Once again, I couldn't get the red circle into the third slot. Sighing, I began pulling attributes out of the useless cells for the hundredth time.
Suddenly, I felt someone's intense gaze on me. Slowly turning, I met several cold, unwavering stares at once.
Two's friends were glaring at me with icy hatred. I tensed up, anxiety creeping in. They just stared. Silent. Malicious. Like tigers stalking their prey. It was terrifying. Utterly terrifying.
And then, the red circles I was clutching so desperately slipped from my fingers, scattering across the floor. I flinched, startled, and felt a wave of shame. Flustered, I quickly looked away, trembling as I scrambled to pick them up.
Suddenly, my cold, trembling fingers brushed against a firm, steady hand that caught the last circle before it rolled away.
I looked up.
He—the one whose name I still didn't know—was crouched beside me, casually twirling the training attribute between his fingers. His eyebrows were slightly raised, like a curious child with a brand-new, mysterious toy, and his eyes sparkled with some strange, incomprehensible hope.
— Want to try something a little harder?
I stayed silent, studying him nervously. He didn't rush me. Just waited.
Finally, I nodded slowly.
A few seconds later, we were sitting across from each other at a chess table. I had the black pieces. He had the white. He didn't speak at once, just smoothly moved the pieces from square to square. Fear, confusion, and something else I couldn't name churned inside me.
— Don't show your emotions while I'm talking, okay?
He paused.
— Just move a piece if you understand.
I froze. Then, slowly, pushed my pawn forward two squares.
— Number Two is in the infirmary now, recovering, — he lowered his voice. — They're watching him. But when they release him… he and the others will try to kill you. Right here. — He almost whispered. — In this room.
My stomach twisted. My heart began racing at light speed.
— And Dad, — he emphasized the word, — won't stop them. Because he wants it. He's been planning this for a long time.
Fear wrapped its icy arms around me. My breathing quickened. I dropped my gaze, eyes darting across the board.
— Stay calm, — he tilted his head, looking up at me from under his brows, eyebrows slightly raised. — Focus on the game.
I took a deep breath, frowned, and moved another pawn.
— There's a reason why Two and the others were able to leave their rooms yesterday. Why the cameras didn't work. Why Two was punished today. They don't realize that Dad is moving them…
He paused, thoughtful.
— Like chess pieces on this board. Making them do exactly what he wants. And what he wants is…
He glanced at the board and slowly replaced my black knight with a white bishop.
I looked at him.
— Why? — I whispered, horrified.
— You scare him. He knows you're stronger than the others. That you can't be controlled. And control—that's his goal.
His blue eyes glinted in the cold, rainbow-hued light of the room.
— I figured it all out. I wanted to help you… but I only made things worse.
— And because of that… — I hesitated. — Dad punished you?
A memory flashed before my eyes. A dark room. White tiles. The awful hiss of electric current. Barely suppressed screams of pain.
He nodded.
I exhaled quietly.
— That's why you need to run. Today.
The meaning of those words stunned me for a moment. I nervously swallowed.
— But they're watching us. Vigilantly.
He glanced quickly behind me. I turned. In the corner, a surveillance camera hung, its red light glowing ominously, crushing any hope of escape.
— If you want to get out of here alive, do exactly what I say. Clear?
I looked back at the chessboard. Picked up the white bishop and replaced it with a black pawn.
— Why are you helping me?
He fell silent. A faint smile played on his lips, and a new spark—something I'd never noticed before—flickered in his eyes.
— Because I believe in you, — he finally whispered.
I tried to smile back. Failed.
— It's time you got out of this hell.
He lifted one hand off the table. I watched him tensely. Keeping his eyes locked on mine, he leaned slightly to the left. I understood. I inhaled sharply and reached under the table. I flinched as I felt the warmth of his fingers—strangely comforting. And then, something smooth and plastic touched my palm. Carefully, I took the card from his hand. Oh God.
He smirked, determination blazing in his eyes. Slowly straightening up, he gave me a small nod. I nodded back.