The Systems Challenge

Chapter 466 - Elmo's Twilight Zone

Elmo wasn't sure if it was just a weird dream or if he'd gotten hit in the head without being aware of it, but he saw Frank having a friendly conversation with Jonas when he came down after getting up.

It felt like he'd entered the twilight zone, where something or everything around him had changed and wasn't the way it should be. Even as Kim came downstairs for some breakfast, she walked over to where Frank and Jonas were sitting, said something, then went and got a bowl of the stew.

It wasn't that she said something to them that was strange to Elmo, but rather the fact that she didn't seem hostile towards him. That she was pleasant towards Frank, if not friendly. Where Elmo recalled that Kim had pretty much merely tolerated Frank before, with his arrogant attitude and overblown ego that sometimes seemed like it should suffocate him when he slept at night.

Yet, now it seemed like Frank was a part of their group, even though Elmo recalled that Frank was completely loyal to Stanley. That he would do anything Stanley said, which was why Staley made sure to keep him around.

However, Stanley wasn't anywhere to be seen, so Elmo couldn't be sure that something hadn't happened to him. Not that he would be willing to put much on a bet like that. Not when it felt like Stanley was a roach that could even talk death out of having him die.

So, by the time Elmo reached the bottom of the stairs, he had already decided on what he needed to do.

If this was the twilight zone, then he was screwed and there wasn't anything he could really do about it. Though, he still planned on resisting, no matter what else happened. Such as getting his breakfast and then finding a corner to sit in so he could keep an eye on what was happening around him. He wasn't going to let himself get taken unawares, no matter what else happened.

After doing just that, Elmo ate slowly, not willing to take his eyes off the scene before him. He didn't trust what was going on around him, as that could easily be part of the deception to trap him somewhere forever. As this entire situation could be a hidden challenge or something that those running this competition set up.

Kind of similar to those stone or whatever it was in the canyon that would have gone after any sounds and killed them before they'd know what was attacking them if they'd made a sound when they'd passed by them.

The only person who seemed normal to Elmo, that he could be certain about was Elin. When she started coming down the stairs, she paused as she saw Frank and Jonas talking. Elmo hadn't bothered trying to see what they were talking about, but he didn't need to. Whatever it was, it likely would be something to try and get him trapped in the whatever was happening and ensure he was stuck here forever.

As Elin came down the stairs, she looked around as if she wasn't sure what she should do. Kim was finishing her stew and returning the bowl to one of the waitresses that were currently working here while Jonas and Frank continued talking like they were old friends, Elwin seemed unconcerned about what was going on around him, which felt a little normal, but Elmo wasn't sure if that meant anything.

Other than that, no one else had come downstairs from their rooms, so Elmo couldn't be sure if they'd been affected by whatever it was that had Jonas and Kim, at least, in its hold.

After Elin had a bowl of the stew, she looked around and when she saw Elmo, her face lit up and she hurried over to where he sat. Elmo figured she didn't try talking to Kim because she was already on her way back up the stairs. Though, part of Elmo was telling him that she was going to infect the others with whatever was going on with her. Despite not knowing if that's how that worked in this situation.

"What's going on between Jonas and Frank?" Elin asked as she sat down next to Elmo.

Elmo could only shrug. "Not sure. They were like that when I came down. It's almost like we're in an episode of 'The Twilight Zone.'"

"What's... that?" Elin asked, sounding a little hesitant to even phrase it in the same way.

"It was a horror series I used to watch," Elmo answered, not taking his eyes off of Jonas and Frank. "Where someone would be pulled out of their life, no matter what they were doing, and find themselves in a place where nothing was as it seemed and there was no way out for them."

"And what makes you think you're in this... whatever it is?"

Elmo nodded towards Jonas and Frank. "The fact that they're so friendly. You know Jonas didn't trust Frank before, so why would they be so friendly now? I'm sure this is just the first sign that we're in the twilight zone."

Elin sighed, looking as if Elmo was being weird. Which Elmo could understand from someone who hadn't watched that series. As she wouldn't know how scary it could be.

However, at the same time, Elmo knew that he couldn't let that distract him from what was going on. All it could do was to get him trapped in it and unable to escape, if there even was a way out for him at this point.

Elin and Elmo ate quietly next to each other as they kept an eye on the room around them.

Elmo wasn't sure how Jonas and Frank were able to continue on a conversation for so long as to not have run out of things to talk about, but even as the rest of their combined group came down the stairs, Heather with Sonya, Bart, and then lastly Owen, none of them seemed to give Jonas and Frank a second glance. Which confirmed to Elmo that he and Elin were the last ones still free of whatever was going on.

That Elin likely would get taken sooner or later, so either he could risk his own survival to save her or let her go and increase his own chances of surviving whatever was going on.

Elmo felt his breathing start to become erratic as he thought about the possibilities. As he was certain of what they could be with what he'd known about that show.

However, as he glanced momentarily at Elin, he knew she didn't know what was coming and so he resolved to try and keep her safe. Even if he had to sacrifice himself, as long as she had a chance to make it, he was willing to do that. As she was just too innocent to let her get swallowed up in this horror.

"Whatever happens, stay close to me, okay?" Elmo whispered, unsure what he'd need to look out for when whatever was controlling this scene before him came for them. "I'll do what I can to keep you safe."

"When you talk like that, I feel like I need to be kept safe from you," Elin grumbled, giving Elmo a sour look.

Elmo nodded, not caring that she was taking that attitude towards him. He'd already stated his intentions of keeping her safe and if she wasn't willing to accept his assurance, then he'd just have to find a way to help keep her safe. Even if it was something that didn't appear threatening.

As in the show, he recalled that they most dangerous parts were times when danger seemed the farthest from the character in question.

"What I mostly want to know is what it was that Jonas wanted from Kim when he knocked on her door earlier," Elin said, grumpily. "He mentioned about 'the book' but didn't specify anything and when Kim had gotten up to answer the door, she woke me up. Then afterwards, she wasn't interested in doing anything. Instead, she picked up the book she'd been reading and read a little of it before she left to get something to eat and I'm pretty sure that she's back up there in the rom reading again."

Elmo sighed. He wasn't sure if it was that Elin had barely escaped being trapped by what was happening around them or if it wasn't going for her at that time, but he was certain she had a close call then. That she could have ended up trapped in whatever was going on right then.

"We should probably avoid your room then," Elmo whispered. "We might get caught up in whatever's going on if we don't."

"What about my things?" Elin demanded softly. "My pack is still up there, with our remaining potions as well."

Elmo shrugged. "As long as Kim or anyone else is in that room, it's not safe to go in there."

Elin rolled her eyes, which let Elmo know he had his work cut out for him if he was going to keep Elin safe from what was unfolding before them.

Especially as he saw Heather and Sonya start to make their way towards them, having finished their own breakfast.