The Next Chess Piece

YSABELL'S POV

Unti-unting sumilay sa aking mga mata ang liwanag na nagmumula sa silid. I'm lying on my bed with two people sitting in front of me. Danielle and Noah.

Huminga ako nang malalim at sinubukan kong tumayo, but one of them touches my shoulder.

"You have to rest," saad ni Danielle at nakakunot ang noo niya. I can sense the worry in her voice and in her trembling hands.

Bumuntong hininga akong muli at saka ako bumalik sa aking pagkakahiga dahil alam ko namang wala na akong ibang magagawa. Noah stands up that causes the bed to create noise. Naglakad siya palapit sa mini table at kinuha ang isang basong tubig mula roon.

"Y-you must b-be thirsty," he says while handing me the glass of water.

I'm about to take it from his hand when something struck me when my eyes turn to Noah's hand.

Water.

"How's Clay?" I ask while staring at the glass. I can't clearly remember what happened before I past out but I can still recall some of the scenes in my mind.

I saw the door opened, and I saw Clay lying on a red bed inside of it. His chest was moving upwards which means he was breathing.

Then that's it. The remaining memories completely vanished from my mind.

Napahawak ako sa aking dibdib nang mapagtanto kong buhay pa si Clay. I sigh in relief at hinawakan ko ang kamay ni Noah dahil pakiramdam ko'y babagsak na ang buong katawan ko kapag walang umagapay dito.

"He's resting now. He was tired. So are you." Danielle touches my hands that are on top of Noah's. Medyo nagalaw ang basong hawak ni Noah at dahil doon ay may kaunting tubig na natapon at tumulo ito sa kamay ni Danielle.

I recall the appearance of the room three in my head. There were no windows. The room was painted in pure white to the point na nakasisilaw na itong titigan. The ceiling was high, for sure, because I haven't taken a glance of it.

At saka ko naisip na baka doon nila dinala si Clay.

Up there on its ceiling.

"And the third room?" mabilis na tanong ko at hindi ko maalis ang titig ko sa aming magkapatong na mga kamay.

Danielle is hesitant to answer pero nagsalita rin siya nang humigpit ang hawak ko sa baso ng tubig. "W-we were instructed to close it after we took Clay out-" I cut off Danielle's words with a scream.

"And you closed it?!" sigaw ko at tiningnan ko siya nang masama. Napahigpit din ang hawak ko sa braso ni Noah dahilan para mapaatras siya nang bahagya. Animo'y alon ang pagtulo ng tubig mula sa baso dahil sa biglaang pagsigaw ko.

Danielle's face falters. "What are we supposed to do then? Disobey them? Ysabell, they are holding our necks," she reasons out at pumiyok ang boses niya. Her eyes are pleading me to understand that they have no other choice but to do what the gamemaker said.

Mabilis kong iniwas ang tingin ko sa kaniya at napayuko ako nang mapagtanto kong tama siya. I also pull back my hand from them that causes the remaining water to spill on my body. "I'm s-sorry," I utter and my fist form into a clench. Tumulo rin sa aking baba ang tubig na tumilapon sa akin.

I hate those scumbags who are playing us. Not my friends. And I'm starting to hate myself for being at rage to the wrong people. I'm slowly forgetting who our real enemy is.

Noah pats my shoulders. "Shhh, w-we u-understand," saad niya saka niya inilapag sa sahig ang basong ngayo'y wala ng laman.

Danielle strides to the mini table at dinampot niya ang tissue mula doon. Naglakad siya pabalik sa amin habang nanginginig ang kaniyang katawan.

"Wipe yourself," mahinang saad niya habang iniaabot ang tissue roll nang marating niya ang kinasasadlakan ko.

"I'm sorry," I mumble apologetically as I accept the tissue that she's giving me.

I know all of us are tired and still traumatized by what we witnessed. Even Danielle and Noah. But I never realized how lucky I am for them keeping an eye on me instead of taking a rest.

Then, I became angry at them for a stupid reason.

The gamemaker's face flashes into my mind and his rabbit mask that gives chill down my spine. Those people are trying to kill us. And there's nothing we can do to stop them.

Obeying their rules is the only thing that we can do.

And I hate obeying someone's rules. I make my own rules. Napahigpit ang hawak ko sa tissue na iniabot ni Danielle dahil sa nararamdaman kong galit kaya medyo nalukot ito.

"It's okay. Basta... Ysabell," panimula ni Danielle at dahil doon ay napatingin ako sa kaniya. "Huwag matigas ang ulo. Let's accept the fact that we... we can't fight them," she adds at tuluyan nang tumulo ang mga luha niya.

I know. Alam kong wala kaming laban sa kanila. But is this how it really works? Will our lives end here?

If yes, I won't die obeying.

"I'm sorry," I say again because that's the only thing that I can utter. Noah starts patting my back and Danielle hugs me tightly.

Habang akap ko sila pareho ay pumikit ako at narinig ko ang sarili kong boses sa aking isipan.

I'm sorry guys, but I was born to disobey.

--

5:28 P.M.

Kanina pa ako tulalang nakatitig sa cellphone ko. Nahiga lang ako sa kama simula nang lumabas si Noah. Danielle is taking a nap above on her bed.

My head is full of thoughts. Of what if's. What if I just stayed at home? I cut this stupid question in my head. I was thinking about this thing numerous times already and I don't wanna be crazy because I know that my what if's won't never come true.

Huminga ako nang malalim at pinilit ko ang sarili kong tumayo kahit pa nanghihina ang katawan ko. Sinilip ko muna si Danielle kung talagang natutulog siya at nang mapagtanto kong malalim ang kaniyang mga paghinga ay dumiretso na ako palabas ng kuwarto.

It's raining outside. I assume na may bagyo because we have no access on the television so we won't really know.

All the lights are closed except for the chandelier in the middle of the living room that gives enough light to the wolf imprinted on the carpet. I take a peek outside while striding my feet towards the sofa. It's dark, but it's not because it's evening. It's due to the heavy rain that splashes water to the Casa. Sobrang lakas din ng hangin dahil nakikita ko ang pagsayaw ng swing sa labas na maya't-maya ay sumisilip sa maliit na bintana ng pintuan. I thought for a while that it's creepy, but then I realized that we are surrounded by murderers and there's nothing creepier than that.

Sa hindi mabilang na pagkakataon ay muli akong huminga nang malalim at niyakap ang aking sarili. I'm wearing a white sando pero may suot akong brown loose jacket. Ibinalumbon ko ito sa aking katawan upang maibsan ang nararamdaman kong lamig. I suddenly shiver not because it's cold, but because whenever I see water splashing on the door, it reminds me of what happened to Clay. Hindi ko maiwasang mag-alala kung anong nararamdaman niya ngayon at kung kamusta na ang lagay niya.

I lie down on the sofa and rest my head on it. I stretch my legs at naramdaman kong dumaloy ang init mula sa mga ito. It feels good, but my injured ankle still aches a bit.

I'm facing the door. Nakatitig lang ako sa maliit nitong bintana habang maya't-maya ang pagsilip ng basang swing dito. The open television still flashes our faces on it. Clay's picture already has the same frame color as ours. Not the green one anymore.

I murmur a curse bago ko muling ibinaling ang mga mata ko sa pintuan. Why didn't I notice that the purpose of those glass coverings was not to prevent any insects from entering the Casa, but to imprison people?

I sigh. Because blaming myself on how stupid I am to not notice things won't do any good. I am not a detective who's supposed to suspect everything. I sigh again, and again, and again until I can count it no more. Tulala lang akong nakatitig sa pintuan. I'm wondering when will I be able to feel those grass on my barefoot.

Kasabay ng pagsalpok ng tubig ulan sa pintuan ay ang unti-unting paglabo ng aking paningin.

I try to fight the urge of sleeping, but my eyelids are so heavy that I can't hold them open anymore.

After a few seconds, everything completely went black.

In a sudden, I am on the stage.

The stage where I performed for years. Ramdam ko ang pagpatak ng tubig mula sa itaas papunta sa aking maputik na balat.

Then I saw the director choking and fighting for his life. Nakahawak ang kaniyang kanang kamay sa kaniyang leeg.

I can't be mistaken from what I'm seeing, he's pointing his shakey fingers directly at me while his eyes are wide open!

Me? What did I do? I look around the stage. Hinahanap ko si Leighton na siyang tumutugtog ng violin. Someone is sitting at his place, but it isn't him.

It's a guy wearing a rabbit mask holding a bloody violin.

Napaurong ako nang mapagtantong may ulong gumugulong papunta sa paanan ko. I didn't see the face but it's wearing Leighton's eyeglasses.

I tried to shout.

But no sound wants to come out. Tanging sigaw lamang ng isang matandang naghihingalo at ang tunog ng violin ang umaalingawngaw sa buong staduim.

Tumingin ako sa lalaking may hawak na violin at sa pugot na ulong hanggang ngayo'y gumugulong papalapit sa akin.

No! I scream in my mind. Mabilis kong iginaya ang aking ulo sa director na hanggang ngayo'y idinuduro ang kinaroroonan ko.

"You poisoned me!" he screams as he struggles to breathe. Someone is holding his body but I can't see their faces. The director's face starts to turn into purple and I'm about to lose my mind because I can't say anything to defend myself from his accusation.

Finally, narinig ko na ang aking boses nang magsalita ako. "No, I didn't!" I insist at unti-unting tumulo ang luha sa aking mga mata.

"Mamamatay tao ka!" sigaw ng isang tinig mula sa madla. I tried to scan who said that but I see nothing except for darkness and a spotlight pointed above me. I'm still wearing my costume that I was wearing back then.

"Hindi ako ang lumason sa 'yo-" natigil ako sa aking sinasabi nang mapagtanto ang isang bagay.

Yes, the director is indeed pointing his fingers at my direction.

But he's not looking at me.

His eyes are fixated at someone behind me.

Agad akong napatalon paatras nang maramdaman kong tumama ang pugot na ulo sa aking mga paa at mula sa gilid ng aking kanang mata ay nasilayan ko ang taong tinititigan ng director.

It's the gamemaker.

Nang magtagpo ang mga mata namin ay bigla siyang natawa na parang bata dahilan para magsitayuan ang lahat ng mga balahibo sa aking katawan.

I tried to alter my gaze pero hindi ko makontrol ang aking ulo. I can't help but to stare at the gamemaker's face like as if he's controlling my movements.

"I didn't kill him, Ysabell. You did," he says seriously as he walks toward me. Rinig na rinig ko ang pagtama ng mga sapatos niya sa malamig na sahig ng stage.

Hindi na matigil sa pagtulo ang aking mga luha at bigla akong napako sa kinatatayuan ko. Nanliit ang aking mga mata habang sinisipat ang kaniyang mukha.

I'm acting like this not because the gamemaker is heading to my direction, but because I recognize the voice—

Nang malapit ko nang maaninag ang mukha sa likod ng maskara ay bigla akong nakakita ng nakabubulag na liwanag.

Then I am swallowed by the darkness again.

A new image flashes in my head.

I see dad.

He's laughing loudly habang nakaakbay sa isang tao.

I assume that they are taking pictures dahil napapikit ako nang may ilaw na mag-flash sa harapan ko.

"Dad!" I tried to call his name but he's not responding. Patuloy pa rin ang tawa niya habang kumukuha siya ng mga litrato.

Everything I see is blurry, except when a photo flies down on my palm.

It's dad...

...with someone that holds a luminous knife pointed at his forehead.

"No!" sigaw ko at mabilis akong tumakbo patungo sa kanila upang pigilan ang kung anong masamang binabalak ng lalaking may suot na kunehong maskara.

Ngunit napapikit ako at napahawak sa aking noo nang bigla akong mauntog sa isang malamig na bakal.

When I regain my composure ay mabilis akong tumingin sa aking harapan.

I'm in an elevator again.

At narinig ko ang mahinang pagtawa ng matandang nakaupo sa wheelchair na nasa kanan ko.

No!

This can't be real!

This is all just an illusion!

I can't stay here!

Especially in this memory that I'm trying to forget for almost a decade.

I slap my face hard to the point na naramdaman ko na biglaang ang pamamanhid nito. But when I open my eyes, I'm still here with the old woman beside me.

I slap my face to the other side at bigla akong napaluhod dahil sa sakit.

I lower my head.

Nanginginig ako habang itinataas ang aking kanang kamay upang muling sampalin ang aking sarili nang hawakan ito ng isang malamig na mga palad.

"Ysabell, apo, huwag mong sasaktan si lola," saad ng matanda kaya unti-unting nanlaki ang mga mata ko.

Nanginginig kong iginaya ang aking ulo sa kung sinong nagsalita.

It's lola. And she's crying.

I tried to speak pero muli siyang nagsalita habang humahagulgol. "Nagmamakaawa ako sa 'yo, apo. Huwag mong sasaktan ang lola mo," she pleads while weeping. Her eyes are terrified at nanginginig ang kulubot niyang mga kamay habang hawak-hawak niya ako.

My eyebrows knitt with confusion.

I know to myself that I was not trying to kill her.

I slowly shift my head from her to my left side. Rinig ko pa rin ang pagmamakaawa at ang mga pag-iyak ni Lola habang pahigpit nang pahigpit ang hawak niya sa aking braso.

Then, I see my reflection on the metal wall of the elevator.

Iba ang pangyayaring ito kumpara sa huli kong napanaginipan tungkol kay Lola.

It's me wearing a rabbit mask, and I'm holding a gun with a silencer.

The gun...

...was pointed at Lola's heart.

Was-

"Ysabell!" sigaw ng isang pamilyar na boses dahilan para mapabalikwas ako mula sa aking pagkakahiga.

That's when I realized that I'm still lying on the sofa where I was a while ago. Ramdam ko ang lamig sa aking katawan ngunit punumpuno ng pawis ang aking mukha at basa rin ang aking damit.

I glance at whoever called my name.

It's Ylise.

"You were screaming so-" I cut her words with a tight hug.

"Thank you... Thank you so much," bulong ko sa kaniya and I rest my head on her chest at tuluyan na akong napahagulgol.

"I know right. I'm always saving you," pagbibiro niya dahilan para matawa siya mag-isa. Nanginginig pa rin ako dahil sa napanaginipan ko at hindi na matigil ang pag-iyak ko.

When she noticed that I am not responding to her, she starts talking. "What was your dream about?" tanong niya habang marahang hinihimas ang likod ko upang patahanin ako sa pag-iyak.

It was actually a nightmare but I have no energy to correct her.

"It's- it's Lola," sagot ko habang sumisinok at wala pa ring tigil sa paghagulgol.

I hear her sighed heavily at alam kong nabigla siya sa narinig niya. "It's the same dream again?" she asks with a tone of concern in her voice. And disappointment.

I slowly nod at muli na naman akong napahagulgol. Why can't that memory be erased in my head? Why does it still keep on haunting me?

Doon ko napansin na nandito pala silang lahat sa harapan ko. Even Clay, whose eyes are still tired and full of black circles is staring at me worriedly.

"A-are you fine?" Noah asks at lumuhod siya upang magtagpo ang mga mukha namin.

Umiling ako habang umiiyak. Napahigpit din ang yakap ko kay Ylise.

Noah looks down on me before he finally gets the urge to hug me. It's like he's back-hugging Ylise but he's looking at my face with those eyes that reassures my safety.

But I guess it has no more effect on me. Those stares can't save anyone's life.

Hinawakan niya ang aking pisngi at nanginginig ang kamay niyang pinunasan ang aking mga luha. "H-hindi ba't a-ayokong n-nakikitang u-umiiyak ka?" saad niya saka hinawi ang buhok kong natatakpan ang kalahati ng aking mukha. My forehead is full of sweat beads.

"What happened, babe?" asks Gia but I just look at her and I mouthed "I'm fine" just to ease her mind. Clay had gone through something worse than mine kaya ayokong dagdagan pa ang inaalala ni Gia.

I sniff then Noah lets go of my body. Nginitian naman ako ni Ylise bago siya kumawala sa pagkakayakap sa akin.

"It will be okay," she lies. I know that as long as our feet are touching the floor of this house, nothing will be okay.

But I just nod. The troublemaker just nod. Pansin kong palagi na lang ako ang inaalala nila. Like as if I'm the weakest one na kailangang bantayan sa lahat ng oras.

Pero hindi nga ba?

Iniabot ni Agnes ang isang basong tubig sa akin habang ang kaniyang ekspresyon ay nakikisimpatya.

Nanginginig na kinuha ko ito mula sa kaniya at inalalayan naman akong uminom ni Ylise dahil kung hindi ay baka mabitawan ko ang baso dahil sa sobrang panginginig ng mga kamay ko.

"There you go," Ylise says after I finished drinking the whole glass of water. I still want more and it seems like the water just passed through my esophagus and then it's gone. It has no effect on me.

Hindi ko maiwasang mag-isip kung ano na lang ang kahihinatnan ko kapag ako ang napili nilang susunod na paglaruan. Well, if we will base the picking process at their perspectives, they would probably choose the weakest one because they were eager to see kung hanggang saan ang itatagal ng taong 'yun sa gano'ng klase ng sitwasyon.

Inilibot ko ang aking mata sa lahat ng aking mga kasama.

No doubt, I am that weakest person here.

My mouth is audacious to be rude but I am just a coward. Now I realized that when my turn comes, I would be an obedient puppy who obeys all his owner's command.

I wipe my tears at binigyan ko sila ng isang pilit na ngiti. "I'm okay, guys. It's just a nightmare," I utter while stretching my beam to make them believe my obnoxious lie.

Leighton clicks his tongue. "Oh, I thought she was dying. You disturbed a sleeping person just because she had a nightmare?" saad niya habang iniismid ang kaniyang mga mata. His arms are crossing each other at nakasuot rin siya ng pulang pajama na may logo ng Sesame Street sa kaliwang dibdib nito.

I noticed Gia rolling her eyes with disbelief bago ito tumingin sa kaniya. "Okay now you can sleep, your highness," she spits sarcastically habang nakataas ang isang kilay nito kay Leighton.

"You disturbed me, so you need to offer me something," Leighton answers while looking at Gia with a bored expression on his face.

"Can I offer you poop?" sabat ni Danielle at bigla siyang natawa.

Leighton gives her a disgusted look. "Do you realize how corny you are?" saad nito sa kaniya saka niya ito pinasadahan ng nandidiring tingin mula ulo hanggang paa.

Danielle stops from laughing nang mapansin niyang siya lang mag-isa ang natawa sa sinabi niya. She smiles awkwardly. "I do, hehe," she answers in a whisper na parang nahihiya siya at nang tinitigan lang namin siya ay muli siyang nagsalita, "Sometimes I hate myself, too."

I almost laugh with her expression. She looks like she needs to pee. I noticed that I completely forgotten that I had a nightmare about my past because of them. Their stubbornness really takes my problems away.

I smile with that thought then I look at Leighton. "What do you want as an offering?" I ask while raising my eyebrow at him. Napansin kong napatikhim si Noah nang makita niya akong mapangiti nang bahagya.

Leighton pretends thinking for a while before he finally utters, "Coffe, maybe?" he suggests habang nakatingin siya sa akin. "Besides, you're the reason why my sleep was interrupted," he continues in a matter-of-fact tone.

I give him a sarcastic smile. "Remember this Leigh..." itinuro ko siya. "If you're on your death bead and slowly dying, I won't come at your house if I'm eating an ice cream," saad ko na ikinabigla ng ekspresyon ng mukha niya.

"You must," he answers in a serious tone pero hindi ako nagpatinag sa kaniya. Inayos ko ang aking pagkakaupo at mas diniin ang titig ko sa kaniya.

"Why would I?" tanong ko gamit ang mataray at nag-iinarteng tono. They are all looking at us and both Danielle and Ylise are restraining their laughs from coming out.

"Because... I like ice cream," Leighton replies blatantly dahilan para umalingawngaw sa buong living room ang tawa ni Gia. Napaupo naman sa sofa si Ylise at napaluhod si Danielle habang bumubunghalit sila ng tawa. We are all laughing except for Clay and Agnes. Leighton, on the other side, is just giving out an exhausted sigh while rolling his eyes at us.

Ilang segundo rin kaming nagtawanan nang biglang magsalita si Agnes. "Ahm, may ice cream sa ref," nahihiyang usal niya kay Leighton habang marahang itinataas ang kamay niya.

Mas lalong lumakas ang tawanan namin at napansin kong natawa na rin si Clay nang dahil sa biglaang pagsabat ni Agnes. But I noticed that Clay seems like his mind is kinda wandering somewhere, maybe because he's still traumatized on what happened.

Bigla namang namula si Leighton kaya inasar siya ni Gia. "Hala ka, si bading nagba-blush," she mocks habang idinuduro niya si Leighton at muli na naman siyang natawa. Pinalo-palo pa niya ang carpet kung saan siya nakaupo dahilan para lumikha ng ingay ang kahoy na nasa baba nito.

Leighton ignores her at tumingin ito kay Agnes na ngayo'y nagtataka kung bakit namin tinawanan ang sinabi niya. "I was... I was just kidding," bulong ni Leighton sa kaniya pero narinig pa rin namin kaya nagsigawan na kami habang tumatawa.

They are both blushing right now at pareho silang hindi makatingin sa amin ng diretso.

Patuloy lang kami sa pagtawa nang biglang may kumalampag sa sahig at nakita kong nakaupo si Clay habang ang kaniyang dalawang kamay ay nakatakip sa kaniyang mga tenga. He's not saying anything but his eyes are terrified.

He's staring at nowhere.

Natigil kaming lahat sa tawanan at nag-aalalang lumapit sa kaniya.

"Babe, are you okay?" tanong ni Gia sa kaniya habang hinahawakan niya ang kamay nito.

A tear slides down on Clay's terrified eyes bago ito magsalita, "K-kailan tayo makakaalis dito?" wala sa sariling saad niya at hindi pa rin niya inaalis ang tingin niya sa kawalan. Niyakap naman siya nang mahigpit ni Gia dahil doon at pilit siya nitong pinatahan.

Napatingin kami kay Ylise nang bigla itong magsalita. "Well, according to those drivers, they will be back after-" hindi ko na hinintay pa na matapos niya ang kaniyang sinasabi at agad ko nang tinakpan ng aking kamay ang kaniyang bibig.

She can't say anything that they might hear and they might use it against us. Hinawakan ko ang palad niya at tinitigan ko siya sa mga mata pero walang lumabas na salita sa aking bibig.

Then after a few seconds of staring with each other, she realized what I'm trying to say. Marahan siyang tumango upang ipaalam sa aking naiintindihan niya ang gusto kong iparating.

"Be honest with me, are you guys in a relationship?" biglaang sabat ni Leighton pero inirapan ko lang siya. Maglalakad na sana ako papunta sa kusina ngunit hinablot ni Leighton ang aking braso kaya natigil ako.

"Are you in a relationship?" tanong niyang muli sa mas mariing tono.

I stare at him for a few seconds, then I nod.

"I'm just gonna get some water for Clay," usal ko bago ko tanggalin ang pagkakahawak niya sa aking braso nang muli na naman akong matigil dahil may dumapong bagong kamay sa balikat ko.

It's Agnes.

"Ako na," saad niya.

I nod at her after a moment and I let her get the glass of water instead.

Lumingon ako sa taong hindi maalis ang titig sa akin.

Noah.

"W-would you m-mind explaining t-this t-to me?" he asks and his eyes are a combination of confusion and pain.

I will explain everything to him, but not right now. Kaya iniwas ko ang tingin ko sa kaniya at pinansin ang unang bagay na aking nakita.

"Agnes' jacket is so cute," I blurts out dahil wala akong ibang maisip na paraan upang ibaling sa iba ang atensyon ko.

I hear Ylise's voice at my back. "Well, I gave it to her."

Hinarap ko siya para matakasan ang nanunuyang tingin ni Noah. "Really?" I ask.

"Really," she admits while nodding at napansin kong pareho nga nilang suot ang gano'ng klase ng jacket.

"Oh," I utter when I realized that what she said was true and she didn't just use it to change the topic.

I'm kinda jealous with what she said, but that's not the point right now.

"It's a limited edition. Only ten people have this kind of jacket," she adds while pinching a part of the linen.

I just nod before pretending to be shocked. "Sayang naman. I want one, too."

"Sa 'yo na lang 'tong sa akin." Narinig ko ang mga yabag ni Agnes patungo sa amin. May hawak siyang baso ng tubig at mahinhin siyang naglalakad.

I fake a laugh before speaking, "It's okay. It's yours," I say.

She just gives me half smile at diretso itong naglakad patungo sa kinaroroonan nina Clay pero napasinghap kaming lahat nang biglang kumulog nang sobrang lakas at kasunod nito ay biglang namatay ang ilaw.

Narinig ko ang pagbagsak at pagkabasag ng baso nang tumama ito sa sahig pero nangilabot ako nang dumapo sa aking tenga ang isang pamilyar na tono.

When you're alone and life is making you lonely

You can always go

Downtown

The forewarning song is now playing which means the next chess piece has been chosen.

And I am not mistaken, because I can hear a gas coming out of somewhere striding towards us.