Chapter 55: Deadly Card Game — Time Three
The girl glanced around, her gaze locking briefly with Riven’s trembling hands.
Tyrion sat with his head bowed low, silent and distant.
"No, Sylas, he... How did this happen...? Hey, where are we? Can anyone explain?!" Lirael shouted into the void.
"Lirael... I think we’ve fallen into someone’s trap," Riven said, his voice low with regret. "Maybe... we’re even imprisoned within enemy territory."
"But... who would go this far? L-let me think...! Some of my memory came back. I remember yesterday—Sylas and I were just sitting peacefully at the academy and—"
As soon as she remembered Sylas, nausea surged. The bloodstains and iron scent clinging to the air made her head spin.
"Yeah... I remember everything up until yesterday too..."
Suddenly, Tyrion spoke, his tone grim and detached. His face was pale, haunted.
"I killed my own brother. I didn’t even hesitate. With my own hands... I took his life... I killed the one person I loved most!!!"
His scream startled Lirael, piercing the silence.
"This damned place is cursed! They want us dead! This game they’ve forced us into—it’s just a distraction for those who enjoy watching us die! Bastards, you’ll pay for this!"
"Tyrion... we likely won’t escape this place until we finish the game."