Sincere's Game: Chapter 5

Arthur

The 10 most exceptional students in the country face off against each other in a battle of wits. Atratus, the gamemaster, is pleased by how the game is progressing.

The smartest in the room, has made his move...

"As you can see, this is an agreement form. Currently, it is just a piece of paper, but if everyone signs this, then it would hold the power needed to help everyone here."

Why an agreement form? Gabriella thought.

Number #6, the current leader of the group, looked surprised. "What do you mean by an agreement, how will this benefit the group?"

"Well, how are we supposed to know if we are working together or not? How can we be able to trust each other if one person plans on lying?"

"Can't those people just pretend to agree?" Christopher (#6) questioned.

"Yes, though it is important for everyone to agree, that way we will reach a team unity."

Everyone looked at Christopher (#6) and intuitively asked him to check what the contents of the contract read.

Christopher (#6) got up to look at its contents. It read: AGREEMENT FORM TO SPLIT WINNINGS: SIGN HERE. At the bottom it wrote: EVERYONE WHO SIGNED HERE HAS A LIABILITY TO COOPERATE AND HELP PLAYERS WIN, THE GOAL IS FOR THE WINNERS TO BE ALL STUDENTS WHO SIGN HERE. PLAYERS MUST SIGN HERE WITH SIGNATURE AND STATEMENT SAYING THAT THEY AGREE TO COOPERATE.

Gabriella was first a little confused: What if I sign this contract? Won't the scholarship prize money decrease? I really need the money. But if everyone chooses to do so, then I will have no choice to cooperate with them. I want to be the only winner. I don't care.

We all hesitated for a minute before following through. But as expected, one after one, the players started getting up to head towards the petition. There was even a line formed in order for the students to take their turns.

Gabriella was furious, she wanted to win the $10,000 but having the prize deducted by half of it's value is not preferrable to Gabriella's standards. Guess I have no choice, she concluded. Gabriella stood up and walked over to the form, when...

"Hold on."

Gabriella felt a strong grip on her wrist, and as she was moving, her body jolted itself back by the force of the grip. Her arm felt a slightly sharp pain.

"Hey, what the fu-"

"I just saved your life." Number #10 stated in a loud monotonous tone.

Who does this guy think he is? Was he intentionally trying to hurt me?

"What do you mean save my life?! What's your problem!?"

"It's a trap." He whispered to Gabriella as he stared her down.

"What?!" shouted Gabriella.

"Shhh! Be quiet!"

Gabriella breaks free from his hand and looks up at player #10. "How is it a trap?!" She whispered in distress.

Sincere, or player #10, intently stares and locks eyes with Gabriella. "Trust me." 

Sincere went up to number #8, and states, "We will not be signing. Excuse us."

Player number #8, Arthur, responded with a smile. "How do we know you're not just greedy about the money? You could have switched names with someone after all." After finishing his accusation, Arthur had his bottom lip show and looked to the side, acting as if he was a babysitter, taking care of his playful and innocent children. 

"Give us... more time to decide then..." Sincere proclaims.

"Of course, take your time." Arthur (#8) scoffs.

Sincere (#10) grabs a hold on Gabriella. They gather closely towards the south side of the room. 

"What are you doing!" Gabriella's voice could be heard from the whole room.

"Shhh!" Sincere had to calm her down.

"What!"

"Just calm down for a second, please."

Gabriella calmed down only a little. "Okay, I'm calm.  What?" replied Gabriella in a demeaning manner.

"If people could be lying, how do you think we can figure out their real names?"

"Uhhh, I don't know."

"Just think."

"They can't. It's only us to determine if we say our real names or not."

"Are you sure?" 

"What are you trying to get at?"

"Keep thinking about it."

After calming down a bit, Gabriella brainstorms.

"Our phones?"

"No, phones aren't allowed dummy. "

"Oh yeah."

"The laptop at the front of the room?"

"No, that's only accessible if you're an admin. Also, the gamemaster keeps watch at all times."

"I have a diary in my backpack that-             Ohhhh, I get it now."

"Correct."

"So, the backpacks are important?"

"Correct."

"But still how is this a trap? Our signatures don't mean anything."

"It doesn't matter if he has your signature." 

"I know, that's what I mean." 

Sincere (#10) took a deep breath and exhaled.

"He has your handwriting."

"So what?"

Is this guy nuts? Why is he dragging only me into this? Does he think he's smart or something?

"You got this."

You got this? Does he think I'm stupid now? Gabriella's angry.

"I got no idea what you're talking about." Gabriella made a contorted face as she looked at this guy. As if she was disgusted.

"What is the one thing every college student has?"

"A notebook?"

"Yup."

Ohhh, I see now. Number 8 can just look at someone's notebook and see if the handwriting matches.

Sincere takes out a pencil and a piece of paper and begins to draw.

"Look here."

Gabriella replied, "Well of course. I know how handwriting works..."

"Just look here for a second." Sincere points at the page. 

"Let's take a random word that you could potentially study: Algae and bacteria."

"Sometimes, handwriting can look pretty similar, but you have to look at the letters and how they write them. For example, in this drawing I made, look down at the bottom of the page, you will see two similar forms of handwriting. The lowercase Ls don't match, one L is straight and upright, while the other is leaning to the right a little bit. As well as lowercase A and lowercase E. The A and E on the first word is much bigger compared to the As and Es in the second word."

"Other famous letters are lowercase Y and uppercase I. It can be complicated, I know, but that's exactly how number #8 is going to process it."

"Once people feel inclined to share what they have from their backpacks, they will most likely share their notebooks. And if they do, he will have a weapon to use against those that tried to switch names with someone else."

Gabriella, confused with the person she thought was interesting, was not who she thought he was. 

"I can explain it later. Trust me." Sincere reaffirmed her.

All players have signed the agreement form, with the exception of two: Gabriella and Sincere (#10)

"Great! Thanks everyone for signing. I believe we can trust each other a little more now."

The group looked at each other, a little confused, and they looked at Gabriella and Sincere, the only two who haven't signed. Gabriella felt the embarrassment, she was embarrassed many worse times before, but this time, it felt much worse. The group kept silent.

Number #8 already thought of searching through our backpacks and set a trap for those who already switched names. He's already ten steps ahead of everyone else!

Who is this man?