Outside, night. The wind seemed to be testing the windows' endurance. Rain began, heavy, with noise, as if the sky had decided to pour everything at once. In weather like this, even someone who usually doesn't mind heading out into a storm wouldn't venture outside.
All the participants sat in the living room. Waiting for the last player. The person without whom none of this could begin. Or, perhaps, shouldn't have.
A clock hung on the ceiling. Black, gleaming. Showing time. Six o'clock, which seemed strange — according to the ferryman, time didn't exist here. Another irony? Or a clue?
One room, two sofas. Between them, a round table. Everything positioned with perfect symmetry, as if someone had calculated it all in advance. Down to the centimeter, down to the game.
On one sofa sat Yahweh and Hov. On the other, the girl. Silent, uncomfortably silent. Enua stood by the window, leaning against the wall. Watching the street, where rain blurred the outlines of trees.
"How long is this going to go on?" Enua finally broke the silence. "Maybe I'm wrong, but we've been here for about two hours."
He spoke calmly, but his voice betrayed fatigue. Or irritation. Or boredom. Or all at once.
"We weren't briefed. Aside from what the servants said. Until everyone gathers, we're not going anywhere," Yahweh answered.
"True enough." Enua nodded. "But just standing here isn't an option. It's a decent excuse... to dig into the past. Ah-ha-hah..."
An awkward laugh. Or nervous. Hard to say. Too much in common between those two types.
Yahweh glanced at him. That same Enua he'd once fought. Many years ago, when everything was simpler. Or seemed simpler.
"It's not the game itself that surprises me." Enua spoke again. "What surprises me is that we're participating in it. Who set this all up? Why resurrect us specifically?"
Silence. The question hung in the air like an unsent letter.
"We need to talk to the servants," Hov said. "They've been here from the start. They must know something."
"I'll go with you," Yahweh added. "Splitting up now is a bad idea. There are only four of us, we don't know the girl. Enua... also not grounds for trust."
"Right. They said they work from five to nine. The clock says six. So they haven't left yet."
"Though outside it looks like night. But with this weather, you can't tell. Last time I saw them heading toward the kitchen."
The walk to the kitchen took about five minutes. The house was built not by the logic of convenience, but by the logic of... testing patience.
In the kitchen, quiet conversation. Morgana and Cheryl. Cheryl was washing dishes. Morgana noticed them first.
knock knock*
"Are we interrupting?"
"Mr. Yahweh, Mr. Hov," Morgana bowed slightly. "Is everything alright?"
"We want to ask a few questions," Hov said. "About everything that's happening."
"Of course. We're listening," Morgana nodded.
"What is this game? Why us? Who resurrected us?"
"Forgive us..." Morgana looked away. "We're forbidden to speak. It's the Mistress's order."
"Don't worry," Cheryl interjected. "She'll appear soon herself. Not much longer, very soon."
And at that moment, the air in the room changed. Sharply. Imperceptibly, yet palpably, as if someone had entered, though no one had.
They turned around. No one, but the sensation was there. Strong, real.
"Did you feel that?" Hov.
"Yes... You too? Hey! Did you feel that too?! Someone was behind us!"
"It doesn't matter," Cheryl said, his expression unchanging. "Soon you'll know everything yourselves. Don't ask unnecessary questions, it's not our role."
"Perhaps... we should rest. We haven't slept since arriving."
"Yes, we'll return later. By the way, what's your name? The others already introduced themselves."
"I'm Gerudo. Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Hov."
sharp snap*
Hov's hand shot up and closed around Gerudo's throat.
"Mr. Hov! Stop!" Morgana screamed.
Cheryl didn't move a millimeter.
"What are you doing?!" Yahweh placed his hand on Hov's shoulder.
"You think I'm doing this for nothing?" Hov didn't let go. "Think about who greeted us? Morgana and Cheryl. Where was Gerudo at that time?"
"Cooking?"
"Possibly. But how do you explain what we felt behind us? If someone had been standing there, Morgana would have seen them. So... we're being fooled, something was in the food. Or the drinks."
"You think he slipped poison in?"
"How else do you explain it?"
Hov didn't let go.
"Very well... please, let go..." Gerudo rasped.
Hov removed his hand. Red marks remained on the neck.
"I didn't slip anything in, I'm only ordered to bring food. I'm just a chef."
"That doesn't rule out you being more than just a chef," Hov said calmly.
"I'm a witness," Cheryl said. "I was with him from the start, he didn't add anything. If you don't believe him, then you don't believe us either."
"I think that's enough," Yahweh nodded.
"You've gotten too soft, Yahweh." Hov smirked. "Fine. I'll admit it, but then how do you explain... this?"
"Magic?"
"But upon arrival we all lost our powers. That's one of the rules, the island strips abilities."
"Allow me," Gerudo said calmly. "That presence... it was her."
Silence.
"The Mistress. She truly exists. Her body awakens with the start of the Game. Her soul is chained, she cannot leave the island."
"Then what's her goal? Why us?"
"I don't know. They didn't tell me that."
"Expected," Hov said.
"Have you worked here long?" Yahweh asked.
"Yes. Since the First master's time, after his death everything passed to her. That's when Morgana and Cheryl appeared."
"Time to head back."
"Sorry for being harsh," Hov said. "I overdid it."
"It's fine. Everyone here is a bit on edge."
They returned to the living room.
Enua sat with the girl. She was silent, as before.
"We're back. Were you talking about something?" Yahweh asked.
"Just getting acquainted. Nothing important."
"So you know her? Then introduce her. She hasn't said a word this whole time."
"Her name is Tiamut. Just an acquaintance."
"I see. We were told the last participant is close."
"So it'll start soon."
They waited. Four of them. In a room where the ticking of the clock seemed to intensify.
The rain outside grew stronger. Thunder louder.
And then... the doors opened.
Footsteps. One. Two.
Everyone raised their heads.
And... froze.
Instead of one participant, two entered.