Time seems to slow down
Twenty-one….
Twenty-two.
– folded
Then the pain.
A dull burning sensation in my body, as if something living had been torn from me.
That feeling of losing when you were in it, it's a raw desire to give up on everything.
I didn't shout.
I didn't even have the strength anymore.
The blindfold is removed.
The light pierces my eyes.
I blink several times, my brain still numb from the infernal rhythm of counting.
Around me, the table is the same.
The dark spots.
Sticky wood.
Black handkerchiefs.
We were all seated except
His.
Ray Lee is still here.
Facing me are the guys who used to piss me off, what can I do to them now anyway I've already lost.
To my left… the chair is empty, a figure is standing there.
I slowly lower my eyes to my hands.
Trembling.
It is trembling.
A laugh bursts out, a soft murmur near our ears.
A fresh laugh.
Not hysterical.
Not hopeless.
Calm.
Satisfied.
I raise my head.
That was him on my left, a man I had never seen before.
Grand.
Broad-shouldered.
An impeccable black tracksuit, without the slightest stain.
On his chest: AL-05.
He's looking at me.
Then he smiled.
"That was interesting," he murmured with a foreign accent.
– Very interesting.
Death appears behind him.
Always without a sound.
Still out of breath.
– The results are final.
She slowly raises a hand.
Three figures step forward.
AL-05.
A thin man with a closed face, number B-02.
And a woman with short hair, blank stare, number VI-03.
Three survivors.
Three winners.
"You will return to the game," said Death.
– With your restored bodies.
– And your memories intact.
I grit my teeth.
She slowly turns her head towards us.
Towards me.
Vers Ray.
Towards the survivors breaking other tables.
– Please wait here.
An icy silence fell over the room.
– Until fifteen players are reunited.
– Which can take… a long time.
AL-05 chuckles softly.
The three winners are surrounded by a black light, thick like liquid smoke.
Before disappearing, AL-05 looks at me one last time.
– See you soon, it was fun playing with you Ki-moon
I'm shivering.
He knows my name.
The light goes out.
They left.
The silence that follows is worse than the screams.
Ray Lee is slumped in his chair.
Then he breathes.
– Here we go again… he murmurs.
I'm not answering.
They had all already accepted it, all relaxed as if it were nothing.
He stares at me.
A long time.
Then he looks away.
"Don't be difficult here, okay?" he said softly.
I don't know.
Time has stopped passing or something.
What's the point?
I look at my hands.
Again.
Always.
And yet…
I'm thinking back to the counting.
At twenty-two.
In the way Death slowed down.
To the mistake.
Just one.
Just one fucking mistake.
I'm laughing.
A broken laugh.
"I could have," I murmured.
– I almost had it.
Ray Lee raises his head.
– hum.
I close my eyes.
And he told me
"I'm not precise enough yet"
I should have won, I calculated everything perfectly, how did it go wrong? Did he have high-ranking officials involved? Why did he pass the test? I know I won, I know it.