Chapter 6

deadline

Jimmy's eyes snapped open. He fell asleep, out in the open. The last thing he needed was to fall asleep where everyone and anyone could see him. Still, he needed the rest, sleep was a major aid at the moment. There was one thing he could not understand. While he was snoozing, he heard Cindy's voice.

It was loud and clear, "Serves you right."

He would figure it out later; right now, he had to think of his next move. At least he was smart enough to keep his knapsack out of sight. There was a huge hole in the oak tree, close to the trunk. With a reach inside, Jimmy had his things.

He started walking towards the south. According to the map, a stone hedge formation was to the south. Maybe he would figure out something there. This whole event was surreal. He had killed, twice, and seen more gore than he could handle. The thought of what he was carrying was also unbelievable. Here he was, boy genius, carrying a hooked chained blade on his hip, and two automatic guns for each hand. He saw what they did through first hand experience, and he was sick of it. If he saw one more bloody corpse, he was going to hurl.

As if that was some sort of cue, stone hedge appeared on the other side of a row of trees. Smack dab in the middle was a body, its head split open from the top. Jimmy made good on his promise, the little food and water he had was now in a puddle on the ground. By the look of the body, it had been there for a good while, at least 12 hours. The collar on its neck was still active, as far a Jimmy knew. If he remembered correctly, the collars measured vital signs, locations, and other things he would prefer not to think about. If he tried to remove his own collar, he would be signing his own death warrant. Why not try to move this kid's collar? Doesn't matter if it goes off, right?

Jimmy flipped open his watch and scanned the thing. It appeared to be low tech (by his standards). It would be child's play to remove, but what would set it off? Throwing caution to the wind, Jimmy dived head first into the wiring inside. As soon as he got one of the screws off the front plate, the thing went off. Spikes shot out on the inside and out, turning the neck into Swiss cheese, it was a truly gruesome sight. So much for that plan, if he found another collar, he would try again.

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"It's ready," AJ shouted. Everybody ran over to his work corner

"What is it," Tootie asked "it looks dangerous." In the corner of the room was a giant screw mounted onto something that resembled a go-kart. A round metal casting was next to it.

"It's a remote controlled drill," he answered proudly.

"Boring," Chester shouted from his perch.

Timmy kicked one of the wheels, "a giant drill? What the heck are we suppose to do with this?"

"The way I see it-"

"Is this gonna take a while," Timmy interrupted, "I'm getting something to eat." At that point everyone but AJ scattered.

"Come on guys, what about the drill?" He gave a defeated sigh, then started to wax his creation. "If all else fails, I can still use this as a-"

"Hey AJ! Come get some candy before its all gone!" Timmy cut him off in mid thought

"Candy bars!? I've been living off of bread and water for the last four days, where did you find candy bars?"

"It's a gas station dude, what would a gas station be without junk food? See, it even has Timmo O's"

"The stuff for pack mules?"

"It's not for pack mules!" Timmy threw the box against the drill in the corner.

"Whatever, just hurry back or I'm making my escape without you guys."

"Yeah right! You wouldn't be that stupid."

"Yes that is right! I'm starting the drill in five minutes, either you're on it or you're not. Besides, it's not like you could just wish your way out of here."

AJ didn't know how close to home he hit. If he had the opportunity, he would use his wish granting fairies, but they had a week long inspection at the fairy academy. They left four days ago, could he survive another three days here? If he didn't spot Chester's head through the window two nights ago, he would probably be dead by now.

"So how does this thing work," Timmy asked after re thinking his odds for survival without his fairies.

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A loud screech echoed through the island as the intercoms came to life.

"Students," Sakamochi's voice boomed through the megaphones, "what's going on out there. Since noon today there's only been one death. Curly from P.S. 118. Are the rest of you trying to hide, hoping that the game will blow over?"

The megaphone squealed again as he thought of something to say.

"Six hours, one killing. Well I'll tell you what students. If their isn't a winner…in two days…I'll set all of your collars off…at the same time. Keep that in mind students! Happy hunting."

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A kid with black hair walked along the side of what seemed to be the main road on the island. He tried to put some thought into why the road was excluded from the map. He'd been following it for a good five hours. At this rate, it appeared to circle around the island. The ocean to his right, and thick woods to his left. The sun was setting fast, he would have to sleep in a safe spot on the side of the road soon.

"I know you're following me so come out," the kid shouted over his back. He loosened the straps that held his skateboard on his back, just in case he needed to make a quick getaway.

"So much for stealth," a female voice cursed.

"Cindy?"

Hearing her name called, Cindy stood from the bushes she hid in.

"Hi, Nick," she offered, her voice a few pitches above normal.

Nick didn't hesitate, he reached down his pants leg and pulled out his weapon, a set of nun chucks.

"Nick? W-what are you doing?" He ignored her completely and charged at her.

Even thought Cindy may be a little girl, she can handle herself. Judging from her multi black belts in Tae Kwon Do, she can handle herself just fine. She had no problem dodging Nick's swing.

"Are you trying to kill people too!?"

Nick swung again, not at Cindy, but the bush she was standing in. Someone barrel rolled out of it. A black leather jacket with a while shirt underneath, a green cap, go go boots and spaghetti stand hair. Nick and Cindy had never seen him before. Regardless, Nick swung his nun chucks again. Sid took the weapon just before it reached his face. A split second later, his gun was aimed at Nick's chest.

"Whoa! Wait a seco-"

One shot, Nick feel in a heap. Before Sid could even think of aiming at Cindy, the tip of her foot kicked the gun right out of his hand. She then bought the foot back, the heel crashing into Sid's jaw. He was sent spinning to the ground.

As soon as he landed on his back, he jumped back on his feet. He reached around his back and pulled out a foot long dagger. Cindy had no problem fighting hand to hand, surely she could fight an armed opponent right?

Sid charged at her swinging wildly, aiming for her head, he missed badly. Cindy sidestepped, the sole of her foot met Sid's forehead. He stumbled back, and aimed for her head again. This time, the dagger scrapped her metal collar. Both of them froze. They had no idea what the collar did, how it worked, or if both of them would die if the thing went off.

There was a long pause…..nothing.

Sid tightened the grip on his dagger. Cindy saw it; he was ready to swing again. But by the way, he had been swinging before, she figured she had no problem. She could connect with her kicks all night if she had too.

As soon as they were about to start again, they heard a light clopping sound. Was that galloping? Sure enough someone on horseback was in the distance. Hair in a bowl cut, with ed framed glasses, another unknown weirdo Cindy figured.

Sid knew him. Curly, Thaddeus, the kid who freed all of the zoo animals in the middle of the night.

"Off with their heads!" He was carrying a butcher's cleaver, it was bloody. As soon as Cindy and Sid heard his death cry, they separated. The horse didn't miss Sid as it galloped by, it head butted Sid right into the bushes on the side of the road.

"Now for the girl! Off with her head!"

"Fat chance!" Cindy had to think fast. She remembered that Nick carried a skateboard with him. If it was either strapped on his back, or if he stuffed it into his school locker, or if he was carrying it, he always had the damn thing. She sprinted towards Nick. When she was about a yard away, she jumped over him. While in mid flight, she yanked the skateboard from his back, breaking the straps on it. The horse never broke its stride.

At the last possible second, Cindy threw the skateboard on the ground and fell on it. She looked like she was street luging on her stomach. She slid into the thick bush. Curly followed,

"A skateboard against a horse?! HA!"

He stuck on her tail as she rolled under bushes; she nearly toppled over when the board rolled over a large rock. He cocked his sword back with his right hand; he was aiming for her head. The second before he was ready to hurl it, a low, thick branch knocked him from horseback.

Cindy heard a thud from behind her, then the galloping stopped. She released the breath she didn't know she was holding. Just then the skateboard tipped over, she went rolling into a thick elm tree. The tree itself rattled as the back of her head hit it. Her vision blurred, she caught a glimpse of the sun setting before her eyes closed. She fell in a heap, unconscious.

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All right, It might take a while but this story will be finished, thanks for reading this far.