Long Days Ahead

The days got longer in October as the leaves created a display of colors on the trees. The wind grew harsher and harsher, brushing against Soren's thin jacket as he walked along the sidewalk. He spent his time alone in the house once again and thought it was about time to get out for a bit. He walked aimlessly, that is until a young boy caught his eyes down the street.

The boy was dressed way too much to be cold at all. His puffy arms and legs all ready for the winter snow, but then again, it showed how much his parents cared for him. It was hard for him to grasp the toy ball in his hand wearing the gloves his mother gave him. It wasn't long for him to lose the ball to the road as it bounced away. The boy thoughtlessly went to go grab it.

A single thought went through Soren's mind. Shrill screams of the mother brought him back for the daze and he started running.

'It's a human life goddamnit!'

Cursing at himself, he ran. Ran as fast as he could to reach the boy. If he didn't hesitate, if he didn't get distracted... could've thing been different?

Before the truck could hit the boy, he reached. There wasn't enough time to pull him away so on impulse, he pushed him to the other side; he just couldn't save himself. It was at that moment his fingertips made contact, he saw the boys' sinister smile. It wasn't a smile that any child should have. The last thing he remembered, was falling.

~~

In the hotel lobby, a group of people gathered together. A few steps away from the doors a loud thud startled everybody inside, a few springing into action. They each glanced at each other with uneasiness in the air.

" S-should we go check it out?" she whispered in the silent room. Her red eyes looked at those around her. Her tangled clothes and tear-filled face gave her a feeling of an abandoned animal in the rain. Someone you wanted to protect. However, none of those emotions mattered here.

The rest of the group only gave a single glance before turning their head. It wasn't their problem anyway. The girl pouted as she was ignored.

" I'll go." A tall man call from the back. With his cold gaze, no one dared to object. When he walked the air around him froze, sending shivers to whoever was close. Even the duo who took over as leaders didn't dare say anything.

" Damn, could this be part of the plot?" bitting his nail a teen muttered under his breath but they all knew that it couldn't be true. They haven't heard the system's voice yet.

No one said anything until the man opened the door. In front of them was another man, but unlike the one who opened the door, his build was slim and skinny but rather tall. His face was scrunched up as if he was having a nightmare. With his pale face, his black hair only stood out more.

The man knelt down and easily picked him up. Bringing him into the lobby with the others. Looking at his face he was pretty for a man. Like a sickly beauty.

'Must be in his early 20s'

The man must have felt cold when he picked him up because the man nuzzled his head closer to his chest, his scrunched up face slowly relaxing.

~~

On the hard ground, Soren woke up with his head splitting. Waves of pain came flooding in, tearing his brain apart. He was sure he died, he was hit. Wasn't he? He moved his hands and legs which didn't hurt as much as his head. He didn't have enough time to come to his surrounding until he heard a low gruff voice behind him.

" Fuck, another rookie? How many are we getting?" A man gritted through his teeth.

" Calm down, more rookies means better chances at winning doesn't it?" The other one said, adjusting his glasses and suit.

There were multiple people in the room but only two were close enough for him to see so Soren turned his head slightly to get a better view. The first guy was tall and buff like any second his muscles would burst through his clothes. He had a shaved head and a scar on his forehead to his eyebrow. What was most noticeable was the knife holster he was wearing.

He wasn't alone. Beside him, the other guy was wearing a messy suit that was missing the tie. His glasses were gold rim, giving off an intellectual feeling, in contrast to his wild friend. He must have felt Soren's gaze as he turned to look at him.

" If you're up then start moving. Keep the questions to at least three, anything else and I'll hit you myself." Glasses moved closer and peered down giving him a warning.

Sitting up, Soren grumbled to himself. How could he not have questions? He was sure he died but if that true then where was this? What was this place and who were these people? Unless... Biting his lower lip he looked up meeting their eyes and faltered.

" ah..um." He was left with a gaping mouth looking at them. He glanced around, there weren't that many people around them but they all were looking at him.

When he turned back he locked his gaze with Glasses guy once again. Squinting his eye he took a step closer. Soren felt a sudden air of danger approaching feeling suffocating.

Glasses: " If you have no questions I guess we'll be on our way." He swiftly turned and took a step away. Soren, left with his gaping mouth reached out his hand and grasped air. 'No, wait!'

" W-where's the bathroom?" He shouted louder than intended. Curious eyes laid on him as the room fell silent.

Ashamed, he looked down. As soon as those words left his mouth Soren wanted to slap himself. No one would even guess that would be the first question, even the man with glasses looked at him with a hint of surprise.

A low but seductive laugher filled the room. Slowly approaching him Soren felt embarrassed, even wanting to hide away; his ears growing red. Hearing the footsteps stop Soren lifted his head. Although Soren was tall, he was taller with a stronger build. At a glance, the imposing manner showed he was not someone to mess with. The corners of his mouth and eyes seemed to hold a cynical smile.

The man: " Is that your first question? "

Soren: " ... " Ahh I've been wronged

The man: " hehe, I can show you the way. Is that fine?"

His hand gently rubbed the top of Soren's head. Everybody's eyes filled with shock.

* Ding Dong~ the case " Bloody Business" Is now open w̸̶̵̲̳͚̦̤̙̮̪̤̓̍̐́́̓͘͜ȉ̷̶̶̡̻̪̃̒̐̓̋̉̑́̈̾̎̐́̉͘t̷̟͘�̶̵̻̝̫̓͋̈́����̈́̎͘h̴̶̷̨͉̻͙̺̳̩̮̜̼͑̀͂̍̊̈́̆̐ ̶̶̵̡͖̳̣̖̰͖̪̫̗̫̞̑̓͌͛́ͅͅṋ̴̶̴͔͎̟̤̪̲̪͕͚͎͓͔̙̝̈́́̓̇́̈́̕͜i̴̶̸̖̫̣͓͇͔̼̗͓̘͇͚͕̓̀̒͐́͑̄͆̄̔̚͜ņ̸̶̷̘͚͖͔̜̗̰͓̻̈́̓̉̋̇̅͜e̷̶̵̢̢̼̤̞̱̟̣͚̓̉̽̓̃̌͒͌̈́̚͘͝ ̷̶̵͍̠̦͆͋͒̿̑̾͒̋̑̋̿̓͐̍̈̍̇̽͂͠p̵̶̸̤̲̟̳̦̯̭̣̪͈͎̺̫̖̘͓̣͕̾̍͗̂̾̽̉͛͘͝l̷̶̴̞̬̦̗̝̙̙̳̙̒͐̒͂̓͐̈̋͠͝a̵̶̵̢̢̨̪͕͈̘̝͈͇͓̞̖̯̣̯͙̞̤͒͐̀̀̉̽̿͑̈́̇͘͝͠y̷̶̷̨̢̯̩̞̻̦̩͓̫̱̩̾̊̃̎̓̌̍̿͑̈́̚͝ĕ̷̶̴̡̹͚̰̙̘̼͚̼̬̇̋̐̓̔̏͑̎r̵͝��̶̷̡̜̿̒̅͛͊͗̕ͅ��̧͈̺̯̺͜s̴̶̶̛͙̯̫̘̫̳̩͆̽́̊͒͂̄̈́͆̊͌̒̓͋̀͘͝

with ten players. Please reveal the truth or survive for 7 days.

Remember, survival is everything. That will be all *

Everyone was full too surprised to notice the system's unusual message. What scared them most was the loving smile plastered on that man's face. Nothing good could come from attracting his attention. Everyone looked at Soren and prayed. That unfortunate boy.