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17

"So can you count on me?"
It was 8 AM, the sun was shining brightly, and Connor H and Aubrey stood behind a large house inside the fort. People must have been resting, for there were no deaths throughout the night, although at 12 PM Ms. Prok had announced some new danger zones that weren't even close to their location.
Brittany had been killed before noon, as well as Gabby, Connor M, and Shelby. Connor H had watched in awe as Ferris managed to escape Laura by jumping of the wall of the fort. All he'd seen was Ferris fall into a patch of trees and disappear from view. He wasn't dead, either, but Connor had no clue where he was.
Aubrey and he were both looking at a sword lying in a complete open area in the middle of the fort. The sunlight created beautiful patterns as light glanced in all directions from the mirrored object.
"So what do you think it's doing there?" asked Aubrey.
"I dunno," replied Connor. "But I know you and me are thinking the exact same thing right now."
"And what is that?" asked Aubrey.
"Who the hell would want a sword as their weapon?!"
Aubrey laughed at this, then stated, "I can't believe I just laughed when almost 24 hours ago I witnessed Gabby get slaughtered." She looked up to see the body of Gabby on top of the wall of the fort. Blood dripped down the edge facing them. It was sickening.
"Here's the plan," said Connor.
"Come on, we've already gone over the plan like 5 times!" exclaimed Aubrey.
"Yeah, but you can never be too sure," he replied.
"Fine, say it one more time," she rolled her eyes.
"Okay, first we count to three. Then I run and grab the sword while you run and close Gabby's eyelids. From there we both meet at Connor's body and grab the gun he had. Then we get out of here. Good enough?"
"Of course," replied Aubrey.
"Well then, go!"
Connor ran across grass and dirt. The sword was maybe 30 yards in front of him, which he reached quickly. There were detailed patterns on the handle, and he picked it up with ease.
Meanwhile, Aubrey was on top of the wall. Gabby was laying face up, little holes all over her body. The white top that all the girls were wearing was more like a red top and her eyes were closed tightly. Aubrey pulled her body behind a small turret and smiled at her.
"Rest in peace," she said.
Then she looked to see Connor also moving swiftly toward Connor M's body, so she did too.
The sight that greeted them was horrible. But it wasn't just the blood and the stench, but it was something else.
This 'something else' was a note that was tacked to Connor M's face. The tack had a nice red handle, and poked into Connor M's forehead perfectly straight.
"Oh my god," breathed Connor. The sight was horrible.
But it was on the note that shocked them the most, for it said:

Thanks for the gun, Connor M :3

- Laura

P.S. You need a tan. All the relaxing
you'll be doing should get you one.

"That is sickening…" said Aubrey, open-mouthed. They knew Laura was horrible, but not… not this horrible. Connor proceeded to remove the tack and crumple up the note. He threw it off to the side and kneeled down to close Connor M's eyelids.
"I hope you have fun relaxing," he said gently. "I'm sure… I'm sure that what you're doing right now is much better than this."
He got up and turned away.
"Let's go," he said. "We shouldn't stay in this place for too long."
Aubrey nodded, and the two set off.
It was true, Connor M would be doing a lot of relaxing. But Connor realized that he would truly rather be dead than playing the game.
'Anyone would rather be dead than playing this horrible game,' he thought. 'In fact, I really should just kill myself.'
"I heard what you said," mentioned Aubrey. "I hope you're not planning on killing yourself or something. We must try and get out of this."
"I know, I don't mean to kill myself," lied Connor. 'Well,' he thought. 'Maybe I should stay and help everyone else who isn't willing to play, …' And then he thought of the note he would right to Connor M.

Dear Connor M,

Wherever you are, it must be better than here. If you're watching us now, then somehow send us a way to get out of here. We need your help. Everyone who's not willing to play this horrible game needs your help.

Connor H

P.S. I'm sure the tan will make you look nicer wherever you are.

As he thought these words, Aubrey began to cry. Tears ran down her face, and she looked at Connor to see him looking down at his friends body.
"It's ok to cry," she said, wiping her face. "But never forget that he is somewhere better than this right now."
And with that thought the two walked off.