December Second

Calming myself, I sat at the side of my bed. My legs are shaking, yet I noticed a smile on my face. I survived. Maybe I find it hard to believe.

I have no clue about the time or if it's still the same day here in reality since they could easily change your perception of time inside the virtual world. When the shaking stopped, I decided to wash my face.

With the sound of running water, I looked at myself in the mirror. My head filled with everything that happened on the first stage, I stood still for a while, drowning in those ordeals that didn't feel real and were just like a horrible nightmare.

Out of instinct, I pushed my hair back and looked at my forehead and thick eyebrows. Then, checked my eyes. Maybe I still feel disoriented expecting my eyes to be red after what the old monster did. But, I saw my usual dark brown eyes.

When I was done inspecting my eyes, I pinched my nose remembering how needles were pierced in it. Then, I just stared at the image of myself in the mirror.

"What about Amelka? I wish she's fine. Finnley? Aran? There's also Urick," I whispered to myself.

After some time, I pulled myself out of a daze and decided to head out of my room. It seems like after taking off the tube with supplements, my body wants to take something solid. Is it lunchtime?

Although I'm also hungry, the reason I went out is to know if Amelka, Finnley, and Aran made it. Right, Urick as well. Aside from that, I am curious about what happened to the first stage. If it's finished or still ongoing.

As the glass door scanned me and opened, I went out. Though, soon as I stepped out I bumped into something riding on the moving walkway.

"Oh. Sorry."

I looked up to see the huge guy with the hair I always compared with those martial artists in old movies. He stepped out of the moving walkway to apologize. He's from the room next to mine. Seems like he also just passed the first stage. Though intimidated, I am also partly to be blamed since I am thinking about something else when I stepped out.

"Ah. My mind is also somewhere else, sorry."

He smiled. Now that I think of it, his voice is rather calming compared to his intimidating look.

"Uhm, I'm Grayson. Grayson Riego," I said as I extended my right hand and offered a handshake.

In return, he accepted the handshake using both of his hands.

"I'm Jin wang."

Passing by Amelka's door, I tried to peek inside. I knew that you cannot see through the glass door when you are outside and only the person inside could see through it. But I could not stop looking at her door wishing that she was fine or that she already passed the first stage and is waiting at the library.

"You also heading to the first floor?"

Initially, I thought of heading straight to the library. But I decided to go down to the first floor. Amelka and the others could also be eating downstairs. I bet everyone felt the same hunger after taking off the VR gear.

I am also having an interesting conversation with Jin and am quite curious about him.

There's also the thought of trying to persuade him to join our so-called alliance. Since he didn't look bothered at all after just getting through that hell.

I guess he could also be someone who won't hesitate to kill or betray his way to victory. But somehow, I felt sure that he won't do such a thing.

"Yes," I replied.

We're the only ones outside of our room in the hallway. The elevator that is always packed only accommodates the two of us.

"By the way, Grayson."

"Yeah?"

"Why do you always act as if you're afraid when you see me?"

Startled by the sudden question, I felt nervous as I imagined being hit by those huge fists.

"No, I am just a bit intimidated by you."

With a squint of his already thin eyes, Jin specified his question.

"Aren't you just acting?"

"No. I really am a bit intimidated by you."

"Hmm. Is that so..."

A brief silence enveloped the huge elevator until I decided to break it off since I felt awkward.

"You have a great tattoo."

Jin looked at his left arm where the tattoo is located.

"You like it?"

"Yeah. It's cool, I feel like I've seen it before."

I felt a sense of familiarity when I first saw Jin's tattoo, but somehow I could not pinpoint where I saw that kind of tattoo.

"I think you did, it's quite popular," Jin said.

"Really?"

"Yeah, it's the mark of Dragons of Balance."

"Dragons of balance?"

Jin told me to remove the pair of earpieces I have in my ears. We won't be able to leave our rooms without wearing the earpiece. It's also very important in a place filled with people from around the world. I did as I was told and held the pair in my hand.

"Pínghéng zhī lóng," he said.

As I heard what he said in his own language, I racked my brain and remembered hearing about it. Quite surprised, I spoke in a loud voice.

"You mean the triad?!"

Jin appeared to be startled by my sudden loud voice. He squinted his eyes for a second then smiled.

"Yeah," he said chuckling.

The Triad is composed of various groups, guilds, clans, or factions whichever you prefer to call them. In the past decades, a lot of them appeared, but Jin's group belongs to those who have been around for a long time.

Most of the groups that belong to the Triad are infamous for being involved in heinous crimes. There are also those who are known for being peaceful.

"So... you are-?"

"Yes, I'm a member of that clan."

"Oh..."

Pínghéng zhī lóng is one of the groups that are well known for being peacekeepers. The normal citizens applaud and idolize them. Members of this group help the local police to maintain peace and prevent other criminal organizations from invading their turf.

Earlier this year, articles and news are filled with topics about fights breaking out in the city they called home. It was them against another group and the police. I was curious at the time and did a bit of research about it.

As the elevator opened and we arrived on the first floor, I noticed the number of people. The first floor that is always packed till yesterday became like a diner from a remote place.

The first floor still appeared to be like a cafeteria. Most of those sitting at the tables have grins on their faces. Though I could see few who look as if they'd just experienced countless nightmares. I saw a number of familiar faces. Though, no one I am acquainted with is on the first floor.

Jin and I got some food and then sat at the closest table. We could've sat anywhere since most tables are vacant.

While eating, I asked Jin about the news regarding his group. Whether everything the news and articles said is true.

"It's a setup. We're betrayed by the local police."

Jin gritted his teeth, hard enough for some veins around his neck to bulge. His eyebrows lowered and pulled a bit closer. After those words, he said that the police took bribes from another organization to take Jin's group down.

I decided not to press on the matter more. Seeing Jin's angry expression made me swear to myself not to mess with the guy.

Gulping down the delicious food in front of me, a very familiar face sat down at the table near us. He doesn't have any food, rather while sitting on his chair, he placed both of his feet on the table and then rocked his chair back and forth.

A guard in the cafeteria approached him.

"Hey old man Paulus, can you get your feet off the table?"

It was the old man who acted like a ventriloquist. Some of the guards became friendly with the old man.

The old man smiled and replied, "Oh sorry, officer." as he dropped his feet to the ground.

So that old man's name is Paulus huh? I thought.

After eating quickly, I told Jin that I will head to the library and check something out. He decided to stay on the first floor. While on the way to the library, I haven't seen any of the three people in our alliance which I thought of as friends. Which made me worried sick.

The facilities for one's entertainment are still booming with customers. Especially the ones that satisfy a prisoner's lust. And the fact that Hell's Oasis has top-notch equipment, I'm sure that inside those facilities are high-tech devices for one's pleasure.

A guard heading in the opposite direction is about to pass me. I decided to ask him something.

"Sir, can I ask you what day and time is it?"

His eyes squinted as if he could not believe that a prisoner just asked him something. I saw his hand immediately went to the stun gun on his waist. Those stun guns shoot circular chips that will stick to the target and would electrify them at the user's will.

"Did you just talk to me? You scum of society!"

I began to ponder how the old man became friends with some of these guards. Maybe I just asked the wrong one. Someone who thought highly of himself and every prisoner here as the spawn of evil.

I noticed someone familiar approaching behind him. The familiar man spoke even though he was still quite afar.

"There's no need for that," he said while approaching us.

The guard looked to the man and bowed, "Ah, sir Tazawa."

Genjo Tazawa still has the same attire. I haven't seen him have a different set of clothes. Maybe it is his uniform.

"I just asked about the time."

I could feel a dark aura emitting from the guard whose glares are fixated on me. Genjo looked at the guard, then he placed his hand on the guard's shoulder.

"Even if they're vile criminals, they're still our valuable players."

The guard bowed again and apologized.

"Be careful next time."

After hearing those words from Genjo, the guard went on his way. As the guard left the area, Genjo talked with me.

"I apologize, Mr. Riego. Some guards like him have a strong hatred toward criminals. But they're good people."

I nodded in response.

"Are we not allowed to know the date and time?" I asked.

"Not really. But the warden said that people whose deaths could be near have no need to worry about the date and time."

"Is that so."

Genjo half smiled, "It's the second of December. Around one in the afternoon," he said.

"Thank you."

"Well then, I should go. Good luck, Mr. Riego."

So a day already passed huh? I continued walking towards the library. Soon as I entered I took a glimpse at our usual spot and saw someone already sitting there.