abel [https://imgur.com/gfZpXk6.png]

Communication with the outside world had been severed and no one understood how. Whoever or whatever force had trapped them within the lethal city perimeter had also blocked all forms of contact with the outside world. Their cell phones had no service, landlines were silent, televisions displayed only static, computers unable to connect to the internet.

Not only had they been shut in, the world had been shut out.

His first full day in Agona, Abel had wandered about the building. Daryl had led them to an apartment building, one of the towering structures they had ran past, stretching high, almost reaching the distant glow that surrounded the city. During the day, the blue blended so well with the sky that he could scarce make it out from street level.

He was desperate for a glimmer of hope he could hold onto; a familiar face, a working television or maybe a passing rumor that the city was in the process of freeing them. He found nothing of the sort as he climbed the apartment building, glancing into open doorways, nodding at those passing him in the hall. He found no hope, and he saw none in anyone else.

The first day passed. As did the second and third.

Abel caught only passing views of Daryl, the one who had brought them to this place. As the man had said on that first night: “This apartment is likely the safest place in the city right now. A level zero on the streets is easy pickings for those playing this Karma game.”

Sarah spent most of her time in an open area at the base of the building which looked as though it had once been a garage, now simply a square of cement that was covered with a number of rectangular sheets. Sarah sat next to one of those sheets and the body beneath it for hours each day. He had wanted to pull her away, but didn’t feel it was his place to intervene with her grieving process. He thought to sit with her, but even with the bouquets sitting beside each sheet, the swelling smell of rot was enough to change his mind.

Bernard was nowhere to be seen. The three had been led to a room on the eleventh floor - a surprisingly normal interior compared to how the buildings looked on the outside - and Bernard had fallen asleep. When Abel awoke the first morning, the man had vanished and he hadn’t seen him since.

Confusion and distrust permeated his interactions with others. No one wanted to be in the city, to talk about it, to admit the tragedy they were a part of. When he went into the lobby for food during the day, there were conversations but they were hushed, there were smiles, but they were infrequent. Many ate alone and in silence.

On the fourth day, he noticed laughter. A strange sound, coming after he’d woken and walked down to the bottom floor for breakfast. Two men were joking with one another as they served themselves food. There wasn’t much variation in the diet; tough pancakes for breakfast, sandwiches for lunch and also for dinner. A few people with higher Kara ratings moseyed behind the counter that had once been used to book rooms, now set up as a buffet, taking away empty platters and replacing them when necessary. The laughter had been contagious.

On the fifth day, Bernard returned.

Abel had been sitting in their bedroom, on the only chair, looking out the large window at the sun lowering towards the horizon, theories and conjectures amass in his mind, when Sarah returned from the garage. She brought the smell of the dead with her. They met eyes and she wordlessly grabbed a towel and disappeared again.

There was at least working water within the city. They had yet to find a change of clothes, though.

When she returned, she pulled a brush out of her purse and set to pulling it through her wet hair.

“Did you eat?” she asked.

He gave a nod.

She continued brushing her long hair, pulling through knots, then tossing it over her other shoulder and beginning again.

They rarely had anything to speak about. But she spoke at that time. “Do you think she’s okay? Lyssa.”

Abel looked down at the streets. He could make out a few dots scurrying around like ants. Somewhere below, Lyssa was scurrying around all alone too.

“She seemed like a strong girl,” he said honestly. “I think she’ll be fine.”

She didn’t say anything, continuing on her hair.

The truth was, he regretted not going with her. The girl had tried to be noble and make sure her friend was safe before her, but Abel knew it had been forced. No one wanted to be alone in this situation. Even with her single Command, she was completely helpless to whatever horrors were plaguing the city each night. The flashes of light, the colors streaking high towards the sky, the sounds of gunfire and explosions. They were fading as each day passed. Or maybe he was just getting used to them. He hoped that wasn’t the case.

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“I thought she would be back by now,” Sarah added.

Bernard walked into the room then, heading towards the empty bed between Abel and Sarah. He laid onto it, letting out a deep breath.

There was a lull in the conversation. Neither of them had seen him in days and now he appeared without a single word or greeting.

“Where have you been?” Abel asked.

“Around,” he responded, uninterested.

“Did you find Lyssa?” Sarah asked, voice harsh.

“No, and I wasn’t looking for her.” He lifted himself to sit on the edge of the bed to look at the girl, getting back a glare. “You think I’d risk my life walking around this city for some girl I hardly spoke to?” he turned to Abel, “Sharing a train car has not turned us into life partners. You can get all buddy-buddy with each other, but don’t expect me to join along.”

“Then why don’t you just go away?” Sarah snapped.

“I have every right to be here just like you,” Bernard said, outrage staining his voice. “You’re just some high school brat who-”

“I told you before that the three of us weren’t in high school.” She took a fistful of her skirt in her hand. “These were Annie’s idea.”

“The way you’re acting, I don’t believe you,” Bernard said, giving a breathy laugh and dropping himself back onto the bed.

Sarah stomped to her feet. “Listen, you son of-”

And then the sound came back.

It screeched through the air, loud enough that Abel thought the windows were going to shatter. He didn't scream this time. He had felt it once before. It was as terrible as he remembered, but, although he wasn’t ready for it, he knew that it would stop. It was temporary, just long enough to get the attention of everyone in the city. Still, he fell to the floor, stuffing his palms into his ears to try and ease the pain.

It stopped. The ringing in his ears blared as loud as the sound for another half a minute, slowly quieting down as he helped Sarah to her feet as well.

Then the familiar voice returned.

"I sincerely apologize for the pain that sound might have caused any of you, but it was crucial everyone was paying attention. Now that I'm sure everyone in the city is listening, allow me to begin.

"Today we will hold the first festival to celebrate your initiation into the beautiful city of Agona. These festivals are held to ensure everyone is always able to fully enjoy themselves in the city. Of course, there will be special prizes for the winners of the activities and competitions. Everyone should always feel they need to try their best.

"The first festival is meant to encourage you to socialize with others. In the center of the city, where the park once was, there is now an arena. For those of you disappointed to hear this, don't worry, the park will return once the festival is over! Sky Sight has simply altered the park for the duration of the celebration.

"Tomorrow at noon, the fights will begin. They will be one on one fights. No interference is allowed. Also, Commands will be disabled while inside the arena, to maintain an equitable atmosphere. The combatants will each be given their choice of weapon. Then, they will fight until one side submits. Death will count as submission.

"Why are Commands not allowed? This festival is being held to make sure everyone is able to come together as a community. The Commands which you have worked hard to earn will have prominent roles in future fairs and celebrations.

"I extend an invitation to anyone and everyone to join in! If you don't intend to fight, come and watch with others! And for those planning on competing, because this is the very first competition, the prize will be exceptionally worth the effort. Don't pass up such an opportunity!

"I hope we can all get along and our enjoy ourselves during tomorrow's festival!"

The voice cut off. It bothered him how cheerful it sounded.

Yet inside, Abel was going through the things the man had said. A competition, one on one fights, no Commands allowed.

Abel had been practicing with a sword since he was a child, long before he joined the fencing club. He was confident in his ability. He was so confident, winning this competition didn’t seem unrealistic.

Part of him didn’t want to believe a single word the voice had spoken. It could be a trap of some sort, a ruse to get the citizens to gather in one place. But it had spoken genuinely the first night. Why would it begin lying now?

And what did it mean that the park had been replaced by an arena?

He glanced out the window and his heart began pounding in his chest. Abel looked at Sarah, then did a double-take out the window before them. “How...” he tried, but words fell flat. Sarah walked to his side, grabbing his arm for whatever small feeling of security she could find.

In the distance, there was an arena, reminiscent of the famous home of gladiators in Rome. It hadn’t been there minutes before, as he stared out the window, but now, it’s white pillars and arches stretched wide in what he now knew was the location of the park.

He shivered. What the hell is this city?

He was reminded that he was being watched. That the three of them were currently under the watchful eye of Sky Sight. Each breathe and each shiver was being closely monitored and judged by the computer. He mouthed CheckSelf and the HUD appeared before his eyes. There were cameras in the rooms. On the streets. In basements.

The same force in control of the mics and cameras, in control of the Commands given to those for their Karma levels, in control of the forcefield around the city being impassible, was also the force which was able to build an arena in under a minute with no visible origination. No materials, no cement.

No arms or hands.

Abel shivered again, wondering if that motion was being judged as a positive or negative action in the eyes of Sky Sight.