Page 685 of The Bonding Games: Part 1

This is where I die.

Lost in my head, I don’t realise the other Evots are up and out of the limo until a pointed, “Dude,” from Mavry has my chin snapping up and me scrambling to the door at the back.

The feel of my legs stretching as my feet meet the ground is glorious after sitting for so long, and I almost let out a groan of pure relief before thinking better of it. There’s no need to convince anyone that I’m even weirder than they think.

“If you’ll follow me, please,” a feminine voice calls out, and I look towards the now-open doors of the head building, spotting a tanned woman dressed in black and white standing with her hands clasped primly at the small of her back.

I hesitate as I take her in, heart starting to pound.

Maybe there’s still time to run?

That thought is quickly discarded after I inconspicuously flick my eyes over the quarter mile of empty space surrounding the entire complex. Even if I did somehow manage to make it all the way back to The Wall and magically teleport through it without being dragged back by guards, I could never simply disappear with the identification chip keeping my location tracked 24/7.

My throat works with a glugging noise that’s shamefully loud in the silence.

After an anxious glance shared between me and the other four Evots, my feet start moving of their own accord, carrying me after the Neutral as she walks through the doors and into The Bonding Games Headquarters, the rhythmic clacking of her heels like the anthem leading me to my doom.

4

ALBY

As nice as it looks, there isn’t much to comment on as we move through the halls inside. It’s just glossy black taalk. Everywhere.

And Avri.

Bright red Avri.

But if I think too hard about the blood-coloured energy decorating the walls and ceilings around me in long strips and square outlines, I’m afraid I’ll puke my guts up. So it’s better to just focus on the green embellishments instead and hope I can block everything else out. Maybe then I can pretend I’m still in EvTS 246.

I never thought I’d wish to be back in that place once I got out, but I honestly think it’s the better option between here and there. At least with the training school, I knew the danger, was prepared for every attack launched my way by Aider and Troy. But here, everything is unfamiliar.

I have no idea the threats that could be lurking around every corner.

“We do not have time for a proper tour today, unfortunately,” the Neutral woman informs us from the front of our group, her lilting voice carrying through the vast empty stretch of hall before us. “Luckily, you do not need one when you’ll be escorted from room to room today.” She glances over her shoulder at us with a look that’s somehow both pleasant and pointed. “Tomorrow, you will be given a more in-depth tour. But for now, I’ll take you straight to the Training Centre, where the rest of the Evots are already mingling. You can have a look at some of the rooms in there if you’d like.”

Dex’s blond brows furrow. “We’re the last here?”

“Yes. The other five Players from Evot Training School 246 are here as well; they arrived just ten minutes before you.”

“Are we late?” This comes from Charlotte, the nerves in her voice unmistakable.

Turning right as we reach the end of the hall, the woman answers, “No, so don’t worry. There is still a little over an hour until the live recording begins. The first groups began arriving only an hour ago.”

My stomach twists.

I really hate being the last to arrive places; all the attention is brought to you.

As we keep walking, I see that the hall branches off to the left and right further down, a wall approaching directly opposite us. On that wall is the letters spelling out TRAINING CENTRE above a set of double doors, the colour-leached taalk I can tell they’re made of allowing me to see . . .

Oh, fuck. There’s so many people in there.

My breaths become short and sharp, a tingling sensation making my limbs feel airy and weak in an instant. Somehow, I keep moving forwards, but I won’t be for long if the black splotches taking over my vision are any indication.

I think it’s obvious I have social anxiety, and I don’t need to be diagnosed to realise that. But I could swear it’s never been like this before.

Maybe this panic has more to do with the fact I’m about to die in a week’s time.

“What about our Player numbers?” Jodine asks.