Chapters (66)
- PREFACE
- Full Page Image
- ONE
- TWO
- One week ago
- THREE
- Present day
- FOUR
- FIVE
- SIX
- SEVEN
- EIGHT
- NINE
- TEN
- ELEVEN
- TWELVE
- THIRTEEN
- FOURTEEN
- FIFTEEN
- SIXTEEN
- SEVENTEEN
- EIGHTEEN
- NINETEEN
- TWENTY
- TWENTY-ONE
- TWENTY-TWO
- TWENTY-THREE
- TWENTY-FOUR
- TWENTY-FIVE
- TWENTY-SIX
- TWENTY-SEVEN
- TWENTY-EIGHT
- TWENTY-NINE
- THIRTY
- THIRTY-ONE
- THIRTY-TWO
- THIRTY-THREE
- THIRTY-FOUR
- THIRTY-FIVE
- THIRTY-SIX
- THIRTY-SEVEN
- THIRTY-EIGHT
- THIRTY-NINE
- FORTY
- FORTY-ONE
- FORTY-TWO
- FORTY-THREE
- FORTY-FOUR
- FORTY-FIVE
- FORTY-SIX
- FORTY-SEVEN
- FORTY-EIGHT
- FORTY-NINE
- FIFTY
- FIFTY-ONE
- FIFTY-TWO
- FIFTY-THREE
- FIFTY-FOUR
- FIFTY-FIVE
- FIFTY-SIX
- FIFTY-SEVEN
- FIFTY-EIGHT
- FIFTY-NINE
- SIXTY
- SIXTY-ONE
- SIXTY-TWO
I slowly creep them open, my lashes fluttering in shock when I see a mirror image of the place we've just left.
What...
I'm not sure what I was expecting. Maybe some sci-fi civilization, or maybe some type of ancient, intricate architecture. Instead, all I see is a stretch of green land and mountainous rock, with trees and rich vegetation scattered all over.
"Is this it?" I ask in awe. The words are barely out of my mouth when I find myself flat on the ground. For the third time!
Ze's goal to be nicer needs more work, and I make sure to point that out to him, but he doesn't seem that concerned with what I think. Instead, he completely ignores me as he narrows his eyes, walking in circles as if he's looking for something.
Dusting my clothes, I get up just in time to see the same wraith as before appear in front of us.
"Congratulations on reaching P'davi. The second trial will be announced in one day. If you continue down the mountain, you will reach a complex where the contestant quarters are located. You have opted to continue as a team, and as such, you will be placed in the same accommodation. Your suite number is 56."
Out of nowhere, the wraith materializes a key, which she gives to me—or rather, the key simply drops into my waiting hands.
"The announcement for the second trial will take place in the main courtyard of the complex. Until then, you are free to rest, move around, and get to know the other contestants. You are, however, prohibited from leaving the complex grounds. Whoever is found in breach of this rule will be disqualified from the game, together with their team."
By disqualified, I guess she means dead.
"Until we meet again." The wraith offers a salute before she vanishes from sight.
TWENTY-THREE
We arrive at the P'davi complex half an hour later. The journey down the mountain is smooth, and I'm amazed to see how similar the environment is to that of my world. There is a dense forest at the base of the mountain, and the complex is nestled right in the middle of it. It almost looks like a military center. There's a metal fence surrounding the entire area. Inside, there are rows of buildings painted in a nondescript gray. They are all the same height—some five or six floors.
The closer we get, the more I'm surprised at how well guarded the complex is. There's barbed wire around the metal fence, with armed guards stationed at every watch tower. We head for the gate of the complex, which, as we get closer, I realize must be quite a few meters in height.