24

Luke was shocked to see that their reactions weren’t quite in line with his expectations. Levi was the first to speak after Luke had finished summarizing the scenes he had seen. "That sounds...really strange," Levi began, "...friends of yours?"

"I don’t think so," Luke replied. "I don’t remember seeing it personally. You know when you remember something it’s like...so obvious to you that you don’t know how you ever forgot it? That doesn’t feel like this. I still don’t think it’s anybody I knew."

"Hm...well, maybe you’re the mastermind behind it all," Sophie said. “I mean, out of all the names you pick for that kid’s girlfriend you pick mine?”

"T-That’s not funny," Luke said, quieter. “And I don’t know, you sure you’re not this mysterious girlfriend?”

She shook her head, “I’m aromantic. I don’t care about that stuff in the slightest There are much more important things to worry about.” She took in a heavy sigh. "I’ve never heard of anybody going through what you’re going through, though. So that’s kind of tough shit on you.” She shrugged.

Luke didn’t know what to think to that. Sophie didn’t seem much for talking typically, but here she didn’t seem to stop. He wondered...how much of a coincidence would it be that the person in the memory shared the same name? It wasn’t that odd of a name...but it wasn’t like his own where he could see several people within the same town sharing it. Then again...if only he could see the face behind the name and clear it all up. It sat as a mystery box in his mind.

"You sure you’re not behind this?” Levi asked.

“Positive,” she said. "Listen, if I were even the slightest bit behind this I would have set up an infinitely more efficient game. This is the work of the lazy."

"Lazy? Luke asked.

"Think about it, we’ve only been interacting with robots...for lack of a better term. The roulette game is set on a timer, these doors open on timers—it’s practically set to run itself. I mean, sure, if you wanted to participate from the game yourself having everything else automated makes sense, but think of our options here. We’ve got a hillbilly, a kid, a rich brat, and the most dangerous of us killing wise is already dead. Doesn’t really stack up as mastermind material."

"What are you suggesting?" Levi asked.

"I don’t believe you two are behind this game, and I don’t believe Simon’s smart enough to concoct anything on this level. Besides, the mastermind would try to avert suspicion, and everything he’s done has pretty much been the opposite of that goal."

"Okay, follow up question, only because I’m curious. You said "if I were to run a game like this"...you see, that’s where I have a bit of an issue," Levi began. "I...I don’t think of this game as anything other than the worst thing that’s ever happened to me. I mean, it’s ten times worse than running drugs, and that’s saying something. To hear you so much as say that....to think of how you could even do something...better...?"

She shook her head, "I don’t want to make this game. I’m not psychotic. I just am trying to explain that this would have been a much more efficient game if I were behind it. I think trying to organize it from within the game would be horribly unfortunate...I’m big on being in control, you see. I even made an example of you two right here.”

“What do you mean?” Luke asked.

“You didn’t ask the right questions.”

“The right...what kinda questions would those be?” Levi asked.

"The memory you were speaking about? Yeah, I know the two boys you remember."

Luke had to stop everything that he was thinking about just to stare at her with the expression he had. "Um, excuse me...what?!"

"I never denied it."

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“You...you totally did!”

“No, you specifically asked if I was Cain’s girlfriend or if I was behind it all. I’m neither, but you never asked if I knew the two of them. I do.”

"You implied it sure enough," Levi said, "And that is very crucial information!"

"I don’t see it as crucial. My life outside here isn’t pertinent to why we’re here."

"And how are you so sure about that?" Luke asked. “It’s not important that I’m suddenly remembering these people?”

"...Because the both of them are dead now."

Luke saw sorrow in her eyes for the first time. He took a step back and took in a deep breath. "I...I’m sorry. I didn’t know."

"I don’t know why you’re remembering them...those private conversations I didn’t even know about."

"..." Luke had nothing to say to this. Just what was happening to him? Surely he wasn’t going crazy? There had to be some importance to those two...why else would she be here of all places, and he be remembering them of all people? It was more than what could be coincidence...but would she tell him? He didn’t think so...not right now. If they really were dead, then it’d certainly be a hot point of contention that their little group didn’t need at the moment...with all that had happened. If they weren’t dead and she were lying, well, he couldn’t expect the truth from that scenario either. As much as he hated to admit it...he would have to let go of it for now.

"I’m sorry. I don’t know either. If I did I’d share...it’s just a huge ball of confusion inside me right now." Luke looked down to the floor.

She eyed him before nodding slightly, "Right...I understand. I mean, if I thought it were of any importance I would have brought it up. I just don’t see how it could help us right now."

"Well...what do we do from this point?" Levi asked, but he didn’t have to wait long for an answer. The sound of metal grinding echoed through the cavern of a room, and Luke spotted first that the easternmost door had begun to rise. The time limit must have been up for when the door would open. Strange that it seemed to differ from the last round...or maybe he just underestimated how much time Lucky had been speaking to them.

Either way, the path forward had been opened, and he thought that he was out of tears and out of questions. I have to continue forward...and if I keep stopping then we’re all going to die in here. No matter what happens I have to keep strong. It’s what Aria would have wanted. She wanted us to be friends when we got out of here...and I think I do too. Even if I cannot remember who I am, I know that I can control this. We will get out of here.

Luke stood up and walked over toward Simon’s unconscious body. He hadn’t noticed it before...perhaps because of everything that was going on, but there was a remnant of a scar just underneath his left cheek. It was mostly hidden by the lighting of his cheekbones, but coming closer he could see it more clearly. I wonder what he did to get that sort of mark?

"Hey, what are you doing?" Levi asked.

"I’m not going on without him," Luke said.

"Are you daft?" Sophie asked.

Luke looked from her back to him, "I haven’t forgiven him for what he did, nor how dumb I feel for letting him do what he did. He’s a manipulator and will stop at nothing to get out of here...but I’m sure that if we go through that door without him he is going to die out here."

"Serves him right," Sophie said.

Luke gripped his fist tight. "I...can’t....let that happen."

"Come on, we-"

Luke shook his head, "I can’t leave him here to die. That would be stooping down to his level. If we can make it out of this place he can be tried fairly..."

"I don’t think fairly is going to stick," Sophie said. "Besides, even if we make it out of this and he doesn’t kill us in the process he certainly sounded like he had enough money to sue his way out of anything. Nothing you even set—if what happened here is legally prosecutable—would stick."

Luke thought about it...and what she had said had made sense, but it didn’t change how he thought.

"I still can’t leave him."

Levi sighed, "Alright," he walked over toward the both of them, deftly swinging his elbow into Luke’s stomach. He doubled over as the air left his lungs.

"H-What?!" He coughed out as Levi hoisted him up.

"Nice hit," Sophie said.

"Think of it this way—you tried your hardest, okay? You’re not leaving him. I am. Guilt free."

"That’s—ack—not how it works!" Luke called out, but before he knew it Levi was barreling toward the door. Sophie was following closer behind. Luke tried to call out and to fight him off—he couldn’t leave him behind. No matter how bad he was he couldn’t leave him behind. He-

"Cain?! Where’d you go? CAIN?!"

The voice shot through him like a gunshot and froze his body. He watched as the two cars melded together behind his eyes as the door began to shut behind them. There were no words that left his mouth...only the sight of Abel crying out as his legs would never move again.