Chapter 32: Gaming Zone

Chapter 32: Gaming ZoneBehind him, the man on the couch gave a noncommittal grunt and flicked his knife into the air again. The shard-tipped blade rotated before he caught it by the tip, as though he had done it a thousand times.

Elias glanced back, raising an eyebrow at the careless display. One of these days, he's going to put that knife through his own hand, Elias thought with a shake of his head. I guess expecting everyone to be normal is asking too much right now.

Returning his focus to the pod in front of him, Elias examined the door. It was layered with thick metal plates, their surface unmarred save for faint grooves where the segments interlocked. Beside the door, a glowing green handprint pulsed rhythmically on a scanner embedded in the wall.

He hesitated briefly, then placed his hand over the scanner. The device chirped softly, its light tracing the contours of his palm before a gentle, artificial female voice greeted him.

"Welcome to your pod," it said, the tone crisp but carrying a certain warmth that felt almost out of place in the sterile environment.

Elias stepped inside as the door slid open with a faint hum, rising from the ground like a mechanical curtain. His eyes widened briefly as the space revealed itself—a pod far more expansive than he'd expected.

The floor was a polished, dark laminate, smooth underfoot, with a faint sheen that caught the overhead light. His boots clicked softly against it as he stepped further inside, his bag slung over one shoulder.

A full-sized bed sat tucked neatly against the left wall, its green sheets drawn tight, corners sharply folded as if prepared by a soldier. The sight made him pause. Too clean... too perfect.

To his right, a tall dresser stood against the wall, its four stacked drawers giving the room a sense of functional utility. Atop it, a massive flat-screen TV—easily 45 inches—gleamed, its reflective surface catching Elias's curious glance. Definitely wasn't expecting luxury, he thought, setting his bag on the bed and straightening to take in more of the space.

At the far end, a fridge stood seamlessly embedded into the wall. Its surface was spotless, blending into the pod's sleek, modern design. Beside it, a narrow window ledge was visible, though its shutters were drawn tightly closed. The design made him pause for a moment. A window? Underground?

Elias pulled his father's knife from his bag, turning it over in his hands before setting it carefully on the dresser. The weight of it felt heavier in this small, isolated room.



As he moved toward the fridge, curiosity took hold. Pulling the door open revealed neatly arranged shelves of food and drinks. At least I won't be starving, he mused, shutting it gently.

Dot's mused in and stated "hopefully you'll cook me another yummy meal! I've honestly been craving another dish!"

Elias stretched, glancing at the bed again. A folded note lay on the pillow, stark white against the green. He picked it up and read aloud: "Change into green on green."

Opening the dresser drawer, he found a set of plain green clothes—long-sleeved and lightweight, paired with matching pants. The only detail breaking up the monotony of the fabric was a sleek white stripe running down the sides, converging at the cuffs.

"Well, this screams individuality," he muttered, slipping into the outfit. The material fit snugly, the cut practical but not exactly flattering.

He reached for his phone, only to notice there was no signal. A small sigh escaped him. "Figures."

Heading toward the door, he placed his hand over the scanner again. The pod hissed open smoothly, revealing the bright expanse of Cell Block A. As Elias stepped out, he glanced at the large clock mounted near the entrance where Oliver had brought him in earlier. He still had a good thirty minutes until his meeting.

The sound of muted voices and faint thuds drew his attention. His eyes followed the noise to the far side of the room. Kikaru was there, her blond hair sticking to her forehead as she counted push-ups. "One twenty-five... one twenty-six... one twenty-seven," she muttered, her voice firm but breathless.


Elias hesitated, considering a greeting, but her intense focus made him think better of it. Instead, he turned to follow the man from earlier—the one with the knife.

The man disappeared through a sleek, sliding door at the edge of the block. Curiosity got the better of Elias as he trailed behind. The door slid open silently, revealing a massive recreational area.

The walls were lined with modular screens displaying live gaming stats, colorful leaderboards, and music videos. Several figures lounged on reinforced couches, their feet propped up lazily as they snacked on energy bars and sipped drinks. Each had a small, faintly glowing creature perched on their shoulder or curled beside them—a visual reminder of their shared link as shard bearers.

In one corner, a group of three was locked in an intense multiplayer game, their laughter and shouted taunts filling the space. Advanced consoles and gaming chairs were scattered throughout the room, each station designed for immersive play.

Elias stepped inside, taking it all in with quiet astonishment. This was far from what he'd expected. For a place designed to push people to their limits, it seemed they were also given every opportunity to unwind.