Chapter 62: Stanford (2)
Corrine suddenly approached and hugged me…
Okay?
"Shia, it's good that you came. We thought you won't come and meet us."
The severe nervousness and relief can be clearly heard in Corrine's voice, and this made me even more confused. She immediately separated from me when she saw my expression and worriedly looked at her parents as if saying that they should face me instead. Her mother approached me and I can't help admiring her beauty. She's very elegant and graceful.
"JShia," she called in a weak tone. "I'm very happy to see you before the Game."
This is weird. There's something on the expression of these people as if they knew something and it's related with me.
I was more surprised when Corrine's mother came closer and hugged me very tight and then suddenly started crying. With this, I wasn't able to move a finger.
Hold on. What's happening?
"I never thought… you're finally here now… I know you're…" she said things I wasn't able to understand. Her cries made her voice broke each time. "We did our best to get you out from the game… but we're too late… we cannot change it anymore…"
Her hug tightened even more and my hands moved to hug her back but I immediately ceased it. I looked at the others in the room instead, asking for answers.
Tell me, what's really happening?
"Selene, calm down, please," her husband said. "She mustn't be perturbed like this. What you're doing is not helping."
She suddenly separated from me and faced her husband, "Edward, do something! Do anything! Everything!" she begged.
"We already did everything, Selene," he weakly answered. "But we don't have the time to prove that she's the one we're searching for. Our adversary here is the Linus Cup, a long time respected tradition; and she's one of its participants."
"But I know! I can feel it! Edward—"
I just watched them not knowing why I can't seemingly find my breath. While watching this family in front of me—their conversation, there's this familiar but distressing feeling that's slowly returning to me. The noise, the voices, the thin line of sound making the insides of my head whittled in pain.
No. Not now. I don't need this now.
I felt nauseous; I wanted to leave… even my head was aching.
Mrs. Stanford calmed down by the time she looked at me again and even her husband. I didn't hear what other things they talked about as nothing entered my mind ever since. Mr. Stanford walked towards me and gently hugged me. I wasn't able to move again. Corrine came next; she wiped the tears on her eyes then smiled as she hugged me. I just looked at them since I didn't know what my reaction should be. Then Corrine's mother approached and hugged me again.
"Shia," she called. "We will still do everything to get you out of the Game so please do everything to remain alive. Please come back, I'm begging you," she held the side of my face and smiled even though tears were forming again on her eyes.
"Jane, my daughter."
—
I wasn't myself when I left the room. My mind was floating as I didn't know what just happened.
After I finished talking with the Stanford family, I was told to go to a certain room where my companion and their family were currently at. Corrine and her parents didn't follow as they needed to immediately leave after saying their goodbyes to me.
Luna's father was there and even Cain's family and Ethan's grandparents, as well. However, Gin and his family were nowhere in sight while Victoria's family didn't attend the small meeting.
Ethan's, Luna's and Cain's parents were kind. Luna's father talked to me while Ethan's grandparents placed me in their embrace. The twin siblings of Cain just gaped while looking at me as if they couldn't believe I was in front of them. But I wasn't able to repay their goodbyes and advices because even I, myself, didn't know what to do. I just watched my companions said their farewells to their respective families as the sound for ending this meeting rang.
Luna was crying as her father profusely tried to stop her tears. Ethan's grandparents were showering him with hordes of advices especially his grandmother. The twins were loudly bawling as Cain tried to cheer them up even though he was about to cry himself.
I looked at them and I can't help my sadness on these scenes. Gin's words resounded in my head.
Will you still be there for us when the Game starts? Will I still see you after the Game?
I wiped the unexpected tears flowing down on my cheeks as I watched my groupmates. I may not be there for them after the Game but I will do everything so that all of them may return alive.
We said our last goodbyes and returned to our suite to rest and then arrange our things before finally changing our clothes because at exactly 6 o'clock in the afternoon, we will completely disappear from this world. We're going to be isolated from our own group, from our parents, from this world. Until tomorrow, when the Game will start, can we see ourselves in the arena again.
—
I didn't notice that I fell asleep. It must have been because of the pain in my head earlier. When I opened my eyes and saw the time, I cursed. It was already quarter to six.
Sh*t. I immediately jumped from the bed and was thankful that I already dressed myself before I took a nap. I observed my room to check if I forgot something and only then did I realize that I only spent a single night at this place. I let out a huge sigh and hurriedly left. The surrounding was silent. The suite was already abandoned.
They didn't even bother waking me up?
When I exited the suite, I almost bumped at the person who stood in front of the door. I immediately stopped before I completely hit that somebody.
"Sh*t!" I shouted due to shock.
Ethan looked at me then laughed. "We're about to be isolated from the world and you're still your typical cursing self, Shia."
"I thought everyone's already there," I answered.
"That's why I was tasked to get you because you're the only one absent," he informed while smiling. "Let's go?"
I looked at Ethan and found he's very calm. It was as if he's not worried about anything, as if our destination wasn't actually isolation. I hoped I could be as calm before the game just like him because currently I felt like exploding. The things in my mind weren't as clear anymore and I can understand nothing even more. I was only forcing myself to finish every needed process, which I had no idea what or why I was doing it.
We reached the designated underground floor for the group; it's the lowest floor in the building that I was able to reach. It was even lower than the dome or the underground station and the surrounding became much darker. A sound rang from the elevator Ethan and I was riding and when it opened, we're welcomed by a dimly lit hallway.
I immediately heard voices that were talking. When we exited the elevator, I noticed that even Miss Aura and Sir Apollo were there with the group. Sir Apollo and Gin were talking while Miss Aura was talking with Luna and Cain. Victoria remained silent and when Ethan and I approached, they all stopped and turned to the two of us.
Sir Apollo looked at his wrist watch and said, "We have five minutes left." He faced the whole group and immediately spoke, "When you enter that passageway, all of you won't see us again unless your group wins." I observed the silver doors in the hallway that Sir Apollo pointed out. "I hope all of you remember the things that we've taught you. Do everything you can to follow the plan," he said.
"Think of the plan so you won't panic at the early hours of the Game. All of you will be alone during the first day. Your main enemy in the Drift is your own actions—your actions without thinking about its consequences to you, your group and even to your enemies. Almost half of the participants die in the Drift phase. Keep calm; when you find your other members, you'll have bigger chances of surviving the other phases." Sir Apollo stared intently at us, one-by-one, as if memorizing the faces of his students.
"I have a big trust in this group because all of you have experienced a lot of things. Of all the groups that I handled, your group is the hardest to teach; it was hard for all of you to cooperate with each other and everyone passed through numerous troubles and fights. For the past couple of months, I saw how all of you survived those anarchies that tested you. I saw you grow, not just an individual but as a group." For the very first time, I saw an expression on Sir Apollo's face that I haven't seen since I entered Titan Academy. It was a smile—a smile filled with pride. "Bring that camaraderie to the arena and return with your lives intact."
The group members looked at each other, Luna and Cain smiled as if they can remember the things mentioned by Sir Apollo.
Miss Aura faced our group and then hugged us. "We are waiting for your return," she said as she tightly hugged us one after another. "You're always be the best group for us, remember that," she smilingly said as tears danced on the edge of her eyes. We tried to smile as Miss Aura let go of us.
"One minute." I heard Sir Apollo called.
I was shocked when Luna suddenly hugged me. "Shia, we will still meet, right?" she whispered to me.
I felt feeble when I heard her but I still nodded and forcibly calmed my voice so she won't notice the cracks in it. "Of course." I don't know, Luna.
"We'll all still meet at the Game," Cain said with a laugh. "Find me, okay?" he teased. However, even his voice was shallow. Cain approached us then he joined the hug. Even Ethan joined in as he dragged the frowning Victoria who wasn't able to do anything but join the hug, as well. I looked at Gin who was just standing there so I grabbed him. "Come on," I said as smile formed on my face.
But unknown to them, my tears were slowly failing me. I remembered what Cain said when our group got together the first time. I won't ever forget that day.
"In just less than a few hours that the group got together, there's already a spark. The best team!" (ED: Chapter 10: The Seer)
I never wanted to be close to anyone, never opening up or investing my emotions to something that will eventually disappear. I couldn't take that risk because I was always the one left behind to remember everything. But this group—this group became an important part of my life, and even if the time came when we needed to leave each other, I won't regret being one of them.
The sound which acted as the signal to enter the closed door by the hallway sounded. We separated from each other, laughing because of the whispered jokes. We said our goodbyes to each other and waved our hands as we slowly walked to the doors respectively assigned to us. We knew that the moment we entered these doors, we will only meet each other at the arena.
Miss Aura and Sir Apollo watched all of us while they remained at the dimly lit hallway.
When I was directly in front of the door assigned to me, I looked back to my companions. I looked at them one by one—the cheerful Luna, the mischievous Cain, the ever frowning Victoria, the kind Ethan and the serious Gin.
My eyes met his, I smiled but tears slowly fell from my eyes.
The best team.