Hide and Seek: The Mad Girl Sees All novel Chapter 11

Chapter th

Captured-player Wraith invasion sites have been randomly selected. The list as follows Aurelia. Eastgate. Niphonia Narrowbay. Bharata, Heldrabad, Hamnark. Taeden Gallia, Nordet, Bahtan…)

[Wraith invasion begins in 15 minutes]

[Material rewards for victorious players have been delivered to their respective nations.]

[Game exit countdown: ten seconds.]

Lina threw her arms around Lyra and bawled. “We’re alive We made it

Half-choked by the hug, Lyra patted her back. “Congrats. A hundred tons of wheat that’ll keep you fed for a long long

ume

–

Lydia walked over, glanced at Lyra, and said in halting Draconian. “You are amazing”

Lucas and Sergei nodded too.

Lyra waved the compass at them and grinned. “Congrats to you all. We’re all still standing.”

White light flared, and the mission began to dissolve. Teleportation had begun.

A second later, the smell of disinfectant hit her face. She blinked. This was the hospital room she’d lived in for fifteen years.

And the room was packed. People in white coats, people in uniform, a few technicians hauling equipment. They crammed the already small room until it felt suffocating.

Lyra stared. “How did you all get into my room?”

No one answered her. Every pair of eyes locked onto her at once, the kind of look reserved for a one-of-a-kind treasure

Ms Vance!” A middle-aged man in uniform stepped forward first, hands extended, his voice barely containing his excitement. “I’m Garrett Hayes, Vice Chief of Staff at the Draconia Strategic Command. On behalf of Command, on behalf of every citizen of Draconia-thank you.”

Lyra didn’t take his hands. She stepped back half a pace, brows pinching as she scanned the people around her.

Too loud

r

Mouths were moving everywhere-thank you,” “hero,” and some technician beside her muttering about “data collection A buzz built up in her cars, and the corners of her mouth pulled down

Just as she was about to say something, Garrett shifted tracks. “Chief Sterling already has a meal watting at Command A celebration, for you”

Lyra’s expression stalled “A meal?”

‘Yes Real food, not nutrient goo.” Garrett added with a grin

Lyra’s eyes lit up She lunged forward and grabbed Garrett’s sleeve “Then what are we waiting for? Let’s go let’s go let vig

Garrett staggered forward from her tug The staff behind him exchanged baffled glances

14

131 am

aroma Stratege-Command Sublevel three The cafeteris

The moment Lyra was led in a speil hit her one she hadnt known in years Not disinfectant not nutrient goo, but roast meal gravy, and buttery potatoes all rolled into one. It smelled even better than the food in the game

Her pupils blew wide A long table sat in the center eight dishes laid out m neat rows roast pork, baked fish, sauteed vegetables, chicken soup, plus a small plate of fruit and two slices of buttercream cake

A dozen people stood around the cafeteria, and when they saw Lyra walk in, they all broke into applause

Someone called out. Welcome. Goddess Lyra The others picked it up

Thank you, Goddess Lyra.”

“You’ve worked so hard, Goddess Lyra!”

Garreit started rattling off introductions beside her “This is Director Walker from Logistics, and this is the head of the

Research-

Enough. A crisp female voice cut in from the back.

Luna stepped out from behind the crowd, her face composed, but the look she gave Lyra carried a softness she hadn’t even noticed in herself.

Lana said, “Everyone out. Let her eat first.

Someone “But Chief Sterling, we still wanted to- the crowd murmured in protest.

There’ll be plenty of time later. Right now, she eats.

Lana swept her gaze across the room, her tone leaving no room for negotiation. “Out.”

The crowd cleared out fast. Within ten seconds, only three people were left in the cafeteria-Lyra. Lana, and a white-haired old woman with her hair tied back: Ms. Reed.

Lyra glanced at Lana. Lana pulled out a chair and motioned for her to sit.

Lyra didn’t need a second invitation. She’d barely touched the seat before her hand was already on the fork

First bite: roast pork.

Juice burst across her tongue. Fat and lean marbled together, the sauce deep and savory. She squeezed her eyes shut checks bulging, the corners of her mouth curling sky-high.

Second bite mashed potatoes

Fluffy and buttery, with a warm, earthy sweetness. She scooped up a huge mouthful, and before she’d even finished swallowing, she d already loaded her fork with baked fish.

Lana sat beside her, her gaze soft Ms Reed watched her eat, and the corners of her mouth slowly curved up

No one spoke The only sounds in the cafeteria were forks clinking against plates, and the occasional satisfied hum from

Ivra

A few bites in. Lyra looked up a smear of mashed potatoes still stuck to the corner of her mouth She glanced at tina then at Ms Reed Aren’t you two eating”

24

31 am

Marranty Land

Eynechewed her lish and shot bet an envious look. You get to eat hike this every day?

La paused She didnt an

At Command meals were nutrient go in Their ingredients went into research or got proceed into goo. No one indulged by actually cating them

Lyrashdn’t want for an answer and didn’t seem rare dropped her head and kept showring

Halfway through her plate she suddenly set down her fork. Her expression turned a little wounded

Lyra said. “You know at the hospital Dr Hamon doesn’t let me eat real food

Lana looked at her

She only lets me drink that stuff. The stuff in the tube Lyra poked at the mashed potatoes on her plate mumbling It doesn’t taste like anything It’s awful

Ms Reed took off her reading glasses and wiped the lenses without a word

Lana was quiet for a couple of seconds before she spoke Dont worry If you want, you dont have to go back to the hospital

Lyra looked up Lana went on. You can live here We’ll cook for you every day

yra’s eyes lit up instantly, brighter than when she d seen the roast pork Really”

Lana said, “Really

Hee hee” Lyra flashed a toothy grin at Lana You re a good person” Then she ducked back down and kept scooping up

potatoes

The corner of Lana’s mouth twitched up, then she pressed it flat again. Beside her. Ms. Reed let out a soft chuckle.

When I yra had nearly finished eating, she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and suddenly went still. She set her ork across the plate, her eyes falling on the untouched plate of fruit. Strawberries.

She stared at them for a moment, then spoke, her voice much softer than before. “Sis.”

Lana froze. It was the first time Lyra had called her that.

Lyra asked. “Does everyone here listen to you?”

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