Away From Eden

Party Dinner

It was still a puzzle until about where this game took them. Everything around them looks real in a simulated world. Sometimes they were instantly transported from place to place. The players haven't seen as high-tech system as what's inside this game world.

Another thing is, they also begin to realize how freak the game author was.

" Imagine how party games could be deadly now," Lizie whispered to Jiggs.

Jiggs chuckled, " don't expect," he said looking around.

"partying in the new world order isn't any more fun,"

Now the players are in their neat, elegant suits. The boys were on their ties and tuxedo, while some girls wearing cocktail dresses. The dinner prepared for them was elegantly fine. They were now in a modern, spacious, glass-walled room. There were waiters and chefs attending and serving them as if they were some VIP guests at a party.

There is symphonic music playing in the air.

The meal ambiance was relaxing.

But of course, the players know all could just be a fine topping on the surface. Unless they're out alive in this game world, they couldn't be relaxed and safe.

The waiters approach them without saying a word. They just placed food and drinks on their tables. The odd thing is, the waiters and chefs are not really humans. They were like stick robots with human intelligence. However, the food served is elegant and sumptuous.

The players took advantage of filling their stomachs full while nothing chaotic was happening yet. They were near the finish of their indulgence when the buzzer sounded again.

The waiters were commanded by the voice to serve a special dessert. That's what the voice said. The next serving is the highlight of the dinner.

A white gold plate is laid down before them. On it is a gold sweet caviar pudding, garnish with an elegant presentation. It looks enticing, and for common people like most of the players, eating this dessert is hesitating for it would be regrettable to spoil its lovely embellishment. But then, the voice ordered them to eat it all up.

"This is really good!" some players satisfyingly commented.

They were really enjoying the short moment of happiness but then in a while when they all had consumed the desert, some of the players began coughing. First, it was slight until they were coughing hard and their faces turned red. Some of the players screamed when their seatmates fall on the floor clutching unto their necks, suffocating, until some of them eventually have cardiac arrest.

" What's happening?"

They screamed in panic.

Even Carsen was wondering too. His eyes glanced around the table looking for something unusual on it.

What is it? He asked himself.

The table? Utensils...The food? Which menu? What's on the menu?

Carsen was figuring out.

He looked at his co-players again.

But some of us were just fine!

We all had just eaten the same menu! Carsen thinks.

While Janesi rushed to help some of the players. Trying to revive some of them. The others who were fine did the same too.

Meanwhile, Carsen's eyes sparked up with what he realized.

" It's the desert!" he shouted.

All the players paused and grasped at their chests.

They all have eaten that expensive dessert. They held their chest expectant and worried for the worst to come.

Then the voice reverberated again in the air.

" Hello, players. As per the rule in the Suck and Blow Card round, those who have chosen green would have an unbearable journey,"

Hearing that, Carsen's eyes laid on the empty plate of the desert served to those players suffocating. He noticed a small red dot on it. He looked at his plate too. He's got the same green dot as theirs.

Carsen was aware that he chooses green in that round. He tried to calm himself, and breathe. He felt himself if he would feel something strange and painful if he couldn't breathe too.

" Okay, all players who choose green are now eliminated!" said the voice when those suffocated players aren't moving anymore.

What eliminated? But I choose green! Carsen thinks.

" Except...for Carsen Adams," the voice said.

The other players darted their look at him.

" He chooses green, but he was able to transfer his card. You've got a meal now because of those three cards on the board, including his. And so he's got immunity on this part," the voice explained to them.

Soon the voice was replaced with the sounding of an alarm. The players began to panic, fleeing towards the exit of the dining room when suddenly a thick smoke began coming out from the corners of the glass wall.

But the exit door was slowly closing down.

The players rushed in panic. Screaming. For sure they would die if they get trapped here. They all wanted to go out first. The elegant, relaxing dining room was now in a stampede. In their desire to survive this hour, the other players are even killing their co-players whose blocking their way.

For sure when that door closed, it was impossible to open or break it off. The door is a pull-up made of very thick metal, and it's certainly heavy. Not even a machine would open it once it closes down.

Now the dining room was all filled with smoke, and they were still a few who haven't gotten out, including Janesi and Lizie.

The girls were stuck in the stampede.

" Hey! Come!"

It was Jiggs. He's extending a hand to Janesi.

Janesi struggled.

She looked up, the door was now quarterly closing.

" Quick!"

Jiggs' voice seemed to get her to her senses. She can't lose this! She told herself. And exerted out all the strength in her, then wrestled towards the door.

She was able to get out.

Jiggs grinned wide.

" Carsen dude!"

Jiggs yelled.

Carsen was about to exit then when he noticed Lizie was having cramps.

" Damn!" he mumbled.

He couldn't bear to help her. But the door was now inches away from completely closing. Now they need to crawl to get out.

" Faster!"

Carsen let Lizie get out first.

Lizie closed her eyes screaming unsure if she will be getting out alive or if this is her end. This heavy metal door was moving continuously that her tummy was just an inch away to get squeezed by it.

She was crying loud in fear.

" C'mon!"

Lizie didn't know what to do. It's like her mind went blank in fear. Good thing Jiggs on the other side pulled her out.

" Carsen! Cmon dude!"

Jiggs's gaze was full of worry and concern. It's pretty hard to get out now. Carsen lay on the floor and slid himself out of the door. It was still moving down.

He groaned.

It's supposed to touch his flesh now. It's very near to squeezing him. Good thing he was quick to grab it, stopping it from falling on him.

Damn! This is impossibly heavy! He thinks.

But he can't die. Carsen thinks about his life outside this game world. His mom. His house and neighbors in El Rotosi.

El Rotosi...yeah...I'll still have to go home... Carsen thought to himself.

Fueled with the fire of survival, Carsen scraped his fingers on the metal door. He exerted a force stopping the heavy metal to fall on his flesh.

He screamed.

And again, continuously fought the force that was about to kill him.

" Carseenn.."

Now, this unfamiliar voice is, here again, calling him as if he knew him.

Carsen continued to wrestle while sliding himself out.

He groaned.

Pieces of scenarios were flashed in his thoughts. Scenarios he was a stranger of. And in the midst of his confusion and determination to live, Carsen felt like his strength was beyond normal again. This is the same feeling he felt one time when he destroyed the Terminus.

Carsen digs in his grip again on the metal door. He pushed it up, and this time it moved like it was just something light. But then, with one touch of his hands again, the metal door shrink like it was an ordinary matter melting, deforming on his grip.

" Huh?!!!"

Carsen's co-players gasped in shock.

" Did he just.... made that door disappear?"

They murmured.

But Carsen's thoughts weren't on his co-players. His mind was left wondering what were those scenarios he saw in his mind a while ago.

What...are...just those? Memories...are those mine? He asked himself.

Then, in a moment. The voice was heard again, informing the player that the Suck and Blow Card round is going to end with a big reveal.

" Big reveal?"

The remaining players mumbled. They all have got one common thing in mind. They all looked at Carsen. But to their surprise, a video was projected in front of them, on it is not Carsen's face, but of Jair Santana.

The players gasped in confusion thinking about what the voice is up to this time. While Jair turned pale in fright in the corner.

" Do you remember how you get thrilled in high school whenever someone's secret is spilled out?"

The voice speaks again.

No! No! Jair's eyes widened. At the back of his mind, he was protesting. He knows where is this heading.

Everyone fell into silence when a video of Jair's life was flashed by what seemed like a projection screen. It was showing his fun life in Standford. His life as a bully. There is footage showing how he picked on Janesi, which made the latter emotional.

But then seconds later, the players especially those who know him close, gasped in surprise when they saw Jair's current life.

" He's now a Flock?!"

" Oh...that uniform designs of bottom houses!"

" Look at the high and mighty bully is now secretly a Flock!"

Some commented.

Jair even heard some laughs.

He was pretty humiliated but still, he was thankful the truth about him was not all spilled out. At least the video didn't show them that the reason why he become Flocks is that he killed a fellow Castellan back then.

" That's it!"

The voice echoed in their midst again. Now it's sounding cheerful.

" You are now getting fewer! To remaining survivors...see you in the next round!"