5

Revelation

Niragi

Niragi walked ahead. Neither of them had spoken since they'd left the beach. He used the moment of silence to gather his thoughts. He shifted his gun to his right shoulder, giving his left a break. He'd felt immensely relieved to have it back. Only when he'd laid his hands on it had he realised how much he'd missed it. Not only did it make him feel safe, it looked scary enough to keep most people away, sent them hiding.

Aguni's words still echoed in his ears. Had it really looked like they had been flirting? No. There was no way anyone could've mistaken that moment as flirting. He'd wanted to gouge out Chishiya's irritatingly condescending eyes. But something had held him back. Some tiny part of him had screamed and fought and clawed against the urge. It was the part of him that still believed he could be saved, that believed he'd been twisted into this abomination not born twisted.

Niragi followed the glowing signs leading them to tonight's game arena.

"Niragi?"

"Hmm?" Niragi was torn from his thoughts and stopped dead in his tracks, he didn't dare turn around. Didn't dare look at Chishiya for fear of revealing his thoughts.

"Did you hear what I just said?"

"What could you possibly have to say that is worth my time?" Niragi enquired with a cocky tone.

"Asshole," Chishiya mumbled.

"As if you were any better," he grumbled to himself barely audible, so only he could hear it before moving again.

They arrived at the game arena. From the outside it looked like some fancy restaurant. Too small for a spades game that much was clear.

Three other players – a woman, a boy and a middle aged man - were waiting inside, phones in hand, avoiding Niragi's gaze as he studied his surroundings. He spotted the small table in the middle of the room, four phones neatly displayed atop. Niragi grabbed one at random and stared at the screen. As did Chishiya. "Identity verified," it chimed at him.

Not long after a female voice crackled overhead. "Registrations are now complete. Please proceed to the next room, where we will explain the game rules. Weapons are not allowed. Difficulty five of hearts."

Niragi's face paled. Hearts. He'd never played a hearts game so far but he'd heard about them. It was said they were especially cruel, designed to manipulate a players mind and heart, to use it against them. They turned friends to enemies, enemies to worse and used your deepest, darkest fears against you.

Chishiya's gaze caught Niragi's attention. He looked completely unfazed, as if their lives weren't on the line.

"Come on," Chishiya ordered making his way into the adjacent room as he raised the radio to his face and reported back to the beach. Niragi could picture Hatter and the executives that stayed behind tonight sitting around the meeting table staring down at the radio. Just like they did every game night.

He lowered his gun and leaned it against the wall before following the others. He instantly missed the comforting weight of it on his shoulder.

They halted in the dining room. It had been cleared of all furniture save for one large round table and five chairs spread evenly around it. Before each seat rested a screen and a.. was that a collar?

No one spoke a word as they each took a seat. Niragi chose a seat between the two male strangers, across from Chishiya. The middle aged man – who's name turned out to be Dai - sat to his left and the boy, Kenzo, to his right.

"Please equip your collars," the female voice boomed above them. Niragi stared at the collar in front of him for a moment before he picked it up and slung it around his neck. It snapped shut instantly. He tugged at it slightly, but he knew it wouldn't give. Dai, seated to his left was the last to put his collar on and as soon as it had locked around his neck Niragi tensed. Shackles snapped around his ankles and torso preventing any form of escape. His hands though remained free and when he looked up he saw the others had been trapped in their seats too. It was meant to scare them, make them feel vulnerable before the game even started. Niragi took a deep breath just as the female voice started again.

"We will now explain the rules. The game is called 'Two truths, one lie'. Each player starts with five points. The players will take turns as two truths and one lie are revealed. It is up to the other players to identify the lie. Should the players choose correctly they will gain one point. Should the players choose wrong they will lose one point and an electric shock from their collar. The shocks will increase in severity every round."

"Kinky," Niragi put on his wicked grin and watched as the two strangers beside him recoiled.

The voice continued, "If all players choose correctly the player currently on trial loses two points and an electric shock from their collar. If all players choose wrong the player currently on trial will receive two points and the other players receive an electric shock. Reaching zero points entails elimination."

Niragi locked eyes with Chishiya sitting opposite him for a split second before he was blinded. He squinted and raised a hand against the light.

"First player on trial: Master Niragi."

Niragi forced himself to swallow his rising panic. Why did he have to go first? And why did that light have to be so bright? He couldn't see the other players, couldn't see their reactions, he was cut off from everyone. His screen lit up in front of him and he read the three statements. His two truths and one lie. His face paled as he read the words over and over. I am a coward. The door guarding his worst memories unlocked in his mind, but he clenched his jaw and forced it to remain shut. I was forced to become the monster I am today. His eyes narrowed as he read the third statement again. I was born twisted. Niragi heard the blood rushing in his ears. Which one was the lie? He didn't even know which one was his own damn lie. How the fuck would the others be able to make the right decision then?

"You have two minutes to decide," the game masters voice rang.

Niragi squinted at the light, trying to peer past it, trying to make out the other players, but it was useless. The light was just too bright. Which one was the lie? He ran one hand through his hair and left it there as he stared and stared at the screen. Time slowed to a trickle as thick as honey.

"Your time is up. Please make your selections now," the voice boomed. What had they chosen? Was there even a lie? Or was this what the game didn't want them to know? That there was no actual lie?

"Three players have chosen wrong. One player has chosen the correct answer."

The spotlight shifted to the man beside him, Dai. Correct answer? There had been a cor... He clenched his fists as his collar sent an electrical pulse through him. His eyes shot to the scoreboard at the top right corner of his screen. Everyone lost a point. Except Chishiya who now had six points. Chishiya had identified the lie? Niragi fixed his black eyes on Chishiya who was staring back with that familiar calm, collected expression. He knew his own eyes were questioning Chishiya. If Niragi survived this game he swore he would get answers from him, no matter how.

Niragi didn't hear the game master announce the next player on trial. He peered down at his screen as the three statements popped up and read them quickly. Then he cocked his head and observed Dai sweating under the heat of the spotlight next to him. This one was easy at least. Dai was weak, too scared, too nervous. His fear betrayed him, let the others read him like an open book. Niragi made his selection and leaned back in his seat, his eyes sliding back towards Chishiya. He couldn't help staring at him now. How could Chishiya know him better than he did himself? Maybe their screens showed different statements. He was tempted to ask. There was no rule that banned them from speaking to each other. Yet before he could open his mouth the game masters voice announced the end of the round.

"Three players have chosen correctly. One player has chosen wrong."

The boy to his right, Kenzo, winced as his collar gave him a shock. He lost one point. Dai on his left paled as he watched his score drop down to one point and then grunted as his collar sent out a pulse three times the strength Kenzo had received. So the electric shocks also depended on how many points you lost at once. Interesting. That meant if they kept the game going long enough the shocks could become lethal too.

He studied the score board. Five points for himself and the woman seated beside Chishiya. Asuka, was her name. Seven points for Chishiya. One point for Dai to his left and three points for Kenzo to his right.

The spotlight shifted onto Chishiya. He barely squinted and kept his gaze directed at Niragi, hands tucked in the pockets of his hoodie.

The game masters voice announced Chishiya as next player on trial and the three statements popped up on their screens. Niragi had to read them several times. I killed my mother. I have no will to live. I hate myself more than I hate anyone else.

Niragi looked up from his screen and studied Chishiya, who had flicked his gaze down to his own screen but kept his features unchanged. He was certain the last statement was the truth. If Chishiya had been right about them, that they were the same, then that statement had to be the truth. Because Niragi felt the exact same way.

"Your time is up. Please make your selections now."

Niragi tapped his answer and swore he could feel Chishiya's eyes burning through him even though he knew the spotlight blinded him. He was certain he'd chosen the correct answer and held his breath as he waited for the results.