31 students remaining

Joe Scott (Male student number nine), Brendan Retter (Male student number fifteen) and Thomas Hearing (Male student number twenty five) were discussing an escape plan in an old cottage perched precariously on the edge of the island. Wooden slats kept it from falling into the sea, which boiled and churned murderously below them, black and green with white foam flecking against the cliff as if it were a rapid dog reaching for prey just out of reach. They kept close to the door not because they were protecting it but because the other side of the house was dangerously unstable, creaking in the wind. The tension in the room was high and they all kept close to their weapons. Joe had two Knuckle Dusters in his fists while Thomas had a baseball bat with a high number of lengthy nails nailed into it. Brendan had three Molotov Cocktails and a lighter. Thomas sat on one end of the door, Joe and Brendan on the other. Joe and Brendan had been holed up in the cottage since the beginning and had grudgingly let Thomas in a few hours ago.

Kiriyama saw the single light that signified light in the cottage ahead. His dangling arm was causing him great pain but he had an idea on how to turn it to his advantage. He began to stagger towards the cottage.

The wooden door swayed precariously on its rotting hinges. Kiriyama would have been able to knock it off them had he been in better shape. He put on his best terrified face and knocked on the door.

The three boys jumped at the unexpected sound they looked at each other warily. Joe spoke up, 'We should open it'

Thomas jumped up and spat, 'Are you fucking insane? We don't know who is on the other side of that door. It could be anyone. What if it's some psychopath who wants to kill us all?'

Brendan jumped to his feet too. 'We let you in didn't we. We all need to stick together if we want to survive this.'

' Bet no one else has had that idea. You're a fucking genius you are.' Thomas muttered.

Joe ended the debate by opening the door.

Outside it was raining heavily and Kiriyama's remaining hair was plastered to his face. perfect, he thought. it helped him look frightened and pathetic which was what he needed. Joe took one look at him and said, 'Oh my god what the fuck happened to your arm?'

Thomas barged him out of the way and said bluntly, 'Who the fuck are you?'

Kiriyama tried to smile weakly and said in broken English, 'Exchange student. No speak much English'. This was a lie he spoke perfect English but he needed them to think he was less of a threat than he actually was.

'Didn't see you when all this started', it was quite obvious that Thomas didn't believe him. He brandished the bat threateningly.

'Lay off him can't you see he's hurt?' Brendan pushed him aside and bent closer to examine his arm. It was barely attached to his body. 'Who did this to you?'

'His name I not know but a sword, Japanese sword, he had one. Stupid Gaijin' Kiriyama spat.

Thomas was unrelenting in his questions. 'And what's your name then?'

'Call me Kiriyama. Kazuo Kiriyama'

Joe offered his hand to Kiriyama. Kiriyama looked at it warily then grasped it. Joe asked him, 'Could you recognise this person who hurt you, if you saw them again?'

Kiriyama nodded. He would see him again. He knew it. He already had a plan to deal with him.