–– GREEN TEAM POV ––

Stella and Carter were outside the warehouse. In just a few hours the match will start. Sitting below a tree, talking between themselves, far from their team. Neither of them considered themselves as strong enough to fight. They were never strong. They became part of the armed force just to be a support for the stronger ones, because they knew they would never be strong. As much as they trained, as much as they exercised, they could never develop the stamina they desired. Never developed the strength they longed for. Stella hid her face between her knees. The nerves were eating them alive; they couldn’t think about anything else that wasn’t death. They knew they won’t be of help. Just Cole and Zoe could save them.

– Stella… do you think… we’ll win…?

– … Are you seriously asking me? —she raised her head and looked defiantly at him— Of course we won’t win! We’re trash! We exist just to help the strongest out of the battlefield! We could never win… not even if Cole tries… we won’t…

Carter’s expression alone was enough of an answer. He knew they will lose. But hearing it so bluntly still hurt. It hurt hearing it with his own ears. He bit his lip and punched the ground with his fist. They felt powerless. Totally helpless.

Just a few more minutes passed by.

“Green and Orange Teams, come to the coliseum. I repeat: Green and Orange Teams, come to the coliseum.”

It was time. Nobody was ready. Carter got up and took Stella’s hand, helping her get up. Odine ran out of the warehouse and noticed two familiar silhouettes near the tree.

What are you doing here!? We were planning our strategy and you two weren’t present! Tch. I don’t know how you entered the army.

With that said, Odine walked out first. Zoe and Cole approached Carter and Stella. Both laid their hands down on their shoulders, letting them know that everything is going to be alright, with a bright smile on their faces.

–– ORANGE TEAM POV ––

After hearing the announcement, everyone from the team got up of their beds and made their way to the coliseum. After what happened a few days ago with Ray, Jade and Phoebe, the atmosphere became tense and awkward. Almost no one talked, just Alec and Augustus, the others would just hear them talk.

Everyone went to their respective pods. Ray side eyed Jade. Jade had her eyes closed, harshly biting her lip. She clenched her fists and looked up. She will avenge her sister’s death. She was willing to win that stupid game all of them were forced in. For Gin. Ray unknowingly smiled. He knew what Jade was thinking, and he thought the same about Hal. Phoebe noticed how Ray was looking at Jade. She could only sigh. That was not the time to think about emotions, it was the time to win.

Immediately, everyone lay down, not even 5 seconds later and everyone was inside the match. Following their strategy, Phoebe was going alone, Ray and Jade together, and lastly their leader and right-hand man. Even inside the match, their communication was scarce.

Alec and Augustus were situated in Base 1. They were looking everything around them in case someone from the enemy team approached. They noticed two figures walking up to the base, trying to get the first 5 points. But these guys wouldn’t let them do as they pleased, so, the Orange Team got their first 4 points.

–– GREEN TEAM POV ––

Stella and Carter were the first ones to get killed. After respawning, Odine was near the warehouse.

– What are you doing!? Look carefully where you’re going! They could be hiding!

– We’re doing the best we can!

– It doesn’t look like it since you gave 4 points away!

In that instant, Cole was walking near the warehouse and heard Odine scream.

– What is happening?

– These two weaklings are giving points away!

– Odine, they’re trying to do their best…

– Screw that! They can’t do anything right! I’m going to win this game alone!

With that, Odine ran as fast as she could out of the warehouse. She was extremely mad. One could almost see fire in her eyes. The smoke out of her skin. Stella couldn’t hold on any longer and fell to her knees, hiding her face in both of her hands.

I can’t do this… —she said, barely audible above her crying—.

Cole kneeled beside her.

– We can’t win…Don’t give up, guys… we c—

Right then, Odine reappeared in the warehouse. Without saying anything, she ran out again. Zoe reappeared too a few seconds later.

– What’s wrong…? —without waiting for an answer, she kneeled beside Stella and hugged her—.

– I’ll win this… don’t worry, you guys can stay here.

– What are you saying? You can’t with all of them… —argued Carter—.

– You say? Watch me then.

Cole exited the warehouse. He had made up his mind to win the game. For his teammates, for Zoe and… for that special person coming their way. Just thinking about that made Cole’s blood fire up and give him enough motivation to do everything by himself.

–– ORANGE TEAM POV ––

Even though they were protecting the same base together, Jade and Ray didn’t talk to each other. Jade did it out of embarrassment for what happened before, but Ray was because of Phoebe’s words still stuck in his mind.

– You’re just confusing her!

– There are other women who worry more about you and want to be with you! Oh, but since you only see Hal in Jade you don’t even notice that I exist.

He couldn’t concentrate. So in that moment, the enemy team scored some points because he was distracted, and it was only one person. Jade shook Ray by the shoulders and both got up, making their way to kill whomever was in the base. Since it was only one person, they were sure they could defeat them. But no, Cole defeated them instead.

Phoebe was alone. She was hiding behind a wall. She couldn’t stop thinking about the conversation she had with Ray, specially because she kissed him. She touched her lips and closed her eyes tightly. She didn’t have any chance with him. He only had eyes for Jade.

–– GREEN TEAM POV ––

Green Team was losing. They didn’t have much advantage since there were only 3 fighting. Stella and Carter had already given up and stayed at the warehouse. Odine, being so angry, kept making stupid mistakes. She couldn’t concentrate. Zoe and Cole were doing everything they could, but couldn’t close up the advantage the enemy had against them. The Orange Team were only 4 points away from victory.

– Zoe, come with me. If we go together, we’ll be stronger.

Zoe just nodded. She knew she could trust everything Cole said. He took her hands and made their way to the farthest base, the Base 3. Since it was farther away from the others, they assumed there wouldn’t be anyone in there. When they arrived, they hid behind a wall, and cautiously looked around the place.

Seeing that there wasn’t anyone else in there, they went inside and started to capture the base. With those 5 points they would tie.

But, unknowingly, they heard a bullet being shot and in just seconds, the bullet hit Zoe.

– ZO-…

Cole tightly clenched his fists. He avoided the consequents shots from the enemy team and could kill the one who shot Zoe. Right then, he noticed how one more kill would end the match. But in that moment, he only had Zoe in his mind. He ran out of the base and went back to the warehouse as fast as possible. He kept avoiding the bullets that were coming for him. Once there, Zoe was standing there ready to go out. Cole ran to her and hugged her. Zoe was a bit surprised, but hugged him back.

– Zoe… —tears started to pour out of his eyes— Zoe, I love you, you know that, right?

It was only a matter of seconds for the match to end. It could happen in any time.

Y-yes… —Zoe couldn’t hold back her tears either and started to cry with him— I know, Cole. I love you too, you know?

Stella and Carter were behind them, both were sobbing. They felt guilty about all of this. They destroyed a family thanks to their weakness. Cole kneeled before Zoe, in front of her belly.

– Never… —he tried to talk, but his throat was clogged up by his tears—. I’ll never meet you… I don’t even know if you’re a beautiful boy or girl… but… I loved you and I’ll love you forever.

Zoe couldn’t say anything. Her cries were enough to express her despair. She took Cole by the hair and gently pressed him against her belly.

In that moment, Augustus shot the last bullet that would end all of this. In front of him were 4 people sobbing. Jade, casually, was behind Augustus, totally speechless. Zoe could only whisper a quiet “good luck” to Jade. And just like that, everyone fell to a deep sleep.

When they woke up, the Orange Team exited their pods. Jade went to Zoe’s pod. She crumbled down and started to cry heartbrokenly. Jade couldn’t stop thinking about Gin while crying. She understood those feelings of frustration the Green Team must’ve felt in their last seconds. Ray approached her and hugged her.

Augustus just went back to the warehouse, a smile on his lips.

TO BE CONTINUED.