I knew nothing, not even how I got here. My head ached, everything was so confusing.
It was a huge mansion. It had lots of rooms. We were in a large, square-shaped area, and next to us were rows of red, similar-looking doors with numbers on them. It was like an old hotel from the 1980s. There were red carpets with a strange texture on the floor and old wallpaper on the walls.
It was very crowded. I was lost. I was staring blankly at the floor. People were bewildered and panicked. I fell to my knees. It was like one of those dreams you have when you're sick. The yellow, low-quality lighting made my headache worse.
Someone came, lifted me up, and pulled me. I didn't understand. I couldn't collect my memories.
"Come with me," he said.
He pulled me into a room. He closed the door.
I was scared. Being alone in a room with someone like him.
"Don't you remember me, Melisa?"
He said.
It flashed before my eyes in an instant. I remembered everything at once. It was like waking up from a dream.
—Leo?
—Melisa, you overdosed! You promised you wouldn't!
—Did I overdose?
—Yes! Don't you remember?
—Where is this place?
I looked around. I searched my memory, but I still couldn't understand why I was here. I had forgotten everything, it seemed.
—Melisa. This is a cult! You've gotten us into serious trouble…
—Did I do it while I wasn't conscious?
—Yes. Why did you do such a thing? Why did you overdose?
He demanded an explanation,
I,looked at him,
—I'm tired. Shall we go home? I miss our home. I don't remember anything.
I said.
—We can't go back. We're trapped here!
—What do you mean?!
I looked through the glass above the door. An old man had entered the middle of this crowd. He was in the middle of everyone. He was saying something. He was a well-dressed old man.
—What is he talking about?
I asked.
Leo covered my ears.
—Nothing. It's not important. It's just cult stuff, don't listen to them. We're in serious trouble this time, Melisa. As I said, this is a disgusting cult. They're going to kill us all! They'll make us fight with other people.
—How…is this legal? What will happen to us!? —I'll save us. Don't worry. We'll hide in this room.
—Call the police.
—They've taken our phones.
—But why do people accept this?! You're saying they're going to make us fight with other peıple, take our lives! They can't accept this!
—They think they'll reach God this way or something! They're crazy!
—How do you know all this? You're a member too?
—They…they called me here once before. Of course, I managed to escape.
—Why don't I know?! What have you gotten yourself into?!
—When was your head ever in the right place?! You were never sober!
I fell silent,
Leo,
—I'm doing this for our baby. That's why you should listen to me.
—A baby?
—Yes.
—Am I pregnant?
—You don't know, do you? How can you not even remember this, Melisa! Pull yourself together!
—I don't remember much… It's like I was. How could it survive?
—It's a miracle it survived. But we can't take another risk. We'll get out of here and live a normal life again.
—Okay…
—Promise me. Can you look me in the eyes and promise me?
—I promise. I won't do it.
I said.
I hugged him. I had managed to collect my thoughts. I think I felt relieved when I saw him. My confused thoughts had come together when I looked at him.
—Melisa. I know how we can avoid trouble here, how we can escape these men. You'll listen to me, won't you?
—I entrust myself to you.
—Don't worry, I'll save us.
—What kind of place is this? There were a lot of people at the entrance… I wonder if there are about 500 people?
—There are about 1332 of us. There are 133 rooms.
—How can you know? Did you count them?
—I just know this somehow…
—…
I stayed silent.
—So there has to be about 10 people in each room. But we won't take 10 people in our.
He said.
—Why?
—To survive. Did you forget? Everyone here is fighting for God! They're crazy! Most of the 1332 people will fight until they lose their lives. They'll kill each other. We will stay away from this madness. And we will escape after everyone has eliminated each other.
—How did we get involved in this?!
—If you keep getting involved in 'those'
things, we'll get involved in even worse things,So you should never use them again Melisa!
I started to cry,
—I don't want to…I want to leave! Are people seriously going to kill each other?
—Even if you don't want to, there's nothing you can do now! The weapons will be distributed soon. There are exactly 1332 weapons…
—Weapons?! Are they going to give us weapons!?
—If everyone takes one, everyone will have 3 bullets. We'll have a total of 6. The two of us should use a maximum of 3 bullets, and only in emergencies. Understand? Otherwise, we'll be unarmed! Besides, we can't afford to miss.
—I don't want to! I won't participate in this strange cults ritual!
—I wouldn't let you participate anyway, Melisa. I'm going to get the weapons. Don't leave here. Lock the door. There's a key in front of it to lock it. Don't open it to anyone.
—When you come back… How will I know it's you?
—Right… Should I get the key then? I'll open the door when you come back.
—But what if something happens to you? Will I be locked up here forever?
—You're right. I'll leave the key with you.
—Do you remember which room this is? You won't leave me alone, will you? There were so many doors…
—It would be better if we didn't stay in this room.
—Why!?
—One of the rooms at the very front. It would be better if we could find a room a little further back…that way we'd be less conspicuous. Besides, not every room is the same. They might have different supplies and equipment. I think the other rooms might have better supplies.
—What are we going to do then?
—Everyone must be confused right now. They probably don't understand what's going on. I don't think anyone has thought to search the rooms. The weapons haven't been distributed yet. If they had, we would have heard something. It's best if we go out together.
—Will we be able to find an empty room? What if everyone has taken one of the rooms? What if we're left without rooms? We'll be right in the middle of the fighting!
—I hope so. There must be some undiscovered rooms among the 133. Hold my hand.
He said.
I held his hand. We went out the door. We ran to the doors of the rooms on the sides. There were still many people in the middle of this hotel-like place, in the square.
Most people hadn't been assigned to rooms yet, it seemed. Leo checked the rooms. We looked for a secluded spot with good supplies. When we found one, Leo tore a piece of his t-shirt and tied it to the doorknob. He let me in and closed the door. Then, ignoring my words, he took the key:
—I left a sign on this door. It would have been hard to find without it. Now it will attract more attention. Nobody except the two of us knows that there are only 3 bullets in the guns. They will shoot at everyone they see, to kill as many people as they can. Since they know there's a person here, they're likely to target this place. Stay away from the door. If you can, put a closet behind it. If something happens to me, you can break the door down and get out, in the worst-case scenario. I'll be back quickly. Wait for me.
—Leo! Stop being ridiculous and give me the key!
—If people come to your door, don't listen to them. Don't care. Don't open it, you can't open it without the key anyway, but still, and never show mercy. We're all in the same situation right now. If we feel pity for them now because they are suffering, when our own situation is bad, no one will show us any mercy. Actually, even if you feel pity, you can't change anything because the door is closed... Assume I'm saying these words for the future.
He closed the door.
At that moment, I heard a gunshot. The first shot had been fired.
I shouted,
—Leo! Come back!