Whereabouts of Two

"Game starting, campaign stage 1-5, randomly assigning characters...

Kenneth Spears as Ace of Diamonds, Shockwave as Two of Diamonds, Sean Anthony as Three of Diamonds, Frostbite as Four of Diamonds, Corpse as Five of Diamonds...

Main objective of players: Protect Jack of Diamonds from upcoming assassination attempt."

Damn it, Corpse got in, that's not someone I'm confident I could defend against.

Nonetheless, I joined this game for a reason, it's Frostbite's game, I just need to stall long enough for him to clear the level for me, then I'll obtain the hp bar and I won't be so vulnerable anymore.

I'm the 15th player in this game, Shockwave. Living Cemetery holds quite a severe grudge against me, which is why it's been very difficult to obtain the hp bar through this stage.

When I saw a game with Frostbite in it, I knew this was our chance, me and Ken's.

All we have to do is survive against one aggressor for long enough until Frostbite clears the stage.

Best way to do that undoubtedly would just be to hide. Hence, the very first thing when I woke up as Two of Diamonds is to search for Ken, then find a good hiding spot for the two of us to avoid any encounters with Corpse.

However, when I arrived, Ken wasn't at Ace's building, which had me extremely anxious.

The longer I'm out in the open, the higher the chances I'll encounter Corpse. If I do, he will use whatever means necessary to eliminate me, I would have nowhere to run by then.

In my desperate search for Ken all around the abandoned city, I saw Three and Four walking together from afar, that's Frostbite.

I tailed them and soon realised they were following Nine, Ten and Ace, which is Ken.

But that's not everyone, Five was also tailing them, I was inconspicuous enough in my movements that he didn't notice my presence though.

Tsk, Ken is being pushed by Nine and Ten to the gates, causing his location to be exposed to Corpse, quite the predicament I'm in right now.

Ken's not his target, but can certainly be used as leverage to lure me out into the open.

I shouldn't have brought him into this game, I thought I could protect him, I guess not...

I wanted to keep an eye on Ken the whole time, but couldn't risk being spotted by Corpse.

Since there's no way the other ranked officers will allow violence between themselves, I think Ken is safe for now, Corpse doesn't have a credible pretext to cause any harm on him.

So instead of tailing them the entire way, I decided to head back to Ace's building, wait there until Ken comes back with his box of food.

As for Two's group...well it's just a game, I can't care less about them, my brother's safety is priority.

Not long after, as I have expected, Corpse didn't make a move on Ken. He arrived at Ace's building carrying the box of bread unscathed.

"Leave the box let's go."

"Wait-"

We didn't have time, I took his hand causing him to drop the box on the ground of the entrance hall and dragged him outside the building.

"I've found a good hiding spot, Corpse isn't..." I paused in shock of the sight ahead of me.

I didn't expect what was outside the building, a group of armed soldiers surrounding unarmed Hearts men, who were setting up tents.

"I...I was assigned as the diplomat, I don't think I can leave." Ken said.

Damn it, my brother's been assigned a significant role, his disappearance to hide with me will surge suspicions from the ranked officers.

If it's just me that went missing, I don't think it's too big of a deal, Two of Diamonds has her free will except during expeditions, same as every other ranked officers.

But with such a vital task at hand of being the diplomat for a discussion with Hearts, Ken cannot disappear, there might be a massive search party for him if that happens.

"Come with me anyways."

I dragged him with me to my hiding spot anyways, there's no time to be wasted to thinking, Corpse can be here anytime.

I brought him to a dilapidated store not so far away from the gate, it looks as though it's once a restaurant with all the tables and chairs.

It's a filthy place that I will unfortunately have to spend my nights in to prevent myself from getting caught.

My living space for the next few days until Frostbite clears this stage will be behind the counter of the abandoned restaurant, couldn't access the kitchen area behind the door because it was obstructed by rubbles.

Me and Ken knelt down behind the counter after making sure no one followed us.

"Ten also...told me that it's his expedition today."

That means tomorrow it's Ken, he can't be hiding with me here tomorrow either, he will always be exposed to Corpse's sight whether or not Jack shows up these two days.

"Then you can't hide..."

"Yeah..."

"Ok listen, stick with the crowd, he can't attack you in front of other ranked officers without a proper reason, he doesn't have one does he?"

"No I dont...I dont think so."

"Ok good, just stick with other ranked officers, Corpse can't attack you in front of them, they will take your side and support you."

"Corpse is completely capable of just killing them though..."

"Yeah but not capable of killing more than 20 armed men, if our soldiers saw him kill one or two ranked officers to get to you, they'll do something about it.

And your life isn't at stakes, he won't kill you. If he kills you he's losing his one leverage to lure me out of hiding. I'm who they want dead, not you."

Ken's life was never threatened here, but his wellbeing definitely is.

I swore to Father that I will protect Ken and if Corpse lays hands on him, I will step out to stop it, even though I know full well I'm the actual target and I'm falling right into the trap.

"Whatever happens to me, just don't come..." He proposed an alternative solution.

"What? No way, I won't let anything bad happen to you, never."

Ken teared up, I can't imagine how it must be for him, to be so unlucky that he's forced in front of the eyes of everyone because of the stupid role Ace of Diamonds has, to be forced to face Corpse.

I pulled him closer and placed his head on my shoulder, letting his tears run down my shirt.

"Im scared...I'm really scared."

"I'm sorry I brought you into this."

I made a blunder bringing him into this, his quavering voice told me that.

"Don't worry, I'll be watching you. If he lays a finger on you, I will be there, even if that costs my life."

He buried his face deeper in my shoulders after that declaration of mine. I held him tight and reassured his safety again.

"Nothing will happen to you, I swore it."

On my very own life, to our father, I swore it.