Page 15 of Hell’s Weapon

“The last of them are coming in now.” My radio crackles, Teddy’s voice coming over the line. He’s one of the demons in a junior position and the one that had drawn the short straw to stay with the stragglers.

Tarron and I both stand, readying to go out and do the room allocations for the remaining candidates. “Copy that. Thanks Teddy, good job,” I reply into my radio.

We see the last four enter the compound through the monitors, closely followed by Teddy as he lands from the skies.

“Does that make sixty-eight survivors?” Tarron checks.

“No, seventy-two with those four,” I clarify.

“Not bad for the first game.” He nods, impressed with the recruits. His mop of black hair bouncing across his face.

The average is sixty-five so this cohort has done quite well. I might need to up the stakes for the second round.

I grab my pass from the table and exit the room behind Tarron, ensuring the door locks behind us.

“Group six, follow me!” I holler over the bustle.

After congratulating the winners of this first round, I’d split the remaining players into their dormitory groups. We have two residential buildings identical to each other, set on the far side of the compound. They’re modern, an addition to the site after we renovated the old factory building–which had been abandoned–into the main one for the canteen, classrooms and gym.

This compound is the furthest away from Elysium that we’ve ever set the games. There’s no civilization around for nearly fifty miles. A decision made based on the threat the Angels posed. Charon and the river styx is also situated between the compound and our capital, as a secondary line of defence. Charon might control the area of souls by himself but don’t let that fool you into thinking you’d cross his territory with ease.

I’d worked a few of the games through my time, and thus had the experience to ensure we had the best facilities in place. Everything to make the next three months as comfortable as possible, for the staff at least. For the contestants safety was the biggest concern, but they wouldn’t be slumming it either.

I lead my group of battered, sweaty and filthy competitors to their suite. They are in the second of the two dorm buildings. This lot are all up on the third floor–the top floor–and I ignore the moans and groans as I lead them up the stairs.

There’re seven rooms on each floor. Twenty-one rooms per building and forty-two total. Meaning most competitors are sharing rooms. A few lucky bastards are getting their own because their roommate is already dead from the first challenge. More will be able to enjoy spreading out as the weeks progress, but for now they will be getting intimately acquainted with their room buddies.

I didn’t do the allocations but somehow Seven, Thirty-Nine and Ninety-Eight are all on this floor. As we reach the corridor, I start calling off my list and letting the competitors into their new accommodation to get settled. They each have individually coded wristbands that give them the ability to open the locks on their rooms. These will also get them into the other rooms we give them access to across the site.

I drop each off in turn. Seven is sharing with another female. Thirty-Nine gets his own room, which he is pleased with and not quiet about. I slam the door quickly behind him as he bounds into it, cutting off his celebrations.

Eventually, I’m at the end of the corridor and at the last suite. “And Ninety-Eight, this is you. Nineteen will be joining you, but I’m guessing he is still in the infirmary.”

She nods as I hold out her wristband. She plucks it from my fingers and I linger just long enough to ensure it works and she can get into her room without issue before tucking my clipboard under my arm and turning to leave. Before I make it a step, however, a tight grip wraps around my forearm and I’m spun into the room. I’m taken by such surprise that even my feline reactions take a beat to catch up as I find myself standing between the two beds, and Ninety-Eight against the closed door.

“What the fuck are you doing?” I growl at her.

“You’ve been impossible to get alone, I had to seize the opportunity.” She smiles up at me. No, it's more of a grin, there’s a plot behind the way her lips pull up at the sides.

“I can’t be in here alone with you.” I go to brush past her to open the door. I am not dealing with a case of misconduct. It's a policy that we’re not alone with any inmate. Not that these are inmates anymore, not really, but I have kept the rule in place for all my staff. I won’t have any false accusations.

“Ah, ah. You’re not going anywhere until I get some explanations.” She manages to shove me back. Her strength is surprising but I am recoiling quickly, her touch burning my skin even though my uniform.

“You’ve had everything that you need to know explained already,” I tell her.

“How do I get into the offices? I need to see everyone’s records now we’re here.”

Does she think I was born yesterday? I scoff. “Not a chance. Everyone plays the games on an even footing. That information is classified and you’re not staff.”

“You can drop the act now, we’re alone.” She folds her arms across her chest and it makes the video footage of her earlier, in just her sports bra, zip across my mind. I need to get out of here. Now. What she says does have me confused though.

“What act? You’re a competitor, the only information you’re allowed to have is what the others decide to tell you.”

“I am already staff!” Her eyes are alight with fire now, the brown flecked with amber. “I’m working for Hades.”

Did she hit her head traversing the mountain pass? “You’ve got a few more tasks to do yet before that’s the case, and that’s if you survive. Now, let me pass.”

She steps to the side as I move, blocking my way.