Fate (DISCONTINUED)

Chapter 1

JOSEPH
"Hey. You okay?"
It was a lady's voice.

My head hurts and opening my both eyes are honestly a physical strain for me, but I somehow had to give her my response.

That was when I felt the smooth surface of a blanket placed over my body.
"Wait.. what happened? Where am I?" I asked, trying my best to speak up.

"Stay there, young man. You're not supposed to get up just yet." The lady said, placing one hand on my head.

After a few attempts, I managed to open my eyes and was surprised to find myself on a bed in a room I've never seen before.

Except it is more like a living room.

There were huge sofa cushions everywhere, not to mention there is also this huge dining table where I had noticed some people were there doing talks.

There was also a banner that says "Hunter's side" being hung up on the wall.
What is this place?

"You passed out right in front of this manor's garden at this hour. I was about to lock the garden doors up when I found you unconscious. So I brought you here."
The lady then smiled.

I took a notice on her. She has a long black hair that is tied into two long ponytails on the top. She is wearing a sakura patterned kimono and is holding a fan on her one hand.

"Oh... thanks, I guess." I said, finally having the energy to get up again.
Just then, someone knocked on the door, startling me in the process.

"Michiko! Hey! How's the outsider doing?"
It was the voice of a man. A really heavy one.

"Hey, Jack. The man is doing fine. In fact, he is all up for a conversation now. Anyway, where's Leo? I haven't seen him the whole day today."

"Um..." Jack said, scratching the back of his head. "He's up for a match along with the Wu Changs today. It's a 2 versus 8, so it's gonna be a long match. Anyway, let me see him now."

I just sat there with nothing to say. I still kept my eyes at them. Especially the guy with the black tuxedo outfit and a hat.

"Hey. So you decided to wake up, eh? Name's Jack. But people address me as The Ripper, Blackjack, and whatsoever."

Wait. Decided to wake up?

How long have I been out?

I just nodded. I can get socially awkward sometimes.

Honestly, there are lots of questions I wanna ask, like what is this place and what is with that Hunter's Side banner doing, and why do everyone keeps on saying the word "match".

"A dozen of questions in your head, eh? This is the Oletus Manor. Each and every of us gets to play in a match against those on the other side, they are the survivors. You can't tell which of us and them will be chosen though. So yeah, you gotta be ready at all times." Jack said, handing me one of his jackets.
"It's cold. Warm yourself up."

"Matches? Survivors? What do you mean?" I asked cluelessly. I still can't understand one single thing he says.

"You'll have to see it for yourself. You can stay here. This is your home now." The lady from earlier, Michiko, said.
"Hey, one more thing. I've never caught your name." She said. "What's yours?"

"My name is Joseph."