The Apocalypse Game - Chapter 4

“Now we’re in the main chamber of the Qi estate, which is the largest room of the entire palace. You can imagine it as your living room, except…”

The syllables tumbling out of the young male’s mouth rose up and down and up and down, eventually merging into a single unified and harmonious hum. My head nodded in protest for the fourth time as the guide’s blabbering transformed into white noise. Shaking myself awake before Heather helped me out with one of her bee-sting pinches, I tried my best to relay my discontent and boredom to the cheerfully yapping guide flapping his arms around in the center of the immense hall by gifting him with a string of annoyed nods and a giant frown. However, in the guide’s eyes, one of the pretty girls in his group was studiously listening to his explanation, and occasionally even sending “serious nods of approval” his way. Much to my confusion, the guide suddenly seemed even more excited and began ranting with unprecedented energy.

“I give up,” I moaned in despair, “please just let us go for free time.”

Shooting me an acrid glance, Heather smoothed back a side of her mushroom cut and whispered back, “just wait a little longer, he’s almost done.”

I turned to the other side and looked down at Rayna, who was contently working away at an ice cream tower a third the size of her face, and slumped in defeat. Hearing my sigh, she peered up from her demolition project and gave me a playful chuckle before diving back to work.

“… So that was why the royal family chose to name it the Ink Stage. Everyone can take fifteen minutes to take pictures of this hall before we go on!” Before the guide, who wanted to be called Yi (who I called “the parrot”, because he always had so much to say), dropped his last syllable, I was already dashing towards the emperor’s throne with Heather and Rayna in either one of my hands. Digging out my new and glimmering camera, I autotuned out Heather’s eye roll and buzzing rant on etiquette and patience and began assailing the magnificent chair’s privacy like a devout paparazzi.

“Take a picture!” After ten good shots around the unresponsive piece of stone, I shoved the expensive gadget into Heather’s hands and climbed onto the throne with Rayna, posing with what I thought was the “air of an emperor” and holding Rayna in my arms as my “queen”.

While we were frolicking at the back of the capacious chamber, a gang of three male cladded in dark shades entered quietly. After descrying the guide and the driver, the three subtly made their way to greet the pair. Noticing the men in black, a look of surprise and annoyance quickly flitted across Yi’s face before a serene smile reappeared again. Nodding to them in acknowledgement, the driver finished the cup of tea in his hands and motioned for the group to follow. The five soon disappeared behind a beautifully carved cameo wall concealing the turn of a corridor in the back corner of the room.

The entire process occurred without disturbing the activities of any of the tourists, thus had gone unnoticed by the entertained sightseers. Well, almost unnoticed. Already bored with photographing grey blocks in the estate, the enticed group certainly did not include the vigilant and restless me. I captured the unusual team upon their arrival and had been secretly watching their moves as I continued the usual activities of an obtuse tourist. Sighting their exit from the peripheral of my vision, I retrieved the unserious tone in my voice and donned an excited twinkle in my eyes.

“Heather, Rayna,” I whispered to the two stumped by the sudden change in my expression, “did you guys see the mysterious men?” I motioned to the concealed corridor with my eyes.

“Yes…” Heather slowly raised a smooth brow and answered in a teasing tone, “And you’re planning to eavesdrop on them?” The sentence ended shakily as Rayna shot her a glare full of admonition.

“Heather!” Completely ignorant to the exchange between the two, my gaze dashed from the corner to my cousin in ecstasy, “You never fail me! That was exactly what I was planning to do.”

“Since you two both seem so intent on doing so, I shall comply with the wishes of my good cousins and lead the way.” Skipping down the stairs leading to the quaint chair with a satisfied and wily grin, I left one weeping internally and the other sighing in resignation.

 It was you who wanted to eavesdrop!!!  Heather and Rayna mutually screamed in their heads, stop using us as your excuse!!! Stop!!!! Watching my energetic silhouette shrink as I dashed down the steps towards the far side of the room, the two dragged their leaden legs forward and followed suite.

Reaching the opening to the cached hallway, I halted and flattened against the wall before casting a surreptitious glance over the corner. My burlesque spy moves lured another Heather eye roll and a few concerned glances from the tourists. Smiling awkwardly, I waved away the suspicious gazes and turned to the two.

“No one’s in there, and the passage turns;” Looking around to ascertain that no one was watching I grabbed Rayna and Heather and slipped into the corridor, “there must be an alcove or branch hallway.”

A pair of eyes briefly darted our way amidst the crowd of tourists fawning at a case of jewelry, unnoticed. It shone with an ephemeral gold and dimmed to reveal a pondering glimmer.

Once in the dimly lit space, all the humming from the larger chamber ceased, leaving only the quiet, rhythmic sighs of breathing and the inaudible ramming of our hearts. Supressing the sudden panic risen into my throat, I inched forth deeper down the hall. Shooting each other a slightly nervous glance, Rayna and Heather followed closely. Step by step, we walked on until a deep voice echoed down the passage just a bit ahead. Raising a hand in alarm, I paused and withdrew my raised foot, simultaneously jerking my head back in warning. Our little line silently hugged the wall behind us and listened.

“… Wants you to speed things up.” The same deep, emotionless tone drifted to us.

“Tell him to stop worrying,” The familiar voice of “the parrot” answered, except void of its usual cheer and instead full of indolence, “just do his job properly and tell his insider to watch the old man.”

“How dare you -” Another unfamiliar voice hissed before being curtailed by the rasping voice of the bus driver.

“If he wants us to help, be patient;” Our driver rarely spoke, but we have heard his voice once when he conversed with the parrot during lunch, “where’s the piece of stone?”

“Flight’s bringing it;” the last stranger’s tone was juvenile and crisp, “but don’t even think of touching it until you’ve found them.”

“Hmph! So that’s the Black Cloaks’ attitude to their allies?” Parrot’s voice sneered with discontent, “We already have them within our grasp. Send Flight to us immediately when he arrives.”

“Watch your -” The angry tone bellowed, cut off again before the sentence ended.

“That’s the best;” The cold voice rang without a trace of feeling, “we’ll direct him to you.”

“How are the two teens?” The driver’s voice rasped again.

“Unconscious.”

“… Make sure they stay that way.”

A gasped escaped behind me. I turned in time to see Heather clasping Rayna’s mouth shut, both of their eyes wide with fear.

 But it was already too late.