"Morning kids! Rise and shine! I got some brilliant news for you. Students that have died in the past six hours are in this order, Dave Smith, Henry Smith, Jemma Mitra, Stacey Richards and Kelly Sommers. Keep going kids, you're doing a nice job! The following coordinates are now out of bounds, F10, E3, B2 and A0. See you later kids." and Mr Killians voice faded out.
Chris Hope pulled out his list and crossed out the deceased. It was raining again that morning, 9:00am the message had been delivered by Mr Killian. Chris was neatly on the ball, he knew his organization skills would keep him up to scratch in this game. Ralph Shepard's on the other hand, was new to this scenario. The two of them had moved to a tree shelter in D9 not long ago after it become accessible again. When they had stumbled upon the tree house, another map and a sniper rifle was found on the floor, which worked as a great advantage for Chris and Ralph, but mainly Chris.
"Keep sharp Ralph, I hear rustling in the trees." said Chris, glancing through his binoculars every now and again. And it was true, he could hear rustling in the trees.
"Who is it? I can hear something." Ralph whispered, ducking lower in front of the window.
Down below, five boys were wandering down below, all looking at map. Their tones were raised and angered, as if they were arguing.
"Sh, Ralph, I see them." whispered Ralph who ran over to Chris, watching from above.
Students, Donald Walters Student No. 20, Michael Mont Student No. 17, Nick Lawn Student No. 18, Lewis Parkinson Student No. 13 and Simon Bennett Student No. 14 were all grouped together, in an unlikely situation.
"Look, shut it Donald you wanker, you know we nearly got killed by that bastard Alex Yagami back there, did we not just run for our lives five minutes ago?" spat Nick Lawn, his arrogant stare boring into Donald's.
"I'm not a dumbass you wankface, I know what we did!" shouted Donald.
"What the fuck did you just say?" said Nick, raising a dagger to Donald's throat. Donald slapped it away and whispered and apology. Nick faced the others and pointed at the map with a grim look on his face.
"There is too many of us grouped together, it's going to look pretty fucking obvious if there is a shroud of people wandering around, we're a walking target." explained Nick.
"I disagree." objected Simon Bennett, his brooding glare analyzing Nick. You could tell everybody hated each other.
"Oh? You disagree with me?" questioned Nick, fumbling around with the handle of his dagger. Lewis stood close beside Simon, aware that his friend could be killed.
"Well, think about it logically, if there are more people it's going to repel the student rather than entice them because of the amount of threat in this group. The student doesn't know what weapons we have on us, thus if you had any sense of wit about you, you'd run and not attempt to take on five males." Simon said, his voice monotone. Nick looked at him and for a second, almost smiling.
"Good fucking point man, I like your thinking, yes I do, but Alex is onto us now. He knows three out of five us have pretty damn good weapons and it seems he's collecting them up for some reason." said Nick.
"Alex has a death list." said Michael, fumbling his thumbs.
"Death list?" asked Simon.
"Oh yeah, when I was friends with him awhile back before he became a recluse after his fall out with his sister, he showed me his death list. It's very surprising, the people on it are very skilled and high-ranked in the school." explained Michael. Nick's mouth dropped.
"Y-you think we're on it?!" shouted Nick.
"No, you're not on it. Infact, I can tell you who's on the list for a price…" smirked Michael, his hand behind his back now, fumbling with a piece of screwed up paper. Nick eyed him suspiciously.
"What you want?" asked Nick, moving closer to Michael. Simon, Lewis and Donald stepped back; they could feel the danger in the air. Simon however, could feel something else, something underlying.
"Give me your weapon." said Michael, both of his hands behind his back now.
"What? No, fuck off. What have you got behind your back?" asked Nick, stepping evasively towards Michael now.
"I said, give me your weapon Nick Lawn." said Michael, glancing to the side quickly. Nick stopped and looked to the side also but there was nothing there.
"And what, you're just going to tell us?" Nick spat, raising his fist. Michael stood there, not moving an inch.
"Maybe." replied Michael. Nick had had enough; he punched Michael to the floor and pinned him down. Simon, Lewis and Donald ran over and helped Nick. Donald grabbed Michael's arms and grabbed the piece of screwed up paper from his hand.
"What's this?" mumbled Donald, opening it up to read three, bold brutal words.
THE DEATH LIST.
"Mother fucker!" Donald shouted, handing the paper to Nick whom snatched it off him. It took him a few moments to simmer until he glared at Michael.
"You're an insider, you-"
TWISH!
An arrow lodged itself in Nick's back, right through his heart. He fell onto the arrow and died instantly, Michael laughing to himself. Everybody leapt to their feet and began to look around.
"Dude, there's a fucking sniper!" shouted Lewis.
TWISH TWISH!
Two arrows darted through the air, one slamming itself into the skull of Lewis and the other into Donald, both of them fell flat. Dead. Simon grabbed the small gun in his pocket and raised it into the air, but Michael had already began crawling his way towards Simon with Nick's dagger in his hand. Simon was unaware and just as he caught sight of Chris Hope in the tree house, an arrow darted straight into his chest and Michael slashed his ankle tendons, sending him to the floor, paralyzed and as seconds passed, dead. Michael rolled onto his back on the floor and out-stretched his arms.
"My oh my, it's Chris Hope!" Michael shouted, the list still clutched in his hand. No more arrows flew to the ground.
"Shoot again!" whispered Ralph loudly. Chris raised a hang and grinned,
"No, he's got my attention; I'm going to see what he has to say." Chris said, peering down below at Michael, the rain pattering hard on the dead bodies below.
"Yes, it's Chris Hope, may I help you?" said Chris.
"This list," began Michael, raising it into the air, "The Death List, you're on it, I wouldn't mess with me if I were you since Alex Yagami wants you dead and believe me, he's on a roll right now. On a smooth fucking roll and he can hear every word you say."
"What?" whispered Chris to himself, stepping back from the window, looking around him.
"He's just messing with your head Chris!" shouted Ralph.
"Oh am I dear old Ralphie?" Michael cackled.
"I'll kill you!" screamed Chris, raising his rifle.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you." came a voice behind them. Michael began laughing deviously. Chris turned hoping to see somebody but there was none, just empty space.
"Who are you!?" shouted Chris, frowning furiously.
"Enough about me Chris, put your rifle down and I'll spare your life, for now." said the voice again. Ralph ultimately baffled. It took a few moments for Chris to respond but eventually he placed the rifle on the floor.
"Good boy." said the voice, which became unreadable. Chris was stunned and as he backed to the window, he heard more rustling of the trees. Ralph had cowered in the corner, hugging the rifle in fear. Chris turned towards the outside and looked down below. Michael had gone.
"It was a complete set-up…" said Chris quietly, sitting himself down the floor, "Ralph it was a set up!"
"I-I know, we are stupid!" Ralph shouted, trying to hold back tears.
"I'm now prey, meat…" whispered Chris, looking at his own hands as they shook. He glanced through the window and felt his world collapse. Their plans had cascaded into nothingness, he had become the hunted and was no longer invisible and the very man who had just spared his life is the very man who wrote him on that list. The silent prowler, the unstoppable.
Alex Yagami.
24 Students Remain.