Now that I think about it, the stranger is blond and has blue eyes...
"First of all, my name is Axel. Second, form teams of 3."
Lux and Kōri looked at me and I nodded...
At least I know their names... I thought, feeling my body heavier, maybe it's because of the revolver hidden in my waistband.
"Now you will have a test. Kill each other."
Good thing I brought a revolver...
"The rules are: 1. Do not leave the perimeter, which is the abandoned building next to us. 2. Do not help a team that is not your own, and 3. If a member of a team kills another member of the same team, the killer will be eliminated." I memorized every word Axel said.
"The last team standing wins."
"Go up the building and when you get to the top, count to 60. When you reach 60, you can start killing."
I looked up to see the 3-story apartment building Axel was talking about...
Axel signaled for us to enter...
They opened the door and the 12 of us crossed one by one... the smell of dampness was killing my nose, and the wood of the stairs squeaked every time I put my foot on a step.
After climbing the first staircase and reaching the landing, we could see the first rooms and a large hallway that housed another staircase at the end.
Our footsteps echoed throughout the building...
Rats, cockroaches, and a variety of other bugs.
We moved trying to dodge these bugs; every time I moved I felt as if the floor was going to break...
If anyone jumps here, they would break the wood...
We went up the next staircase and finally the last one.
"Lux, Kōri, when they start counting, we're going to hide together," I said in a whisper that only they could hear.
With Lux's apparent strength, Kōri's visible agility, and my tactical intelligence, we can win.
Thinking so much generates something... I thought ironically.
We stood in the center of the hallway.
1
As the count began, Lux, Kōri and I went down the stairs quickly...
17
We hid in a random room and closed the door...
36
The darkness that previously seemed dim now became aggressive and dangerous...
57
I grabbed a sharp piece of glass that was on the floor...
60
When the count reached 60, the noise ceased to exist; no one moved or breathed very hard...
I remembered that I still had the revolver in my pants, but it only has 2 bullets; I'll use them if I'm in a tight spot.
Aaaah!
A scream echoed throughout the building, followed by 3 more screams, each lower than the last, as if someone was dying.
Lux was about to open the door, but I stopped him...
"We can't leave without a plan... when we go out, we'll move watching each other's backs, using that as a weapon," I pointed to a handful of glass before continuing: "We will kill those who are on this floor and then we will go up to the next one."
The two nodded and grabbed a piece of glass. I asked them to pass me 2 more while I opened the door.
I put the pieces of glass next to the revolver...
I have to be careful not to cut myself. The hallway is clear but I can hear murmurs.
Nero, Lux, and Kōri positioned themselves so that nothing escaped their field of vision, back to back as if they were old companions.
I pointed to the room marked as number 6...
We moved in the same position until we reached the room. I opened the door with my hand almost cut by the glass. Lux and Kōri kept watch behind me, though with one eye on the door.
Upon opening the door, a strong scent of blood shook our noses..
On the floor was a blood stain forming a perfect circle; in this room there was a hospital-like bed with a diary on top...
I entered the room, trying not to step on the blood on the floor...
I couldn't resist the temptation and grabbed the diary, but not before having Lux and Kōri keep watch.
I opened the diary on its first page...
It was written in a perfect handwriting that I could understand through Nero's memories.
"September 11, 1427."
"I think this was a psychiatric hospital, which after being closed became a Sinner center."
Sinner? This is the second time I've heard that word...
"The leader used fire, perhaps from the path of wrath, warmth, or bravery, maybe a rank 11."
Rank? Path?
"I think if I faced them I would win, after all, I am a rank 10."
"A blood ritual was performed in this room. The ritual went wrong and the recipient transformed into a daimón, killing all his companions; currently I don't know where he is but I was able to save the bodies of the others."
Daimón?
Nero raised an eyebrow when reading that word; in his mind that word seemed to emanate danger or insecurity.
I turned the page...
"September 27, 1427."
"I found the daimón but only his corpse; his centrum had been removed... someone removed it."
"Who could it have been? Only I knew of its existence. Could it have been someone from the Filius Dei?... No, they only operate in the West and North Zones."
"Well, today is the test for this criminal group; it will be interesting to see how they kill each other."
From the last part I knew that the writer was Axel...
Centrum? Filius Dei?
The Filius Dei are the "police" of Vickmolt but they only operate in the 2 richest Zones...
I approached Lux and Kōri, and explained the content of the diary to them.
Lux reacted without giving it much importance, quite the opposite of Kōri, who analyzed the content.
Tap! Tap! Tap!
We heard steps behind us. I could identify 3 people. I tightened the glass in my left hand before throwing it with all my might at a girl's neck.
Crack! The cold glass pierced the girl's neck, cutting skin, flesh, and bone... It seems Nero was a good shot.
Her blood spilled across the wooden floor of the building...
Even though someone had died next to them, they did not stop for a second.
One boy tried to hit Kōri, but she managed to dodge the blow, moved to his side and plunged her glass into his chest.
The other tried to do the same with Lux, but he sent him flying with a punch and killed him by stepping on his head.
I checked the floor with my gaze...
If we killed this team and above, I guess because of the scream, they also killed a group
"Only one team left."