159 The Game's Begun

When the game officially began, every group went off running. I understand the logical reasoning behind all this as there were merely ten minutes that everybody could spread out and remain safe. In addition, this was like a race to different game locations on the map.

The group soon split off as everybody went their separate ways once they've reached the road and out of the parking lot of the PBS building. The ones who were fast and lucky were able to wave over a taxi that was driving by and quickly rode off with their cameraman in the taxi while their security team quickly followed using a police vehicle. As for the others, they simply had to continue on foot while distancing themselves from the other groups in order to find a taxi that they can ride to their mission objectives.

I simply matched my pace with that of Irina's as we ran. If I wasn't fettered by this paper wristband, I would've been able to go faster, but since we're connected by this fragile piece of paper, I didn't dare even have any tension being applied to it in fear of it tearing. Even though I would've preferred if this wristband were broken so I could head home for the night, since I have already agreed to Irina that I would be her partner for this game, I will do so until the very end. That is, I will accompany her until either we are inevitably forced eliminated from the game or if we made it until the very end and emerge victoriously.

"I don't see them," I commented when we finally stopped in our run away from the PBS building and onto the streets of the Palim district.

I looked over to the girl who was bound to me by this fragile paper wristband and holding onto my left hand with her right. She appeared quite fatigued from that brief run as she was gasping for air. However, I was breathing quite heavily too, but it wasn't to the point that I needed to stop to recover. As she rested, I kept my head up and surveyed my surroundings.

"Where do you wanna go first?" I asked her.

"Let's look at the map," Irina said as she reached into her pocket for the Sumsong phone that was handed to us by the production crew. "I think we should head over to mainland Palisia instead of staying on Palim."

"I think so," I agreed. "Other people will quickly take the opportunities in Palim."

"Let's get a taxi first then," Irina smiled. Then, she started leading me to the side of the road where a taxi was driving past. With her hand out, Irina gestured to the taxi and it responded by pulling to the curb. "Lumina Station please," she said to the taxi driver as she entered first with me following close behind her due to our close proximity.

I comfortably sat down and after I closed the door, the vehicle started moving. Looking up, I saw that the cameraman had entered and sat down on the front passenger seat by the driver and had the camera pointed in our direction at the back. In order to provide adequate lighting, the in-car lights were turned on.

"So right now our plans are to head first to Lumina," Irina smiled towards the camera and showed the viewers the map on her phone. "We think that the spots in Palim will quickly be taken so it would be best if we head to the mainland first so that we can have a head start there."

I stared at her, carefully moving my left hand with hers so that as she pointed to the viewers the wristband would not tear. I was quite surprised by her professionalism since this was a totally different person that I usually see in her. It's just... weird to see her like this, but... it's a side of her that I don't dislike. Rather, it's actually quite amusing to see her act this way. In addition, there's that special feeling of knowing that I am one of the few people that know who she truly was. The Irina before the camera was simply a persona of her's and that the real her.

"So what're we going to do to keep the audience entertained while we drive?" I asked Irina as I glanced over at the viewer numbers which were dropping. "Other groups are probably completing games at the moment and most of our viewers are going to watch that."

"Right..." Irina nodded. "We need to think of something."

The car then continued to drive towards the Connelim Bridge that connects the offshore island district with the mainland of the city, and as it did so, Irina began simply introducing the scenery to the audience. Since there's nothing much in the car to act as a stimulus, she needed to use her own skills and improvise with whatever she had. Therefore, when she looked out the window, she found her best assets to pass time and entertain the audience with which is the beautiful scenery of Palisia. This geographical introduction will not only interest people that do not live in Palisia, but it will also interest Palisians as well since not everybody has been to every part of the city despite living here. Because of her lively energy and character, our viewership actually remained quite steady in the time that it took us to cross over to Lumina and onto the mainland.

Once we had arrived on the mainland and disembarked at Lumina Station, immediately, we were greeted by the flashing lights of cameras as Irina's fans had been waiting for her to arrive. With a friendly smile to conceal her feeling of awkwardness, Irina quickly led me away from the crowd as our security that had followed us in their vehicles quickly formed a human barricade to block off the fans from crowding upon us. In addition, there was also security that was stationed here that joined in the efforts of ensuring that Irina and I plus the cameraman would not be crushed by the intensity and fervor of the fans.

Among the crowd, I could sense looks of hatred from many boys as their eyes focused on the holding of hands that connected Irina and I. I could sense multiple death wishes coming from them, and there was nothing I can do about it. Instead, all I could do was walk with Irina and look out for any of the Hunters that the director had told us about that roamed the city to break our wristbands.

The security forces parted the crowd as we moved, providing us with a clear path as we walked. As we neared the Lumina Station Square, I looked up at the large television screen that was on the side of a building facing the Station Square. It would appear that the television is playing the show that we were on and was currently tuned in on Shol's and Yrel's channel. It would appear that Shol and his partner were still in Palim as they competed with Yrel's group for a Holiday Orb through a series of obstacle courses that was indoors. It was quite an entertaining scene as the two were shown crawling under cushioned bars as cake frosting was being blasted on them. There were also differnent colored words that would occasionally pop up that would emphasize certain things or offer a humorous comment utilizing internet slang. All in all, the effect was splendid.

"It looks like they're having fun," I said to Irina as I looked ahead of me and on the road. My neck was still slightly sore from looking up at the large jumbotron but the soreness would soon go away and not pose to be much of a bother.

"They are indoors in an airconditioned room," Irina responded. "Besides, what they're doing seems quite fun."

"I wouldn't want to try it," I said. "It just seems like it'll feel quite disgusting with all the sugar from the cake frosting sticking onto you."

"I get what you mean," Irina chuckled. "I think that is it!" She then pointed with her free left hand and at the temporary stage built in the center of the Station Square. "Let's go!."

Then, Irina and I jogged over to the platform and got on using the steps placed on the side of it. On the stage was a staff member of the production crew and beside him was what appeared to be a karaoke machine along with multiple speakers. Pitched behind us was also a lighting system that immediately powered on when we stepped foot on the temporary outdoor stage and focused the light down on us.

"Welcome," the young man smiled and greeted us. "You're here for th Holiday Orb, I believe?"

"Yup," Irina smiled and nodded.

"Well," the young man continued. "I can give you the Holiday Orb, but it won't be free. You must demonstrate your holiday spirit."

The young man then reached into a box and took out two microphones.

"When you think of the holidays, you think of singing songs by a warm fire," the young man explained. "So, the challenge is that you can choose any song, but the two of you must score a score of ninety or better in order for it to be deemed a success. Are you up for the challenge?"

Irina then looked over at me as if seeking my opinion on the issue. I met her eye and then looked over at the microphone. I really don't see any harm in us trying. Besides, maybe we can get lucky and sore a ninety?

"We got nothing to lose," I said to her. "So I don't see why not we can't try."

"Oh I forgot to mention," the young man added. "You have three tries. If you do not succeed after three tries, then you owe me a Holiday Orb."

"What?" Irina exclaimed.

"I think we should still do it," I said, looking over at her in a calm fashion. "The other challenges will have this rule as well. There's really no point in worrying about it at the moment."

"I guess you're right," Irina nodded. "Fine," she smiled. "We'll accept the challenge."