 Current ranking: 264,021

Player no.: 2330 Player name: Superhero B Merit value: 500 Merits acquired: 6,782 Merits spent: 0 Current ranking: 265,124

Hero analyzed the numbers closely. Close rankings, close merits, but what mattered more was that they’re alive. Any form of communication between players and outsiders were not welcome, so this was what she had left of them to hold on.

She let out a deep breath and turned to Villain, who was watching her while she looked at the numbers. She stared long before saying, “I’m glad.” Perhaps the ecstasy of knowing that they were alive was too much.

She took Villain’s hands and cusped them tight. He was a little taken aback but paid it no mind. To Hero, he must be anxious because he’d be entering the game any moment now. He’s done his part of the deal, and the only thing she can tell him right now is “I’m glad they’re alive. Thank you, Villain. This means so much to me. I wish you nothing but the best of luck. May everything that will happen to you be for your benefit, and I hope to see you again.”

Villain pushed a smile. She let go of his hand and he placed them on her shoulders gently. “You too, Hero. Good luck. I hope you survive and win.”

“Of course!” Hero said smiling, then she realized she forgot to do the one thing she kept reminding herself from the start. Did she hear that right? I hope you survive and win.

Her eyes widened as she shouted “Wait!” but it was too late. Villain’s grip on her shoulders tightened and with all his might, pushed her into the dark archway. She tried to reach onto his arms but his figure was fading fast as the darkness succumbed to her.

The gatekeeper barred its real teeth for the first time and grinned at Vilain before entering the arch. The arch closed, and what’s left was the crack with the gleaming purple light.

Villain walked away from the chaos. He was silently collecting his thoughts. One left.

The sky was purple, then it was black, then the stars flooded from it but Villain did not pay attention to any of that. At the end of that abysmal field stood another man who was roughly his height and build. As he walked quietly, the man walked beside him and hummed a small tune. “Brother, You pushed her.”

It was no other than his sidekick, the very person whom he asked to conspire against [Superhero B and C] and now, Hero. Villain smiled feebly. “Tell me brother, am I truly evil?”

Sidekick thought, there he goes again with his self-contemplation. As usual, it was his job to assure him during these times. “You simply did what you think is right.” he replied.

“And is this right?”

Sidekick sighed. “Not by any chance, but it is necessary to restore balance in this world and in ours. The world and everything in between need people like us who are ready to do what is necessary.”

Villain smiled again, this time more placid. “Perhaps you are right. Perhaps you are.” They passed through the bench where Villain and Hero talked in the sunset, he remembered how oblivious she was since the encounter at the restaurant. Never mind, it does not matter anymore.

He turned to his brother and asked “Who is our next target?”

“The last companion. The bed-ridden one.”

Villain smirked. “Good. Do you have the location?”

At this, the sidekick scoffed and said “She is clever. Must’ve placed a mantra or some form of magic to keep their home hidden.”

Villain felt disappointed but didn’t show this to his brother. “Nevermind. We will find it eventually.”

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