I opened the door, entering into the wooden corridor.
To my left was the dining room, everyone there wore the same black outfit as mine, all perfectly fitted.
As I walked in, everyone's eyes fell on me.
I turned my gaze to the floor, dragging my feet as I settled between a young guy probably my age and the older guy who was always discussing with Theo.
They didn't say a word to me and so I didn't say anything either.
In between Theo and the guy there were a number of tiny dolls on the table, Creepy little humanoid shapes carved from wood.
The regular human sized automations served food and water to me, but even they had some extra markings on them.
Ignoring the food, I took a quick look around, there was a gap of four seats. One end next to Dahlia, and the other end next to a girl I didn't know.
My family, along with the Barrier and Kendali were all present. A fact I just realised was how the seats and rooms were made to accommodate our exact number.
The Owl must have planned for each one of us.
Before I could think further on that, the remaining four walked in.
Led by the white haired man, three women strolled into the room.
Now we were complete. The owl could just fall from the sky at any moment.
I looked at the ceiling to see.... nothing, not even a hole from yesterday. I caught some others checking out the ceiling too, I guess I wasn't the only nervous one.
The white haired man took a seat, the one beside Dahlia. He had a weird smile on his face, the way it shone in his eyes was just wrong, like his mind wasn't fully..... present.
Dahlia must have left that space open for him, something about them together was wrong but I couldn't stop Dahlia from manipulating people, she did whatever she felt like.
The food in front of me remained untouched, I couldn't eat when The Owl could arrive any moment from now, and it wasn't like anyone on the table was eating, well no one except the big lady.
I took a good look at her, impossible as it was, she looked even bigger than yesterday.
And then. Suddenly, the room became different, dead silent as It arrived. Like a shadow from the ceiling, It dropped without making a sound, Its feathers surrounding it like a cloak
Surprisingly no one stood from their seats, only few turned their seats to face the Owl, just those who needed to.
"Greetings" It said plainly, in the voice of an old man. After meeting silence from us It just stood..... watching.
"What do you want from us?" The Barrier asked. He sat closest to the Owl.
Then It finally moved, just Its head turned to face the Barrier, then It twisted Its neck in the weird way only Owls could.
"I don't believe we've introduced ourselves yet." It said, then turned It's head back upright, this time speaking to us all
"You can call me Ael." It said, watching each of us. I played with the word in my mind, 'Ael', such a simple name.
"Today marks the official beginning of your various journeys. Know that your life before this is completely gone, and no one but yourselves have any memory of who you were before this....."
'Completely gone it said...' the words echoed in my head as all around the table people began to mumble.
'Alex....' Since I woke here I tried not to think on anything, but, did what It just said mean...
"Do not be scared." Ael spoke. "You are still on what you call Earth".
"What have you done!?", The Barrier rose to his feet now, his voice turned sharp.
"You have all been chosen to participate in a number of games, in order to pick a select few individuals amongst you."
"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!!!" He screamed, grabbing the Owl's feathery coat.
In that moment everyone turned deathly still as the bald man grabbed the Owl. I didn't dare move my eyes from the scene in front of me.
"Settle down human. Or you would lose your hands." As It spoke I noticed blood, dripping from where The Barrier touched The Owl.
They stood, Man staring down Owl, until finally The Barrier settled into his seat. His bloody hands staining the table.
"Good. Now I can continue" It said bobbing Its head, there wasn't a hint of blood on Its feathers. "You would play the games I select for you, Until only a few of you remain. Those of you who do, would be free to go back to your homes and live as Kings.... atleast until your deaths. Anything you want or need would be provided to you, even your previous identities if you so wish it".
"And if we refuse to play?" A voice said from the table—Kendali.
The Owl turned Its head to her, "You have been chosen. You MUST participate."
BOOM.
A blast of wind pushed aside everything on the table, Kendali suddenly hovered in the air, dragging dishes and cutlery around her like a storm.
Everyone immediately left the table, knocking over chairs to distance themselves from the rapidly forming shards. Only the Barrier remained, but even he didn't remain seated.
"Sit" The Owl said, "We do not need a repeat of yesterday's events"
The second he spoke the air got tenser. I took a few more steps back as the shards revolving round Kendali increased their pace.
Then, another sharp burst of wind blew, blasting shards of plates and cutlery through the air.
They all slammed against an invisible wall falling to the ground a short distance from the Barrier.
"Calm yourself Girl, you would get us nowhere" The Barrier snapped, giving Kendali a harsh look, but his own hands still dripped blood.
Betwen them there was a brief silence until Kendali slowly lowered herself to the ground.
The Barrier turned to face the Owl, "Speak Ael. What are these games about." He Said.
"Well I see everyone is feeling lively today. The first game would be simple." Its hand reached out of the feathery cloak showing its bony fingers.
"You have One Objective"
It raised one of Its bony fingers
"Survive".
And then everything was gone.
The room. The Owl. All gone.
Instead of walls and a table, plants and trees stretched in every direction. Weird shades of Greens, Reds and Blues filled my vision.
Light shone from the cloudy sky.
We were no longer indoors.
I looked around to see everyone with shocked expression.
The building was nowhere in sight.
The ground was red and sticky under my bare feet.
Stretching into the sky, a tower waited in the distance, But, in the trees much closer to us, I saw a giant eye.
It looked down at our group, watching, waiting.
I froze still, my body failing to respond.
We were not alone here, suddenly our first objective flashed past my mind.
Survive.