Let the rain be blood! ( War Game )

Silent and Deadly

You've dealt with Ares and Athena. 

Who's left to mess with?

I wiped the blood off my trident and took a breath, trying to think through the haze of exhaustion and hunger gnawing at my gut. As much as I wanted to just sit down, eat something, and pass out for a few hours, I knew better. There was no time for that. The longer I stayed still, the more people could be plotting against me.

Next target: Hermes. 

Those sneaky little thieves are still out there.

Hermes cabin was full of tricksters, thieves, and runners. They were fast and smart—not as coldly strategic as Athena's kids, but sly. They wouldn't fight head-on like Ares. No, they'd be sneaking around, swiping food, sabotaging traps, and generally being a pain in the neck. I had to take them out before they could pull some underhanded stunt that would leave me without a trident—or worse, food.

Where would they be hiding?

I thought about the Hermes kids' personalities. They weren't likely to bunker down in the open or take up obvious defensive positions like Ares. No, they'd be somewhere discreet. Hiding. Waiting for the chance to slip in, steal supplies, and vanish before anyone knew they were there. Somewhere out of the way but close enough to the center to swoop in when no one was looking.

Right. 

So, I'll just be one step ahead.

I set out through the woods, sticking to the shadows like I was one of them. Every step was deliberate, my ears sharp for the slightest sound. I was getting better at this. Being alone had its perks—no one to worry about, no one to slow me down. I could focus on the hunt.

And Hermes' kids? They'd better hope they were faster than me.

After about an hour of stalking through the trees, hunger gnawing at my insides, I spotted them. Two campers, crouched low in the underbrush, whispering to each other as they sorted through a stash of stolen food. Typical Hermes move. They'd probably swiped that from right under the noses of the Ares guards. One of them was munching on a piece of bread, not a care in the world, while the other kept lookout.

Well, lookout's not doing a great job.

I tightened my grip on the trident, narrowing my eyes. This needed to be quick. No mercy, no hesitation. If I was going to survive this game, I had to start thinking like a warrior, not a hero.

Sorry, Hermes. 

Today's not your lucky day.

I slipped through the trees as silently as possible, creeping up behind them. The one eating was still oblivious, too focused on stuffing his face to realize what was about to happen. His friend was slightly more aware, glancing around nervously, but even he didn't see me until it was too late.

I struck fast. The blunt end of my trident cracked down on the lookout's head before he could even shout a warning. He collapsed instantly, crumpling to the ground like a sack of potatoes.

The second one barely had time to look up, eyes wide with panic. I didn't give him a chance to scream. A swift jab to the gut knocked the wind out of him, and as he doubled over in pain, I followed up with a brutal swing of the trident's prongs across his back. He hit the ground face-first, gasping for air, and I stood over him, breathing hard.

Two more down. 

Didn't even break a sweat.

I yanked my trident free from his side, watching as the green glow of their bracelets faded to red. It was over before it had even begun. Hermes kids might be quick, but they weren't built for a straight-up fight. They relied on sneaking around, and today, I was the one doing the sneaking.

Still, the adrenaline rush from the fight wasn't enough to ignore the growing ache in my stomach. My throat was dry, my hands were shaking, and I could feel the sharp pangs of hunger eating away at me. I looked down at the food they'd stolen—mostly bread, a few apples, and some jerky. Nothing fancy, but it was better than nothing.

Well, I guess this is mine now.

I quickly snatched up the food, shoving a piece of bread into my mouth before I could think twice. It was stale and dry, but it tasted like the best thing I'd ever eaten. My body craved it. As I chewed, I scanned the area for any more threats. There were none. It seemed these two had been on their own, no backup in sight.

Good. 

I'm not in the mood for a bigger fight.

I polished off the bread, took a couple of swigs from their canteen, and wiped my mouth with the back of my hand. It wasn't much, but it was enough to keep me going for a while longer. I needed to stay sharp, stay ahead of the others. There were still too many cabins left, too many players who could end me if I let my guard down.

I glanced down at the two unconscious campers. They weren't dead, just knocked out cold. Their bracelets glowed a dull red now, meaning they were officially out of the game. No need to finish them off.

I don't need to be that guy.

Still, it was a little unsettling how quickly I'd taken them down. I didn't even blink. Didn't hesitate. Maybe this game was getting to me, making me colder than I wanted to be. But if I had to choose between them and me?

I choose me. 

Every time.

I grabbed my trident, wiped it clean on the grass, and stood up, taking one last look at the two fallen Hermes campers.

Sorry, guys. 

Nothing personal. 

Just business.

With that, I turned and melted back into the forest, the hunger still gnawing at me but a little more manageable now. It was getting darker, and I needed to find somewhere to rest, somewhere safe. But first, I'd keep hunting. Because in this game, there was no room for mercy.