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I begin shaking my head before recalling that therehadbeen gas. White gas. “Yes. Yes, I did.”
“That might explain why the others are so desperate to catch you.”
His words brought a new understanding between us, a realization that perhaps my presence was the key to managing this curse.
As I absorbed this information, another question bubbled to the surface. “How can you shift between these forms? From that werewolf-like creature to… this?”
His voice is tinged with a hint of sadness. “This is mytrueform. Being near you somehow reverses the transformation. It must be a rule set by the Malquarans for this scenario.”
“Scenario?” I repeat, the term adding another layer of confusion to my already bewildered state.
He nods solemnly, his expression darkening. “Yes, there are multiple platforms like this, each with its own set of rules and creatures. All part of the Malquarans’ sick entertainment.”
His words weigh heavily on me, a sobering realization that our plight is just a small fragment of a larger, more twisted game. The enormity of it is overwhelming, making me feel even more insignificant and vulnerable in this alien, dangerous world.
M’ijel
Zoey’s gaze lingers on my back where the laser had struck me, her fingers tentatively brushing over scales that are now smooth and unblemished. The wound had completely vanished, healed as if it had never existed.
“You’re already healed?” she asks in disbelief.
“Yes,” I reply, still somewhat in awe of the rapid healing myself. “The gas we were exposed to seems to have given each of us different abilities. Mine is rapid healing.”
Admitting it aloud makes it feel even more surreal.
“But why? Why would anyone do this?” Zoey’s brow furrows in confusion and worry.
I sigh, the weight of the reality pressing down on me. “For them, it’s entertainment,” I explain, feeling a bitter taste in my mouth as I say it. “This maze, the traps, the different species brought here… it’s all designed to create a spectacle for the Malquarans and their viewers. They enjoy watching us struggle, fight, and live in fear.”
I can see the understanding slowly sinking in for Zoey, her face growing somber with the grim realization. “So, we’re just… part of a game?”
I nod solemnly. “Yes. And there’s a specific condition for it to end.” I hesitate, knowing how hard the next part would be to hear. “The game doesn’t conclude until… until you mate with one of us. And… not just once. But three times.”
The words feel heavy, laden with an unspeakable horror that I wish I didn’t have to impart.
Zoey’s expression turns to one of shock, a mix of horror and disbelief washing over her face.
Zoey
The notion of matingthree timesin this twisted game reverberates in my head, a concept so bizarre and frightening that it sends shivers down my spine. “But why three times? Why mating? Why…?” I ask, my voice laced with a growing sense of panic.
M’ijel shrugs his shoulders. “They want drama and it’s the surest way to ensure it. Nothing drives a male wilder than the thought of mating.”
How could anyone expect me to comply with such a grotesque requirement? “We have to find another way,” I state emphatically, my voice shaking. “Theremustbe another way.”
“There might be another way out,” M’ijel says.
My heart momentarily soars at the prospect of an alternative but my hope is short-lived. “The problem is, I don’t know what it is. No one does. The rules change with each Mating Games. We’ll need to figure out what it is before we can attempt it.”
My heart sinks at his words. The fleeting hope I had felt dissipates into the heavy air of the cave. “How are we supposed to do that?” I ask, my frustration mounting.
The task seems impossible, an insurmountable challenge in this labyrinth of dangers.
“I’m not sure,” he admits. “But we need to try. For now, you should rest. We’re going to need all our strength and alertness in the days ahead.”
The idea of sleep in such a place seems ludicrous, yet I recognize the wisdom in his words. Rest now may be our only chance to gather our strength for the challenges that lie ahead.
As I settle down, an uneasy sense of trust in M’ijel envelops me. Despite the nightmarish reality we’re trapped in, despite his initial terrifying appearance, I find myself relying on him.
