💘  Chapter 6. The Love Game

February 14

— Come here, you idiot! — Dmitry jumped up from the table, ran up to Yaroslav and grabbed him by the collar. — You'll answer for this!

— For what? — the frightened classmate asked. — I didn't do anything!

— You didn't do anything? Did you? — Dmitry hit Yaroslav hard in the face. The latter grabbed his nose, from which blood flowed.

— What's going on here? — the teacher screamed. — I'm calling the headmistress!

— Call, call! Take Yaroslav to the head! — Dmitry said and swung again.

Maxim strode over to Dmitry.

— Are you all right? — he pushed him away from Yaroslav. — He was just sitting there writing the test paper!

— Just writing the test paper? Look what he did to her! — Dmitry pointed at a student who was sitting on the floor crying with her hands covering her face.

— What's Yaroslav got to do with it? — Maxim raised his tone.

— Look at this, — Dmitry showed Maxim his phone with the messages. — At recess he suggested I play a game. I asked him about it. He replied that it was a game on the phone. After that, in class, he made me realise how Sigita cheats. And threatened to show me on the electronic blackboard if I didn't!

Dmitry looked at Maxim, then at the frozen class.

— Why are you all staring at me? — he was indignant. — Yaroslav is pretending to be a shy introvert, but he's actually making fun of all of us!

He was so furious that his eyes became red.

The teacher, waking up from the shock, exclaimed in confusion:

— Can you hear me at all? Who am I talking to? Stop!

— Shut up! — Dmitry didn't stand on ceremony and pushed Maxim so that he fell to the floor.

Then grabbed Yaroslav's arm, pulled him and smashed his bleeding face. The students and teacher couldn't even do or say anything. Could only stare at the whole thing.

Maxim stood up, moved to him from behind and clasped his hands behind his back.

— I'm going to the headmistress! — the teacher hystered.

— Sure, try! Go on, try! — Dmitry mocked, trying to free his hands from the grip at the same time. — Only you won't succeed, because Yaroslav made sure the door was locked! You won't open it! Yaroslav thought of everything!

— What makes you think it was Yaroslav's work? — Maxim defended their classmate. — What makes you think it was Yaroslav's work? — Maxim stood up for him. — Maybe someone took his phone while he wasn't looking! Everyone's handed them over! He couldn't have texted from his own number! Either his phone was swapped or hacked! Yaroslav is not a villain, he's a victim! Just like you!

The teacher went to the door, glimpsed Sigita sitting against the wall, turned the knob, but the door didn't open.

— There must be keys here.

— Look at Yaroslav's! — Dmitry wouldn't stop. — You know, I'll help you!

He reached into Yaroslav's right trouser pocket.

— What's this?

Feeling something metallic, he pulled out an object. It turned out to be a bunch of keys.

— I... I don't know... I don't know how I got them... I didn't take them! — Yaroslav stammered.

— Take the keys and go to the head.

Dmitry threw the finding to the teacher. She opened the classroom and exited. The others hurried after her.

— Now we'll deal with you!

— I don't know anything! — Yaroslav abruptly broke out of Dmitry's hands, took his briefcase and rushed through the doorway.

— Look, Maxim! He's running away! Hurry after him!

The dazed Maxim loosened his grip. Dmitry used this to break free and chased after his fleeing classmate. Waking up, Maxim ran after him.

«If I run for the exit, they'll catch me, — Yaroslav thought and decided. — I must confuse them.»

Therefore, he ran not to the ground floor, as everyone expected, but to the third.

— I told you, Maxim. And you didn't believe me, — Dmitry said, breathing heavily.

— I never said I started to believe you! — Maxim protested. — Yes, there is something really wrong with Yaroslav, but I don't think he's our man.

— When we catch him, you'll be convinced.

In about a minute Yaroslav was standing on the third floor of the left wing, at the door in front of the staircase, but couldn't go down because it was locked.

It was here that Dmitry and Maxim caught up with him.

— Well, hi, Yaroslav, — the first grinned. — What, you can't open the door? Nowhere to run?

— Again, I have no clue how I got those keys!

— Why did you run away then? — Maxim asked.

— He beat me until I bled! Wouldn't you be scared if you were me?

Maxim turned to Dmitry:

— He's right. You didn't think about the fact that he ran away because he was scared of you? And even if he is the game maker, why would he close his only way out?

Dmitry didn't know what to say.

— I don't understand anything. He's the...

Before he could finish the sentence, the lights on the floor suddenly switched off completely.

— What's that? — Maxim was surprised.

— I don't know, — Yaroslav reacted in the same way.

None of the students on the floor noticed anything. Some were talking, others were looking at their phones. But after a couple of minutes, chaos broke out because all the doors were locked.

It was impossible to get out of either the left or right wing. The windows were blocked as well. The panic in the crowd grew, with students scrambling down the corridor. Some tried to kick the door, but nothing worked. It was all in vain.

— Not this...

Yaroslav and Maxim looked questioningly at Dmitry.

— Did you not realise? A new game has begun!

A voice sounded from the speakers:

«Hi everyone! I want to play a game with you.»

— What game? Who the hell are you? — one of the students shouted.

«A word of advice, mate. That's the least of your worries. I just want to play a game with you. Now, listen carefully to my rules. As you already know, today is the fourteenth of February. It's a beautiful day — Valentine's Day. So our game will be based on love.

«Now, there are 23 people on this floor. One of you is madly in love with a girl who is also here right now. And we're gonna help him find out if his feelings are reciprocated. Within ten minutes, you have to find out who this couple is. If you don't, the valves in the ceiling lamps will open and the poison gas will kill you all.

«You must place a paper with two names on it in the centre of the corridor. You have one try. If the answer is wrong — the gas will be released, if the answer is right — you will be freed. The game has begun!»

At that moment, the replaced lamps on the ceiling lit up red. The students squealed, began to try again to break down the door and make phone calls, but the deadbolts, which had not been there before, proved too strong, and the communication stopped working.

— How do you know who is in love with whom out of twenty-three people? — Yaroslav was amazed.

— In fact, this circle narrows down to just three people.

Now already Yaroslav and Dmitry looked at their classmate in surprise.

— Whoever it is, he's only tormenting our class, — Maxim explained. — The other students are only needed for tension. If we don't win, they will die. The aim of the game is to save them.

Dmitry clarified:

— You mean to say that it's one of the three of us who is in love with someone on this floor?

— Makes sense.

— But wait. He's only picking on our class. Does that mean that one of us...

— ...is in love with our classmate? — Maxim finished for him.

There was a silence between the friends, which was quickly broken by a student who came up to them. And this student was their classmate. All three of them stared at her with a sad look.

— Why are you looking at me like that? Yes, I cheated in biology, so what? I can't learn everything! I'm not a machine!

— No, no. It's not about that...

— What is it then? — Sigita asked, not understanding what he was talking about, but then understood. Understood everything.

After a short pause, Maxim spoke first:

— So, we have to figure out the one of the three of us who is in love with her. What are the options?

— Maxim, to be honest, you are handsome, sociable, and she is the same. You're also new to the school. Sigita's the first person you might like. You two are the best suited for each other. What if you're in love with her?

Maxim smiled::

— Don't be ridiculous. My looks, friendliness and the fact that I'm new to this school mean nothing. Any one of us could be in love with her. Even Yaroslav. — he turned to the latter. — By the way, what if it's you?

— You what? For me, there's nothing scarier than talking to a stranger! I'm afraid of any communication with people at all, and there's nothing to talk about love! How can I even like someone? I don't think I'm capable of feeling love.

— I agree, I doubt Yaroslav can even look at a girl. With Dmitry, however, the case is different.

Unexpectedly for all four of them, Yaroslav spoke firmly and confidently:

— You don't have to answer, Dmitry.

— Why? Are you confessing your love?

— No, of course not. It's just that when Sigita came, I watched you and Maxim's behaviour closely. And only your, Dmitry, your pupils were dilated, only your breathing was nervous. You tried not to give it away, tried not to look at her, but those attempts gave you away even more.

— Is it true? — Maxim turned to Dmitry.

— Complete nonsense. What does he know about psychology?

Yaroslav refuted his comment.

— In fact, to understand it, you don't need to be a psychologist. If you look closely, you can see it perfectly well.

Dmitry's cheeks flushed red.

— I smashed your nose until it bled! Isn't that enough for you? Do you want more? — he approached Yaroslav, but Maxim covered him with his body.

— Now, listen. You want to beat him up because what he says is the full truth. Look at your face!

Dmitry clenched his palm into a fist and sharply threw it at Yaroslav, but Maxim intercepted it with his hand. Then Dmitry tried to kick Yaroslav with his foot, but Maxim blocked it with his own and then hit him in the stomach. Dmitry instantly bent down and stepped away from Yaroslav.

— Sorry, I didn't mean to hit you, it's just that killing Yaroslav isn't going to help us here. But I know what will.

Maxim opened his briefcase, took out one of his notebooks, tore out a double paper, took a pen out of the pencil case and wrote:

«Dmitry + Sigita.»

The student was unable to hold back his tears. He tried to wipe them away, turning away from his classmates, but the drops still rolled down his eyes. Sigita stared at the floor in shock, not knowing what to say.

Maxim walked over to his friend, put a hand on his shoulder and said comfortingly:

— Don't worry. I don't think you're weird at all. I don't think it's some kind of crime. I treat you the same way I always have. This is a completely normal occurrence.

Through the crowd of roaring students Maxim made his way into the corridor and placed the page in the centre. The lights flashed on. The speakers emitted a voice:

«Correct answer.»

Those present were very much stunned at the quick rescue, and breathed a sigh of relief, still not realising who the lovers were. Still the voice continued:

«But before I open the doors, I want the students whose names are written on the paper to come to the centre.»

The couple did not move. Maxim stepped up close to them and whispered:

— Do as he says. Please. We've won. We've saved them all. There's not much time left until the end.

Sorrowful and helpless, Dmitry and Sigita looked into each other's eyes and walked to the centre. The students obediently parted and escorted them out with a gaze.

«So. Now, Sigita, tell me if your feelings are mutual. If you don't, I'll release the gas.»

— Come on, say, — Dmitry pleaded. — Say it. Otherwise we'll all be killed. Say honestly.

While everyone in the room watched with bated breath, one student, standing in the corner furthest away from everyone else, began to laugh. He tried to hold back, but couldn't — it only got worse.

— Ha-ha-ha-ha... — the man covered his mouth with his hand so no one would hear.

Sigita looked Dmitry in the eyes again and confessed:

— I don't like you. I don't love you.

— HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA!

Now everyone turned to the laughing man. Whereas Dmitry stared into the void sadly, and tears streamed from his eyes.

Discontent was heard in the crowd.

— He's laughing! Look at him!

— Why are you laughing?

— There's nothing funny here!

— HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA! — He bit his tongue to stop laughing, but it didn't help. — HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA! Sorry! Ha-ha-ha-ha... I'm sorry, sorry! Ha-ha-ha-ha... It's just... so funny! Just look at those fools! One's about to cry, and the other one's looking so comfortingly into his eyes! HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA! Sorry, I can't stop! HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA!

— He set this whole thing up!

— He made this game!

— Get him!

Soon everyone except Dmitry and Sigita surrounded the unknown man.

— HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA! — still laughing, he took out a remote control and pressed a button. Gas flowed from the valves on the lamps. — HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA! That's so funny! — Then took out a gas mask and put it on himself. Gradually the students began to fall unconscious.

Dmitry seemed to be in another place and didn't notice the chaos around him. He stood there, unable to accept what had happened. This isolation slowed down the effect of the gas on his nervous system and prevented him from losing consciousness when everyone else had long since fallen to the floor. In time, he himself felt the desire to fall. The power inside him was running out.

— We'll die? — he asked quietly.

The masked man slowly approached him.

— No, no, why do you think that? You won. It's just a sleeping gas. Everyone here will forget my face, but will remember the events of this day for a long time.

— I can't make out your face, but I feel like I know it. You study with us. You're our classmate!

— That's right. Unfortunately, you'll soon fall asleep and forget it.

— Please lean towards me, — his eyes were slipping, his legs were failing, his words were jumbled in his head, but Dmitry held on. — I want to recognise you before I fall asleep and forget.

— All right, — the man leaned in. — Their faces were only centimetres apart. — I can't stand. Give me your hand, — Dmitry wheezed.

The man held out his hand. The student took it with his right hand, and prepared a fist in his left. Having got the support, hit the stranger in the face with the last of his strength. A crunch was heard.

From pain and surprise the stranger pulled back and grabbed his nose.

— Thank you, — having fallen to the ground, Dmitry thanked him. — Now I know who you are.

— How?

— Since you're a classmate of mine, we'll see each other one day. Knowing that, I broke your nose. Now, if I see a man with a broken nose other than Yaroslav, I'll recognise you.

He laughed:

— But how will you remember that my nose is broken? After all, you will forget it when you wake up.

Dmitry fell down completely. Everything was blurred in his eyes. He couldn't distinguish objects and was staring at the ceiling.

— I sent Nicholas a message.

— What message?

— I told him that if I ever got a chance to meet the game maker, I would punch him in a visible place to leave him with a bruise or a fracture. When I wake up and open the conversation with Nicholas, I will see my message and know who you are, in this case, by your broken nose. Even if you do something to me, Nicholas knows my plan and will figure you out on his own.

The masked man didn't utter a word.

— You lost, bitch. And now, as you say yourself...

«GAME OVER.»

Dmitry closed his eyes and fell asleep.