⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪
── 𝐈𝐍 𝐖𝐇𝐈𝐂𝐇
lana saito, a sharp former law student, enters the deadly borderland games, determined to outsmart her way to survival. but when she meets the mysterious chishiya, her carefully built walls start to crack. as alliances sh...
˚ ༘ ๋࣭ ࣪ 🂱⋆｡˚ ( GAME OF HEARTS ! ) ❛ A CALCULATED ENCOUNTER ❜ CHAPTER TWO !
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THE SUN HAD BARELY RISEN, CASTING A COLD GRAY LIGHT OVER THE DESOLATE STREETS OF THE BORDERLANDS. Lana moved with silent determination, her mind still haunted by the final moments of the "Seven of Hearts" game. Faces flashed before her eyes—her friends, their panicked expressions as the cruel reality settled in, the sharp edges of fear etched into their features. The memory struck like a physical blow, tightening her chest and making it hard to breathe. She forced herself to take steady, measured breaths, feeling the sharpness of each inhale as she pushed the memories deeper into the recesses of her mind. You can't break down now, she reminded herself, clenching her fists at her sides.
Focus, she told herself. You have to keep moving. Letting your guard down could cost you everything.
She couldn't afford to let her guard down. Not here, not now.
Her footsteps echoed against the cracked pavement, a stark contrast to the eerie silence surrounding her. The air was sharp and cold, biting at her skin, while a faint chill swept through the streets, rustling the debris scattered across the ground. The wind whistled through the jagged edges of shattered windows, creating an unsettling symphony that mingled with the distant creaks of the skeletal buildings looming above. A hint of decay hung in the air, a reminder of the lives lost and the world left behind.
With every step, she felt the weight of guilt pressing down on her shoulders, a constant reminder of those she couldn't save. What could I have done differently? The thought spiraled, threatening to pull her under, but she fought against it, her mind racing to form potential escape routes, ways to survive the next game. I owe it to them to keep fighting, to find a way out of this hell.
Suddenly, a sharp sound cut through the stillness—a distant crash, the shattering of glass echoing through the streets. Lana froze, her heart pounding in her chest. She quickly scanned her surroundings, every sense heightened, adrenaline coursing through her veins. The once-quiet air felt heavy with unspoken threats, and she could almost hear the low hum of danger lurking just beyond her sight. Instinctively, she ducked behind a crumbling wall, holding her breath as she strained to listen. Stay alert, she reminded herself, muscles coiled like a spring, ready to react at a moment's notice.
As the echoes faded into silence, she felt a sudden chill crawl down her spine, as if someone was watching her. A flicker of movement caught her eye, and she turned her head just slightly, scanning the shadows cast by the broken buildings. For a brief moment, she felt a presence, a subtle shift in the air that hinted at another's proximity. But when she looked directly, there was nothing—just the abandoned streets.
With a steeling breath, she continued forward, glancing over her shoulder, instincts urging her to be cautious. You can't let fear control you, she thought. Keep pushing forward, no matter what. The sensation of being followed lingered, intensifying her sense of urgency. It was then that she noticed a figure standing at the edge of her vision, partially hidden by the debris, observing her with an almost predatory gaze.
