Home Again

"Good morning, good morning!" Leonie yelled over Wendy's watch. "Congratulations to all of our remaining contestants for making it to the halfway point! Come down to the canteen to discuss the wonderous weekend event!"

"Weekend?" Yun-Yeong moaned. "Pretty sure it's Throday."

"Yeah, but I think it's a holiday." Wendy replied calmly. "At least Jeanne takes a few days off."

"Ugh, I am not ready for whatever this is." Yun-Yeong announced bitterly.

Yun-Yeong opened her door, where Eric was waiting, casually leaning against the wall, arms crossed.

"What's your deal?" Yun-Yeong asked.

"It's the halfway point." Eric replied casually. "Pretty sure that whatever comes at this point will be hell on Nova."

The ten remaining contestants eventually filled the canteen, most of them looking apprehensive at what was coming next. Odebode was fidgeting, Wendy was letting out small shocks, and Silvia looked more bored than anything else. The doors to the outside city were locked, meaning Leonie was gonna make her grand announcement to whatever the hell was next. Right on cue, the doors opened, and Leonie came out wearing her sparkling dress, with Kalea wearing her normal suit.

"Hello everybody, and a very big con-grat-u-lat-ions on making it to the halfway point! Twenty came in, and ten died! Five more of you will die next, but hey, let's enjoy this while it lasts!"

"So what's happening today?" Silvia asked.

"Well, I think the first thing to do is remember everyone who died to get us here." Leonie replied, taking out a small card.

"Timothy. That one was a strong start.

Akemi. Eh, nobody really cared.

"Kapil. Lloyd really pushed him into an exploding smiler, huh?

Gemma. Hey, you plan a murder and get killed, whatever.

Aurora. Hey, the aftermath was entertaining.

Lloyd. I'm still a little upset over that one.

Huang. Those were some exciting betrayals!

Seeta. The deleted footage was something else!

Ulrich. His outburst was wild. Really wish you could have seen it!

And Valentina. I am super interested to see where that goes!"

Odebode looked over at Cyrus to see his reaction. He was calm, his hands laying unmoving on the table.

"So what's the challenge now? Fighting undead versions of them or something?" Eric yelled.

"Nah, the way we dispose of the bodies means that can't happen." Kalea added calmly. "Due to Ulrich's…actions, and the things that followed them, we got two deaths in one day, so we're ahead of schedule."

"So what, no challenge today?" Odebode asked.

"Nope! Leonie yelled. "But we still need something for the cameras, you know? So for the next two days, you're going home!"

"Wait, we are?" Yun-Yeong asked.

"Yep." Kalea nodded with a soft smile. "For the next two days, you guys will be staying with your families. We'll have a guard to film you and make sure you don't escape. But other than that, you can try relaxing for a few extra days."

"So get some breakfast and figure out where you're going." Leonie added. "We'll get you your guards and get you back home!"

Back in her room, Yun-Yeong excitedly entered her home details on her watch. She was going home. She was finally going home. Just as she finished her information, she heard a knock on the door. When she opened it, it was Eric.

"Hey Yun. Would you happen to have a spare room in your house?" Eric asked sheepishly.

"Probably, why?" Yun replied.

"Well, if I go back to where I live with a guard, then I'll probably get a bunch of my friends arrested, you know? So like, it's cool if I come with you, right?"

"You can come with me, Eric!" Wendy yelled from behind Yun-Yeong. "I bet Jeanne would like to see you!"

"Yeah, I'm…still not ready to see her again, you know?" Eric answered. "The breakup still hurts, you know?"

"Ooh, that makes sense." Wendy nodded with clenched teeth.

"Oh, that's how you know her." Yun-Yeong piped in. "But anyway, my mom is probably cool with me bringing a boy home."

"Nice." Eric replied with a finger snap. "So, can I have your address?"

"76 Maple Street." Yun-Yeong replied.

"Alright." Eric quickly typed in the numbers and nodded to Yun-Yeong.

"Looking forward to meeting the woman that raised you."

"Yeah, same." Yun-Yeong sighed with a slight sense of happiness.

"Yo, Cyrus." Odebode asked outside his room. "Where you going?"

"Level five, I suppose." Cyrus replied calmly.

"Oh, for real? Because I figured since you got kicked out of there, you wouldn't have anywhere to go."

"I assume that my parents will allow me to stay the nights with them. Trust me, I have no intention of going back to that freak show."

"Got it, got it." Odebode agreed.

"Why, do you wish to come?" Cyrus asked. "I assume we could repurpose my siblings old room into something suitable."

"Nah, I'm gonna check my old apartment." Odebode replied calmly. "But hey, looking forward to seeing you after this, man."

"The feeling is mutual." Cyrus replied with a relaxed smile.

At the gates of the district building outside of the living quarters, nine guards stood unmoving as the remaining players stood in front of them. Andrei stood in front of them as he waited for the other contestants. Silvia went up to the guard on the right-hand side, giving a small wave to Andrei as she passed.

"Oh, can you just pick one?" Andrei asked.

"They don't have names written on them." Silvia shrugged, lighting a cigarette. Andrei went to the guard next to her, and she held a box of cigarettes to his face.

"Here, it's on me."

"Don't smoke, sorry." Andrei replied, pushing away the box.

"Come on man, no point getting attached to life at this point."

"Listen, I don't know about you, but I have people who need me. So once again, I'm not taking it."

"Got it." Silvia nodded, taking the cigarette and lighting it alongside her already existing one, putting both in her mouth. "God, when are the others getting here?"

Wendy was next, running up to the guard next to Andrei.

"We can just pick whichever, right?"

"Yeah, pretty much." Silvia nodded.

"Are you smoking two cigarettes?"

"It's twice the fun, what can I say?"

After Wendy came Cyrus and Odebode. Then Micah. Then Amber. Then Yun-Yeong and Eric. And Vanessa completed the list.

"So, that's ten." Silvia mumbled, putting out her cigarettes. "We going now?"

Her guard put two fingers against the side of their helmet, nodding after a few seconds.

"We're clear." They replied.

The mechanical gates out of the building opened slowly, where a series of small black cars were waiting for them, with Kalea and Leonie in front.

"Hey, what are these?" Andrei asked.

"Cars." Amber replied calmly. "It's basically having your own train around the place. I rode in a few before, it's pretty cool."

"Chauffeuring is a respected art form." Cyrus added. "My mother and father may never have met if not for it."

"Okay, everyone!" Leonie yelled. "Get in the cars and get out! If cars are a thing on your level, you'll find another one. If not…that's not my problem."

"We'll take care of your public transport, don't worry." Kalea sighed, before returning to a peaceful smile. "I…really want you to enjoy your break. See you in two days."

"Will do, lady." Micah nodded.

Kalea watched as the cars drove into the distance, silently praying that what will probably be the last reunion for most of them will be pleasant.

"Soo, Kalea. Got any plans for the next few days?"

"None, if I'm honest." Kalea answered calmly. "Why, did something come up?"

"Yeah! Mersache himself wants us to spend the time with him!"

"Pass." Kalea said flatly. "I'd rather trade my eyeballs then have them blinded in Arioch again."

"But it's not in Arioch." Leonie replied, swaying side to side as to seemingly not explode. "It's his own private penthouse! It's about ten miles away from any of that!"

"Penthouse?" Kalea asked. "So...what do you think would be in there?"

"Well, I know he'll be in there." Leonie replied quickly. "Him and his...voice. And his body."

"Okay, I get it. I'll go." Kalea sighed. "Give me a minute to get out of this suit, and I'll be with you."