Episode 23 - Captain

–– PURPLE TEAM POV ––

The day of the match has arrived. Raphael and Luke stayed on their beds, still petrified by what they saw last night. Surprisingly, Regina was the first one to get up and, as if nothing had happened, looked like her normal self.

– GUYS, TIME TO GET UP! OR DO YOU WANT TO DIE TODAY? —she shouted walking by each bed until everyone was awake—.

– What is wrong with you, maniac? —said Dominik—.

– Do you want to die? Then get up, time to go the coliseum.

– I don't care about dying. Are YOU… —he said as he pointed at her— ready to die?

Dominik exited the warehouse with a sinister smile on his face.

– Hmph.

Regina didn't pay him too much mind and went back to fully wake up her team. Only a few seconds passed by and Luke couldn't stand it anymore.

– AAAARG, so annoying, can't you see we're resting?

– You've had enough rest!

Raphael and Agatha got up without saying a word. Agatha smiled lightly, noticing how Regina was better, but, Raphael couldn't say anything, the image of what he saw last night was still too fresh on his mind. It wasn't like they had killed Luna, or at least that's what they hoped, since they fled the scene while Luna was screaming in pain. Truth be told, they didn't know if they kept stabbing her.

And so, the Purple Team made their way to the coliseum. Once there, they noticed the absence of just one person: Luna. Luke and Raphael looked at each other nervously. They knew what had happened. Ethan and Necole looked as if nothing had happened. While Sophie was nervously looking around, worried about Luna. Zorn looked normal.

Twenty more minutes passed by and the coliseum was in total silence, until Ethan spoke.

– We can't start the match without our captain, can we?

Regina bit her lip. Hoped that the worst hadn't happened. But in that moment, they saw a figure slowly making its to them. It was Luna, with very noticeable bandages all over her right leg. She could barely walk, but made it to the center point. Ethan and Necole looked away. Regina breathed out a sigh of relief that they at least didn't kill her. Even though, she was injured and those injuries would follow her to the virtual world.

"Welcome everyone, to the last round of this grand encounter. Today finally will be decided our winners. Will it be the Red Team? Or the Purple Team? No one knows. I hope both teams do their best for this round.

One last thing before starting the match. The captains will fight with a scythe for this mode. That way, they will be able to defend themselves at long range. Don't forget that both captains are worth 5 points.

Good luck to both teams, you may enter your pods now."

–– RED TEAM POV ––

Sophie ran up to where Luna was.

– L-LUNA! WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU!? ARE YOU OKAY!?

– Y-yea… or I think so… don't worry about me, I'll be okay.

– S-sure? Those injuries look really bad…

– Don't worry.

Luna smiled at her. A smile that penetrated Sophie's soul, making her feel better. Zorn approached Luna before entering the pods.

– Luna. Don't worry. We'll win.

Luna nodded with determination. They were going to win this round. She didn't remember who were the ones who made those injuries to her, so she decided she will win this round no matter what. She would never suspect of her own team.

Without much delay, both teams went inside their respective pods.

Luna woke up and could still feel the pain on her leg. On her face was a pained expression as she stood off the ground. She looked up and noticed how there was a crown on her head. To her side was her scythe. She tightly held it in her hands and tried to go out to the battlefield, but Zorn blocked her way.

– Luna… it would be good if you stayed here while Sophie takes care of you. I'll go kill Regina til we get 30 points.

– What? I don't like that idea! I can fight too!

– You can't, Luna! Trust in me!

Luna bit her lip with impotence, but ended up agreeing. Zorn ran out to the battlefield, ready to fight.

–– PURPLE TEAM POV ––

Regina took her scythe and made her way to the battlefield. Agatha was acting as her bodyguard; she didn't want anyone to harm Regina. Dominik though, was shouting at the top of his lungs Regina's location.

– READ TEAM, RED TEAM, REGINA IS HERE, REGINA IS HERE.

Luke approached him and punched him in the face.

– What the heck do you think you're doing!?

– Hehe. I told Regina. To get ready to die. I don't care about anything.

Dominik ran to the Red Team's base, standing in front of them.

– Come on, kill me. I don't mind dying.

In that moment, Zorn aimed at him. Luke just clicked his tongue. They needed to maintain Dominik out of Red Team's range. Raphael and Luke took Dominik by the arms and tried to take him back to their base by force. Dominik tried to get out but it was difficult. Right then Zorn took a chance and stabbed Regina, obtaining 5 points.

Luke let go of Dominik and started to shoot at Zorn. Zorn nimbly avoided the bullets. In the blink of an eye, Luke fell to the ground.

–– RED TEAM POV ––

Luna saw on her bracelet how her team's points were going up rapidly. She bit her lip. Couldn't stay still doing nothing. She got up quickly and pushed Sophie, making her fall down.

– L-Luna, wait! You can't go!

She hid, making her way stealthily to the enemies' base. Regina was making her way out of the base at that moment, encountering her face to face.

– So, this is the end, isn't it? —said Regina—.

– Confess. Who was the one who stabbed me? —she pointed her scythe to where Regina was standing—.

– What? Do you think it was someone from my team? Ha. You should look better at your team.

– What?

In that moment, Luke shot Luna, obtaining 5 points. Dominik, on the other hand, escaped the base. Raphael noticed and ran to get him.

– Zorn… —he kneeled in front of him— kill me… get those last points you need to save yourself….

– NO, WAIT. —shouted Raphael—.

Regina, without wasting any time, appeared behind Zorn and cut off his head with her scythe.

– I won't let you win so easily, you bastard.

Raphael put a hand over his chest, breathing in relief.

– DOMINIK, STOP THIS FOOLISHNESS! —yelled Regina—.

– I DON'T CARE ANYMORE! I WILL DEFEND ZORN UNTIL I DIE!

Regina was full of feelings of ire and frustration. Without thinking it twice, she cut Dominik with the scythe.

– REGINA, WAI-

Luke shouted but it was already too late. Regrettably, the point for Dominik's death was given to Luna's team, making it the point they needed to win.

And just like that, the Red Team woke up.

TO BE CONTINUED.