Namimintig ang aking bagang habang pinagmamasdan ang ilang grupo na tapos ng mamili kung alin ang sa kanila. Ang ila'y nakipagbangayan muna sa kalaban nilang panig kung kanino mapupunta ang baril samantalang ang ila'y wala pa ring desisyon hanggang ngayon, gaya namin.

"We should use the cart with the guns. We can use those to shoot our opponents from a long distance," the Chinese twins chanted together.

Sumang-ayon naman si Lawrence, "I'll go with guns too."

"No! I don't think it's a good idea to use guns, can't you see? Most of the teams want to choose guns instead of knives, and I'm pretty sure this game will benefit us if we use a knife," Samuel stated.

I despise this. I've been through a lot of missions, but now I understand how difficult it is to go into a war without a proper plan. Or knowing what's ahead of me. Muli akong sumulyap sa lalaking naka-puting maskara sa unahan na mukhang nawiwili sa kanyang nasasaksihan.

"Fuck you, Roscoe! How come you're still not being called in hell?" I cursed in my head.

Bumaling ang aking tingin sa bandang gilid nang magsalita si Rick mula sa aking spy earpiece. "September, do you see the huge guy in a white sando with a lot of tattoos on his arms?"

Natanaw ko naman agad ang taong tinutukoy ni Rick dahil malapit lang ito sa amin. Malalim ang iniisip ng lalaki habang kagat nito ang kanyang kuko. Para siyang wala sa katinuan kung pagmamasdang maigi.

"That's Dywayne Scott, a 30-year-old psychopath from the United States. He's a serial killer with all of his victims' faces tattooed all over his body, and he's one of... your opponents on this first level," pagpapatuloy ni Rick.

Nagtama ang aming mata ni Dywayne at agad akong kinilabutan matapos niya akong ngisian. Dali-dali siyang bumalik sa kanyang mga kagrupo at nakipag-usap. After a few moments, the lady reappeared on the center floor, still holding a microphone.

"Time's up, everyone! I'm sure you've already discussed which cart you'd like to choose with your prospective group, and I'm now ready to hear your decision."

Matapang na sinambit ng grupo ng ex-convict na si Jeffrey Cohan ang kanilang desisyon, "We'll choose the knives cart!"

Pumalakpak ang ilang manunuod ngunit ang ila'y nagbulungan kung bakit iyon ang napili ng unang grupo. The host simply shrugged and asked for the next team's decision on who would compete. She didn't ask the Master Ripper group because it's assumed that they'll have a cart loaded with guns.

Halos matapos ng matawag ang lahat ng grupo at kami na ang susunod. Buo ang desisyon ng aking grupo na piliin ang cart na may nagtatalasang patalim, ngunit naunang tawagin ng host ang grupo nila Dywayne Scott.

"We'll take the cart loaded with sharp knives," Dywayne said casually.

Kasabay nang pag-alma ng aking mga kagrupo ay ang pagmumura nina Rick at Belle sa kabilang linya. Inawat ko naman ang kagrupo kong si Robert nang akmang tatayo ito para humamon ng gulo.

Robert's brows were furrowed when he turned his gaze on me. "I'm sure Dywayne was the one who suggested that. He must've heard what we discussed earlier!"

"I know," and that's what I would like to happen.

Makalipas ang ilang sandali ay nagsimula nang bumaba ang unang grupo na maglalaban. Magkaharap ang grupo ng ex-convict na si Jeffrey Cohen at ang grupo ng may alyas na Master Ripper na kilalang serial killer sa gitna ng maraming manunuod.

"Leaders, please take three steps forward." The female host announced it from the speaker.

Hindi naman ako nagtaka na sina Jeffrey at Master Ripper ang humakbang paabante habang ang kanilang myembro ay nanatili sa sulok nang malawak na ring. Ang myembro nina Jeffrey ay may hawak na kanya-kanyang patalim habang mga baril naman ang kila Master Ripper.

Mahigpit akong kumapit sa aking upuan nang maramdaman ang pagbiyak ng lupa mula sa ring. Tuluyan na nga akong binalot ng kaba nung makitang tanging ang ring na lamang kung nasaan nakatayo ang unang grupo na magtutuos ang naroon. May kung anong harang naman ang pumigipil sa ibang myembro na lumapit sa gitna ng ring at hindi rin sila maaring umatras dahil naghihintay sa kanilang ibaba ang kumukulong asido.

My mouth was agape as I watched the two blindfolds being lowered from the ceiling via a long pole.

Dumagundong ang buong arena sa kaba at halo-halong emosyon nung magsalitang muli ang host, "The first game is called "Eyes, No Lies," and it requires the two leaders to wear blindfolds while killing each other. Because only their members can tell them which direction to aim or which one to hit, this game will put each leader's hearing skills to the test. The leader who survived will be saved along with his teammates, while the losers will be dissolved in the hot hydrochloric acid below with their leader."

"Only respective leaders may use their weapons; any member who violates this rule will be terminated and killed automatically, causing their opponents to advance to the next round," dagdag pa ng host.

"That's insane! What if Master Ripper shot Jeffrey's member instead of Jeffrey?" Lawrence grumbled.

Sa unang pagkakataon ay nagbigay ng opinyon si Martin, "From the beginning, the plan has been for each team to lose members before they even get to the final round. That's how this game will go on."

"Who will be our leader then? We have guns, so our opponent's leader can't shoot us. Do we have anyone here who is good with... guns?" Tanong ni Samuel.

Pinagmasdan ako ng aking mga kagrupo na akala mo'y alam nila ang pinagmulan ko. Hindi man sila magsalita ay batid kong nais nilang pamunuan ko sila. Kung tatanggapin ko iyon ay napakalaking gampanin ang aking dadalhin sapagkat buhay nila ang nakataya.

"September, we discovered an exit in the restroom where you can escape and leave right now. You don't have to do this," Rick worriedly suggested.

"Tama si Rick. Marami pang paraan para mapagtagumpayan ang iyong misyon, w-wag lang ito. Magtiwala ka sa amin, Clara," pagsusumamo naman ni Belle.

God knows how badly I want to flee for my own sake, but what about my teammates? They're here not only to pursue their dreams, but also because this tournament has forced them to fight for their lives. If I leave them, I don't think I'll be able to sleep soundly at night because guilt will surely haunt me.

"I'll be that," saad ko na nagpahagulgol kay Belle.

"B-be what?" my teammates inquired, smiling.

I huffed, "That leader thing. I'll do it."

I made my decision, and it is to fight with them.

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-Terrolicious