Chapter 2
Narrator P.O.V
Wraith is currently running for her life through a vaguely familiar facility, although she cannot pinpoint anything in particular. She hears people shouting at her to stop, and gunfire erupts all around her; the next second, she's being restrained and forcibly held down.
"Please you don't have to do this, just let me go, I don't even remember who I am you can just let me go, please just let go," she pleads.
A doctor approaches and forcibly injects her with something.
"this'll put you right to sleep."
Wraith P.O.V
I wake up screaming and drenched in sweat; I sit there for a couple of seconds trying to catch my breath, I realize how lucky I am for installing those panels. I installed some of the best sound-absorbing panels available in my room, so I know no one outside heard. I lazily looked over at the clock - 5:42 - well guess I'll take whatever sleep I can get With only 4 hours of sleep, I'm at least grateful I got more than I usually do. Since it's still early in the morning, I vainly decide to tidy up my room but with little success. I end up just lying on the bed until breakfast; Wattson makes some delicious waffles. Fiddling with my hair and swinging my legs off the bed, I'm interrupted when there's a knock at the dorm's door. I'm immediately worried that my voices didn't warn me, instinctively I go to grab my gun but realize I'm not in the arena. Cursing at myself, I cautiously leave the room and make my way next door to Gibraltar's. But instead of Gibraltar inside, I notice the door wide open and nothing left inside, wondering where and why he had suddenly disappeared to. I put the thought aside as I made my way across the kitchen to where Watson's room was. While crossing, I noticed a folded piece of paper but decide to first to wake Wattson up and so I knock on her door and out comes a lethargic Wattson, morning are not her strong suit.
"... Someone is at the door.. and Gibraltar is gone, and his room is completely empty," I sayworriedly.
"Who is up this early, I'm surprised you heard the knocking you usually wake up after me," says Wattson questioningly.
"Yea.. well either way what are we gonna do?"
"We obviously have to see who it is."
I deadpan, as I just realized I've woken her up over nothing; it's probably just Gibraltar or a staff member.
-dumbass
-now you're bothering Wattson
-you really are gonna lose her
-can't believe you're this dumb
Realizing my mistake, I begin to apologize profoundly, to which Wattson simply responds, "Je désolé, but oh well, I'm awake now, let's go see who's at the door."
We walk towards the door, but with each step, my anxiety increases, and my brain goes into overdrive just thinking about all the adverse outcomes that could happen from opening the door. Just as I'm about to voice my concerns to Wattson, she's already got the handle in hand and swings the door wide open.
Standing on the other side is a tall and slender-looking Korean man, with facial plates around his jaw up to his ears and a messy hairstyle for his dark brown hair. I take a sharp breath as he is very handsome. His dark brown eyes pierced us both, and I turned to notice Watson's face was flushed red.
"Hm… shorter than the file said," the man says in a deep, calming voice while stepping inside.
Despite his voice sounding like music to my ears, we both hesitantly looked at each other and took a step back. The stranger actually chuckled. However, there was no genuine feeling in it, nor any mirth behind his eyes.
"I'm Crypto the newest legend, no need for introductions. I already know who you both are Natalie and Renne, where's my room?"
Now my whole body starts to shake as I'm rightfully terrified, and every part of my being tells me to get away. A stranger knows my name, none of the staff address or even know our real names, just the ones we use in the arena. I start to back away further before realizing I need to grab Wattson as well; however, while attempting to, I trip over the carpet and land directly on the floor. At least I would've if the stranger hadn't caught me, somehow princess style, and instead of me being even more uncomfortable and scared. I felt calm in his arms; all my doubts and worries seemed to wash away; I took a deep breath and got a hint of what seemed like the ocean and … lavender? But as quickly as he caught me, he put me right back down.
"I didn't expect you to be this paranoid, you're worse than I expected, I hope you aren't this clumsy in the ring," Crypto said with a small smile which made my heart skip a beat.
Then I notice a green and white coloured drone flying above and behind crypto, examining me intently to determine whether I was a friend or foe. Wattson excitedly clapped her hands together, as she's always looking forward to having more friends.
"Wait what about Gibraltar?" Wattson asked.
-hey dummy, the letter
-come on, wake up, stop drooling over him
-look at the letter
"I saw a letter on the kitchen table, it must be from Gibraltar." I reply.
Wattson and I walk over, and she picks up the paper and begins to read it out loud. I take a look at our newest team member and am once again stunned. I can't believe how he's making me feel, I've seen some handsome people before, but none have made me feel this way, especially with how calm I felt for those precious few seconds. I began to observe Crypto as he remained in front of the door. I noticed he was fiddling with some Rubix cube-looking device as his drone flies around the dorm, seeming to scan the entire layout. Within seconds it arrived back at his side. It displayed a complete layout of the dormitory minus the insides of the bedrooms.
"-ys so I hope you won't hold any grudges against me but I had the chance to move into Lifeline's squad and I took, catch y'a in the arena."
Luckily I turned back into reality for that part but hearing it made me feel somewhat sad. Although his constant pity, I had always liked Gibraltar; it kept him and me emotionally distant. I hated when people showed me pity; it always felt more spectator-like as opposed to compassion; it felt more like a hollow set of words. Despite this, I know having a brand new member join our team brings about its own set of problems, and I hope he won't give up on us as soon as he sees how bad I am. Eventually, he'll know how odd I am and see my shortcomings in the field, just like everyone else.
-he'll abandon you just like Gibraltar did
-who would want to be your partner
-your the worst legend in the games anyways
-he's way out of your league
-you'd be lucky if he even talks to you, dummy
Crypto P.O.V
I'm a little surprised at how jumpy Renee is. I was expecting her to be suspicious of me from reading about her background, but not to the point of almost tripping over herself. Natalie is just as I expected, almost like a little kid. I can read her like an open book.
"Well shall I show you around?" asked Wattson, "it might not look that big but we've got three floors all to ourselves."
I'm guessing they didn't notice Hack flying around, he's already scanned the entire dormitory, but I doubt they even noticed Hack. I'll humour them.
"다 좋아(alright), lead on," I say.
Wattson smiles brightly and motions me to follow her; as I do, I look over and see Wraith staring off into space. I approach her and shake her slightly to get her attention; her milky white eyes stare into mine, and I ask her if she's going to come along? She gives me a confused look as if wondering why I would want her to come.
"Well I'd like to know both of you better and I thought this was the perfect time," I say with a caring smile.
She blushes slightly and only gives me a slight nod with a small smile and trails behind Wattson and me, occasionally adding little quips to Wattson's detailed and lengthy explanation. As I've 'learned' from them, each trio squad stays together for the most part unless they wish to transfer. Wraith and Wattson have been together for a while, but their third team member has constantly been switching, much to their despair. It's been a while since they've won a game. I give a slight frown at this as I can't see why; Wattson specializes in defense. Wraith is excellent for repositioning, retreating, or rushing with her abilities. However, I haven't actually seen them for myself. My only guess is they don't have proper leadership. A little while in, Wraith's stomach growls, much to her embarrassment, and I've realized I must've interrupted them before they had breakfast. I implore them to go ahead and eat, and we could continue our discussion in the kitchen. While Wattson made waffles, Wraith, for once, seems to genuinely be attentive as the hot plate gets put down in front of her, and she starts to dig in immediately. Wattson continues talking to me while cooking; they have a pool, sauna, gym, mini in-home theatre, 3 bedrooms with attached bathroom and workspaces for each, a dining room and kitchen. However, Wraith informs me that most of our time will be taken up preparing for the games, which happens once a week.
Wraith P.O.V
"So that's all we got here, I would go with you to show you around outside the apartment, but I have to meet up with Lifeline. Although we could go after I'm done and grab dinner as well," Wattson says as she links her arm through Crypto's.
I twitch slightly at this, and I'm about to protest, but Crypto interjects and unloops their arms before I had the chance.
"That's a wonderful offer but I'd rather get this over sooner rather than later so I can set up my room."
He looks at me, and I get lost in those dark chocolate eyes, so I almost didn't hear him when he said, "Wraith do you think you could show me around?"
I'm completely stunned that he would even want me to show him around.
"Are… you sure? I ask, he responds simply by laughing lyrically, and I swore I saw his eyes shine for just a second with genuine happiness, which made me blush a deep shade of red.
"I apologize I didn't mean it in a bad way, but of course I'd love to have you escort me around." he says with a kind smile, and the mirth from his eyes slowly fading.
I can only numbly shake my head in approval and manage to stutter out, "wh.. what time would yo.. you like to g.. go?
"If we can, can we go now?"
"Alright then let's get going."
That damned smile, and his eyes, I've heard that they're windows to the soul. Still, I've never seen such beautiful eyes before, not that it matters; he's gonna see how everyone else is around me, he'll realize what a mistake he made. Then he'll forget all about me just like all the other legends.