YBAOOB
Chapter 2: Bracelets?
We keep walking until they lead us to a new building. “They’re here." Prin said.
“What? Who?” I asked.
"People... I think.” She pushed on the door, but it didn't budge.
"I think it's... stuck." "Watch it," Araminata said. Prin backed away, then kicked the door open. "Come on." She said, leading the way, with Prin walking beside her.
"That was so cool.”
"Yeah, I’m pretty good.” Araminata says.
I looked over to see Dove fidgeting. “You okay?" I ask.
"Hm? Yeah."
"What's going on?"
"Nothing."
"Is it because your friend isn't hanging out with you?" Ukuri’s questions, adding to my concern.
"No, I'm fine." He said, but his face started heating up, so it was obvious that it wasn't true.
"It's okay if you're upset about it," Ukuri told him.
"I'm not upset!" Dove exclaimed, and the girls turned back to us as they kept walking
“Is everything okay back there?" Prin asked, and Dove nodded, so she kept walking.
"Shit." He muttered.
“I- I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you ups- I mean, make you lash out." Uruki apologized.
"It's fine, it's just that- I know it's not like she owes me anything, but I found her, and now she's not even trying to talk to me."
"I know that must be tough."
"Mhm." Dove hummed as the red in his face slowly started to fade.
“You're going to be okay." Ukuri said, comforting Dove, and Dobe nodded, blushing a bit more.
The girls approached a door, opened it, and Prin ran into the center of the room.
"Ooo, look at this room!" Prin exclaimed, looking around.
I entered the room while Dove went to a table and picked up something from it.
"These look like bracelets." Dove observed.
"Bracelets? Oh! Let me see." Prin said, grabbing a bracelet.
"Hey, be careful with that, Princess." Dove says.
Prin looked at us, then put the bracelet on her right wrist, and it latched on. Araminata picked up one as well, and it also latched on; she shook her arm quickly.
“It's not coming off!" Araminata complained.
I walked over and tugged on it; it wouldn’t break open or come off her wrist.
“Ow, fuck, stop!" I let go, and she started banging it on the table, then on the floor. Ukuri ran over and grabbed her wrist.
"Calm down, it's okay." Araminata took a deep breath and stood up.
I looked over to Prin, who was completely calm, just staring at hers. It pinged, and she looked at us.
"Heart."
"What?" I asked.
"The symbol is a heart." She said.
Araminata's bracelet also pinged, and she looked at it. "Spades, what does spades mean?"
"Maybe it's a riddle." I said.
Dove picked one up, and put it on, making it ping.
“Diamond.” I looked at Ukuri.
"Should I put it on?" I asked.
"It seems safe, but the fact that we can't remove it might be deadly."
"So, no?" I asked
He looked at Araminata and then back at me. “You might not, but I need to make sure that Araminata is safe," He said, then put his bracelet on, he looked at his bracelet as it pinged. "Club." He added.
I stare at one on the table and reluctantly put it on, it went through the four symbols and pinged as it landed in on heart.
“Heart, the same as Prin’s.”
“Maybe it's a matching thing.” Prin says.
“But I don't have a match and neither does Ukuri or Dove.” Araminata informed.
“Well, maybe that means that you three have to pair up together.” Ukuri looks over to Araminata but she didn't seem to notice.
“We don't even know if that’s true.”
“Let’s just go see if there’s others.” Ukuri says, and he walks out the door. We follow and keep talking with the others.
“Hey! Prin!” I exclaim.
“You said that there were people here.”
“Oh yeah, guess I thought I did. Sorry about that.”
“Sorry? We probably have death traps on us because you said that there were others here!” Araminata puts a hand on my shoulder.
“It's okay Alde.”
“Shut up.” I snap. I stare at the floor as we walk, a few minutes later, Prin looks up again.
“There! There really is someone up there!” Prin says and runs into a building.
I reluctantly follow the others.
“And how do we know that you’re not leading us wrong again?”
“I saw someone up there, I promise, I really did.” Prin’s voice echoes as she runs up the stairs, she gets to the top of the staircase and swings it open, then runs in.
We walk for a bit until I feel someone grab my shoulder and I jump, and turn around to see Dove.
“What the hell? Don't scare me like that!” I demand.
“Sorry.” Dove said, sounding tired.
“Are you okay?” Araminata asks
“Yeah, sorry, I just-.. need a minute.” Dove says.
Araminata, Ukuri, and I all look at each other.
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah, don't worry about me.” Ukuri goes over and grabs Dove’s hand.
“I- I’m fine.”
“Don’t worry about it.” Dove’s face goes red again. When we get up to the top, Ukuri lets go of Dove’s hand.
“Thanks.”
“Yeah.”
We all walk in and see Prin with some kid in the corner of the room.
“Guys! Over here!” Prin yells and we all go over to her but not crowding them.
She holds his wrist up. “Look! He has one too!” Prin moves his wrist closer, it has a diamond symbol on it.
“So, two Hearts, one spade one club, and two diamonds, so far.” Ukuri states.
“What’s your name?” Dove asks. The kid pulls his wrist away and looks at him.
“Key Petal.”
“Do you know what’s going on?” Key shakes his head.
“Where were you when this all started?” Dove asked.
“I- um, was in at a hospital when I saw someone go up to the roof, I followed, but when I got up there no one was up there, and I didn't see anyone on the streets either.”
“Do you know what these symbols mean?”
“No, I don't, I’m sorry.”
“Don't be, it’s okay.” Ukuri says.
“Well, we’re looking for answers, do you want to come with us?” Prin asked again, and Key shrugged but then nodded.
“Good! Now let’s go!” She runs out again, and Araminata follows her.
“Princess! We don't even know where we’re going!” Dove calls out.
“Princess is a pretty name.” Key tells Prin.
“It's just a nickname that he calls her, her real name is Prin.” I answer.
“That makes sense.” Key says.
Ukuri looks over to Dove.
“Do you want me to help you again?”
“No, I’m okay.” Dove says.
“Are you two dating?” Key asks.
“No, I’m straight.”
“No, we’re not.” Ukuri snaps.
“Don’t be rude, it was just a question.” Araminata says.
“Is everything alright?” I asked.
“Yup, everything is fine.” Araminata responds, Prin walks over to us.
“Dove is going to the stores to try to understand what’s going on. Is everything okay here?” Prin asks.
“Yes, let’s go.” Araminata says.
“Actually, I think he wants to be alone.”
“Well, what should we do then?” Araminata asks.
“Let’s go to our houses, maybe we’ll find something there.”
“Okay.”
“Let’s get into groups.” Prin says.
“Sure.”
“Okay, Araminata, you go with Ukuri and I’ll go with Key and Alde.”
“I want to go with you actually.” Araminata insists.
“Oh, why’s that?”
“Just-.. because.”
“Oh, okay then, the boys will go together then.” Prin grabs Araminata’s hand and leaves with her.
“Let’s go to your house Ukuri.” Key says.
“Okay.” And we start walking to his house.