Chapter 68: The Strongest

“For starters, my name is Zeris, and I’m one of the founders of a group called Aleyros,” says Crow.

Leaning forward, Cliff rubs his hand across his mouth and chin while his mind tries to make sense of everything... Crow, no. Everything that… Zeris is telling him.

“I assume by now, you have no contentment in seeing me on screen… as I’ve probably killed quite a few of your friends. Even so, I implore that you watch the rest of this video with an open mind, even with the burning hatred that’s most likely festering in your heart and soul at this very moment. I can’t blame you. What I’ve done… what I’m still doing… is unforgivable.”

After a brief pause, Zeris resumes, “But I’ve grown accustomed to bearing such sins. This isn’t the first time I’ve killed children. Just the thought of how many young men and women I’ve murdered that could’ve grown up to… to be much better people than myself… is what keeps me staring at the endless night sky most nights.”

Tapping his finger on the arm of the chair, Zeris takes a deep, ragged breath.

“I was a competitor that participated in the 38th annual trials and was also the only remaining survivor out of sector six. That’s right,” says Zeris. “I went through the same hellish experience you’re going through now. And because I lived, I lost everything. I wish I had died back then…”

Zeris then brought a hand to his face and clicked a button on the side of his mask. Cliff’s jaw slacks at the horrifying state of his face as Zeris takes off his mask.

“The only piece left of me is my name… Zeris,” he says as he massages his forehead and chuckles before throwing his hands up. “And I don’t even know if my name is real! These trials took everything from me… this kingdom took everything from me!”

Zeris shakes his head and wags a finger, “You want to know the truth? These trials are the least of your worries, kid. Honestly, I’m doing everybody I kill… a favor. Like that girl I killed earlier today. Call it mercy, I suppose.”

He snaps his fingers a few times, and Cliff continues watching, speechless, “I think she was named Flora. She was too perceptive for her own good. I did her a favor. I saved her from the hell that awaits on the outside because, knowing what I know now… if I could go back in time and kill my younger self, I would do so in a heartbeat.”

Sifting his hand over the top of his slicked-back hair, Zeris pauses and leans forward, placing his elbows on his knees and resting his chin on his brought-together hands.

“But I’m here to change that. To fix this reprehensible kingdom. If saving a few more children is all I gotta do to maybe one day achieve my goals, as far-fetched as they may be, so be it. Hell already has my name written all over it, so what’s the harm in adding a few more sins to my resume? I’m already a twisted, vindictive bastard who deserves to rot…”

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

He takes a deep breath.

“So… I’ll continue playing 'runner', for as many years as it takes until I find the strongest. Because only the strongest will be able to fight back and overcome the mental torrent that awaits. Only the strongest can carve a path to a brighter future. A better future. One where I won’t be doing this.”

A better future...?

Shaking his head a few times, Zeris sits back in his chair, “Look at me, going off on a rambling tangent again. Well… I guess it’s not often I can freely speak my mind like this. Anyway, as I said earlier, if somebody found this room and is watching this recording, that means we’re approaching the endgame of this first stage. A series of choices awaits you and anybody else still alive, and a single mistake may prove fatal. But you probably have all the information you need, except for a few things. Which leads me to my next point…”

Zeris claps his hands twice, and there’s a brief pause. Startling Cliff, the wall to his right starts to grumble and slide open loudly. As more of this new room is gradually revealed, Cliff takes note of a single table and a series of weapons hanging up on the walls around the room. Various swords of all sizes, a bow, arrows, daggers, spears, scythes, you name it… this room has it.

“Inside the room beside us, you’ll find the keys to open the other three crates on one of the tables. Those are yours. That basket of food beside the keys will replenish your supply. That is also yours. The weapons displayed are much more lethal than the ones you were given on day one. Feel free to take as many or as few as you like. You can even take none. It’s entirely up to you. But lend me your ear for a second because these weapons will aid you in one way or another.”

Processing what Zeris is telling him, Cliff skeptically saunters into the room.

“I’m not sure who you are or what you’ve been through, but you must remember. Only one can remain. What you choose to do with these items and information is, once more, up to you. For the one listening to this, you are strong. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have found this place or gotten this far into the video. But here’s the question…”

Cliff glances back over his shoulder at Zeris, who has his hands on his knees, leaning toward the camera, “Are you able to become the strongest?”

A loud rumbling noise blares behind Cliff, and he whips his head around to see a broad stairwell opening beside the couch where the rooms conjoin.

Zeris sits back, “There’s your exit. If you take the stairs to the top and open the latch, you’ll find yourself back on the outskirts of the lake. Once you leave, the latch will shut, and you won’t be able to reopen it or access this room again from the pond. You have three minutes to take whatever you want before this room self-destructs.”

This room is going to self-destruct?? In three minutes?? How long will it take to climb up the stairwell? He’s forcing me to make a choice. I won’t be able to take everything. Will I even be able to make multiple trips? Will I die if I take too long?

“Oh, and one more thing.”

Cliff glares back at the TV screen and sees Zeris leaning closer to the camera again, lifting a single finger as he puts his mask back on.

“One of the sixteen of you… never lost their memories,” he says in a distorted voice.

With that, the video shuts off, and a timer appears, counting down from three minutes.

3:00… 2:59… 2:58…

One of us… remembers their past life?