Chapter 23: Drop of Hell

"Come on! Keep moving!" Shikikan's mind prompted, his legs scampering down the hallway; heels echoing as they heavily thudded against the ground.

Shikikan had no time to think, his focus fixated on getting out of sight and hearing of his combatants. There were several classroom doors available to him as he threw himself at each pathway pulling each one with desperation, each sliding door immovable to his dismay. They were getting closer, their footsteps clacking against the floor surrounding him. There was nowhere left to run for Shikikan, his only saving grace being whatever tools he had managed to grab before he had to run. The end is nigh.

"Would you like me to refill your drink, sir?" A lanky flight attendant dressed in blue questioned Shikikan.

"No thanks," Shikikan dismissed.

"Alright, if you need anything. Feel free to ask." The attendant left promptly after.

"So, Corrian… Care to explain?" Shikikna laid back in his seat, resting his hands on his lap, elbows pointed outwards.

"Yes, yes," Corrian responded, drinking from her champagne glass only to put it down when there was no more. "This show will take its course as soon as we arrive at the filming site."

Shikikan grew impatient with her delay in details. "Okay and what exactly is the show about?"

Corrian scooted herself back, shifting her body to a more comfortable position for a bit before settling in, crossing her legs. "This is a show of survival, which is a vague way of putting this."

"Why can't you tell me what it is?" Shikikan argued. "I'm having second thoughts about even showing up."

"Fine," Corrian gave in. "I'll tell you because I want you to win. This game will be free for all within a structure."

"Wait a minute! Are you signing me up for a battle royale? Is that what the signing of the papers was for?" Shikikan panicked, jumping out of his seat. "Screw this! I'm not playing."

"Hold on, Shikikan. You haven't heard the rest of it," Corrian attempted to calm the stressed-out commander. "I wouldn't do anything that would put your life in danger. So please hear me out."

He wasn't thoroughly convinced with her but he decided to stay for some odd reason, maybe it was the sincerity of her words. He sat back in his seat, thinking it was in his best interest to listen.

"Please understand that nobody will get harmed in the making of this show. I'll save you some time for what is ahead of you. You will be given a camera and a wrist-mounted touch screen upon our arrival. The camera is self-explanatory, the touch screen is a tool that you will be required to wear at all times."

"Okay and this touch screen does what?"

"I'll get to that later. Your objective is to not be captured by hunters. At the start, you will be given one thousand points. These points can be spent on any items from vending machines to boost your survival. If you fail to avoid these hunters, you lose."

"These… hunters. How many are there?"

"That I can't say, but I will say that more can be added if you aren't careful."

"Is there anything else I should know?"

"Performance and points will be your bonus. Points can be found within the structure and will be guaranteed to be given to you percentage-wise every hour."

"Wait every hour? How long am I going to be put in there?"

"Three hours at most if you can last that long. Your wrist-mounted device is your only way of gaining any points found throughout the building and the only way to use your points."

"Okay… points, hunters, and three hours got it," Shikikan nodded. "Anything else?"

"Not that I remember anything else, I think that is all the information I have right now. It will be a while before we arrive. Filming might take a long time so resting now is advised."

"Alright… wake me when we arrive."

At the filming site, film crews are fixated on fixing their filming equipment for the big show. The building was nothing short of curious, having a strong resemblance to a school with its glaring orange tint reflecting off the many windows and its flat rooftop. Shikikan was rather fond of the building having a small nostalgia wave that only turned sour as he got more encapsulated in it.

As the two of them approached the building, a woman greeted them. She was wearing black-rimmed rectangular glasses, a white striped black bonnet, and a solid black t-shirt with blue jeans. "Welcome back, Doctor. Is this our star for our amazing show?"

"Indeed"

"Great!" The woman extended her arm out, and Shikikan took her hand and shook it. "My name is Amber, I'm assuming she told you about me?"

"She only told me that you were a director."

Amber scoffed, turning to Corrian with a friendly glare and bright smile. "Didn't I tell you to introduce me?"

"Sorry, you should do the introductions, Amber," Corrian argued. "You spend five years in drama. You would make a bigger bomb of an introduction than I would."

"B-But… but…" Amber stuttered, her face growing exponentially hot.

"You okay?" Shikikan questioned.

"Yeah… I just," Amber turned away from them, taking a second to recuperate.

"She is a massive fan of yours," Corrian said.

"Catriona!" Amber's face grew red hot, beads of sweat visible on her forehead. "I thought I told you about this!"

Corrian left off a jovial laugh at her reaction. "Sorry. It's only good fun. Plus, you have given him a cute reaction for a first impression."

"EH?!" Amber wanted to scream, her eyes swiftly alternating between Shikikan and Corrian, her anxiety proved to be too much, smothering her face within her hands.

"Are you okay?" Shikikan questioned.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Amber mumbled, pulling her face up from her palms. "Sorry about that. Catriona is just always like this whenever we meet."

"It's fine, Amber," Shikikan lightly scoffed. "You are definitely one of the most polite fans I have met."

"Really?! I mean–" She coughed. "Yeah, it's just my good nature."

"I see… "

"Uh-huh," Amber nodded, guiding them toward the school. "As you can see we have a strict budget, so this old school will have to do for filming. Now then, Shikikan. I need you to put on the gear provided for you. It shouldn't take more than fifteen minutes to outfit you. If you can just go directly right here, your necessary gear will be there. Filming will start in an hour."

Amber promptly left, greeting a small group fixed on their outdoor computer setup. Corrian bid Shikikan good luck, leaving him. Stepping into the instructed area provided by Amber, a man waited patiently for Shikikan near a table, on that table lay what he presumed is the necessary equipment for the show. The man helped him with equipping the parts necessary, strapping on a small front camera to his chest while Shikikan slid on a glove with a small touch screen no bigger than a smartphone attached to it on his left forearm. Shikikan asked the man if there was any other necessary attire for the show fully expecting some sort of tuxedo or decent suit. To his surprise, the man shook his head saying that there isn't a required attire.

Moving away from the area, he was then escorted out by a different worker. Shikikan had so many questions to ask about this atypical show, only for everyone he asks on the way to either disregard them or smile at him and say that he shouldn't worry and instead believe that he is lucky to play. This only made his suspicions grow more as he continued to ask, but he too disregarded the lack of information when one of them mentioned the money they were going to make off of this, his greed blinding him of such reasons.

As time flew by, the air started to go colder, the sun but a hazy glow adjacent to the school as its slowly fading glint dissipated off the school's tinted windows. Everyone was flying from place to place as they got ready for action. Shikikan was then pulled by a small group, advancing towards the side of the school where an elevator was present. One of the workers called it in advance, revealing a lit-up metal interior elevator room. The crew asked him to step in, and Shikikan went in without any questions.

"Good luck!" A worker cried.

Shikikan smiled at the worker's wish for success, saluting all of them as the doors clamped shut now all on his own. It didn't take long for the doors to reopen, revealing a dark, empty hallway only slightly illuminated by the elevator lights and the moon's rays that seeped through the few hall windows. The hallways contained sliding or hinged doors parallel to each other. Stepping out, the elevator doors closed on him, robbing him of his vision beyond the illuminating windows.

"This already sucks," he thought. "I hope the hunters don't have night vision."

Before Shikikan could step any further, his wrist device came to life with a bright white glow. Bring his arm up, the screen displayed a series of prompts, "Vending Systems Online, Points Added, and Hunters Released."

"Alright…" Shikikan murmured. "Let's see what this foolish game is about."

"Is this your idea of a birthday present," Bismarck questioned Corrian, the two of them sat down adjacent to each other in velvet chairs in a small home theater with a rectangular mahogany coffee table that supplied them with snacks.

"It wasn't my intention, but what better way to celebrate early than a show where you can alter outcomes?"

"I don't understand."

"You see, you aren't the only one watching this show live. Many of the donors right now are enjoying the show and placing votes on events to happen during all of this. Since you are one of our special guests, you get something special that you will have to wait towards the end which we will have to find out. Speaking of which, that other special guest should be arriving soon," Corrian's face curved into an unnerving smile as she turned her attention towards the screen, watching as Shikikan wandered about aimlessly, not having the slightest plan in mind.

"Where to go…" Shikikan observed his dark surroundings, making sure that his guard is up, and kept a watchful eye at his rear in case of an ambush.

Walking further down, he spotted a slight glow at the corner end of the hall. Curious about what it can be, he approached the light with caution, slowly making his way to it. Upon reaching the corner, he sprung himself forward with his fisticuffs at the ready but calmed down slightly to see that what was creating the light was not what he had expected.

"The hell?" He relaxed his arms upon seeing the vending machines that Corrian mentioned. "So she wasn't lying."

Looking carefully at the curious machine, the first thing he noticed is that there was a whole assortment of items he could spend his given points on; smoke grenades, lock picks, and tripwires were to name a few. The more he studied them carefully, the more he realized the differences between items and their prices.

"So the more technical they are the more they cost…" Shikikan stared at the night vision goggles which cost him a steep eight hundred points to purchase. "Would be stupid of me to spend so much at the start."

His eyes darted around at the different selections, analyzing the best investment for his points to be spent on. His eyes settled on a small, cheap flashlight that cost him only twenty points. Entering the selected code for it, the machine dropped the flashlight, quickly picking up the small light from the dropbox and equipping it. Before he proceeded any further, his eyes were caught by a deal he couldn't pass up.

"Huh… That's odd," Shikikan proceeded to stare at the various price of bodyguards. "The cheapest they can provide is five points? This guard must be pretty weak. No matter. I can find a use for them."

Without hesitations, he input for the cheap bodyguard, thinking he is guile to benefit from this investment. As a result of his request, his wrist device set off a buzz. Bringing the device to his face, the words. "Your guard will be arriving in five minutes."

"Hmm… perhaps this game won't be as bad if I have people at my side," Shikikan thought, his expression softened at the thought of finding solace in someone who can watch his back.

Shikikan continued with his browsing, carefully observing each item and its price tag. Shikikan distracted himself from what he was supposed to be achieving, having to be reminded when he heard loud, distant footsteps approaching his location. His gears started turning, having to quickly weigh his options of making a final purchase or slipping away from the scene, choosing to slip and hide is what he deemed best, wanting to know more about at least one of the hunters. Having to move away, he sought refuge in a nearby unlocked classroom door. Sliding them open and closing behind him, he only just reared his head out slightly to watch his pursuer.

"Come on. Where are you…" Shikikan thought, counting away the seconds but no other sound came after the distant footsteps, silence so deep that he believed that his pursuer lost him.

"Shikikan-sama~" a shrill voice called to him around the corner. "Where are you?" The resumed clicking of footsteps grew louder, and a bright red loose sleeve of a kimono revealed itself followed by the face of a familiar kansen.

"Taihou?" Shikikan thought. "Is she my bodyguard?"

He paused for a moment, deep in thought of the possibilities of revealing himself. There is a high chance that she is the one he is currently searching for, then again she seems too strong for someone that only costs five points. What if the hunters are like Taihou? Too many possibilities ran through his head, almost frying his brain in the process of determining Taihou as a friend or foe. Shaking his head, he decided to play against confronting her and instead keep stalking for more information. When went back to focusing on the yandere, she had already disappeared.

Reluctant, Shikikan came out of hiding believing it was clear to come out, given that he didn't hear any footsteps in his direction. "Must have gone in the opposite direction."

Taking small steps at a time, he came out from hiding. The first thing that came to mind was finding the bodyguard that he had bought. He moved his body outside the class a bit, ensuring nobody was nearby before proceeding. He went back to the vending machine for some quick shopping buying the cheap items that can prove to be useful; two smoke grenades, a lockpicking kit, and a proximity detector all for a total of four hundred points. This left him with five hundred and twenty-five points for now. Looking back at the dispenser one last time, his eyes leered at the many other items he desperately wanted.

He gritted his teeth at his small purchases but decided against buying more than he had in case things became desperate. Shikikan sauntered throughout the school a bit, looking for anything that piques his interest and for any hunters. Having to look through classrooms for anything of use. Sliding one of the doors open, he entered what looks like a literature class, due to the picture of Shakespeare and several quotes by famous writers that hung lazily and unbalanced, and a navy blue podium by the whiteboard. There was nothing of use to him in the room, having to look through every inch of it to find nothing. Just as he was about to give up hope, he described a clear sheet of paper with the fine print of an eight-digit pin code with the words points: fifty, claim on your device!

Is this for real? So that's how I gain points?

Picking the paper as it folded itself inwards briefly before he forced it to stand straight before punching in the code. "Let's see six… seven… n…"

After a couple of long seconds of inputting the code, he entered it having to wait for validation of the code. With a swirling circle and a checkmark, his points increased by the determined number. "Yes! Got me a few points."

On the brink of his short celebration, a lilted giggle followed suit as he simmered down. He felt a warm and humid breath tickling the back of his neck. Out of fear, Shikikan's arms began reaching for one of his smoke grenades in his pockets only to be halted when he felt the hunter's slim warm hands gently laid upon his arm.

"Found~ you~" Taihou's other hand began reaching for his shoulder, further locking him in place.

"Uh… hey Taihou," Shikikan's subtle movements of his thumb pulling on the pin, "What are you doing here?"

"Taihou always wanted to see you, commander~ Now we can spend some private time together."

"You didn't answer my question," Shikikan scowled lightly as he pulled the pin in between his words.

She frowned at his words, her hands gripping tightly. "That woman said that I can find you here if I participate in her little games."

So that's what she meant when this game was unique. If she is a hunter, then maybe it won't be so bad.

"Do you mind letting me go?"

"Why should I, Shikikan? We only just got started," Taihou's whispered, her words laced with lust as her hand slid down his arm and towards his belt. "I know you have been holding back all this time. Just leave everything to me."

Shikikan silently but frantically thought of a way to escape, his mind only overexerting itself as her hand grew closer and closer. "Wait!"

The carrier stopped briefly, only to be confused. "What's wrong, Shikikan? Don't tell me that you don't want to go through with this."

He has only bought himself a bit of time. "It's not that… I can't see your beautiful face from here."

A smile blossomed on her face, only broadening each time she recalled his words. In an instant she spun him around to where they were face to face, her face closing the distance with only a few inches of space.

"I'm beautiful, Shikikan?! Really?! Do you mean it?!" Taihou's heavy breathing tickled his skin, making his whole body shiver at her uncontrollable desires.

"Uh… yeah," he confirmed nervously. "Can we take this slowly? You are being too sudden."

"No," Taihou stated dully. "I've been waiting too long for this moment where we are alone. I won't waste it!"

Shikikan mustered every ounce of strength to repel away from the crazed woman. To no avail, there was no escape having the situation made worse when she pinned him against the wall.

"Release me this instant!" Shikikan demanded, struggling to push the woman away. "When we get back to base, I will give you hell!"

"That's no good Shikikan," Taihou remarked, his belt nearly undone. "Whatever happens out here does not affect what you can do at the base. It is against your contract after all."

Did I forget to read the fine print?

"Damnit!" Shikikan pulled the pin on the smoke grenade, pulling it near their faces. His wrist was then stapled by Taihou's hand, rendering his last resort useless. A now panicky Shikikan tried pulling his other arm to free himself to realize it was tightly squeezed between their bodies.

"Why? Why are you like this, Shikikan?" Taihou grew furious. "Didn't you say I was pretty? Is that a lie? No… You wouldn't lie to me. Am I doing something wrong? I thought all men like this kind of act."

A slow minute passed by as she thought carefully while Shikikan stood there awkwardly until he finally broke the silence by opening up. "Taihou… It isn't you that is the problem. It's me. I'm the one who is constantly following rules and orders and chasing after my own beliefs until then–"

"Shikikan-sama? Is that pest disturbing you?" Their attention turned towards the doorway. There stood Akagi in all her glory with a crimson red paper plane in her fingers, a balled-up fist, and a visible vein pulsating on her forehead.

"Should we stop this?" Bismarck inquired mid-way through snacking on a pretzel.

"We will only have them resist if they get violent," Corrian assured, pulling her head back towards the doorway.

"This just seems cruel…"

"Don't worry about it and enjoy the show. It's not every day you see a show streaming about obsessive girls going after the man they love outside of reality or animated TV shows."

"But even then, I'm concerned about what the others would do to each other, especially– her," Bismarck took a bite out of her pretzel.

"I told you to not worry about that,' She waved her hand in a fanning motion. "If push comes to shove, our team will come in by force and take her out of the game."

"Right…"

"Now then, the guest should arrive soon, so please greet her properly."

A split second after, the doors behind them opened revealing a blonde, celestial crusader kansen arriving alone with a saber in her hand. "I'm I late?"

"Not at all," Corrian formed a pleasing smile. "You came just in time for some action."

"Are they about to fight each other?" Jeanne d'Arc settled down a seat away from Corrian. "Such an unholy sight."

"All of them were informed that fighting will result in their elimination. Well… almost all of them were informed."

"But everything that isn't violence is fair game?" Jeanne d'Arc questioned. "What exactly is that objective of theirs anyway?"

"Easy, capture," Corrian said dully.

"As in binding him?" Bismarck asked, finishing up her pretzel, and licking the remaining crumbs off her fingers.

"Oh no, dears. That would lead to him getting hurt if they get too antsy. Their objective is to capture his heart," Corrian leaned forward, her finger twirling around as her eyes settled on some licorice.

"So Shikikan is bound to win from the start?" Bismarck said disapprovingly.

"On the surface yes it certainly seems he is an aromantic person," Corrian confirmed. "But, deep down in that black heart of his is a light that just needs a little jot. Or so I theorized."

"So all of this is a hunch?"

"Now, hold on. From what he said about his vacation, it seems that he did open up to people. For now, all we can do is wait for the results to come in," Corrian lounging back. "Let's see how this unravels."

"Tch! The old fox returns to ruin my plans with Shikikan," Taihou stepped away from the commander, with him dropping himself in relief.

"I was wondering why Shikikan smelled strange. Looks like he was trapped between trash. Looks like I have some cleaning up to do," Akagi uttered, bringing up her paper planes to her eyes as it set ablaze a smokeless flame.

"Shikikan-sama, Taihou will be right back. I have to attend this urgent battle with an old rival of mine."

The two carriers confronted each other, fully expecting a fight to break but instead they simmered down their blood lust.

"Aren't you going to attack me?" Taihou stretched her arms out, creating the widest target for her opponent.

"No," Akagi replied, smiling maliciously, licking her lip. "But thank you for stepping away from my dear commander."

The kitsune threw her paper plane past her adversary, creating a blazing trail behind it, forcing Taihou to step aside. Using this opportunity to rush towards Shikikan's location.

"No way! Shikikan!" Taihou cried, turning her attention towards her commander to see that he has gone missing and the backdoor swung wide open.

"Where did he go!?" Akagi demanded of her ill-manneredly. "You told him to go somewhere didn't you?"

"I don't know where you got that idea, but I'm going after him," Taihou boosted off in the general direction with Akagi following behind her. Both paused looking at opposite ends of the halls for any traces of Shikikan. Looking to their right, there lays a thick hazy cloud of smoke with the hissing of a smoke grenade left on the ground further inflating the white-colored cover.

"He must have gone this way," Taihou muttered, running through smokescreen as it parted away.

Akagi couldn't trace Shikikan's scent due to the smoke masking any indications of Shikikan going the other way making the smoke cover the best option available. She made a hasty sprint after her making sure that she wouldn't make it to him first.

Shikikan held his breath standing completely still, hiding in the janitor's closet and hoping that they didn't notice the door hidden in the smoke. The two carriers fled as anticipated only relieving himself when he heard no more audible steps.

I need to avoid those two at all times

Breathing heavily, he created a small crack. When the coast was clear, he slowly emerged from the closet before thinking looking at his watch.

Only fifteen minutes have passed? Whatever, being a part-time escape artist will give me a slight edge but I need to stock up a bit more in case there are more.

"Shikikan?" A curious voice cracked the peaceful silence.

Speak of the devil

Lately, I have been busy and awfully sad in the past weeks. There will maybe be another chapter in a couple of weeks but until then have a good day!