"Luke?" I called as soon as I saw him enter the room.
The door closed shut after he entered.
"Daniel? What happened?" He replied with a worried expression.
"Are you okay?" he said as he rushed towards me and kneeled next to me.
"My dad," I muttered.
"My dad died," I said while starting to build up again.
"This all…"
Luke looked around in shock. All the blood around us and all over me, my face made him question the situation.
"Who did it?" asked, lowering his tone.
"I don't know. I don't know. Some sick psycho!" I screamed, trying to take my feelings out.
Luke held my shoulders with his hands and shook me a little.
"Look, I am sorry for what happened. I don't know what happened, but now we have more important things to care about."
"What?" I asked as I tried to wipe away my tears.
"Where are we and what are we doing here?" he asked in a serious tone.
"You don't know either, huh?" I whispered to myself, not loud enough for Luke to hear.
Then I started to explain what happened after he left the classroom. I told him everything, including punishments, since I didn't see any reason not to.
He didn't interrupt me and listened carefully.
After I finished talking, he looked me in the eye and asked:
"None of the things you said made any sense."
"This makes sense?" I asked him while lifting my arms to the sides to show our surroundings.
He shrugged with a confused face while looking around.
Then I asked him where he went after he left the classroom and where he had been all this time. His answer was weirder than I expected.
"After leaving the classroom, I was going to the principal's room. But that is the only thing I remember. Next thing is, I am here," he answered.
"Same as them," I said while remembering my parents' response.
There was a pattern here. Except for me, no one remembers anything.
And this memory loss starts even before the games start.
My parents never went anywhere. The note left by Mom was fake.
My dad's uncle didn't die. It was also fake.
Luke doesn't remember anything. And if I see anyone else, it will be the same. I should ask just in case, but I do not think it will be necessary anymore.
"So, I am all he cares," I said.
"Who?" asked Luke, seeing me talking to myself.
"I don't know yet," I said with anger.
After dying multiple times and losing my dad in front of me, my emotions were all over the place. I didn't clearly know what I was feeling and what I should feel.
So I just went with what was happening and tried to do the logical thing.
I stood up and looked at the wall that gave me a message last time.
"What now?" I asked.
Suddenly, a new text appeared on the wall with messy handwriting.
"We will play game number 3."
"We?" I asked while looking at Luke with a side eye.
I didn't want to scare Luke, but I could guess that this sadistic maniac wanted to include him in the game, too.
"What are we going to play?" I asked.
Text change again.
"Before I tell you the game, I want you to choose one of the numbers that is displayed behind you."
As I read the text, I turned around. Luke also did the same to check behind.
On the wall, there were 7 numbers displayed. From 0 to 6.
"For what?" I asked, turning around to see if there would be any new text, and there was
Even before I turned back and asked my question, a new message had appeared.
"This number will play a huge role in our game. That is why I would like you to choose it before you do.
If you refuse to choose a number, the worst possible number will be chosen automatically."
A silence fell for a minute after that message. We were both trying to figure something out.
"Do we have a time limit, and how do we know what is the worst? Could you give a hint?" Luke broke the silence with his question.
Looks like he realized that he will be included in the game.
I knew his first question mattered, but the second one was useless. But who knows, maybe it helped.
As I was thinking these, the text on the wall changed again.
"You have 10 minutes to choose a number. But dear Luke, your answer will not be accepted. Our main player is Daniel, and I only accept his answer. But of course, you are free to ask questions and help him with his decision.
For the importance of the number you will be choosing.
It is as important as your life."