“How...how dare he…” Caitlin was shaking in anger. “Isaac...that son of a bitch.”

Caitlin was always a polite person, and even she is cursing. Katie knew why.

Mr. Isaac hid the 18 chips among the bodies of all the other students in the school that weren’t playing the game. Somehow, he made it so that the chips would appear whenever the students were killed. Since there were 18 chips in total, the first 18 participants that kill the students would get the chips.

In other words, at least 18 innocent students would be killed in this game...in addition to the three participants.

Katie frowned. Maybe even more than 18. There was no way the participants could know when the last chip was taken. Even if they did, they might refuse to believe and just keep on slaughtering.

Cute move. Katie didn't feel anything against Mr. Isaac’s setup. Force all the participants to kill if they want to live. Kill or die. It’s a very interesting challenge. She would love watching the others struggle, but she didn't have time to do that.

She needed to take care of Caitlin first, which could be very difficult or very easy.

She hoped it was the latter.

“Keep the chip.” She said to Caitlin and aimed her Glock at the last student. She still had a single bullet in her gun. Enough to end that poor fella and get her the chip she needed. All she had to do was finish the kill before...

“No!”

Katie sighed, but she didn't pull the trigger. This is gonna be very difficult.

“You keep the chip.” Caitlin tossed the golden chip to Katie. “I’m not going to kill someone to save my own skin, not when I have another option.”

“Oh god...why am I friends with you?” Katie sighed and threw her hands up. “Look, no one else has realized how to get the chips. It’s a guaranteed prize! You don’t have to do a thing! Just walk out that door and wait for me for five, no, two seconds!”

“No.”

“Oh for god’s sake…” Katie raised her gun again, but Caitlin placed herself between the Glock and its target.

“No.”

“Why not?” Katie growled. “Why is your life less valuable than his?” She pointed at the student she was aiming at. He was doing pushups.

“Why is my life more valuable than his?” Caitlin stood her ground. “Can’t you tell? Isaac wants to break us. He wants to force us to become stone cold killers by using fear. I’m not going to let him do that to me.”

“Well, as a stone cold killer, I am telling you it’s not that bad.” Katie searched through her brain for ways to convince her friend. “Remember what we saw at Isaac’s house? Those killed in the game will be revived and twisted by Isaac! Death is not the end! Do you want to become one of those undead monsters?”

“I won’t, because I won’t let Isaac kill me. I will kill myself.”

Caitlin raised her M1911 to her head.

“Yeah no.” Katie glanced at the weapon, wondering if she could take it away by force. “You don’t know that, and it’s not something you want to test your luck on.”

Caitlin didn't budge. Finally, seeing her friend’s determination, Katie decided to buy some time.

“Ok. Put your gun down first.” She looked for an excuse before realizing there was a perfect one. “I have at least four pieces of shrapnels in my body. I need you to take them out for me. Please?”

When Alex shot her, the shrapnels went into her body and never came out. The wounds healed, but the metal were still in her. She didn't have a problem with that. In fact, the feeling of them rubbing against her guts made her shiver every time, which was a good thing. Unfortunately, she needed to buy some time to think of good ideas, so they had to go.

Caitlin sighed and dropped her M1911. Katie took a kitchen knife out of her pocket and handed it to Caitlyn before laying down on her lap, biting onto a piece of clothes, and closing her eyes.

As the knife dug through her flesh, and as she heard her own screams, she was thinking about a solution to her dilemma.

---

On the other side of the school, Kyle wandered through the halls. A few students were sitting outside the classrooms, working on some sort of group project.

As he moved, he couldn’t help but feel tired.

He has went through so much pain. His girlfriend was slaughtered in front of him. For days, he feared for his life. When Mr. Isaac was choosing the participants for yesterday’s game, he literally peed his pants. The fear and embarrassment made him want to scream.

He hasn’t really slept since day 1. Everytime he closed his eyes, Jessica’s image would appear in his dream and haunt him. At one point, he has had enough. He chose to charge at Mr. Isaac with his gun blazing. If he succeeded, fine. If he failed, at least he could die and escape the games. But Mr. Isaac spared him. He was forced to stay alive and endure this endless agony.

He considered committing suicide, but he was too afraid to do it.

And now he has to go through the halls, looking for some random chip. How is he supposed to do that? Pouring salt into the wound, no one wanted to come with him.

As far as he could see, his chances of finding the chip and saving his own ass were as low as chances get.

A look on his phone told him he had 35 minutes left.

In other words, he might be dead very soon.

As he walked, Kyle’s mind couldn’t help but flow to one important question. How would the executions be? Until now, the ways of execution has never repeated, but it wasn’t necessarily for the better. Jessica dug her eye out, but it was so much better than getting burned alive, which, arguably, might be better than getting cut in half and slowly bleeding to death.

The methods of execution are getting more and more painful.

What can be more painful than what Brian went through?

Kyle groaned. He didn't know, and he didn't want to know. Whatever the execution is, he could only hope to find the chips sooner and save his life. She walked past the students and was about to go into a classroom when he heard something that made him freeze.

“Do you have any plans tonight?”

“Yeah! I’m going to my girlfriend’s house! We’re going to spend the weekend together.”

“Oh? Anything in mind?”

“Well, we have plans to watch movies together, and, you know, do stuff…”

“Nice! I’m going to dinner with my parents. My dad has made a reservation at some sort of fancy restaurant.”

“Oh yeah? Have fun!”

As the students talked casually, Kyle’s eyes got redder and redder. For a moment, he was filled with fury toward those students. Why? Why does he have to go through all this torture when others can just enjoy life with their friends and families? Why can they enjoy movies and sex and food when he has to run around the place, fighting for his life? Why?

This is so unfair! This is so fucking unfair!

Immediately, all logic left Kyle. With rage in his eyes, he pulled out his revolver and emptied it at the three students on the ground.

Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang.

As the revolver was out of ammo, all three students hit the floor. Their eyes were filled with pain and confusion. One moment they were chatting. The next moment they were ravaged by bullets.

Seeing the bodies, Kyle dropped the revolver. This wasn’t the first time he has seen a body this close, but this was the first time he has killed someone. But just as he was about to throw up, his glance landed on something golden beside the bodies.

Golden chips. Three of them.

Kyle’s sick expression suddenly turned to excitement as he realized what has happened. He knelt down and pocketed all three gold chips before screaming into the air. He has done it! He has finally done it! He doesn’t have to die today!

Gradually, as Kyle recollected himself, he suddenly realized something. He has three chips. He only needs one to survive. In other words, he could give the two away to whoever he wished. It would be like saving the lives of two participants.

The boy suddenly smirked viciously.

Of course he would give the chips away...for a price.

A distance away, two girls were making their way through the halls. They didn't have any luck. Suddenly, Kyle appeared in front of them and stood in their way.

“What do you want?” One of the girls frowned.

“I asked you two to team up with me.” A vicious smile was on Kyle’s face. “You said no.”

“Because you’re a loser.” The other girl replied, unflinching. “You literally wet yourself when Brian got killed.”

“It’s not my fault!” The smile disappeared as Kyle defended himself. “Who wasn’t pissing themselves? Certainly not you two!”

“Katie?”

“Well, ok. She’s a psychopath.” Kyle groaned. “Either way, you two made me embarrassed.”

“Fuck off.” The first girl smirked. “Stop wasting our time! We need to find the chips and so do you, unless you want to end up like Brian!”

“Actually, I do not.” Kyle pulled out three chips from his pocket. “I am safe. Yep. I am not going to die today.”

The two girls were taken back.

“How did you get them?”

“Why would you think I would tell you?” Kyle had a victor’s grin on. “You just insulted me. You disrespected me. I would like to see you die.”

“Grab him!” One of the girls suddenly said. But before the two could charge up, Kyle placed the chips in his mouth.

“Good luck pulling them out of my stomach.”

The two girls froze before trying a different approach.

“You already have a chip! Just give the other two to us! It’s not going to hurt you!”

“I don’t want to. I told you. I want to see you two die.”

“Please!” The second girl was almost begging. She knew they didn't have much time left. “Do you want us to apologize? Sorry!”

“Oh, sorry’s not gonna cut it.” Kyle scanned the girls from top to bottom.

“Then what do you want? Money?” The first girl took out her wallet. “How much do you want?”

“Well, money’s good, but that’s not enough either.” Kyle finally reached his point. ”You want the chips? Fine. Strip down.”

“What?” Both girls were taken back. “You sick bastard…”

“I would never do that!”

“By all means, say no.” The boy didn't back down either. “Of course, you don’t have other choices, do you? Well, you do, but that involves losing your head or worse. How much longer do you have?” He tapped his watch.

One of the girls pulled out her timer.

“28 minutes.”

“I have to warn you, I have quite the stamina, and I’m only going to give you the chips when I’m done.” Kyle was not afraid. “That leaves you with 3 minutes to consider. Actually, you’re quite hot and I’m already pretty excited, so make that 5.”

The two girls were silent, but the resistance in their eyes was next to gone.

Gunshots appeared all around the school. Kyle knew most of the other participants have discovered how to get the chips, and they weren’t afraid of doing what has to be done. The two girls didn't know what was going on, but they did know it certainly wasn’t good for them.

“How do you think you’ll die, huh?” Kyle pushed even further. With any luck, he could get what he wanted very soon. “I think I saw a snake in Mr. Isaac’s bag. Maybe he’ll force that snake down your throat? How will it feel to have your guts eaten by a snake? I’m sure you’ll still be alive when that happens. I really don’t want to go through that, and I don’t have to. You two, on the other hand…”

“Ok, ok!” The second girl finally submitted. “I’ll do it.”

“Lily!” The first girl gasped in horror. “No!”

“Or maybe he’ll impale you. I have read about it. Basically, you sharpen a wooden stick and push it up the victim’s ass. It will penetrate your guts. Interesting feeling. You would stay alive until the spike reaches your brain. You’ll be screaming the whole time. I look forward to seeing that.”

That was the breaking point.

The two girls exchanged a look before stripping down...