Battle of Love

Chapter 5

ADAM

I awoke from a deep sleep that seemed to have lasted weeks. My head throbbed relentlessly and my stomach felt like it was doing back-flips.

Geez, is this a hangover or something? I'm so going to give Eli hell for letting me drink. Wouldn't be the first time, I guess.

I squeezed my eyes shut and pressed my index and middle fingers to my temples. Light never helps a situation like this. I tried to remember what Eli and I did last night that led to my current torture. Nothing came to mind. The possibilities were-quite literally- endless. You never know what to expect when you hang out with Eli Goldsworthy.

Why can't I remember anything? I doubted that Eli would let me get that hammered.

Frustrated, I slowly opened my eyes.

Oh.

It all came back to me as I eyed my surroundings. The arcade, laser tagging with Eli and Clare, Fiona unconscious, Fitz's threats, and finally someone wrapping their arm around my neck from behind. I was in the room with the laser guns hung up on the walls. There were other kids sitting against the walls silently. I glanced at each of their faces, recognizing four. Maya Matlin, Tori Santamaria, and Zig Novak all sat next to each other on the opposite side of the room. Fitz was over there, too, towering over them and smoking. His eyes darted around the room, and rested on mine. Shit.

Fitz lit up like a kid on Christmas morning. He stalked over to me, cigarette in hand.

"Hey everyone! Looky here, the tranny woke up!" he yelled.

The room was silent. No one moved, their eyes remained glued to the TVs on the wall.

"What? I thought you guys wanted little Adam here," he said loudly, clapping his free hand on my shoulder, "to be out of the game."

I flinched at his touch, my head and heart pounding in sync. I looked up at his face. His eyes were very bloodshot and he definitely looked more out of it than usual. He was so on something. I looked at the cigarette in his hand, taking note of its unusual shape. Pot.

Fitz caught my gaze. "What? Can't a guy have a joint every now and then?" he snapped.

"Yeah, whatever Fitz. Now tell me what is going on."

"Shut up freak. I don't have to tell you anything. But maybe one of my audience members would like to fill you in," he said, looking at the other kids. "TORI GET YOUR ASS OVER HERE."

Tori stood up, looking smug. Why, I have no idea. Are they friends?

"Geez, pushy much? What do you want now?"

"Adam here would like to know what is going on."

"And? It's not like I know more than you. It was your idea."

"Yeah, but now you're part of it. Tell him or you're going in."

"Oh please, as if you would-"

Well this was getting annoying. I decided to speak up. "You know, I would just love to sit here and listen to you two bicker, but my friends are in the other room dead! Maybe we should call 911?" I suggested.

Tori and Fitz looked at me as if I grew another head. They then burst into laugher.

"Oh, that's- that is gold! He thinks that-" Tori was cut off by Fitz

"No, Tori, he's right. We should call the cops." he said, winking at her. She looked at him at first confused and then seemed to catch on to what he was saying. She turned to me and smiled.

"Hey, Adam. It's nice to see you again."

"Um, hi? You're friends with Fitz?" I asked.

"Nope." her lips popped on the 'p'.

"Then why-?"

"We're cousins, dumbass." Fitz said. "And oh! Here, this ought to fill you in on what's going on."

Fitz stumbled over to the televisions on the wall. I saw on the furthermost right TV an image of Eli and Clare in the cavern.

"WHAT IS GOING-" I was silenced when Tori put her hand over my lips.

"Just listen," she whispered to me.

I listened to the whole conversation as Tori kept her hand clamped over my mouth. It seems Fitz created a game for Eli and Clare to fight to the death. If that was true, why are all the other players in here?

Oh. I'd hit my millionth realization that night. Fitz wants Clare to kill Eli? Or the other way around? Fitz sounded pretty peeved with Clare, so I'm going to assume it's the latter. Either way, one of my best friends is in trouble.

"Fitz, this is stupid! Do you really think Eli or Clare would even consider killing the other? They're in love!" I yelled at him after Clare and Eli left the cavern and Tori's hand lifted off my mouth. It might not have been true, but maybe it would convince him that they weren't likely as hostile as he was.

"No, they aren't! And if they don't do it by tomorrow, I have a trick up my sleeve," he said, grinning evilly.

"I really hope this is just the drugs talking. You sound insane!"

He just shrugged me off and went to go sit on a chair by the televisions. Exasperated, I looked at the other kids in the room. They were all laughing and chatting amongst themselves now as if nothing horrible and seriously fucked-up was going on. I questioned their sanity. There was only one person sitting quietly, staring at me with a strange expression. Maya Matlin. I knew her because I've been to Katie's house with Drew. We sometimes talked while the happy couple flirted shamelessly. I walked over to her.

"Um so you're okay with this?" I asked.

"Yeah, of course!" she said, but gave me another strange face. She looked like she was hiding something.

"Then why do you look so secretive?" I pushed.

"Secretive? No, no. I just..." she bit her lip. I stared her down. She glanced around nervously.

"Come here." she said under her breath.

I took a seat next to her, where Tori had been sitting. Right now, Tori was on Zig's lap. Ew.

"Okay tell me what is really going on here." I whispered, mimicking her cautiousness.

"This is all I know. Earlier today I came here with Zig and Tori. Tori said that her cousin, Mark, was going to play a prank on Eli Goldsworthy."

"Okay? Not a very funny prank if you ask me. People are dead!" I said.

"Shh. No, listen, that was part of the prank. The lasers shoot some kind people-tranquilizer. Mark said it was totally safe, but I guess it gives the illusion of death or something. He said that Eli would freak out about it. I know it's really cruel. I was sort of forced to come watch," she said, glaring at the couple beside us. So many questions were running through my head.

"How did Fitz even know that Eli and I were coming today? And why is Clare still in there with him? And why am I in here?"

"Okay, okay slow down. First question; Fitz said that he heard from someone that Eli was coming here today. I don't know from who though. Second, Clare... I don't think she was part of the original plan. Actually, everything Fitz told Clare and Eli was not in the original plan. I think something happened between them and Fitz decided to include Clare in his stupid prank."

"Oh yeah! Clare told me some pervert came on to her today. Maybe it was him?"

"Could be. And as for you, Tori said she felt bad for you because of something she did earlier this year, and convinced Fitz to get you out of there. She must have done something really bad. Tori doesn't usually feel bad for people." she said. I could tell she wanted to know what happened.

My face flushed. "Yeah, long story short, she set me up with a dude. Not interested."

"Bummer. Anyways, I don't think I was supposed to tell you all of this."

"What are they going to do, tranquilize you?" I said sarcastically.

"Maybe. Could you just keep quiet please? I don't want Tori or Zig to hate me for ruining their fun, assuming you're going to intervene." she glanced at me.

"Oh I am definitely foiling this stupid prank. Eli's been through enough trauma already. I just need to figure out how... and of course, I won't rat you out." I added, smiling at her gratefully.

"Thanks."

The night progressed, and Eli and Clare were no longer visible on the screen. I knew they hid somewhere though, we saw it when they did. Fiona, Imogen, and Declan were still laying on the ground unconscious. I asked Maya how long the tranquilizers were supposed to last. She replied with a shrug. I knew I needed to help out my friends before they went crazy in there, or before Fitz threw in what he 'had up his sleeve'. I also knew that the best time for that was quickly approaching. Everyone in the room was slightly high from Fitz's hotboxing. Even I was feeling a little light headed, but nowhere near the rest of them who were in here much longer. It was pretty late, too, and most of the teens were sleeping already.

In fact, the only three people awake right now are Fitz, Maya, and I (though could tell that Maya was hanging on by a thread).

"Hey, Maya, I think I'm going to get out of here. There is a hidden door over there."

I pointed to a black door that blended in with the wall. I had been searching for a way out all night, and I knew that that was my best bet.

"Okay, where are you going?" she asked sleepily.

"Never mind that, you're tired. Just try to keep Fitz distracted while I'm gone. Please, it would really help me out. I'll owe you."

"Will do," she yawned.

"Thank you! I'll see you later,"

"See ya."

I looked at Fitz. Wow, was he baked. I had gotten high a few times before, but never felt the need to smoke all night long. He was staring at the TVs with a really creepy smile on his face. I probably couldn't pull him out of that state if I tried.

Too easy. I crawled over to the door and tried the knob. It twisted without difficulty. I pushed open the door and crawled out.

The air felt so good. I had been suffocating in that room filled with smoke I had no desire to inhale. I looked around. The coast looked clear. I got up and started to power-walk towards the entrance of the arcade.

"WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING?"

Hellooo. Muahaha cliffhanger after cliffhanger. I just love ending it like that. I woke up feeling like Adam and I still do so I'll just say thank you for reading/reviewing. Have a nice day -Lindsey