LESHAWNA

10:03 A.M.

FACILITY ENTRANCE

-X-

"Alright, who's staying here?"

I sigh, knowing what I'm about to give up. "I'mma gonna stay behind, but only 'cause it keeps me away from Heather." I hear her growl, but I pay no heed, as I continue to address my best girlfriend, Gwen. "Plus, I'mma rootin' for you, hun." She smiles at me, and I smile back. I really do mean that, too. I hope she wins this stupid contest. She's gone through too much shit as it is.

I just hope her team doesn't drive her over the edge.

Trent ain't gonna be a problem. He'll take care of her, I'm sho', and he'll try to keep her level-headed. Izzy and Noah, on the other hand, I'm afraid are gonna get on her nerves. And Cody? Well, there was a toss-up there. It was one or the other for him.

Courtney starts talking, but I don't pay much attention. Really, I just want to get this dang contest over with so I can GO HOME!

I notice that Eva's the one on her team staying behind. I'm surprised. Since when did Eva listen to anybody else?

DJ chose to stay behind next. That didn't surprise me at all.

I turn back to Gwen's group, which still hasn't made their decision. "Well, I'm not staying behind," she says right away, and I have to keep myself from shouting praises—I do that way too much as it is. "I think Cody should."

…Okay, that didn't exactly warm my conkles. I glance at Cody. Oh, man… Poor guy…

Noah stands up for him right away by stating that Izzy should stay behind, but Izzy also declines. Boy, that's gonna be a tough decision for them, huh…

The group continues to argue before Ezekiel steps in. Now, since I ain't gon' win no million dollars today, I really don' give a crap if someone in my group ends up winning (unless it's Heather). In fact, the only thing keeping my foot on this switch is the fact that soon I'll be going home, away from this hellhole forever.

But I still appreciate what Ezekiel just did. He ain't such a bad guy after all. Just misunderstood.

The teams finally enter their hallways once all of those left behind found their switches. I am already feeling the onslaught of boredom attacking me. I'm going to be standing here for… how long now? As long as it takes for them to come back?

Damn…

…

"So… how you guys holdin' up?" I ask, trying to start idle conversation to keep my mind off of this boredom.

"We ain't doing anything," Eva points out.

"Exactly," I explain. "This is boring the hell out of me."

"At least you volunteered," Eva reminds me. Darn… She's right…

Minute after minute, time feels like it's getting even slower. I'm sure the contest is going to last at least a few hours, but I already feel like going home. Can I just sit on these things for God's sake?

…

…Come to think of it, I don't see why not.

I sit down on the switch, and rest my head on my palm, my elbow resting on my leg. God, I hope something interesting happens soon…

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"

What the hell?!

Soon, I see Katie and Sadie running toward me. "EEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!! CLOSE THE DOOR!!! CLOSE THE DOOR!!!"

Without thinking, I stand up and get away from the switch. The door shuts, and Katie and Sadie sigh with relief.

I look at the two in shock. "What the hell happ—?"

"NOOOO!!! NOOOOOOOOO!!!"

My jaw drops in horror. "Heather!" I'm about to step on the switch, but stop when I hear another blood-curdling scream.

Then… silence…

Eerie fucking silence…

I turn to the others, who share the same expression I believe I have. What the hell just happened…?

"D-d-don't… open… that door…" Katie says, shuddering.

"Get… help…" Sadie adds, holding onto Katie for dear life.

"W-What happened?" I find myself asking. I don't want to believe that Harold's story is true, but…

"Harold… He… He was right…" Katie answers, and a hand finds its way toward my mouth. Oh, God… And Gwen and Bridgette and all my buds are in there…

I gotta tell Chris!

"I'll be right back," I tell everyone in the room. Zeke, Eva, DJ, you keep watch. Anybody comes runnin' out… make sure they're all there, okay?"

Eva nods, but Zeke and DJ are too freaked out to show any response. I still trust they'll do the right thing, though. And they aren't the types to abandon anyone, I don' think.

But one thing's for damn sure… I gotta get help…

-X-

10:25 A.M.

CHRIS AND CHEF'S PRODUCTION TENT

-X-

"Chris!" I shout, running into the tent. I stop to take a few breaths as he turns to me with a horrified look on his face. "Please tell me you know what's goin' on, and you're gon' do something about this!"

"Yeah, we know," he says in a deadpan tone. "Chef and Harold went to get some firearms."

My eyes widen. "Harold was here?"

Chris nods. "Yeah. He warned us about the situation, but Chef and I didn't believe him," he pauses as he turns back to the monitors, "…until now."

I want to get mad at the host—I really do—but I didn't believe the story either until I heard Heather's screams on the other side of that door. I couldn't be mad at him for not believing this was going to happen.

Chris turns back to me with a scared look on his face, and that alone scares me—Chris scared? As if I don't already know how bad this is! "Go back to the others and tell them we're coming, 'kay Leshawna?"

"Okay." I run out of the tent, and back to the cave.

-X-

10:42 A.M.

FACILITY ENTRANCE

-X-

Huff… Huff… Man, Shawnie's gotta lay off them chocodiles…

I look around the room. The others ain't back yet…

…Oh, God… What if…?

…No. That can't happen! I won't let it!

…

I'm going in…

I don't care what happens to me.

I'm a whole lotta woman, I can handle some moanin', groanin' zombie freaks!

"Zeke, keep this door open. Don' close it unless you see some messed up monster comin' at you, okay?"

No answer.

"OKAY?!"

"Y-Yes! Yes, um… What's yoor name again?"

I don't answer. Instead, I run through the door, unarmed and vulnerable.

God help me.

Somewhere in the facility, someone is typing on a typewriter…