Kriz storms through the door as her tears stream down her face. Aeron's screams hammer her conscience so severely that she wishes for all sound to disappear. The fact that she has just taken away two lives makes her feel as though a fast-growing vine were squeezing her heart and lungs. She keeps on running through a narrow trail until Aeron's agony is silenced by her distance. She then slumps to the grassy ground and wails as her body quivers in the morning breeze. Like a nightmare, memories of her ailing ten-year-old brother quickly dominate her mind, aggravating her distress....

"Will I die?"

"Hey, just... rest, okay? You'll get well soon."

"The doctor... told you that?"

"Yes. He told me."

"I feel... weak. My bones hurt-"

"Just relax, okay?"

"I think... I will... d-"

"Hey! Dino, stop. Stop! I will never let bad things happen to you. Of course, you will live a long life with me."

"I'll be with Mama and Papa... in heaven...."

"No, no, no. Not yet. You will NOT leave me. I know you're a strong boy. The doctor said you would be okay. And you'll get well soon...." Through a haze of tears, Kriz stares at his pale brother, furious about the world's unfairness and brutality. She knows that leukemia is formidable, and that she could lose her remaining reason to live any time soon. But still, her hope and faith remain firm. "If you die... I will also die. You want that to happen?"

"No."

"So don't give up, okay? And remember that I love you so much...."


Kriz wipes her tears with the back of her hand and tries to calm down. She whispers the words that give her strength more than anything else: Rule number 7: The survivors will enjoy their special abilities when they come back home.

"Dino.... Just wait a little longer. This will be over soon. I promise...."


12:00 midnight, about 6 hours earlier

Ryan steps back, stumbles, and falls onto the ground when a lady in white shirt and black pants suddenly appears in front of him. He frantically encloses himself in a glass cube and stands to face the intruder, but sees nothing.

"I'm here."

Ryan turns around and faces a grinning, gorgeous lady. "W-who are you?"

"Don't be scared. I'm not going to hurt you. I'm here to negotiate."

"How did you-?"

"Enter your fortress? Don't worry about that. I have much more important things to say. By the way, I'm Eunice. Nice to meet you."

"I don't understand."

"It's okay. Just listen to me while the rest are sleeping."

Ryan looks at the other players.

"I made them sleep."

"Why? Why is this happening?"

Eunice flips her long black hair and forces a smile. "This is my job."

Ryan throws a confused look. "Job?"

"Yes." Eunice exhales audibly and stares at Ryan for several seconds. "To negotiate to one player who happens to be near this wall at midnight. Weird, you may say."

"Are you one of the players? I-I don't get it."

"Me? Of course not. You will know who I am if you survive. Victor will tell you everything."

"Victor? The game master?"

"Yes. And just like him, I want freedom. I am so bored in this place, so please win this game... along with other two, of course."

"Yes, but what do you want?"

"My job is to give you options." Eunice gets a piece of paper from her pocket. "Here. Take this and read it carefully."

Ryan takes the paper. "What is this?"

"Four options. I'm not responsible for what's written there. Think hard and choose one. Go near a lamp. It's a bit dark here."

Ryan undoes his power and positions himself near one of the lamps scattered on the ground. He scans the other players and realizes that Eunice indeed made them sleep. He then fixes his eyes on the paper....

1: Gain 5 hours. One...