BANG!!
There was another gunshot but this time, I got scared. Not because of the gunshot but because of the pool of blood on the floor. That was real?
I watched in horror as two people lay dead on the floor.
A man came out holding a gun. He was wearing a mask and it seems as though he was the boss with the way others bowed respectfully.
Did he just kill two living people? Why?! And why the hell are they bowing to a murderer?!
I had a change of mind immediately and I turned to leave but....
'Stop right there!!'
It was a lady and she held my hand tightly. Preventing me from leaving.
'No one leaves this place alive!'
The masked man suddenly walked towards me with a look of interest in his eyes.
'And what do we have here? A runaway bride?'
'I'm not a bride. Don't call me that'.
I didn't know where the confidence came from but it's definitely here at the wrong time.
The masked man smiled instead of getting angry and he slowly caressed my face. His hand was still cold even though he had gloves on.
'Uhm hello! Only a creep would caress a stranger's face.
'I'll talk to her. Bring her in Natalie, and you can talk to the rest of them'.
'Ok sir'. The assistant, Natalie, dragged me away.
Why am I being dragged everywhere today?
Soon, I was in his office looking everywhere but his eyes that kept on staring at me.
'So, you must be the reason why those men are outside. Am I right?'
'What? they are here? But how?' I got scared immediately. What if they try to take me again?
'Don't worry, they're not outside the building but they're nearby. If you want, I could hand you over to them....
'No! Please don't hand me over!'
I begged desperately. There was no way I'm going back to them. He chuckled in amusement.
'Not so fiery anymore huh?' .
'Why did you kill those people?'. I asked him with gritted teeth.
He chuckled again, 'you're the very first person to question me but strangely, I don't dislike it. What is your name?'
'You haven't answered my question yet'. Even though my heart was screaming for me to stop, I kept on talking.
'Hmm. So, you want to know why I killed those people?'
'Yes'.
'Well, my reason is quite simple. They were not brave enough'.
'Not brave enough?'
'You see, It's not that I have anything personal against them. Those bullets could've touched anybody and it just happen to chose the weak ones.
That's what they've signed up for anyways'
'What they've signed up for? What do you mean?'.
'Enough of the questions . I already answered your question. Now answer mine, what is your name?'
'Hold on. You're telling me that you killed those innocent people just because they were not brave?'
'I don't like repeating words. Your name?'
This time, his expression changed. He didn't smile anymore and that made me gulp.
'Harper'. I told him before he goes out of control and kill me as well.
'Harper, Harper, Harper. The runaway bride'.
I could've sworn I told him not to call me a bride.
'Tell you what Harper?'
'What?'
' I like you'
'What?!'
Was he kidding me?
***
NATALIE
I couldn't help but look again at my boss's office. He was taking quite long to come out. My boss never allows anyone in his office except me but now, he was in there for a long time and that too, with a stranger.
Why was he acting so intimate with her earlier?
Does he like her?
No!
Just the thought of it is infuriating. I didn't work hard for six years just to let some random girl take my spot but the boss's actions....,
Something's not right.
***HARPER
I Looked at the masked man again to be sure I heard him right.
'What are you thinking Harper?'
'Well, you just said you...
'Yes. I like you because you're a perfect character for the game'
'Character? Game? What are you saying now? We barely know each other. First, you said you like me and now, you're talking about a game'.
'Oh Harper, we don't need to know each other, that's not important. What's important is you right now'.
'I still don't understand what you're talking about'.
'Don't worry, you'll understand soon'.
*** Five minutes later
Natalie sighed after she was done with her explanation.
'So, you're telling me that I have to play some game by going into the game?'
'Yes honey, you got it'. The masked man replied instead.
'But why? Why do I have to play the game?'.
I asked in utter confusion. This is not what I had in mind when I came here. Also, why would I want to work for someone who is a complete psycho.
'Is that not why you're here?!'
Natalie snapped at me. Honestly speaking, I think she has some issues with me cause she has been frowning a lot and giving me dirty looks since she came in.
'Natalie, Natalie, Natalie. chill'
The masked man calmed her down. Why does he have the habit of repeating someone's name though.
'That's what you'll be doing here harper but don't worry, it's fun unless, you want to go back to your husband and...
'No! I'll do it. I'll play the game!'. I immediately agreed. I can't go back now.
Since I've already gotten here, I might as well have some fun. I mean, how bad can the game be?
***
NATALIE
'Sir, why do you want to recruit her. She wasn't part of the characters initially. What if she ruins it for us'
'She won't'
'How are you so sure that she won't sir?'
I never dared to question my boss but today, I felt a bit threatened by the boss's behavior towards that strange girl. As expected, his smiling face dropped. I could see it even though he was wearing his mask.
'Natalie'
'Yes sir?'
'Are you questioning me?'
'I don't dare to sir'
'Really?'
'Yes sir'
'Good. Now leave'
'Sure sir'. I could only grit my teeth in anger and leave.
***
THE GAMEKEEPER
Only I know what I saw that made me choose that runaway bride.
I saw excitement on her face when she heard the gunshot. She'll be an interesting player. I just know it. And now that all my characters are set, the fun will finally begin.
Just as I sat down to think about what's next, I heard the screams of the runaway bride.
'How dare you!!'
She was causing chaos as soon as she came huh?
Very Good. I better check what's going on before the troublesome girl brings down the roof.
I looked at the scene from my window.
It was her alright and she was screaming a lot.
***
HARPER
I was lead by Natalie into a room where all the players were. They were nineteen in number and most of them had unfriendly expressions on their faces. It was very disturbing but honestly, I have come too far to care about anyone's opinion.
I had a very light ear and could hear from quite a distance so, I could hear them whispering to each other.
'She came here in just a minute and managed to curry favour with the boss. Who knows what she did to get here?'
'Yeah'.
A girl with a silver pixie cut glared at me like I'd just stepped on her turf. There was a nameplate on her top and , 'Alexa' was written on it. Beside her, a bulky guy with arms like tree trunks cracked his knuckles loudly.
Oh, so that's why they had such expression on their faces. Well, It wasn't my fault that the boss chose me and I am not really happy to be here anyways. I have no choice.
I thought I would just ignore them but they were obviously not content with just gossiping.
'Hey there! Why are you even here?'
I chose to ignore them.
'Can't you see what she's wearing? She must have ran away from her wedding to be here just for the sake of money'
This time, I had to answer them. 'Well, you're not entirely wrong about that'.
'Huh? What did you just say?!'
And that was how the argument started until Natalie came and we had to sit down.
Except one person, he looked like a crazy person with his disheveled hair and crazy makeup. He was giving, 'the joker' cause why would a guy be wearing such heavy makeup.
He looked at me the way a predator looks at their preys.
'Jeremy'. Natalie called him and he finally sat down.
She then looked at us with a threatening look on her face and called us separately elsewhere.
I was the last person she called and she took me to another room. The others were also there but they were kept in a kind of container. That was weird.
They were not moving and looked lifeless, this made my heart skip a beat. Then, Natalie turned to look at me with a sinister look on her face.
'Look at this and think about it for the last time. Do you really want to do this?'
I found it weird that she was asking me this but then,I understood what was going on. I smirked and this made her confused.
'Miss Natalie, I am not that dumb. This is clearly not real'.
'And how do you know that?'
'Do you want me to start explaining ?'
'No need'. She said and pressed a button. The hollograms disappeared immediately.
'Miss Natalie, why do I feel like you're trying to discourage me from.....
'No, I'm not'.
'If you say so '.
'Look at that door, open it and enter the room. Then, you'll know what you need to do'
Her behavior made me even more convinced that she didn't want me in this game.
'Okay'. I said and went towards the door. I am going to do this no matter what. She's just making it more exciting for me.
'Harper'
'Huh? Is there anything else, miss Natalie?'
'No. Just wanted to wish you good luck. You'll need it'
She had a mocking look on her face and something tells me that there was another meaning to it but I still thanked her and went into the dark room.
I immediately felt something pull my soul and my eyes came shut. I couldn't open it no matter how hard I tried but when it finally opened, it refused to blink.
'Where the hell am I ?!'