Admin

The maze walls sank into the ground without a sound. All I could hear was my own breaths, which I also tried to control to match the rest of the hall.

My suit loosened a second later. Garnet walked up from where he’d been lying since he was eliminated. He’d been watching the entire thing through our visors.

“In my defense,” he said. “I was dead.”

Nobody laughed. He didn’t seem to mind.

Across the hall, Tsadi was taking its time. Randall was stretching his shoulders, exchanging whispers with Layla. Jake was on his phone, Lance was lying on the ground, staring at the ceiling.

Reisha was the one who crossed the hall, unwrapping a fresh stick of gum.

“Good game,” she said to us. She said it gently, making it hit harder. “Don’t take it personally.” No pride, no arrogance. Like she understood.

Caspian was seated on the floor with his hands supporting him from behind, legs scattered. I could see his chest heave up and down with each breath as he stared into the hall lights.

“Randall smiled,” Lucas said to no one in particular, facing the ground. “I saw it, and I still ran at him.”

“It’s not your fault,” Flora tried consoling him.

The entire scenario flashed before my eyes.

‘If I hadn’t told Caspian to wait…’

I looked at Caspian. He was still staring at the lights.

‘I’m sorry…’

Same day_

[11.48 pm ]

The clock on the wall seemed to be working just fine. Or maybe I’m the one who wanted to notice something irregular. I’d been staring at it for nearly an hour now.

That’s when I saw the bag leaning against the door to my bathroom. The shower heater came to mind.

I opened the bag and took out several tools and the new heater. The receptionist who handed it to me had suggested I wait for the electrician who would come tomorrow, but I insisted I’d do it myself.

And with that, I got to work. It wasn’t much of a struggle, though it would have been simpler if I had actual tools for the job. I had to use a toothbrush in place of a wire brush to scrape old tape residue and rust from the pipes.

At least the pliers were working fine. The moment I removed the old heater, water gushed out of the pipe and drenched me, causing me to fall off the stool I was standing on. Nearly broke the translucent glass walls and door. And more importantly, the new heater. Nearly.

I just took a moment to observe my current position, and couldn’t help but laugh out loud. I took my phone and switched on some music, then got back to it.

Thirty minutes later, after cleaning up and taking supper, I stepped back into the bathroom, except I was only wearing a towel this time. The heater powered up the moment water flowed through it, and for the first time since I stepped on the island, warm water hit my back, steam blurring the glass walls, and filling the space.

With eyes closed, I took a deep breath in, and slowly exhaled the warm moist air. Then, it all hit me.

// Submit now //

‘This is Herald Island…’

Reisha’s words.

“Good game… Just don’t take it personally.”

The look in Alicia’s eyes at the edge of my vision.

I sighed. At least my leg where the suit had stiffened was feeling better.

The next day_

As per the original schedule, every squad should have completed two intersquad matches, and the results should have decided what squad would get terminated. This would have been the case, had Zayin and Dalet not been restricted.

Advanced profile_

[Squad Dalet vs Squad Alef

Squad Alef won. ]

Squad Dalet also lost. Before, knowing that alone would have been enough. Well, until we were called for a meeting in the convention hall, Mr Manabu presiding.

“Due to the restriction of Dalet and Zayin, the two squads were not able to take part in the first round of matches, but took part in the second. Any results and comparisons we make between squad performances will be incomplete without the results of their match.

“Therefore, match results for all squads as well as the squad to be terminated shall be revealed after the Zayin vs Dalet match.

“Until then, all squads are required to continue preparations for the second stage, which will be taken in completely different conditions with different stakes. Now, onto the next point in our agenda…”

I couldn’t wait until we left the convention hall. I was already on the app before Manabu completed his speech.

The results for all the matches were yet to be made public, so squads only knew their own results and the results of their opponents in that given match. But…

Advanced profile_

[Squad Zayin vs Squad Tsadi

Squad Tsadi won

Squad Tsadi: 140 points

Squad Zayin: 60 points. ]

I hadn’t cared about how many points each squad completed the match with until this moment.

Our match would decide which team would get eliminated.

‘Rankings on the table are decided by the total number of points a team has after both matches.’

I reopened the email I received that morning.

[From: Admin

Get to the fourth floor of the Central Block immediately after the meeting at the convention hall. ]

We had access to the Central Block up to the third floor. Beyond that our cards could open the doors and the elevators wouldn’t accept them. I went anyway. But not before getting some coffee.

I decided to use the elevator, and as I expected, upon scanning my card and tapping 4th floor, access was granted, and the elevator doors shut.

‘Of course they have that much power.’

It was just like Everly’s floor. Except this time, the secretary was seated in the office to the right. It had clear doors. Only when she raised her hand did I notice I was still standing in the elevator. I slapped my forehead in my mind.

“Hi, umm…”

“Flynn?” She cut me off. I didn’t like that.

“Yes.”

She looked up from her laptop.

“Sorry, didn’t mean to cut you off, it’s just that you’re kinda late.”

“I was at a meeting…”

“Hope the coffee was worth it,” she cut me off again. This time, I didn’t mind.

“I’m here to see an admin…”

“Sit.”

“Am I ever going to complete a statement around you?” I asked.

“No, now sit.”

I complied.

“So, who am I here to see?”

“Me.”

I froze.

“What’s up?” she asked.

“This was you?” I showed her the emails.

“I think that’s pretty obvious, but yes.”

“Oh, okay. Why am I here?”

“Slow down buddy, I’m the one who called you.”

I kept quiet. She was right.

“Now, about your match with Squad Echo, one of the bots went rogue. Were you hurt?”

I froze again, for longer this time.

‘Of all the things she could ask…’

“No.”