Mindless; Chapter 8

I stare at the colorful cards in my hands for another second then look up at Eren.

"I still don't understand," I say.

Eren looks slightly annoyed but picks up the card upon the floor between us and holds it so the color side faces me.

"What color is this?" He asks.

"Red."

"What number is on it?"

"Five."

"Do any of your cards have a five or are red?"

I scan my cards. "I don't have any fives, but I have a red."

"Good." Eren put the red five back on the floor between us. "Put it down on top of this card."

I place my red card on top of the red five. Eren looks at it for a second.

"That's a skip."

"Meaning?"

"I don't get to go."

"Why not?"

"Because skip cards skip whoever's turn is next."

"Does that mean the game is over?"

"Why would the game be over?"

"You're skipped. No one else is playing."

"When it's just two players skips, and reverses allow the person who put them down to go again."

"So, it's still my turn, technically."

"Yes."

I look back down at my cards. "I don't have any reds or fives."

"It doesn't have to be a five."

"But you told me to put down a red or five."

"That was before you put down the skip. Now you can put down a red of any number or a skip of any color."

"What?"

"It's the rules of the game. The card you lay down has to be either the same color or value of the previously played card. . . Unless you're playing a wild card."

"Who came up with these rules?"

"No idea. Just put something down."

"I don't have any reds or skips."

"Then draw until you get one."

"What? Why? That's ridiculous! I could have to draw ten or more cards just to find a red or a skip."

"That's the point."

"You're just making this up."

"I promise you I'm not."

"How are we supposed to get rid of all our cards if we have to draw ridiculous amounts to find a needed card?"

"This is a competitive game. I want to go out before you do, and you want to go out before I do. When you have to draw, I'm happy, and when I have to draw, you're happy."

I make a face and draw the top card. It looks like the rest of my cards, only it has a black background, four cards colored the four colors of the cards and a plus symbol. I flip it around to show Eren. "What does this card mean?" I ask.

"It's a wild draw four."

"I have to draw four more?"

"No. If you play it: I have to draw four, you get to call a color, and my turn is over."

I drop the wild draw four on top of the red skip. "Purple!" I call.

"No. You don't call a color, and you can't call that one."

"You told me to call a color, and what do you mean I can't call purple?"

"My, my," a new voice muses. "Perhaps you should have explained all the rules before starting. Its only polite, Airaway."

Eren jumps to his feet. I lift myself up unto my knees to look over the bed. In retrospect, we probably shouldn't have started our game on the floor on this side of the bed.

I don't know the newcomer, but Eren does. And based on the way he's gritting his teeth; he doesn't like him. Neither does the darkness that's in my mind, but it doesn't seem to like anyone, so I'm not too concerned with its dislike. I try to ignore it, but that doesn't stop it from demanding I do something. Most of its suggestions are centered around killing the newcomer.

To evade its demands, I focus on the newcomer. He's probably about Eren's age and has about the same build as Eren. His black hair is expertly combed back, in an attempt to appear older. His bright hazel eyes don't help his attempt. His facial features are sharp and well defined. His long sleeve black shirt is tucked into his black jeans. He carries himself with an aura of self-assurance. "Well?" He asks. "Are you going to introduce us?"

I glance at Eren, who is glaring at the newcomer. I don't know why Eren doesn't like him, but I have the feeling he wouldn't mind if the darkness took over and hurt him. My eyes drift back to the newcomer. He's just looking at me as if searching for something.

Hide. The darkness commands. It seems to be the best advice I'd ever gotten from it. I slowly sink back to the floor.

"Why are you here?" Eren growls.

"My father sent me. Why else?" the newcomer states.

"I can think of a few reasons."

I can feel the tension. This is going to explode into a fight. The darkness is happy with that thought. I am not.

"Do you really think so little of me, Airaway? We used to be friends."

"Used to be."

The darkness is rooting for a fight. It's telling me to find a weapon. Which is preposterous. I have zilch access to them. What does it want me to do? Throw the cards at the boys?

My eyes dart to the cards. I have an idea. I lean forward slowly and grab the two center piles, one with each hand. Then ever so calmly, I stand up.

The newcomer is making a face and going to make a retort, but stops when he sees me. I look at Eren and wait until he looks at me. It's probably a good minute before he does.

When he does I pull my left arm back and launch the cards at him. Then, without hesitating, I turn and throw the cards in my right hand at the newcomer. Eren doesn't have time to react, so the cards hit him smack in the face. The newcomer has time to throw his arm up and block the cards.

Eren looks quite shocked. I have to say I'm rather pleased with myself for that. The darkness seems mildly impressed and is pacified for the moment.

"What was that for?!" Eren demands.

"Don't fight." As I say it I level my gaze with Eren's. Our close proximity forces me to tilt my head up to do so.

"We weren't-"

I narrow my eyes. "Don't. Fight."

Eren just looks at me. I can't tell he's still trying to figure me out. That makes two of us. Shaking his head, Eren sighs. "Fine. You win. Gwen, Langston. Langston, Gwen."

"Ace Langston," the newcomer clarifies. He nods to me. "How are you, Gwen?"

I look at Ace and shrug. Ace just watches me, as if waiting for further response.

"She doesn't talk much to people she doesn't know," Eren informs Ace.

My first impulse is to glare at Eren. Before I actually do though, I realize that his statement was true. Doctor Airaway had ordered Eren to stay with me during the day before she had left yesterday. Up unlit a little while ago, when Cynthia brought us the cards at lunchtime, I had said next to nothing to Eren. Our conversations had been mostly him talking. I had only offered something every once in a while. After lunch, Eren finally got me talking more than he had all day and then convinced me to try the card game. I had hardly acknowledged Ace since he had come in.

Ace considers Eren's statement for a second, then brushes it off. "Doctor Airaway did warn him."

Eren stiffens. "You can't be serious."

"That's what I said. You know how my father is though."

I look between Ace and Eren. I have no idea what they're talking about, but from the sound of it, neither one is impressed with the idea.

"My mother won't allow it. Gwen has to stay here."

"Actually, her only orders were for you to stay with Gwen, so, my father's word wins here."

Eren lapses back into silence. Ace doesn't move. They stand there, Eren glaring at Ace, Ace looking bored. Finally, Eren sighs.

"Fi-"

"No," the word slips from my mouth.

Both boys look at me. I'm not sure who's more astonished.

Eren's the first to recover. "No?"

"No," I reaffirm. The darkness crows with pleasure at my obstinance.

"What do you mean 'no?'" Ace asks.

I lift my chin defiantly. "Where ever it is that you want me to go, I won't." I swear I see Eren smirk.

"You can't be serious."

"I won't go and you can't make me go."

Ace's eyebrow raises as he gives me an annoyed look. "Is that a challenge?"

The darkness pricks up at his statement. My eyes narrow to slits. "Fight me."

"Gwen." Eren's voice is hard; a warning.

I glance at him, but he's not looking at me, he's looking at my hands. I'm suddenly aware of my nails biting into the palms of my hands. I try to unball my fists, but the darkness fights back. It screams for blood. My hands begin to shake. My vision blurs. I'm trembling. I see red.

"Gwen?" I hear Eren's voice. He's concerned.

"Get out." My voice is barely a whisper.

"What did she say?" A voice asks. Its muffled.

My head snaps towards it, but I don't see anything. Everything's black. The darkness is screaming.

"Gwen!" A voice cuts through the noise.

I look towards it and for a moment everything clears. Eren looks concerned.

"Run," I tell him.

The world goes black.