Outside the window, night. The wind seemed to test the glass for endurance. Rain started, heavy, noisy, as if the sky decided to pour everything at once. In such weather, even someone who usually doesn't mind a storm wouldn't go out.
All participants sat in the living room. Waiting for the last player. The person without whom it all couldn't begin. Or perhaps shouldn't.
On the ceiling hung a clock. Black, shiny. Showing time. Six o'clock, which looked strange, according to the Guide, time doesn't exist here. Another irony? Or a hint?
The room, two sofas. A round table between them. Everything placed perfectly symmetrically, as if someone calculated it in advance. Down to the centimeter, down to the game.
On one sofa, Yahweh and Hov. On the other, the girl. Silent, uncomfortably silent. Enua stood by the window, leaning against the wall. Watching the street, where rain blurred the outlines of trees.
"And how long will this go on?" Enua finally broke the silence. "Maybe I'm wrong, but we've been here about two hours."
He spoke calmly, but his voice betrayed fatigue. Or irritation. Or boredom. Or all at once.
"We haven't been briefed. Except what the servants said. Until everyone gathers, we won't move," Yahweh replied.
"That's right." Enua nodded. "But standing here doing nothing isn't an option. It's a good reason... to dig into the past. Ah-ha-hah..."
Awkward laugh. Or nervous. Hard to tell. Too much in common between the two.
Yahweh looked at him. That very Enua he'd once fought. Many years ago, when everything was simpler. Or seemed simpler.
"It's not the game itself that's surprising." Enua spoke again. "It's that we're participating. Who set this up? Why resurrect us specifically?"
Silence. The question hung in the air, like an unsent letter.
"We need to talk to the servants," Hov said. "They've been here from the start. Should know something."
"I'll go with you," Yahweh added. "Splitting up now is a bad idea. There are only four of us, we don't know the girl. Enua... also no reason for trust."
"True. They said they work from five to nine. The clock shows six. So they're still here."
"Though outside it's like night. But with this weather, hard to tell. Last I saw them heading to the kitchen."
The way to the kitchen took five minutes. The house was built not for convenience, but for... testing patience.
In the kitchen, quiet conversation. Morgana and Cheryl. Cheryl washing dishes. Morgana noticed them first.
knock-knock
"Did we interrupt?"
"Mr. Yahweh, Mr. Hov," Morgana bowed slightly. "Everything okay?"
"We want to ask a few questions," Hov said. "About what's going on."
"Of course. We're listening," Morgana nodded.
"What is this game? Why us? Who resurrected us?"
"Sorry..." Morgana looked away. "We're forbidden to speak. That's the Mistress's order."
"Don't worry," Cheryl interjected. "She'll appear soon herself. Not long now, really not long."
And at that moment, the air in the room changed. Sharply. Imperceptibly, but noticeably, as if someone entered, though no one did.
They turned. No one, but the feeling was there. Strong, real.
"Did you feel that?" Hov.
"Yes... You too? Hey! Did you feel it too?! Someone was behind us!"
"It's not important," Cheryl said, expression unchanged. "You'll find out everything soon. Don't ask extra questions, that's not our role."
"Maybe... we should rest. We haven't slept since arrival."
"Yes, we'll come back later. By the way, what's your name? The others introduced themselves."
"I'm Gerudo. Pleased to meet you, Mr. Hov."
sudden snap
Hov's hand shot up and closed on Gerudo's throat.
"Mr. Hov! Stop!" Morgana cried.
Cheryl didn't move an inch.
"What are you doing?!" Yahweh placed a hand on Hov's shoulder.
"You think I'm doing this for nothing?" Hov didn't let go. "Think who greeted us? Morgana and Cheryl. Where was Gerudo then?"
"Cooking?"
"Possibly. But how to explain what we felt behind us? If someone was there, Morgana would have seen. So... we're being fooled, something was in the food. Or drinks."
"You think he poisoned it?"
"How else to explain?"
Hov didn't release.
"Okay... just let go..." Gerudo wheezed.
Hov removed his hand. Red marks remained on the neck.
"I didn't add anything, I'm only told to bring food. I'm just the cook."
"That doesn't rule out you're more than a cook," Hov said calmly.
"I'm a witness," Cheryl said. "I've been with him from the start, he added nothing. If you don't believe him, you don't believe us."
"I think that's enough," Yahweh nodded.
"You've gotten too soft, Yahweh." Hov smirked. "Alright. I admit, but then how to explain... this?"
"Magic?"
"But upon arrival, we all lost powers. That's one of the rules, the island strips abilities."
"Allow me," Gerudo said calmly. "That presence... it was her."
Silence.
"The Mistress. She really exists. Her body awakens with the start of the Game. Her soul is chained, she can't leave the island."
"Then what's her goal? Why us?"
"I don't know. They didn't tell me."
"Expected," Hov said.
"How long have you worked here?" Yahweh asked.
"Yes. Since the First owner, after his death, everything passed to her. That's when Morgana and Cheryl appeared."
"Time to go back."
"Sorry for the roughness," Hov said. "I overdid it."
"It's okay. Everyone here is a bit on edge."
They returned to the living room.
Enua sat with the girl. She was silent, as before.
"We're back. Were you talking?" Yahweh asked.
"Just getting acquainted. Nothing important."
"So you know her? Then introduce. She hasn't said a word this whole time."
"Her name is Tiamut. Just an acquaintance."
"Clear. They told us the last participant is close."
"So it'll start soon."
They waited. Four. In a room where the clock ticking seemed louder.
Rain outside grew stronger. Thunder louder.
And then... the doors opened.
Steps. One. Two.
Everyone looked up.
And... froze.
Instead of one participant, two entered.