CHAPTER 053: A crowded cafeteria...

Walking through a tunnel below the arena, Logan arrived at the Festiville park tram. Since they had just missed the tram, the black suited man escorting Logan requested his lanyard.

BEEP!

"I've updated your participant ID with the details of tomorrow's schedule. Just sign into the app, and you can view everything there."

"Uh... Do I have to use the app?"

Seeing his flip phone, the black suited man sighed.

"Seriously? You want me to go all the way to our break room and print out your documents?"

"If that isn't too much of a hassle."

"It is. There's paid dinner for all tomorrow's participants in the mascot chow hall, you can find a map on your app."

"I can't use the app!"

"Oh, look! There's your tram."

The black suited man shoved Logan into the tram and ran away.

"That rat!"

5 MINUTES LATER...

Logan walked up the steps to Festiville's surface, popping out right in the middle of the park. Not far away, 3 people were already waiting.

"Blurry man! Blurry man!"

"Thank god I have this mask to smile for me... Hey, if it isn't little Jenna. Why are you here?"

"I know you said to forget that night, but how could I?"

"Could you phrase that a little better? The... people with you are staring. Who are they, by the way?"

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Happy Rabbit. Do you mind if my partner and I ask you a few questions?"

"If this is what I think it is, then no thanks. Sorry fellas, but I don't plan on going the celebrity hero route."

"Ha, very funny..."

"Wait, that's it!"

"What's it?"

To Alien and Logan's simultaneous question, Jenna gave a simple reply.

"I'm here to be your manager!"

"Wow, can I say no?"

"You mean to tell me there is nothing blurry man need help with?"

"No, thanks. Now, if you will excuse me, I have a dinner to attend..."

Logan then turned around, and promptly gawped at a park map mounted not far away.

"Are you lost, blurry man?"

"What, no. I just need to find wherever this mascot chow hall is."

"Why don't you just use the Festiville app? It can even give you in park directions."

10 MINUTES LATER...

"And that's how I got a manager. So, apologies if I kept you waiting."

Logan was now situated inside a neon cafeteria. In front of him sat a plate stuffed with food, courtesy of the mascot lunch ladies. Next to him sat Jenna, busily working the Festiville app on her phone.

"What is your ID again? This thing needs me to enter it like 12 times! Ugh, just gimme the lanyard."

Next to Jenna sat Alien, silently staring at the man to her right.

"So, about those questions."

"Okay, you wore me down. Send a contract to my manager, and we'll negotiate something after the tournament."

"Yay! Super manager Jenna!"

"OOOG!" "AWOOO!"

Neanderthal and the Feral Child, sat on the far edge of the table, joined Jenna in her excitement.

"Oog, nana vin het ug ugh (Now where was I? Oh right, the T-Rex fight!)"

GRRRRR "Woof! Arf! (yes, tell me more. I will have to subjugate one myself, some day)."

"Well, this meal turned out more eventful than I thought. Reminds me of the old family reunions back home."

Applejack briefly lost himself in nostalgia, a single tear falling onto his plate stacked high with apple pie.

"I got it! I finally got it!"

Jenna jumped up and down, showing her phone screen to everyone at the table.

"Okay, calm down manager. And stop showing my info off to everyone!"

"But don't you want to see tomorrow's theme?"

"I do, ma'am." "Ruff!"

"You guys don't have smartphones, either? I mean, I understand the wolf guy, but do they not have cell towers in Appalachia?"

"My mama liked to live off the grid. I focused more on tending the garden with her, than playing any of those big city computer games."

"Woof?"

"Why'd I leave? Well, mama died... So, I guess this is me exploring the outside world."

"Is that why you entered the tournament, to get traveling money?"

"Oh, no. Mama left me one of those... What is the name of those, again? Oh, trust fund!"

"You're rich!?!"

The table stared at Applejack with bewilderment on their faces.

"I don't know? I've only seen my own account after the lawyer set it up. Want to compare?"

"NOPE," multiple voices shouted in response, afraid his earnest comments would leave emotional wounds too deep to heal.

"Why did you enter the tournament, blurry man?"

"I'd also be interested in knowing this," Alien asked before chomping a crab whole.

"... Gambling."

"Oh. Sorry?"

"Enough about me! What about... You, wolf guy!"

A complicated game of telephone followed, wherein Feral Child relayed his story to Neanderthal, who then told it to Alien, who then turned it into a poem for some reason.

...

Across fields of green, a wild King roams...

"Wolves aren't enough for my regime," he declared atop a hilly throne.

Out of the forest, a beast stalks unforeseen. all monsters are his prey;

"we couldn't escape, whether we ran, swam, or flown"

"All are my subjects! For I am the Wild King!"

...

The mascot lunch ladies came out to give a standing ovation, and numerous patrons began tossing loose change at Alien. In the confusion, Logan slipped away.

"What do you think, master?"

"Their badges are FBS."

"Have I crossed anyone from there?"

"Hold on, disciple. I'll check the list now."

Zarog pulled a scroll from his robe; it reached the floor, and was filled with scary sounding groups.

"I think you ran into an undercover agent at that private prison."

"AEG 23, don't remind me... Wait, that wasn't a grudge! Why are they after me, now?"

"It could be the tribulation of Will."

Logan stopped in his movement, horrified by the implications.

"What was I thinking, expecting a normal life in this competition?"

"You got a few weeks of freedom, at least. Should I plan another prison workout routine?"

"No, we'll skip town the second this tournament ends... Just as soon as I get that void stone."