Trigger Warning:
This chapter contains references to trauma, memory loss, emotional distress, and themes of psychological manipulation. Reader discretion is advised.
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Micquel's POV
I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself.
Okay, calm down, Micquel. Take it slow.
I turned my gaze back to Draven, who was standing in the corner, eyes fixed on me with an unreadable expression.
"And you said, Draven, that dream I had... you said it really happened?" I asked, my voice unsteady, more for reassurance than to question him.
The dream was still haunting me, slipping through my thoughts like a puzzle I couldn't piece together. I still couldn't stop wondering who I had saved in the dream, why it felt so real... and how it was connected to all of this.
Draven didn't answer immediately, his eyes narrowing slightly. He seemed to be considering how best to approach me. "Yes, Micquel. It happened. Everything in that dream, it wasn't just a dream. It was real."
My breath caught in my throat. It felt like a strange weight pressing down on my chest. If everything in my dream was real, then the consequences were even bigger than I'd realized. But who had I saved? Why couldn't I remember?
I turned away from him, trying to keep my emotions in check, but the confusion was unbearable. How had I ended up in this world for over a year, and what was I supposed to make of all these fragmented memories?
I glanced at Sathia, Hermione, and Titus. Their faces were full of concern, but none of them could answer the questions still swirling in my mind. Their words about us being trapped here for over four years had left me in shock. I felt disoriented, trapped between reality and confusion.
Hermione had said four years.
Titus had shared story—how we woke up inside a giant arena, clueless and confused, with the sound of a monotone voice pulling them into this nightmare.
"Micquel?" Sathia's voice broke through my thoughts. "Are you okay?"
I blinked, realizing I'd been staring at her. I forced a smile, though it felt like the most unnatural thing in the world. "Yeah... I'm fine. I just... need to understand everything. I need to understand what happened to me and why I'm here."
Draven stepped forward, his eyes softening slightly. "January 1st... this year. It was the day we attacked the Yellow Team's secondary safe zone. It was the same day you disappeared." He looked at me, his gaze filled with something—regret, perhaps, or just the weight of the memories. "Eleven months have passed since then."
Eleven months? I felt like the world around me was slipping through my fingers. Where had I been for those eleven months? What had happened to me?
Did anyone even know?
I wanted to ask, but I bit my tongue. There was no point. What good would my questions do? They had all been shocked to see me alive, much less in the state I was in now. I could still see the shock in their eyes, especially in Draven's.
So I kept it to myself and continued looking at Draven.
He's very strong. Honestly, he could've taken on those people in white earlier, but he stayed quiet off to the side. That was strange.
Suddenly, someone hugged me. It was Sathia, crying again. "I missed you, Micquel. I thought you were really gone. I thought I'd lost another friend," she said between sobs.
My own chest tight as the flood of emotions crashed over me. I wasn't sure if I was more confused or relieved, but seeing Sathia in this state—it made everything feel real. All of it—the chaos, the danger, the friends who'd become my family.
I hugged her back, still looking at Draven.
Kylo said he blamed himself when I disappeared. Is that why he doesn't want to fight anymore?
"Kuya…" I called him softly.
Sathia pulled away.
"I'm sorry…" said Draven. "I'm so sorry for everything." He added, so I stood and hugged him. He's… he's my cousin. But I've always treated him like a real older brother.
"But Micquel, you still need to know more important things—since you said you don't remember anything," Reznor said.
I let go of Draven and turned to face Reznor.
"I really want to know everything… but can we eat first? I'm hungry. I think it's time to eat," I said.
"Food? What kind of food? I doubt there's anything you can grow in this part of the village," said Sol.
"What do you mean?" I asked, puzzled.
"Food supplies are rare in this game.. in this place. What's kept us alive inside are fruits and vegetables," Sol explained.
But… why is the kitchen full of food? They didn't look expired—or maybe I just didn't check properly.
Sol added, "It's not just food. There's equipment, weapons... things that too limited. This is not a normal safe zone.. right?"
"Micquel, tell us something. It's impossible that you're still alive and then suddenly show up again—with weapons, skilled in combat—and you even brought us to one of the most dangerous areas of the village. And this house? We looked around while you were unconscious. It's far from your typical safe zone. It has everything a team would need," Hermione said.
Honestly, I didn't know what to say to all of that.
"Or don't tell us… you're the leader of the Red Team," Titus said.
Now everyone was staring at me. I mean, really staring, like spotlights were fixed on me and I was in some sort of interrogation room.
I could only sigh.
"No, I'm not. This is just an ordinary safe zone." That's all I managed to say.
Then voice came again—monotone, robotic, chilling.
"You are in the normal safe zone of the Red Team."
Well… I hope they believe that, because I had no other answers for their questions.
Everyone gasped.
"Are you kidding? We've seen plenty of normal Red Team safe zones, and none of them look like this house," Sathia said in disbelief. But I shook my head.
I didn't know what else to say to convince them.
"That doesn't matter right now. What's important is we plan and start moving, and of course, as I said, eat first." I said, standing up and heading straight to the kitchen.
Because we're not going to get anywhere without energy.
Even ifI said it my mind still running trying to make sense of everything. But I knew one thing for sure: nothing was normal anymore.
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