SURVIVAL 33: THE PAINTER’S EYES

SECOND'S / HEAVIEN'S POV

The knife I got was the second smallest because that was all that was left. What First got was the smallest one. The game begins.

"Ah!”

I got startled by Rochevel's squeal, then she ran away. The mischievous boy, Jecko, pointed a knife at her, which made her run away.

"Ha-ha! Come to me. I’ll end all of your misery!" he shouted while swaying his knife at us. He started attacking everyone he came across.

"C'mon!" First pulled my right hand and we ran up to the second floor.

Jecko looks desperate to win. He holds the biggest knife, and it looks terrifying.

We hid next to a bedroom. We should only side with ourselves, but First is still helping me.

"Shhh," he pressed his index finger to his lip.

"What's wrong with you, Nilo? You’re disturbing the neighbors. They can hear their screams!" Mama reprimanded my father.

My father is always hurting our four animal companions. When he gets angry and releases his emotions, abusing our pets will be his way of coping.

One afternoon, when I came home from school, I didn't expect him to try to hurt my mama physically. He accidentally stabbed mama in the side of her chont with a kitchen knife. I immediately called an ambulance. Mama almost left us, but her condition is still critical due to the illness of overwork.

My brother took a part-time job to help mama at home, especially since she is now limited to work. He also tolerated a serious leg injury, that is why he can no longer do martial arts.

***

"Heavien, proceed to my office to discuss your participation in the art contest.”

One day, I was called to the faculty room by the teacher to discuss the art contest. What I thought of painting on the canvas was a woman’s face. Her face is serious and calm, but there is a certain reflection in her eyes. I want it to be a simple painting, but deep in meaning.

"What's with those eyes?”

"Hm? Ah, those eyes? Behind the woman's serious and calm face, there's a deep sigh-" I turned to the one who just spoke. "P-Presi?" He startled me.

I saw him standing behind me as I sat and painted.

"What was it again?” he asked.

"Oh, okay. Even if the face is serious and calm, you can see how a person really feels when you look into their eyes. In this woman's eyes, she feels resentful and sorrowful. At first glance, it is not noticeable. But if she opens her mind and heart to you, you will know the truth.”

There was a moment of silence as he stared at my painting.

"Will the teachers confiscate that painting?”

"Not really. This one’s a draft. The teachers will check this first, and if I pass their standards, they’ll include me in the contest."

"Good”

"Why?”

"I'll buy that.”

Surprised, but I agreed.

"You're an artist, and you sold your work to me, that's why I should pay." Then he left me in the art room after he bought my painting.

When I opened the envelope that contained cash, my eyes widened when I saw a large amount of it. How come a 16-year-old student roams around the campus and carries cash worth this? Anyway, I can help my mama and brother with this.

“What’s your inspiration for that?” he asked.

"The truth is, I had the inspiration to paint this woman with mysterious eyes because of you, President." He was confused by what I said. "When I saw you in the classroom, and when I asked you if you could play the piano, I saw your eyes. It was calm but mixed with sadness.”

Before he left, he asked me again. "By the way, what's the title of your painting?”

"Silence. Silence is the title of my painting!”

"Why, though?”

"Because silence has the loudest cry”

***

"Mr. President, here it is," I handed him an extra lunch meal.

"What's that?" he questioned, frowning and closing the book he was reading.

It’s lunchtime and I went to the library. They said that he was often there when he was not busy.

"Rice and a stew. My mom and I cooked it. When we received the money, my mama and brother wanted to thank you."

"Y-You don't have to do that." He must be embarrassed like me right now.

"Please! Mama and I can't sleep if you don't accept it."

"Okay, if that's what you want."

I smiled broadly when he took it.

"But in one condition ...”

"Mm?" He has his conditions set on me. What could it be?

"You'll eat with me.”

Those fateful meetings with First were memorable.

"Ahhh!"

I stumbled upon Rochevel.

"Are you alright?" I checked her.

"Yes, b-but First is..." she raised his head.

I moved my hands when I felt something wet on the floor. I looked at it and it was red... Where’s First? I lifted my head and saw First’s right arm was bleeding! Thirzen is holding his big knife with blood on it.

What if Jecko's knife is the one that contains poison among the seven?!

"Run," First whispered to us.

"No-”

"I said run. I'll deal with this one.”

Rochevel clung to my arm. The two of us were still sitting and feeling what was going to happen. Rochevel pulled me away to run, but I couldn’t leave First all alone with Jecko.

"Please, I swear I'll be back. And please come back safe... Heavien.”

Something tickled my heart when I heard my name. I nodded to him and held back the tears. I ran with Rochevel.

"Hey, you two! I'm not done with you!" Jecko shouted and was about to chase us.

First blocked him. "Kill me first.”

Rochevel and I are here in the kitchen. We just sat on the floor. Her hands trembled holding the knife that was the third largest. She was ‘Jupiter’.

I found out that Jecko is the one who manipulates Neinuko’s shadow at 1:00 am because:

First, one extra bedroom for a boy. This indicates that another player will join. Also, our rooms are arranged by number names. And because between Brenille (Third) and Trake's (Ninezen) room is the extra room; Fifth, Seventh, Eleventh, Thirzen, Fifzen, and Sixzen; one of our fallen friends is the new player between Brenille and Trake’s number names.

Second, an extra seat in the dining area. There are only six of us, but why are there seven seats?

Third, there is a shadow. The shadow is Neinuko's figure. At the appearance of that monster, two victims died, Eleventh and Jecko. We buried Eleventh's body. But Jecko's body remained missing, so there was a chance he was still alive.

Fourth, that shadow appears exactly at one o'clock in the morning. He doesn’t show up at that specific time for fun, but it’s because of the clock. A clock has 12 numbers. When the hour hand points to one, it has two meanings. It's either back to one or it starts at number thirteen. First is alive, so he can't be the new player. It is also possible that the clock represents us, the 24 players. 24 hours = 24 players.

"Heavien” Rochevel called me.

I turned to Rochevel. "Mm?”

"What's going on there? Maybe First is already done. Can we go out?" she asked softly.

I was silent for a while because I was worried about First and the others as well.

"I'll go to the living area, and you'll stay here. I'll come back to you when everything's okay.”

"But it’s dangerous out there alone.”

"It will be more dangerous if the two of us go out. Stay here and make no noise, okay?”

She nodded and clung to her knees.

I walked slowly to the living area where First and Jecko had fought earlier. A few more steps to the living area. I was stunned at my stand when I saw that there was a knife pointed at my neck.