"Everyone has a name."

He was accusing me of something but I didn't know what. His eyes narrowed as if I was hiding secrets.

"A name like Sorrow?" I scoffed. "Last I checked that wasn't a name."

More of a definition, really.

The group that girl was in - he said her name was Gabriel - laughed. I could feel their gazes on me.

"It's better than nothing, nameless," he snapped, regaining my attention.

The bird landed high up and stared down at me mournfully under the dark sky. The bonfire made everything smell like burning.

"And why does it matter?" I asked.

Why did it matter that I didn't have a name? Because all of us couldn't be from here. A place where...a man with holes for eyes lives. I shivered.
Sorrow scowled, his friendly facade gone.

"Because we all appeared with names here. It means something. There's only you and that..other...who don't have names."

Other? I raised a brow.

"What other? And did you just appear here too?"

"We're all just here," he said quickly, his eyes darting away from mine.

"And the Other? That's them over there. Just appeared like you did. No name. Barely even speaks."

I glanced over and saw a figure clad all in leather, like a biker. A demented biker, my mind whispered maliciously. Because instead of a helmet, there was only a mask which covered their entire face. A blank, black mask. There was no expression, no shred of skin exposed. A hood covered their hair but...the body shape was a man.

As if noticing my attention, the Other looked at me but I couldn't see his eyes. His head tilted robotically as if he wasn't used to moving. I stiffened, my old friend fear making itself known...again.

"So you see what I mean," Sorrow said. "He's nowhere near as...personable as you."

His eyes flicked over me again. I could feel the attention of the Other even as I looked away from him. Gabriel and her cronies were laughing again.

"Again, why does it matter?"

Sorrow chuckled, shaking his head. It made him look young somehow, the light smoothing out the lines in his skin.

"Everything matters here." Another cryptic answer. "But you should pick your team wisely for the game. Although I don't know many who will want a Nameless on their team."

A game?

"What game?" I asked, sick of the mystery. First I was chased by the scariest thing alive and now I was inducted into a game in the middle of an abandoned city.  What next?

"You need to play the game to get anywhere. You can't get through the city without winning. They're all sort of games really...hunting, logic, physical challenges. In teams and sometimes not. Always dangerous."

At the last word his face crumpled and I glimpsed his exhaustion. Danger. My body was flooded with adrenaline at the thought.

"Some like it," Sorrow said and his eyes strayed to Gabriel. Who had blades inside her. "Some don't."

He looked straight at me.

"Am I on your team then?" I asked, my voice hard. "And what do we play for really?"

He smiled and his friendliness was well and truly gone.

"Sorry, Nameless, but I just don't think you're the right fit for our team. Good luck, though. What we play for is our business."

I let out a breath, trying to mask my panic. Was I going to die? Before I'd even lived. And surrounded by these... jackals. As if sensing my distress, the bird flew down and landed on my shoulder. Sorrow's eyes widened. I winced at the parrot's talons digging into my skin. He nipped my ear affectionately.

"Fine," I said, walking away from him, away from the flames. The others shot me curious looks as I went. The Other turned to watch me and I stayed far away from him.

"I guess you're my team then," I whispered to the bird and he let out a sigh. Poor thing.

Even as a young girl with pigtails came over to me, an alarm sounded.

"Oh!" she exclaimed, her voice very high. "The game's beginning. Be on my team? I'm Benny."

People started moving and a building glowed with fluorescent purple light a street away from the bonfire. Benny stared at me, her dark pigtails brushing tanned skin. She seemed so innocent.

"Deal," I said, omitting my lack of a name.

Gabriel whooped as she sauntered towards the purple light. The Other walked slowly, his head still creepily turned towards me. Benny brushed my arm and I shuddered. What sort of game would we play? It was time to find out.