***
Everyone scampered off immediately.
Rowen and Lucy went to one of the mazes and hid.
“Lucy?” He muttered.
“Yes?” She answered.
“Have you seen Tasha?” He asked.
“Tasha?, No…Why?”
“I wonder where she is. Gosh. I didn’t see her throughout”
Lucy eyes stared at him hurtfully.
“She’s safe, you think?” He asked, worriedly.
She gasped, like she was breathless.
“If you’re so worried about her. Why not look around for her?” She asked.
“You’re right. Wait here, okay?” He muttered and proceeded to leave.
Lucy widened her eyes and quickly grabbed his arm.
“Have you gone nuts? Those games peeps are moving around this place. You might get yourself kílled”
“Then, what about Tasha? Her baby?”
“You mean your baby?” She swallowed.
“Lucy…”
“Don’t go. Stay with me”
“Yesterday, She looked sick. What if she faints in her hideout. What if something bad happens to her and the baby? What if-
“Then let every bad thing happen to her” Lucy nearly shouted, her eyes brimming tears.
“Lucy? Please…”
“Are you doing this for the baby or cause you still have feelings for her”
“You’re the one I have feelings for. No other person” He said.
“Then,,, stay”
“I can’t…I’m sorry. I made a promise. She shouldn’t díe,,, especially the baby”
“Rowen” Her voice cracked and the tears slipped.
“What about me? Darren? What if I get shot here??”
“I’ll be back, I promise. Nothing will happen to you”
“But,,, I don’t want you to díe” She cooed.
“Tasha…She isn’t safe”
“Then, let her be endangered. Seems my wishes are coming to pass”
“What…wish?”
“I want Tasha Luke, your mistress to díe. Let her leave my life, my husband, my marriage in peace”
“Lucy. You shouldn’t be like this. I care for you more but I made a promise to Tasha and her baby that I will stand and be with-
“You can go”
“What?…Really??”
“Yes…But the moment you do. Its the end. We are gonna divorce”
*Powwww!* They heard a gunshot and Rowen widened his eyes, in fear.
Before Lucy could talk more, he ran out.
“No…” She whispered, crying muffledly.
****
Phoebe frowned and looked at the timer clock, 2 minutes more.
She took her eyes to Freddy who was with her, and a frown rounded her face.
“Why did you come here? Better hide elsewhere” She said.
There was a woman with them. written by sommy pearl f.
Freddy sighed.
“I understand why you h@ťě me so much. The fact that I’m against your dream makes you disdain and detest me”
“Then, I’m glad you know…”
“Phoebe? You won’t survive it” He muttered.
“What?” She whispered and faced him.
He slowly took his face to her.
“Soccer. You won’t survive it”
She swallowed.
“Why do you h@ťě soccer so much. Why!!!” She screamed.
“Sshhh” The woman said.
“What if those games supervisors hear??” She asked and peeped.
She looked at Phoebe and her grandpa with widened eyes.
“f_ck it! They heard. They’re coming this way. 5 of them. I gotta go. You’re such a fool” She spat and went to the other direction.
However, game conductors were also there and they shot her down immediately.
Her body fell and her face was shown to Phoebe’s side.
She gasped fearfully when she saw the widened opened eyes of the côrpse.
“Listen Phoebe. Don’t play soccer. That day of the fatal accident which claimed your parents life. You were rushed to the hospital. The doctor said your legs were in bad shape”
“It was fragile. We did a lot of surgeries, made bone and iron implants Inside your legs to make it strong. You took drugs for years. Those legs..They are fake and feeble. Feeble than mine”
“They warned me, Phoebe” His old gray eyes shook.
“They said if you played excessively with your legs or make them work too much. You would be cripple for life. Guess why…I always made your school closer to home. Guess why I never allowed you go far. Guess why I prohibited soccer. Guess why I loathed footballs”
“Grandpa” She muttered, softly.
A tear ran down their eyes.
“There’s no time. I gotta go”
“Go? Go where?” She asked, holding his hands, quickly
“The game conductors are coming closer. I don’t want you hurt”
“Grandpa, please,,, please. I’m sorry…Its my fault so stay. Don’t go”
“Its fine” He took her hands down.
“I’ll try to buy time. Just stay safe” He smiled.
“Grandpa. No…No…Please, don’t go” She cried, shaking her head.
He patted her head and smiled.
“My baby grand daughter. I’m glad I finally confessed everything you needed to know. I’m sorry for keeping it for so long. I love you, Phoebe. Please, stay alive…”
Before she could look up, he was gone.
“Grandpa” She cried and held her mouth.
“I’m here. The one who shouted is me!” He laughed, looking at the game conductors who stood in front of him.
One of them shot him immediately and he fell to the ground.
*Player 13 has been eliminated*
The game conductors turned and proceeded to leave.
Phoebe shook out her head and looked at her grandpa who was at the peak of de@th, lying on the floor.
“Grandpa…” She sobbed, her hands covering her mouth.
He smiled at her and at the same time, a tear ran down her eyes.
“Stay alive”
“Its my fault…I’m sorry. And I wanna come with you…” She muttered and stood up.
“Grandpa!!!” She screamed and ran to him. She knelt in front of him, crying loud.
He was gone now.
The game conductors stopped and turned. They scanned her for a while.
Then, one took her gun up and targeted it to Phoebe.
“I’m sorry, Grandpa for not keeping your promise” She whispered and shut her eyes.
TBC