Percy POV
I analyzed the silver key in my hand. It wasn't an ordinary key. It didn't look like it went into a normal lock. It was bulky on one side and slender on the other. The slender side had specific ridges and cracks to emphasize its key-like nature.
I was sitting on the toilet as I studied the key. I was being very careful about keeping the key hidden. As far as I knew, the bathroom stalls didn't have cameras. At least, I hoped they didn't.
Plus, I was hiding the key from the others.
Reyna warned me that I had to be careful. This key was very important for the next phase, and I didn't want to risk losing the key or fighting about it.
"Hey, Percy, hurry up in there. Technically, the bathroom is reserved for the girls in the morning," Piper exclaimed as she pounded the door.
"Can't a guy poop in peace," I shouted back.
"NO, not when it's not your turn. Hurry up because I need to shower," Piper shot back before chuckling.
I sighed. I slipped the key back into my pocket before stepping out. Piper was waiting near the sink as I washed my hands.
"How are you feeling?" Piper asked softly.
"Well, considering that I felt dead two days ago, I'm much better now. I will never take food for granted ever again," I said easily.
"Alright, Pipes, the bathroom is yours. Thanks for giving me a slip."
"You're welcome. Also, you're lucky that I was in here and not Drew. She would have made you hold it till noon," Piper commented with a smirk.
"Yeah, I owe you one," I acknowledged before stepping out of the bathroom. I closed the connecting door behind me so that Piper had some privacy. The room was mostly empty besides Nico, who was sitting criss-cross on his bed.
He looked to be meditating by himself. Nico was an interesting character. I didn't really understand him, but he knew how to survive.
I decided not to bother him and walked to the pool room instead. Hazel, Frank, Leo, and Will were swimming. Jason and Thalia were chilling in the beach chairs. Thalia was massaging her pregnant belly while closing her eyes.
I walked to the northeast section of the pool area and scanned the wall. The space between the two Olympics posters had nothing. I looked for a keyhole of some sort, but it was empty.
"Percy, what are you looking for?" Frank asked loudly.
"Nothing, I'm just reading the posters," I covered as I turned around. Frank was treading water in the deep end as he talked to me.
We talked for a few more minutes before I left. Rachel, Drew, and Annabeth were working out in the weight room. I had to admit that exercise was a great way to relieve stress. That was what they were doing.
I didn't know how I felt about Rachel and Annabeth together. There was a conflicted tension between them (and, I could kinda guess why).
I sighed as I passed the gym room. However, I paused near the open blue room. Considering that my key had to do with the blue room, I already checked in there. However, the blue room was completely empty. Literally, nothing was in the room.
The blue room was exactly what it sounded like. It was a small room where all the walls were illuminated by fluorescent blue lights.
Luke was standing in the room, a serious expression on his face.
"Um, Luke, what are you doing in here?" I asked curiously from the doorway. Luke turned towards me with a glare.
"Why are you speaking with me?" he asked sharply.
My hands balled up into fists. I didn't like Luke. To be honest, almost no one appreciated Luke's negative personality. I genuinely responded with, "Sorry, I was just concerned because you were standing in here alone."
"Well, don't be concerned about me. I can assure you that nothing will happen to me," Luke said confidently.
"How can you be so sure?" I asked angrily.
"Because I am. I only focus on my own survival. I'm not like you, Jackson, sacrificing my health from the others. If you know any better, you'd do the same."
"Our humanity is what separates us from Elysium," I expressed firmly.
"That sounds like something that a person who's going to die would say. Trust me, Elysium is superior to us all. You should follow my philosophy to get through this game."
His tone and body posture were so cocky. He genuinely believed that he was correct in his method of survival. I hated that he was complimenting this horrible organization. He seemed too confident. Almost like he knew something that the rest of us didn't.
"Are you hiding something, Luke?" I asked hesitantly.
"Kid, just focus on your own survival. Ignore the others. That's the best tactic to surviving my phase later on," Luke said firmly. Then, he pushed past me and walked away.
My phase.
Luke said my phase (like he owned one of the phases).
It could've been a mistake or it could mean something more. The fact that he was so confident in his strategy and seemed to know more was alarming. It was a weird slip-up. It made no sense that he would incorporate himself with an upcoming phase.
Unless... Luke was involved in a phase later on.
Luke managed to hide his association with Elysium pretty well. However, he slipped up just now, and I caught him. This would explain why Luke didn't seem to care about anyone. Even Nico, who was quieter, cared about everyone's survival. Not Luke though.
I looked around the blue room before leaving. I decided that I'd have to keep an eye on Luke as well. I realized that Luke was similar to Annabeth in terms of having secrets. They both knew more about Elysium.
However, while Annabeth was a good person, Luke wasn't. While Annabeth despised Elysium and wanted everyone to escape, Luke seemed to understand Elysium and didn't care for the rest of us.
Both of them were a part of Elysium but in different ways.
Ugh, my head was starting to hurt from all of the secrets. However, decoding these secrets would be the real key to surviving and escaping Elysium.
...
"Commence phase 5," a monotone voice said. The speaker system buzzed obnoxiously before silence took over.
Everyone was in the dorm room because it was around 10 p.m. We looked at each other warily as we got out of our beds. I could see the fear in some people's eyes as we waited anxiously.
"Do ya'll think that the phase is in here?" Piper asked.
"I don't think so. There's no indication that the phase is in here. Usually, something happens," Annabeth said logically.
I dug my hand in my pocket and felt the key that Reyna gave me. My fingers enclosed around it firmly as I waited for phase 5. It was in the blue room according to Reyna.
Suddenly, the dorm room swung open. The guards marched into the room with their guns drawn. We froze and instinctually put our hands up. The guards motioned for us to walk out into the hallway. Dozens of soldiers were lining the hallway leading to the open blue room.
We walked quietly towards the blue room.
I was standing behind Annabeth when we came to a pause outside. I stared at the blue room in anticipation. Jason started to go inside when the guard barked at him.
"STOP. No one is allowed inside yet," his deep voice boomed. I eyed the lead guard, who had his gun aimed at our heads. No guard was taking a risk. Their guns were ready to fire at any moment.
"What are we waiting for?" Jason asked firmly.
Then, I heard footsteps approaching from behind. We turned around to see Ares walking towards us with guards around him. However, my eyes focused on the female guard holding a briefcase. Reyna.
"Welcome to phase 5," Ares said firmly. "I have to admit that I'm disappointed no one failed during the last two phases."
"However, I'm sure this phase will be different. I'm confident that mother will be quite pleased by the results."
My hand tightened into a fist. The key was jutting into the skin of my palm. I hated this man so much. The group shifted uncomfortably.
Ares gestured towards Reyna, who came forth and opened the briefcase. Another guard held the briefcase, which had some metallic bands (about an inch in width).
Then, Reyna turned towards us. Her mask obscured her emotions, but I could see the regret and shame in her dark eyes. "All of you need to wear this band before entering the blue room where the next phase will be performed. Individually."
Everyone tensed as we looked at each other. The prospect of entering a phase alone was so daunting. We needed each other's help.
I watched Annabeth looking at Reyna. She had softer emotions in her eyes as she walked forward. Annabeth hesitantly held out her right hand. Reyna took a band and gently pressed it against Annabeth's wrist. After locking against Annabeth's skin, a red light flashed on the metal band.
Reyna quickly attached the metal cuff onto everyone's wrist. Some tried to resist, but the guards used their guns and forced everyone to comply.
Finally, it was my turn.
Reyna's eyes focused on mine as she applied the metal cuff on my wrist. Small needs were injected into my skin (similar to the last cuff that I had to wear). Her eyes didn't leave mine as a silent message passed from her to me. The key will help everyone survive.
I realized that I had to go into this phase first. Everyone after me would feel the positive effects of the key if I used it correctly.
"The subjects are ready for phase 5, sir," Reyna said firmly.
I watched the metal band on my wrist. A red light was flashing on the lateral side, revealing that the cuff was active.
"Very well. I'm excited," Ares's voice boomed. "The blue room is a simulation. Your performance is measured by your blood cortisol levels (which is an indication of stress and emotion). Higher levels lead to a greater electric stimulation."
"Surpass a certain cortisol threshold, and you will die," Ares barked before laughing.
I paled as I looked at everyone. We were all scared (besides Luke). No one wanted to die from an electric shock. We all turned towards the blue room in disbelief. I could only imagine what simulations we would be presented with.
Ares and several guards walked out of Sector 3. Only a dozen guards remained. Six guards with guns were blocking each side of the hallway. As such, the thirteen of us were stuck with nowhere to go.
We had to go into the blue room one at a time.
"Guys, I would like to go first," Drew said surprisingly. "I don't know that this is, but I want to get it over with."
"No, Drew, I should go first," I said firmly. Annabeth touched my arm gently as she shook her head at me. However, I had to do this.
"Wait, I don't want either of you to go first. It's not fair," Rachel expressed. She had tears in her eyes, and Drew was already crying quietly.
"I can't handle this," Drew exclaimed. "Please let me get it over with. I cannot sit here in anticipation because it will make my emotions and stress worse."
"Drew, I want to go first," I said loudly.
Honestly, no one else was even volunteering. No one wanted to participate in this phase. No one wanted to go into the blue room alone and possibly not come out alive.
Drew shook her head as she walked to the blue room.
"No, wait," I expressed as I caught her arm. "Drew, I need to go first. I can check it out and let ya'll know what's happening."
Drew whipped away from me.
"You've done enough for me, Percy. I'm going in, so don't stop me."
Surprisingly, Drew pushed me. It wasn't a hard push, but it gave her enough time to race into the blue room. The door slammed shut before I could stop it.
"Dam it, Drew," I shouted as I pounded the door.
"Percy, it's all right. Drew wanted to go first. She was already getting worked up, so she should go now when her cortisol is closer to baseline. Her stress and emotion would've only increased with time," Will explained.
My fist tightened. The key was in my hand, pressing into my skin. I felt like I failed. I was supposed to go into the blue room first and do something to help everyone. However, I couldn't fight hard enough. Drew went into the room instead.
"Yeah, Percy, we all have to go in at some point. Drew wanted to get it over with, so just let her. It's all right," Jason said as he patted my shoulder.
We realized quickly that nothing was all right.
The wait was excruciating. I couldn't stop feeling as though I let everyone down. I hoped that Drew was okay, but a sinking feeling entered my gut. I usually relied on my gut, and right now, it was screaming that something bad was happening.
Everyone took a seat on the floor as we waited for Drew.
In a matter of minutes, the door swung open. Blue light flooded out of the doorway as everyone stood up. Rachel was closest to the blue room.
Rachel screamed and staggered back. The tears easily flowed down her face as Thalia caught her in her arms. "Shhh, it's okay, Rachel," Thalia repeated.
However, it was not okay.
A guard came forward from his guarding position and walked into the blue room. He dragged Drew's pale body into the hallway before returning to his position.
Everyone watched Drew with sad eyes. Her lifeless body was lying near the wall next to the blue room's door. She hadn't even done anything wrong, yet Drew Tanaka was dead.
Will went forward and crouched next to her body. He felt her pulse before confirming that she was dead. Will reached forward and respectfully closed her open eyes.
"Rest in peace, Drew."
Rachel cried into Thalia's shoulder. A few others were also crying. This could've easily been any of us. I simply stared at her lifeless body in shock.
Guilt weighed heavily on my chest. Pain quenched my throat. This was my fault. I should've gone in there first. I should've helped her like Reyna wanted me to. I should've-
I frowned. This was all my fault.
...