Trusted Bond: The G.A.M.E.Z. Duology, #2

By E Darkwood

G's: Where beauty in death, is a requirement.

Unspoken rules of a match:

#1 Never give less than your all.

#2 Win at all costs.

#3 Leave no enemy standing.

In this second part we return to Team Maiden; broken and left wondering if it was all worth it.

What makes a Victor? The duo will have to face that question while also struggling to deal with more personal matters. Add to that that Team Lightning has suddenly gone missing, a "retirement" that only very few could've had a hand in and the dangers of competing in the G.A.M.E.Z. seem but a fond memory.

In this final act of the duology everything will be tested, forced and questioned.

The games aren't over so long as you draw breath.

May the post-G.A.M.E.Z. begin!

• Language: English
• Publisher: E Darkwood
• Release date: May 1, 2019
• ISBN: 9781386619215

Book preview

20

^~^~^-~^~^-~^~~^-~^~^

'W hat do you say?' Four simple, seemingly innocuous words.

But four words that can nevertheless be life changing.

I realized this when I said them, but I also couldn't not; I couldn't not try.

However before I could even begin to try to judge what I saw in the truest depths of their eyes, I was abruptly ushered out of the room and dumped outside their door. Choreographer or not visiting hours were over.

And so, I resignedly lean against a lonely wall and slowly slide down until I hit the floor.

Is my tempo wrong?

^~^~^ ~^~^

I try to hold on to Riley's hand, yelling at anybody that'll hear me that 'SHE STAYS' but nobody gives a flarb, they rip her away from me, then practically throw her out the door and then we're left alone, facing against the baldy who keeps saying he's here to help fix us. But who I know ain't.

If he was he'da kept Riley in here with us.

If you'd hold your hands out. He asks Dent, who don't move, but baldy just grabs Dent's hands anyways and gets at it like Dent hada said 'go ahead'.

What a startruck...

Dent's face though.

'What's wrong with you?' I ask with a scrunched nose.

But I don't get nothing back.

Dent's eyes are on me, you'd think he's looking right at me... Uh-oh, there ain't nobody in that dome...

I try waving my arms around and snapping my fingers, but all I get is baldy turning round and looking at me all 'would you stop it' so's I grin at him and act like I'm not doing nothing till he turns back round.

Then I try getting me two pelimas with one throw by sticking my tongue out at his back but Dent still don't see me...

Is this cause of what Riley said?

~^~~^ ~^~^

What do you say? What do you say? ... What do you say?

The words echo over and over again all around me, with each iteration another piece of-

With, each turn, the more I feel-...

'Beautiful souls' she said. 'Two incomparable beings she can't imagine herself without. Who she wants a shot at, on and off the field.' I recite with a detachment I can't shake...One I'm grateful for...

What do I say?

Triads aren't common on Zanarik, but it's not like they're unheard of... So why do I feel...

Is there a part of me that doesn't think it's madness?..

Isn't there a part of me that doesn't feel-

Betrayed?

Disappointed.

Disillusioned...

Is it too much to ask that for once in my life I be chosen over May?...

But isn't that why I paired with her to begin with? Because no one else would choose me? Isn't it all really just par for the course... Ha... Ha...ha.

I can feel the crying, but it's more as if someone else was shedding the tears; as if I was stuck somewhere else but somehow still attached to the wet face. Viewing some poor startruck's pain.

Psychotic break.

Mental breakdown.

Existential crisis... What a joke...

^~^~^ ~^~^

Baldy finishes up with Dent and then he comes right over to me. So's I get ready to start growling and maybe take a swipe or two, but the urge to make my point to Baldy dies as soon as I catch sighta Dent. Crying.

Dent is crying!

What. The. Flarb?!

I gape at him, moving to keep Baldy outta my field of vision so's I can keep Dent in it. His face don't budge a microt but his eyes keep on getting redder and redder, and the water and snot are flowing like there ain't no tomorrow.

"Chin up! With this your treatment is nearly concluded, if you have any questions you may of course call on me or any of my staff in the morning or otherwise we can address your concerns during our next session. Have a good night." All happy like says Baldy as he don't even look at us to make sure we got it.

But whatever. He done.

I get myself outta the bed and over to Dent's where I grab him by the shoulders.

"Dent, Denton youSORRYCONCAVESPOONYOUBETTERSNAPOUTOFIT!"

~^~~^ ~^~^

I feel my reality moving, being shaken and suddenly Mayla's angry but also worried face materializes before me.

-ORRYCONCAVESPOONYOUBETTERSNAPOUTOFIT!"

I blink a few times.

"All spoons are concave." I reply, a part of me surprised when the words aren't only in my mind.

She breaths a visible sigh of relief.

Otherwise they wouldn't be very useful. I add idly, but she blazes past the comment and with a force that could only be Mayla's she sits down on my bed causing everything else on it to jump.

What wonderful impact control; wonder who makes these mattresses?

"Listen here Dent, you're not allowed to go off to Lalas land! Or wherever else ut?! We got us a girl to go confess to, right, now!" She says with more than a hint of urgency... With longing.

I grip a hand tightly on the top of my bed, forcefully enough I suspect I might be further stress testing said illustrious mattress.

'I can't handle this right now.'

^~^~^ ~^~^

I don't get whats wrong, but as soon as my words are out, he crumples... Ut, he needs him some space, I can do that.

'But you better stay put while I go talk to her.'

And with that need to hurry riding me, I get up, go to the door, open her up and bump into Riley.

Mayla! She says with surprise as I catch her before I knock her over.

Sorry bout that. I reply, though I don't let go.

Baldy gone? I ask her as I search over her shoulder.

She nods her head and tries to look over my shoulder.

Can I come in?

I hear his bed squeak but I don't need to turn to know whats going on.... I mean I know what he's doing with himself, I just don't know whats going on with him... But I got the message loud and clear, even if I don' t like it.

I shake my head.

Sorry Riley, eem, right nows not great, uuh its late and all, but um, talk tomorrow? I ask with all the hoping I got in me.

But she takes my words with all the sadness I was trying not to give, so's I take her hands and kiss them, putting everything I don't got the words for into it.

Her face softens.

"Go. Please go." I whisper to her, though I get confused eyes looking back at me.

She seems a little hurt, but she takes a breath and when she lets it go, she lets me go and walks out the door her straight back telling she ain't turning back. And so I close the door after her, and sigh.

Dent. What the flarb is going on? I ask as soon as I'm back at the beds.

He turns away and talks to the wall.

"I- I don't know. I- I just, don't know." He says sounding sad mixed with confused.

"There's something about this, all of this, or, sigh, maybe it's just Riley suddenly confessing to us... I don't know, I just know that it's too much to handle, too much for me May. I- I need time." He pleads sounding like it's some kinda giant complicated jumble hes got going on there.

What the flarb is so blasting complicated?! Don't you like her? I ask.

He just sighs again.

"You want to be in a triad?" He asks back.

I shrug.

Won't really know until I try it. I answer, but of course he doesn't miss my microt of doubt.

"You don't wonder if it won't all just end as bad-"

NO! I growl, this is NOTHING like with Chel!

He instantly shuts his mouth and goes back to sniffling at the wall...

And now it's my turn to sigh.

"Alls I know is that I like her Dent, aaannd I don't hate you, so..." I trail off as I let that sink in, but then another thought hits me.

"Are you saying that I'm the one shoving my foot somewhere theres no foothold?" I ask as the resentment piles on.

"Does it really make me a startruck that I only wanna see the good?" I ask him.

"Am I just asking to get my heart broken again?" I whisper to his bed as his hunched back says all the right things to weigh me down.

I hear him turn towards me.

"May, I don't know, but I can promise you this: I won't let you get hurt."

I don't have to look up to see the new tears in his eyes, or to know what he's really saying.

I look up at his face.

"Dent, if it happens, if this three thing happens, then I promise it's not going to be a solo win or lose." I vow as I hold up my fist.

"You need time, fine, take it! But I'm telling you right now, we're both gonna be walking outta this with the same kinda heart."

~^~~^ ~^~^

'Whichever it is' her expression finishes for her and though her sincerity brings some lightness back into view, I also can't help but wonder if whole or broken are the only options.

What's the third option this time? I question humorlessly, which prompts a rueful sort of lift to come to the corners of my lips as my eyes go from her face, to her extended hand and in it I find a resigned but certain kind of peace.

Why not? I've already lost most everything else, what's a heart or two? I reflect with exaggerated blitheness, though as I do another more serious thought follows.

Perhaps two lost souls-

I don't let the words fully form but instead grab onto the thread they represent as I bump her fist with mine; a grim sort of finality to the gesture.

Perhaps, if there's two... we can help find each other.

19

^~^~^-~^~^-~^~~^-~^~^

Ithink that's long enough.

I get up and through the dim lighting that's still around at this hour I sneak my way into their room. It's not too hard, the door is unlocked. The Healer has gone for today and no one else is around, much less suppose to come in, and so keeping that in mind I close said door behind me just in case.

I enter the room and spot their two resting outlines in the darkness, it draws a sigh from me.

What is it that they're dreaming of? I wonder to myself as I take my seat between them. Mayla mumbles in her sleep as per her norm and follows it by wiggling out of her covers. I watch on with a fond grin.

Denton on the other hand, has burrowed to the point that only a few hairs on the top of his head sticking out and his general shape give away his location; my grin widens.

The three of us, we’ve been through so much together. I can hardly believe I’ve only known them a few months; it feels a lifetime.

Mayla makes another sound which causes me to turn, as I do my hand brushes up against her blanket. Hmm, I pick it up and place it back over her, stroking her hair gently when my task is complete.

You are always ready for a Fight but rarely do they follow you into dreams, what is it about tonight that you face against? I ask of her form as I bend to ghost a kiss on the top of her head.

Is it me? I think with remorse.

I'd deserve it; exacting my vengeance is an enactment I probably shouldn't have ever thrust onto them.

It should only be my burden to bear. I add with resolve as I retake my seat.

But Lighting can wait. I continue as a pang of renewed worry hits me as they both turn their backs to me and I hear the sound of a whimper.

Coincidence...And imagination...

I take a long steadying breath.

They'll bounce back. They will.

Because at each and every turn they’ve managed to surpassed, nay, shatter my every expectation. They appeared in my life like a sudden storm and they’ve only improved it. They breathed excitement, joy, frustration...Love, into my once monotonous existence. I praise with growing conviction.

Now it’s my turn. I’ll respect their wishes with regards to Team Maiden, but they’re startrucks if they think I’m giving up on them.

~^~~^ ~^~^

I keep my breathing even though all my senses have been reacting to her from the Moment she stepped into our room.

I hear her take a seat between us, and I hear her kiss... her pain... her tenderness...

I sink further into my shelter and turn away.

Breaking point, this is my breaking point. I admit to myself as I quietly brush away a stray tear she'll never see.

^~^~^ ~^~^

I take another bite of my breakfast but no matter how hard I try, I can't manage to tear off-

I open my eyes, blink, and spit out the pillow.

Pleegh! UUMM!! I correct when the smell of real breakfast hits my nose.

I turn to the side.

YODENTGETAMOVEONIT! I shout as I get outta bed and start going for the door.

"You do remember we're not the only guests on this floor? It might not be for us." He replies as the top of his eyes pop outta his nest to glare at me foorrr... something or something.

My stomach growls.

Yea, yea, I'm just gonna-

The door opens and Riley's standing there with a big'ol tray chock-stuffed-spilling over with food.

I got it! I instantly yell as I take the tray from her.

Or at least I try to, but she stops me with one of her 'don't' looks and points me back to bed with her 'I'm super serious' lashes.

So's with only another longer growl of my stomach to carry back with me, I go sit and watch as she pulls up a foldy table and lays down the mouthwaterings between us.

"The Healer cleared you to eat solids; in celebration I've brought some of your favorites." She tells us, in a way that says a warnings gonna be the next thing outta her mouth.

"But you also need nutrition, and I've brought plenty of it." She adds as she picks up a plate and hands it to Denton.

Remalian quimla, eggs, sausage and a nice green kak to wash it all down with. She announces as he