"Rowan... Rowan... wake up!"
Elena? Elena is that you. Your beautiful voice's still stuck in my ear.
"Come Rowan, let's go."
"No you're dead. I saw you die."
The black room eventually lightens up. It gets lighter and lighter till it was too bright.
I open my eyes. It was a dream, another dream of her. She died Rowan. You saw her die.
I get from my bed. The uncomfortable bed creaking amongst each movement. I look at the mirror, a mark over my forehead. A mark of a spiraling red sun. What is this?
"YOU HAVE BEEN CHOSEN, ROWAN. YOU ARE CHOSEN TO BECOME CAIN. THE KILLER OF THE SHIP."
That voice. That familiar voice of the figures,
"Whats going on?!" My hand places over my forehead?
"THIS IS AN EXAM ROWAN, YOU AND OTHER ROOKIES ARE CHOSEN TO MURDER ROOKIES IN THE SHIP."
"Why should I do that then? Is there a reward?"
"YES, THERE IS A REWARD. THAT REWARD WILL BE ONE WISH THAT WILL HELP YOU SURVIVE FUTURE EXAMS. AN ADVANTAGE OVER OTHER ROOKIES."
A reward that's an advantage. It could help me, but kill someone. Who can I kill in this ship. I do not want to kill anyone In this ship.
"YOU WILL HAVE THREE DAYS. THREE DAYS TO PROVE IF YOU'RE TRULY WORTHY FOR THAT REWARD."
So three days to kill someone. That's more than enough...
And I already have that target...
ZAIN...
The rain continues to the pour over the ship. Thunder, getting louder every hour. The storm is bad. Really bad.
I get out of bed. My arms manifesting through lumin to pick up my clothes. My brown jacket, the one Eleni made for me. It still smells like her too.
Its been four years since she died, and I can't forget her. This is what grief does to a man. I put on the clothes and leave the room to the dining hall. Now limited, only a few now compared to when the moderators gave us the announcement of the psychopaths.
I notice one figure, two figures drinking together. Orion and Alexandria drinking rum together.
As soon as I approached their stances changes to a more straight and rigid style. Both stopped their drinking and their eyes focused on me like soldiers awaiting orders from their general.
Onions massive spiky metal gauntlets to on the table beside him. And Alexandria's thunderite axe still leaning on the wall. Her purple heavy plate armour proudly in display.
"We thought you'd be asleep Rowan. "Orion says. His voice deep and slightly slurred.
He's clearly drunk. Though Alexandria doesn't seem to be drunk yet despite her hate slightly pink from the constant drinking.
"I need your help. Tonight is the right time to attack Zain and his friends."
"Do you suspect them to be the murderers?" Alexandria drops her goblet. Her golden eyes locking directly onto mine.
"Yes, I suspect them to be the ones to killed him."
"How though, we saw their weapons get confiscated and the body clearly had serious wounds that were inflicted from weapons."
"You forgot about the ogre girl. She still has her weapons, two axes and two combat gauntlets."
Orion drops against the table sleeping. So now he's unable to fight.
"So are you willing to go?" I look back at Alexandria.
"I'm not sure about this Rowan. They said killing is allowed but I don't want to face punishment and be seen as a suspect." Her expression shifts to a more calculating expression, and eyebrow raised as she sips her goblet of rum.
"Then I will help you, I'll call some members to help us. Is that good?"
"That's perfect."
Beyond perfect. Now I can avenge that priest and his guard. And I will deal the final blow against him. I will kill him.
I sit on the bench as Alexandria gets up to call the others. Now the main issue will be Rela, she's a walking fortress. If those rumors of her killing five adventurers within seconds is true, then we'll have a problem.
Zain, Aurelia and Dominio have lost their weapons, though I'll just call Alexandria, Orion and the five to fight Rela while I kill the main three. That seems like the right strategy.
I'll just go to Zain's room and kill him there as quickly has possible. I'll murder Zain first, then Aurelia and end off with Dominio. Or should it be Zain for last?
Orion slowly wakes up from his drunkenness. "Boss... what's going on? What time is it?"
"Don't worry my friend, its almost time to attack Zain and his companions."
He holds his head. His face turning a bright pink. "Sorry boss, I think I can't fight. I'll be a liability instead."
I nod my head. "I understand my friend. You can rest, you've been drinking like a warrior."
I hold his shoulder gently. "Go sleep, you're a valuable asset my friend."
I get up and walk to Alexandria now with five rookies behind her. Her long curly hair over her shoulder, "I brought them here. So what's your strategy?"
"You and the five will fight Rela, but you will hide and when I give you a signal you'll attack her and go a hundred percent against her."
She nods. The rookies, look much more determined and excited. "Just be careful, all of you. May Solorus give you strength."
Alexandria's eyes narrow as I turned back. I walk up the stairs and walk through the hallway. The heavy rain lessening even the noise, I can't even hear the floor creak as I walk.
I'm so close to his room. The excitement, it's almost intoxicating. I look ahead and see a shirtless figure, with a white fedora.
"I've been waiting for you."
He looks up at me, that familiar face, the rogue in Zain's team.
"Let's see if that sun god can help you now."
It's Dominio.