grinned widely and quickly ran up to me as we both walked up to the very first room on the left hallway.

Once we entered the video room I immediately put up on the screen the match of Team Fug and Team Mad Dog on screen. I watched with my mask still on and with Zon who wears a mask as well except it's a masquerade face mask and his hair tied up into a half man bun. This dude just really wants to stand out.

The two of us sat beside each other on the couch and watched the record.

Everything was going well, until Novick, disappeared along with Zin the moment that Bam started to run away to God's know where. And then all of a sudden Team Mad Dog and Team FUG collaborated.

It doesn't make any sense!

But the real question is,

Why did Bam run away? And where is Zin?

Are they okay?

"I don't get this....Big Sis Zin suddenly disappeared out of nowhere and Slayer Nominee flees? What is this freakery I'm witnessing?!" Zon on my right also questioned frantically as he gripped on his hair, annoyed.

I stole a small glance at him and he extremely looked exasperated and worried. In all honesty, is an act I couldn't blame. He is probably so worried for Zin.

And so am I. However, in these situations it is important to stay calm and stay focus. I have to find the best path, the path that will lead us to victory—

"Are you looking for a your beloved and missing friend? Khun Aguero Agnes?"

'!!'

My shoulder tensed, eyes widened and my body froze. Zon on my side also immediately froze up, sitting quietly but had a blank expression. He knows well that I've been hiding my identity...

I lightly burst out. "Miya, the Gambler...!" it was the fucking snake. Fucking hell. As I knew there was no other way to escape this, I decided to play along. "Well, how do you know my name?"

The unwelcomed guest had a lollipop in her mouth as she continued to speak with that triggering mocking tone. "I knew it from the beginning, Mask Man."

"Why? That's because I'm one of the Gamblers who FUG planted."

I then couldn't help but resist to spring up and yell out of shock, but was then beaten to it by Zon. "What the freak snakey?!" he whined.

Miya the Gambler continued on to reveal the evil scheme that FUG has planned. How they tricked us, manipulated everyone in this area, deceived us. How they originally planned to hunt every Bam's friends including us by planting these Gamblers as the hunters. I was furious and agitated.

'If this was their plan all along, then the bet with FUG is completely useless!'

"You don't need to wear this mask anymore...Khun Aguero Agnes." The way my name comes out of this specimen brings me endless amount of disgust.

However, her next words then made me completely speechless.

She eyed me mockingly. "After all, your friend and lover will soon fall into an eternal slumber."

☂☂☂

"Khun, we're freaked. Do you hear me? WE'RE FREAKED, KHUN!" Zon again screamed in my ears as I sat down on one of the couches in the lounge with him standing as if he's panicking.

"Also, what was that 'lover'?! Huh?! The freak!?! Don't tell me it's Big Sis Zin?!"

Hissing, I snapped at him. "Silence!" I said.

A click of the tongue was my only response before I went back to looking down and started fiddling with my fingers out of nervousness. I could hear Zon mumbling worried nonsense as if casting a spell to make sure that his sister was all right even though it was completely useless.

If only it was that easy, I would've wished that Zin was with us in the first place.

I then couldn't help but cover my face in agony. 'If I had contacted Zin earlier, would that've made a difference?'

'No. This probably happened moments before it was even announced to us the circumstances on their side...'

Just then, the door slammed open which caught Zon and I off guard. Quickly shifting our heads to the culprit there revealed Isu who had the same flabbergasted expression I held.

"KHUN!"

With both our eyes widened we stared at each other. "You bastard..."

"Shibisu..."

However, that wasn't the only surprise. I don't know what is up with my life, it's just so full of surprises it makes me wanna puke.

"Yo! Son of Khun we meet again!" The familiar emerald eyed man greeted carelessly with a wave of his hand.

O__O <------- Khun

Before I was able to come up with a reply, yet again Zon interrupted me. In which this case, I will forgive.

"Zan?!"

Yes, the named Zan then shifted his gaze to his fellow weirdo and then shock replaced his carefree expression. "What the fuck—the hell are you doing here Zon?!"

Zin and her family is now officially my dilemma.

☂☂☂

ZINLESTER'S POV

My body felt numb, and I felt lightheaded.

Moaning, I slightly shook my head to gain a bit of consciousness as I slowly fluttered my eyes open. Vision slowly adjusting to the shallow lighting of the location I was in. Sooner or later, I was able to comprehend that I was laying down on a very rock hard solid ground, that was probably because I was in a cave, not so big yet not so small.

I also came to realize that I was wrapped up in a blanket and that my head was laid nicely on a cloth. However, I immediately winced as I felt pain in my wrists and ankles as soon as I tried to change my position. They were chained up.

Footsteps then reached my ear causing me to become alert and perk up my upper body in preparation. "Ah, you're awake,"

It was Zen. He had a stainless steel tumbler on his hand which I don't know where the hell he got that. As what I'm seeing it was pretty steaming hot.

I couldn't help but silently growl at him. Deciding on giving him the silent treatment for the actions he has done to me.

Noticing my behavior, Zen sat down in front of me and placed the tumbler down with its lid beside and I could see that it contained a favorite of mine. "Here, have a hot chocolate." He proposed.

'This man......' My face slightly scrunched as I inhaled air. How could he act as if we just didn't try to end each other's life? By the way, where did he get the hot chocolate from?

"Oh right you can't drink..." Zen then suddenly thought as he remembered that I am chained up which he probably did it. "I'll just get you one later I guess..." he practically told to himself before drinking.

I watched in envy. But I tried to not make it obvious for this is not the time for any childish acts.

Mustering up the courage, I then started up a different topic. "Why are you doing this?"

"Hm?" He slightly looked down on me, his eyes half-lidded.

Angrily, I repeated. "I said, why are you doing this?"

"Ah," Zen interjected before lowering down the lid and placing it on the floor. He then shrugged his shoulders lazily. "It's nothing really...."

"Nothing?!" My voice sounded distressed and furious, my brother only flinched at my loud voice with an 'eek!' again escaped his lips.

"Are you kidding me!? All that and nothing?! So are you not going to tell me why the hell am I chained up, why are you with FUG, or why did you run away in the first place?!"

"I'll explain everything, please calm down you're scaring me. You were never this aggressive when you were a baby...." Zen gently spoke and gestured with his hands to calm me down.

"It's called character development, Zen. I acquire things called emotions now."

"Ah, I see."

-__- <------- Zin

'So dry.'

Sighing, I laid down on my back with a slight wince as again I felt the pain of the chains. "Sorry, I made those chains out of my crystals so it hurts more than normal...." My brother informed.

"Don't apologize if you already did it, especially if it was deliberate."

"Ah, alright."

*SIGH!*

Licking my lips as they were dry, I tilted my head to gaze at him as he was also looking down at him expressionless. "Well? Why did you left?"

He perked up. "O-Oh well," He coughed for a moment. "It's a pretty long story..."

"I don't care."

"R-Right."

Gulping as a form of mustering up the courage, he then finally answered one of my long lasting questions. "Back then, I never felt like I was a part of you guys. Everyone was striving forward, for they had reasons whether it would be big or small. My Branch was also known for being aggressive and ambitious, I was called to be the different one because of my attitude. And as a direct son of our Father who is the Head, their judgement only affected ne greatly because of the amount of pressure I received for just being that man's son." He started off with a long statement.

Hearing his experience made me reminisce about my own experience of great pressure and how opinions of the people also affected me. Where expectations were so high, every single action you do is being watched, and every words you speak is being analyzed. Sometimes, we had to act different kinds of people.

Zen continued as he gazed up on the cave's ceiling whilst playing with the tumbler. "It didn't really feel home at all."

"A home is supposed to be your comfort zone. A place where you will feel belong, a place where you feel welcome and loved."

"But you guys made it feel alright." Zen then looked down on me and gave me the most heartwarming smiles he has ever shown me. "I don't say it much, but I truly appreciate having siblings like you Zin, each and every one of you....I was truly fortunate."

"I even met Zelly, the fewest people who actually treated me as a fellow human." He couldn't help but grin widely at the mention of her dearest friend's name.

That's right, Zelly. I remember her. She was one of the few who was able to get close to us direct descendants. It was such a weird sight, they say, to see Zelly who was never even part of the people that serves the royalties is with us. She was part of those families that are treated as if they're garbage and dishonorable, just because they weren't recognized by our Father who is the Head.

Regardless, it was her pure and passionate heart is what made us get attached to her. We didn't care if it was weird, we liked Zelly. She was one of the few that I considered friends.

"I loved her."

I was caught off guard by that statement. 'I always knew that they had a thing but, I didn't expect for him to be blunt about it...' I thought to myself.

What then caught me even off guard is the immediate change of expression Zen did as he resumed to his story. "That was until she was taken away by my mother."

My jaw fell.

Zen shut his eyes closed, bit his lower lip and clenched his fists. His body shaking in what I will assume to be out of fear, sorrow, and anger. "I would never forget, the day that I went to her shelter to thank her for the birthday gift she had given me that very day."

"That very day where my own mother murdered her before my eyes."

It was as if this news was given to me by shoving a bucket of ice cold water over my head. I felt the hair on my skin stood up and my body freezing up. I wasn't able to say any word. Horror was visible in my eyes as I continue to stare at my devastated my brother who continued to look down.

Klavis Xyli, that is Zen's mother for Zen's full name is Klavis Zenlix. I've always viewed her to be this very calm and collected woman, she was also the one who broke the stereotype of the Ze Branch being hot-headed and aggressive. Although, no one can deny her cruelty. She was atrocious, she never hid the fact that she was abusive to those that are part of her Branch. Anyone who opposes her shall meet the devil himself, they said. The fact that she is the third favorite wife of Zynkedon, our Father was not helping. For this, she had an enormous amount of freedom and was always excused for any of her 'mistakes' and 'misjudgement' especially regarding her victims.

Zen was lucky to be able to receive special treatment because he is her son. But hearing his words now it seems that even she didn't give Zen physical abuse, the amount of mental and emotional abuse she had given him is intolerable.

Licking my again dry lips, I tried to make up a reply. "B-But, they announced that you fled from the clan with Zelly..."

A scoff left his lips, as if he felt insulted by the news he just heard from me. "Is that what they said?" he lightly laughed and looked to the side, his jaws clearly clenched looking like he's trying to hold back.

He then faced me.

"Zin, every information we got from our family, is a fraud. To the point that they never even mentioned to you the dangerous power you possess by just being the chosen one."

"What do you mean?" I questioned anxiously, my gaze at hum shaking with my brows met.

I was met with Zen's blank expression before he answered. "Remember those things they were saying that you, the chosen one, is our family's savior? Hero? The one who will avenge our family?" he recalled for me and I replied with a nod. "Those are all sugarcoating, Zin."

"You're not a savior. You're a sacrifice."

~END OF CHAPTER 20~

I haven't properly expressed my gratitude ajkfhopjfahofjv 10k readssssssssssss!! Thank you so much!! And also, I apologize for not updating kinda felt discouraged bc of the NovelHd thing but I'm going to do my best and start writing again :))))

-Ave