Chapter 27：Push him a little more. (1/2)

For what seems like forever, the timer finally goes off on our watches.

All that wretched noise and unsettling vibrations caused by the sharks from before has finally stopped.

The bait they were desperately trying to devour chunks of, which eventually turned into an almost unrecognizable mutilated flesh, has since fallen into the depths below.

I open my eyes and notice that Charles is keenly watching the monitor.

What's he looking a... oh wait, yes!

The timer!

Did it go off just now?!

I lift my arm slightly to get a better view of my wrist so I can make sure I didn't imagine things.

YES! FINALLY! We both did it!

With my eyes twinkling, I excitedly look around in anticipation.

Clink. Clank.

...

Clank.

Clank. Clink.

As if to mark the end of my suffering, the sounds coming from the chains being pulled upwards is music to my ears.

...

We finally reach the top, and with heavy steps, I exit this miserable place that has kept us captive for a good 5 minutes.

Just when I thought I could finally put everything behind me and relax, both my hands are now being held in someone else's.

My eyebrows knit as I look up to see who the offender was, only to find out it is none other than Ren Hille.

I sigh.

I feel so drained that I don't even have the strength to care about him still holding onto my hand.

Even as I'm walking away, he keeps asking me to make sure if I'm alright or if I'm hurt anywhere, but I continue to look on straight past him, dazed, and just ignored him.

Before I could take another step further, though, someone pulls Ren from behind.

As if grabbing hold of him wasn't enough, his agitated captor puts all his effort into removing his hands from mine.

”JETT! What are you doing?! I want to ask if she's okay! You're acting all crazy right now!” Ren exclaims in great annoyance.

Despite doing his best, however, Ren eventually lets go of me, or he may have had to risk making me fall flat on my face if he kept being stubborn.

Without bothering to hide his agitation, Jett answers, ”Hahaha... Ren! Stop playing around! It's our turn now. Let's go! They're all waiting for us to enter the cage, you know?”

A barely visible angry vein shows up on the side of Jett's forehead. With a fake smile plastered on his face, he forcefully drags his teammate away like everything's normal.

His voice gradually fades into the background the further away they go.

I'm so mentally drained that my soul feels like it has already left my body, but I snap out of it a little and remember what I intended to do in the first place.

I wanted to go down this staircase so I can make my way to the breakroom. After that whole ordeal, all I want is to rest right now and clear my mind before the next challenge is up.

We were told earlier that after the 'Shark Tank' challenge, we have an hour to do whatever we please.

* * * * *

I take a seat on one of the armchairs, so I put my leg up over the other and cross my arms.

To my dismay, not even 5 minutes have passed, and someone knocks on the door.

Tsk.

In my annoyance, I growl softly and wonder what this person wants. ”... Yes...? Who is it?”

The door opens softly to reveal a slightly hesitant figure, who has something in their hand.

Out of curiosity, my eyes are now drawn to the bottled beverage the person has in their grip.

”Hey... I got you some water.” Charles says with a slightly worried look on his face.