Chapter 11

CHAPTER 11

Ashely’s POV

"I— I killed him."

Our eyes widened when we heard Maureen's first words after she left the activity area. She was just crying the whole time. She has some wounds but it was really small and not that deep. I think it was just a scratch, but what worried us the most was what happened to Ram because he didn't go out with her.

"What?! Did you really kill?" Don asked incredulously. Maureen's face could hardly be drawn because of her endless crying. She's also trembling and her lips are quivering.

"I— I don't know! R-Ram handed me the— the knife, begging to k-kill him but I d-did not do it," she stuttered, trying to from a sentence but I know she can't . Her trembling and groaning are more dominant.

"Then, what happened?" Don asked.

"T-then he— he hit me here." She pointed the wound on her left arm. I just winced because this is the biggest thing she has achieved. We immediately guided to the sofa for her to be treated first, but she didn't want to be touched. So what we did was just to let her cry and waited for her to speak.

"He— he hit me and said that if— if I won't kill him— he—" then she cried again so hard. I carassed her back and gave her water. She refused it and spoke again, "If I won't kill him, he will kill me."

"Then?" Don.

"Then I tried to fight back because I don't want to be dead. I don't want to die!" She yelled, still crying.

"So, you killed him?" Cristina asked.

Maureen looked at her and nodded slowly. The next thing I knew, Don threw the wooden chair and a loud noise echoed after. We all cried especially when Don went crazy. The twins helped him to calm. I just got my hair cut.

This is so crazy!

"What's next? These twins? For pete's sake! They are twins! They are blood related and they will kill each other?" Don shouted again.

We were so close that he picked up another wooden bench again and knocked it down. He was still kicking it so it was even more damaged.

"Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! We're only 3 days here!! What else the next day?!" He shouted still ruining the furnitures.

Matthew stood up and grabbed his hand to make a sit. "Bro, that ain't help. Let's try—"

"Bullshit, Matthew! Why are you still so calm?! We've lost a friend, cannot you see that?!" He cut Matthew.

Matthew just averted his eyes and returned to his seat.

"If I'll get wild like you, will something happen? If I shout, break and make noise, will it have any changes? Nothing, right? The things won't change if I do that because it's all already planned." Our brows furrowed.

"So, do you mean we have no choice?" Don asked.

Matthew nodded his head, "None."

"Because the moment we signed up to the email, we already agreed to the terms and conditions. As well as the consequences."

And that hit me so hard. We really can't run this game anymore. Because whatever else we do we will die and we will die. If killer can't kill us, the person behind this game will.

"Matthew's right," Kyle agreed.

"We really don't have any choice but to face and fight this freaking game. But this is not just a game, this is a nightmare game. Nightmare. Deadly." Then, I got goosebumps all over my body.

Maureen stopped crying and drank some water. I would like to help her treat her bruises but she avoided me.

It's already 12 noon when I went to the kitchen to prepare our lunch. We also need strength for the next day. We need food to fill our hungry stomach.

I just took a deep breath at what I was thinking. Matthew and I will be together tonight. I mean, we will fight as well. Can I fight him? Or is this my last day on Earth?

But as far as I remembered, the game is 10:10. 10 lives in 10 days. It's only our third day, if four people die today, it won't be 10:10 because we only have four left and there are still 7 days? Weird. Or maybe something will happen because it was already planned. Sighed. I still hate myself for joining this game. Imagine that my life is at risk for the sake of money.

I shrugged then took the pan and washed it.

"Can I shoot a coin in your deep though?" I jumped in shock when someone spoke behind me.

I was gripped in the chest because of nervousness. "Damn, Michael, there was no door but try to knock or inform me that you're here," I said nervously.

He chuckled.

"Sorry, my bad. Maybe I'll tell my air-self to touch you first, I guess?" His forehead knitting. I also laughed at what he said. Air-self? Gagi, what's that?

"What do you mean by air-self? Pft," I laughed and placed the pan on the gas stove. I only saw eggs and ham that could be cooked so I took them out to the refrigerator.

"Air-self. Because you told me to feel first if I'm here next to me. So before I finally step aside, I'll put air-self first so that you will know that I'll be here," he explained. I laughed at him because it seemed like he was going crazy.

"You're crazy, how can you do that? And you are talking alien language. I don’t understand." I teased him then took the egg and cooked it.

"By putting so much scent on my shirt?" He wasn't sure of the answer.

But what? I laughed at what he said. He helped me cook the food. I cooked a dish and he cooked our rice.

"You're laughing at me but it's true. I still have a lot of perfume there. I'm going to use a lot so that if I'm getting closer to you, you can sense that it's me because of the scent," he explained at length. I shook my head.

"You’re crazy," I chuckled.

We finished our work and organized the table. While waiting for the rice to cook, I went upstairs first. Then? I suddenly remembered that CR. I immediately went to the CR and looked in the mirror. I tried to do the fingernail test again and I was really right. This is not a true mirror. I went out of the bathroom and looked to see if there was another bedroom attached to the mirror. But, I didn't see anything because it was the very end. To tour this house, the right side of the CR is movie theater and arcades, while on the left side is gone. But the mirror is on the left side. I really doubted this place.

I touched the wall and I was surprised to feel it wasn’t cement like other walls. I knocked on it to confirm and this is a hundred percent plywood. I frowned when I saw another cut. I traced the line and got shocked when I realized that the line formed like a door. Is this a hidden door?

I pushed it a little. It sounded like it was broken so I pushed even harder. My heart pounded more when the door opened! Shit!

The faster my heart beats, the more my breath catches. I looked around to see if anyone was following me, but there was nothing so I went in and closed the door. It was very dark and a bit smelly. I punched the wall on the side of the door to turn on the light. I succeeded because the light turned on.

I was shocked when I walked around. I think this looks like a storage room. There are ropes, benches and cabinets were found on the floor. I came nearer to it for further examination. This place is interesting. My eyes squinted when I saw a medicine bottle. I picked it up and read.

"Arcenic Acid?" I read.

Acid?

I jumped in panic when something rang behind me. I was blown away when I saw this rat. But— what really caught my attention right now is the mirror. Got you, I wasn't wrong! What I see right now is the inside of the restroom. See?! The fingernail test is legit!!

Does anyone come here? If so, the. who?

"Ash? Ash!" I heard screams from a distance so I quickly put the bottle I was holding on the chair and ran out. I forgot to turn the switch off and I just closed the door then went back into the bathroom to say I went from CR. I don't know, I don't think that they should know about my discovery yet. There's inside of me that wanna explore this house more, so I will just tell this to them if I have gathered information already. But don’t they worry because I won't let them wait more days.

Now that I've seen the hidden room, I think there's a lot more hidden inside this house. And I need to discover that.

"Ash? Are you here?" I opened the door of the CR and Matthew's face shown up.

I was even a little surprised because I didn’t expect him to find me. He let out a deep sigh and blurted out, "Thank God, I thought you're missing."

I smiled because of what he said. Who would have thought that the campus heartthrob cares for me?

"Are you worried about that?" I tried to tease him. I looked at my hand when he suddenly took it. And this time my heart felt like the sound system was jumping with the force of its beating.

"I'm sorry." He released immediately. "Let's go? Let’s eat." He then changed the subject to kill the awkward atmosphere.

I nodded to him so he started walking. Then, I quietly followed behind it until we reached the stairs.

I was just walking, following his steps and looking the floor, I didn't realize that she had stopped so I banged my head on his back.

“Sorry, sorry—-“ My sentences were cut off because he spoke. And his words make my whole system gone wild.

"Please, just stay right behind me. I can't stand if something bad happens to you either."