Dumb Beauty & Genius

77.

Belle glances around.
' When will Shane come..'

The door is opened.
Belle smirks.

Shane sits down.
Belle points at the bag, " I took two golden apples, you don't have to compensate."

" Golden ?" Shane raises an eyebrow.
Shane smirks.

" Eh ?" asked Belle, " we-weren't you angry ? Why are you smirking ?" questioned Belle, " just pass me !"

Shane presses the button, " Apple. Two."
Belle widens her eyes, then she smiles creepily, " oh yeah, I forgot, you're not that easy to be fooled."

" The same trick on her won't work on me." said Shane, " you lied to her in Round 7."

" I won't forgive you." said Shane.
" The guard saw through the thief's lie. The apples go to the guard."

Belle smirks, " you can do nothing about it. Your defeat is certain."
" Now, we will announce the results. The next announcement is Round 30, the last round."

Shane laughs voicelessly.

***

Anna and Quinn stare at the screen.
" Eeeh ?!"

***

Ethan and Gilbert smile at the screen.

***

Belle glares at the screen.

[ ost. LIAR GAME ]

Belle 12R . 6G Bank : 3R
Ethan 10R . 5G Bank : 8R
Gilbert 11R . 0G Bank : 47R
Average = 19,3

Anna 12G . 0R Bank : 7G
Quinn 14G . 0R Bank : 23G
Shane 14G . 2R Bank : 9G
Average = 13

Belle turns to Shane, " why ?!"
Suddenly, Belle realizes that the other two comrades aren't on her side.

They're on Anna's side.
Belle glares at Shane, " how ?!"

" Simple." answered Shane, " The anger I showed you.. was all an act."

***

Round 24

Gilbert glares at Shane, " what ?"
Shane leans in, " there's apples outside."

" Huh ?" asked Gilbert confused.
" Other than the apples on the table, I took 45 red apples from my place." said Shane, " will you take it ?"

" W-what the heck ?" protested Gilbert.
" You will have more apples to steal. Isn't that a good thing ?" asked Shane.

Gilbert raises his eyebrows.
" Why ? Why are you doing this ?"

" You know, " continued Shane, " if Anna and I take all our apples to your team, what will happen ?"

A 12 10 0
Q 14 20 23 } Average = 7,6
S 12 15 0

" I.. I'll lose." mumbled Gilbert, " I only have 9 apples.."
Gilbert backs a little, " b-but who will want to take your apples to our team ?!"

" Did you forget Ethan ?" asked Shane.
Gilbert widens his eyes.

***

Gilbert comes in, " I kept the apples in my bank already."
" Pass." said Shane pressing the button.

Gilbert opens the bag.
It's two red apples.

***

Shane points at his head, " I still have a calm mind."

" Unlike you, who was enjoying victory and letting your guard down."
Shane glares at Belle.

Belle glares at Shane.
Belle replies, " It just means that we will all advance to the next stage. Don't get so cocky- "

" We all ?" asked Shane.
Belle froze at his smirk.