I really enjoy writing Joel, had a super fun time with Tango, I can't say Grian and Scar cause they're the main ones, right? Haha.

Siege of the Red Army

"Gideon, did you…"

"What just happened out there, it all happened so quickly…"

"Everyone was shooting! It's hard to tell…"

"He deserved it. It was him, see, that killed the others…"

Everyone disperses like cockroaches when a light turns on. The blue haired boy goes off on his lonesome, quiet and… haunted. I know that look too well not to recognize it. Scout stormed off after a blow up with Gideon over Seb's death, but Gideon left not too long after him. I'm sure he followed, not like he had anywhere else to go. I wouldn't stay around us either in his shoes, but is he any safer with Scout?

Brock went out back to dig a hole. Maybe a grave? Not that it does any good to dig a grave. Sure, the red names last longer, but they go too. Maybe the game just wants us to know what we've done.

To make those of us who don't really feel anything to, well, feel something. It doesn't work on me.

Then again, why should it? You know, you may not have spoken to me directly before, but I feel like I've always felt your mischievous pull.

Shh, puppet! I told you not to contact me. I'm very busy running this map.

You could at least say thank you. Even when I was green, you never had to convince me. You told me, when I first turned red, that I would not need your persistence.

You didn't choose this. I have no reason to thank you.

What? But, you said…

Talk to him. Gather the troops. Set this map on fire.

Fine, but we need to talk about whatever you just said. Later, when everyone goes to sleep. And stop calling me a puppet! Got that?

After a few awkward moments alone in the castle, I move to where Brock is outside. He doesn't stop digging when I get close and stop just behind him. Sympathy? I have none. Chloe took my first life, she hated me. But at this moment, I suppose, maybe I can gain some from him. After all, I don't think it was his idea to drive an arrow through my head.

"She was a bit odd, wasn't she?" He begins. Well, I wasn't expecting that. "I still didn't want her to die, and I considered her a friend, but I don't know. After a little while, she just wasn't making any sense."

"Everyone has a role here." I begin kneeling on the ground beside him.

Shut up! Hey, don't you ruin this.

Either do it yourself or leave it to me, don't be a back seat driver.

He scoffs. "Oh, Trent. Your forest hippie knowledge isn't working on me. What do you mean?" Hippie knowledge? Is that what people think of me?

"No one really makes sense here, Brock." A hippie though? Aren't hippies a bit more peace and love and all that. "Name one person who actually seems… normal?"

A sweaty hand brushes against his forehead as he lets out a snort. "You're not wrong. But she was especially odd."

Or perhaps the most normal of us all. "Brock, we're all playing this crazy game, why? Who ever stopped to wonder what this game really was?" He drives the shovel into the ground, and stops digging.

"Well, I guess, she did. Maybe in a bit of a destructive way, but…"

"How so?"

"Well, physically harming herself, to start. She put her hand in an open flame!" His face contorts with what looks like frustration at first, but it softens into confusion. "But… it didn't burn her."

"Why, do you reckon, she did that?" I've noticed the same thing many times while working in the cave. Working with fire so often and so severely does lead to an understanding of it, at least in this fantasy.

Shut. Your. Mouth.

You only say that because you must. "Well," he sighs, "I've wondered that a lot."

"You, too, have a part to play." I take the shovel and twist it between my calloused palms. "So why don't we stop pretending this isn't what it is, and get this over with."

He considers my offer, staring at the outstretched tool. He glances at the hole he's already dug, and I notice it's circular. An odd shape, if it were to be a grave. Then he looks towards the mountain where King Redge and his army awaits. Finally, he snatches the shovel from my hand and smirks. "Whatever crazy thought you have, I'm in."

Well at least I have a reputation. A smile makes its way up my cheek. "Well, you're in luck."

~Just look, really, look… what do you see?~

I don't see anything, I've told you!

Where is it coming from? The whispers don't even stop in my dreams. Rumor has it the red names hear a voice, too, but… not like this one.

And I'm still green! The only green, actually, which definitely puts a target on my back. If my biggest concern was winning, that is. But I have something more important to do.

~Find me!~

I'm trying! But you're not being very helpful. A hint would be nice' I've been all over this place, but no one else hears you!

At least there are enough crazy people on this server that they haven't thought too much about my rambling, too.

~You know it is wrong, you know what you have to do.~

You have more confidence in me than I do.

"Hey, Bryson!" Snapping out of my thoughts, my hands slowly relax on the ax clutched between my large hands. "Stop chasing fairies and come join us." It's Mark, piercing yellow in his eyes. It was only him and I that were not red on this team. But with the things he has done? What Redge has put him through? He might as well be red.

I wonder what they must think of me now. He's calling me down the hill, back to Redge's place. But, oh, I do not want to go. That place gives me chills. The voice is stronger there.

~Stop avoiding me, find your purpose…~

I follow his voice down the terrain and meet him near the doors to the base. The cool breeze from the icy mountain tops rush over my hillside. Redge, Ethan, and Issac are there. They're all huddled together near the campfire. I join, taking a lump of meat offered to me. What kind? I do not know, but right now I am just grateful to fill an empty stomach.

~So close, so close! Come!~

The base of my head throbs, like an ice pick being slowly driven through my skull. Redge stands atop a tree stump to address us.

"My people, today we have gained many victories over the sandlands." A rowdy cheer erupts, but not from me. I sink into the back. "On the list of the dead is the twerp, the blue-haired child, the swamp lunatic, and of those gone for good? An enemy of our land, Chloe, the traitor." He pauses for another eruption of gladness. "The super-child." Another shout, but this one quieter. At least they still feel some shame for killing just a small boy. "Of our losses, Scout got away. He is the biggest enemy our empire faces, currently. The madman wants to usurp our kingdom, to have us all executed." Boos and hisses join the chorus of crickets and popping embers. "To this, we will not stand. No longer. We must ready for the next battle."

Another shout of confirmation, but something really bothers me. "What about Seb?" He made absolutely no mention of him. He died today, too. And thats what distinguishes them now from them when we first started.

We wanted to protect each other, but now they're playing into it. They're ready to play the game. "So what of the traitor?" Redge announces flippantly, as they have already begun to move away from the fire.

~Don't act so holy. Your hand is in this too.~

My head explodes with pain. Not right now. If you get me killed by them, so help me!

Although, if I keep talking, I might do that myself. "Traitor? What did he do?" I have no honest clue, I knew him least of all.

"Well, for starters, he doesn't even live in the kingdom." Redge gestures in the direction of Seb's home. But, neither do I… "He built himself a hut, on his lonesome, far away from us. He did not listen to orders, he was not around when we needed him." He scoffs. "On several occasions, we had to swoop in to save him! Who needs him?" But I can tell this doesn't settle well with the rest of camp. From what I gathered of them, most people really liked Seb. And sure, he had his own base, but most of us do leave quite a bit. The kingdom is a hot spot for trouble.

But to Redge his own undoing, I've got my own to find.

~You finally see me?~

While everyone else prepares weapons for war, I follow my increasing headache down the dimly lit staircase. At the foot, the obsidian table. The leather book. I read it once, at the beginning. It made me so sick I never came back down.

~You saw what you were never to see. You understood what you were not to understand.~

No, I just made a random connection… but it wasn't, I mean, it wasn't anything serious.

~Now you know that isn't true.~

I reach for the book, it flutters and opens up before me. Some might say magic, but I know better.

~As you should. You wrote it.~

"You've mistaken me for someone," I say aloud, because I am alone. "If I wrote it, I would be able to understand it." Was it familiar? Maybe. But I didn't write it. I would remember writing a book. As I understand it, it's a pretty hard thing to forget.

~Not the book.~

What does that mean?

Hello?

What does that mean?

No response. She does this too much. Well, I say she, but should I try to rationalize the disembodied voice in my head? No, I should not. Flipping through the pages, though, I can't deny it. This looks familiar. Too familiar. But write it? No. I couldn't have.

Patterns begin to emerge in my mind. A symbol here and there, taking the place of certain… no, wait. I do remember this.

No… no, it can't be.

The book drops to the table as I stumble backwards. No, but if that is… then…

Then this will change everything. And he has to know. He has… to…

What? Where am I?

Sitting up, my eyes have to re-adjust to dim light. The enchanting table? Why did I come down here? I can't keep doing this, it gives me terrible headaches.

Speaking of which… I need to get… no, why would I need him? No, I just need to get out of this damp room. It's probably mold, or something.

Yeah. Probably mold.

It's been a little while since anything exciting has happened to me, which is, well, one good part of being isolated from any other human being. Seeing the death log grow and grow… it makes a community with wolves not seem so bad.

But still, I can't spend the whole time hiding behind an army of fur. Everyone thinks they listen to me, but in letting them think that, I can't leave the woods. Some sort of wolf property lines exist and, well, they may like me but they won't follow me out of their territory. If I leave, they might not be there to help.

But if I stay, I may have to live alone in this world with nothing but slimy, smelly dog drool to comfort me in the morning.

While my days are haunted with prowling babysitters with sharp teeth, my nights are filled with dreams of a girl. A beautiful girl, but I can't remember her when I wake up. All I know is she is stunning, the love of my life, and she is not here. All I can think about is how to get to her. It makes braving the wolves worth it, with hope that if I survive to the end she might meet me there. After I win, we can be together again.

Just stay hidden a little while longer.

A low growl escapes the throat of one of my wolves, and the rest get uneasy. I follow their rigid stare. They're looking towards the one lad with blue hair, crouched by a tree. He looks upset. Why would they be growling at him? He's never proven a threat to us.

Oh, never mind. I see the man they're more likely to be growling at. Trent pushes back a bundle of leaves to let himself and Brock through. They go to talk to Sean, words of encouragement? Threats? I really don't know where these people stand.

But I know where they stand… I change my mind again, they have got to be the actual reason the dogs were growling. Redge and his crew are ready to jump. They're only a few meters away from the unknowing group. I can help, if I bring the dogs. But that's if they will follow.

But I haven't completely severed my standing with Redge, yet, have I? If he knew I've been playing both sides, though…

If I am to go through with this, I need a plan. The dogs won't fight until they think something will happen to me. But in order for them to think I'm in trouble, I have to actually put myself in trouble. I could run get things started, run in sword drawn. With the amount of people Redge has right now? That's suicide.

But if I do nothing?

They are not your concern, just let them die.

Of course you would say that. But thanks, that really makes the decision for me. "Oi, Redge!" The words come out raspy and not quite as cool as I had hoped. But it got their attention. It got everyone's attention. I run in, dodging the first few shots, but now the dogs realize I'm in danger.

And they attack. I quickly join the trio at the tree, hoping I have more standing with them than with Redge. Afterall, a world filled with only wolves is much, much preferable to a world run by Redge.

"Jay? You may have saved our lives." Brock gasps, giving me a good clasp on the back. "Good work."

"And let that madman win?" I smirk. "Just playing my part." Trent stares at me, and I begin to wonder if I made the right choice, but then he smiles and gives me a slight nod. I guess one thing is true, if you aren't on Redge's side you have a friend somewhere on the server.

"Handle the wolves!" Redge shouts, "I need to handle the traitor." His eyes pierce my own. Shoot. Run? We should run. Right? Say it! Move!

"That's a foolish move." Trent grins. "They're weak, we can take them."

But that was before a wolf pounced on him, driving him farther away. Shoot, they don't know which side everyone is on! I try to run to help, but a large arm grabs my own and throws me to the ground.

"Tell me where Gideon is, now," A tower of blue over me, a shovel at my throat. Wait… who is his guy? "I need to know where Gideon is."

"I don't know, mate, I'm sorry…" I haven't seen him or Scout forever now. He chose the wrong guy to… shoot shoot shoot, he's moving the shovel back to make the blow. I try to move but his foot pins my ankle to a tree root. Oh, gosh.

I cover my face and prepare for the unfortunate blow, but instead the weight comes off my ankle. Followed by a large thud.

An arrow is through his chest, and his watch beeps and shuts off. He's dead. What? I follow the direction of the arrow and see the lad trembling at his spot. His eyes are fixed straight ahead, not moving. I jump to my feet and grab his shoulders. "Thank you."

"We… we owed you." He shrivels under my hands, fresh tears flowing down his cheeks.

"You didn't owe me a thing. Come on, let's get out of here." I take him with me and we make our way out of the battle. I'm sure the wolves can handle themselves, or, I hope they can. As much as they are a pain in my side, I would hate to see them die. And it being me who lead them there? Yeah, I wouldn't feel great about the situation. But if I can save just one life, if I can save him, it'll be worth it.

Oh, that's too much to ask. I see what you didn't see.

What does that…

Save your breath. You'll need it.

What? Turning about, my eyes are met with a flash of light. The boy gasps beside me, stumbling and unsure whether to stay or run. Mesmerized by my blood. I don't feel it at first, but I hear the awful beeping of my watch. It seems like the only thing I can hear.

Redge is at the other end of the light, an enchanted sword. A lapse of vision lands me on my knees, the world a fuzzy daze. I have enough strength to whisper, "run." And he does. Please make it. Grant me this, in my final moments.

Redge uses a heavy boot to shove me the rest of the way down, grabbing his bow off his back. He aims it, and shoots. Shifting slightly seems impossible, but I move enough to see him fall. To see his watch ping to life. Before my vision starts to blacken.

And all of a sudden, I see her. The woman of my dreams. In rest, will I see you? Or will my this final image be that which tortures me for eternity? She is covered in a haze of black, and I think to myself that she may be lost to me forever.

And he didn't even make it.

He wasn't even red! Then he has the audacity to say it was an accident?

He's been a nuisance since the beginning. Take care of him now so you can focus on the end game.

But he was right. I mean, everyone was shooting. What were the chances it would be his arrow that delivered the blow?

Do you want to leave him yellow while you are red? He's just waiting for the time when he has the advantage over you, too! He's been using your red name to kill them all off while he stays safe!

Then why did he offer the position at the bunker? Explain that.

He had one life to spare, show me where he would do it again.

I would never ask him to do that again. Why are you here? I'm not even around anyone. Who is there for me to kill?

I suppose you are right, and as often as it doesn't occur I should honor a good idea. I'll be right back, there is another warrior running from battle that I need to give a visit.

What?

"Scout!" Gideon. Can't he occupy himself for five minutes? Or has it always gotta be me? "Scout, wait, I'm sorry."

"Yeah?" I scoff. "What for?" With a quick eye roll, I continue on my way.

"For… Well, I'm not actually entirely… sure." So he just wants me to get over it, then? Without actually knowing what he did wrong?

"Hot chance, not gonna happen." He's not my concern right now, I have to find Sean. That boy is better company than him. He actually stopped me. And now I need to help him.

"Just tell me what I said to upset you, I don't understand." No, he wouldn't. His eyes are still yellow. Freshly yellow. He's not corrupted yet. How could he know what it means to kill in this game? The struggle to not shoot.

And then pretend he didn't have a choice.

"Scout," Kim warns me. "That's enough, let him go."

"He hasn't learned yet. What it means to not want to… " The arrow leaves my finger, nailing him perfectly in the chest. The heavy body falls. "But he's about to."

Kim. "That's the problem. You don't understand." My hand pulls towards the hilt of my sword. But he could understand. He could be like me! If he knew, maybe he would understand me better, too…

I know what he thinks of me, even though he won't say it. Well, he won't say it with words.

"Scout, I want to know." He wants it. Let him have it, then, if that's his desire! No. You know what he meant.

What am I doing? I… I'm looking for Sean. That's what I'm doing.

Well, you're a bit too late.

Where were you?

Like I said, I was needed.

No one ever needs you around.

Evidently not, it seems you had things handled here. Carry on.

What do you mean? I didn't…

But… I did. No, no. Of course I didn't. I-it's just more mind games. Trying to make me seem like the… like the…

Villain? Monster? Insert name here, Scout, but you don't need me anymore. Tell yourself what you will, but I've been in nearly all the minds on this map, now, and that much is certain. My time could be best used in other minds than yours.

My stomach heaves. The nauseous feeling knocks me to my knees. But that's not even enough to keep me upright. I welcome the ground and it welcomes me.

"He's going into shock!"

"What happened?"

"Well, give him something! Don't just stand there!"

The next thing I know, my mouth tastes like chalky cough medicine that was rinsed with vinegar. "Oh, gosh," I gag, attempting to sit up and find water. But the world was still black. I'm not entirely sure the words even made it past my lips or if they just poured over saliva and an unexplainable film of whatever unworldly taste was in my mouth.

"He's waking up, give him a minute." The sentence travels through a wall of Vaseline. And it was longer than a minute. Much, much longer than a minute. But the first thing I did was grab the canteen off Gideon's side and guzzle back every last drop. Even that didn't help.

"What happened to you? Scout, can you hear me?" Hear him? His voice is booming in my ears. Yeah, I can hear him.

"Not so loud." I mutter, the sound of my own voice causing an unsettling echo. What happened to me? "And what did you give me?"

"Give you?" Gideon, at least I think it's him, tilts his head and I nearly imagine it falling off. Trippy. "We didn't give you anything?"

Funny. Prank the guy who just passed out. "No, but I heard you say…"

"Right, that was me, I gave you a health potion." Sean? When did he get here? And how did he get health potions? Does this game have potions?

It does now.

But what does that mean… "When did you do that?" Gideon shoots him a quizzical look. Ok, well, at least he is as confused as me.

"When I first arrived, don't you remember?"

"Well," Gideon's eyes close in, but then he dismisses the comment and nods. "Yeah, yeah, maybe." What's going on here?

"Let's not waste anymore time." Sean stands, extending a hand to me. Really? "I spotted Ethan and Bryson on their way somewhere, completely separated from the rest of the crew. We can trap them!"

"That sounds like a terrible idea." Gideon scoffs. "Scout just passed out, and we're just… nothing, compared to them. We have nothing."

"Well I'm going, with or without you." And then my eyes focus on his. They're red. You were right. I was too late.

I know, and what a joy it is to have a new mind to play with. One that's already burdened with the brunt of battle. He will be easy to overtake.

"Leave him alone!" I shout, jumping to my feet.

Both of them stop and stare at me. You know? You are a pain.

I'll take it.

"I'm sorry, uh, sorry." I wince, holding a hand to my head so it doesn't break off. "But we shouldn't engage in battle this quick. I'm not ready."

"We can at least get a strategy." Sean rolls his eyes, pulling a bag off his back and sorting through it. You're controlling him, aren't you?

Not just now. Had to come talk to you. But don't worry, when the moment comes, I'll move to the right person.

Leave him be, I'll do your dirty work.

I didn't say it would be him.

Good, stay with me. I know how much you like to stick around in my head.

I didn't say it would be you, either.

"Here," he hands a couple of glass vials to us, each with a gray-ish glowing substance. Gross.

"What is it?" Gideon asks, swirling the liquid at the bottom of his bottle. "Looks like boiled trash."

That makes me want this even less. "If it tastes anything like whatever health potion you gave me, no thanks."

"It's a slow fall potion." He explains, albeit poorly. What does that mean?

"How do you know this and… how does it work?" Gideon doesn't know anything about the potions? Isn't this his game?

"When you drink it, you'll be able to jump off some incredible height without, well, dying. It slows your fall." He gestures with his hands, and then pours the remains of his bag on the ground. A few odds and ends. Some scraps of paper, what looked like gunpowder. My eyes caught on a very shiny coin. "Kim and I found some recipes, and a few of these with them." The last part was said in a whisper.

"Where'd you find this?" I ask, grabbing the coin and running a dirty thumb over its surface. "I haven't seen any money on this game so far."

"Dunno, actually." Sean shrugs. "You know, I think it…" One second. I looked down for one second, having dropped the coin, and just one drop of red lands perfectly in the center of it.

I didn't need him anyways.

Gideon grabs my arm and pulls me to my feet. Redge. He's standing over the body, a look in his eyes like a wild animal. "You didn't have to do that. He did nothing to you." The words pass through a wall of teeth.

"Any ally of yours is an enemy of mine." Redge breaths a few heavy breaths, pulling the bloody sword from his victim. Another friend, lost, because of my negligence. "I only wish it had been you."

Me too. "You just killed someone I cared about." I take a deep breath to calm my nerves. "But I'm going to look past that for a moment, because I know we've been enemies so far, but I don't believe you're a killer." Well, despite the numerous people he has already killed, but… "That was him, yeah? Not you. Do you really want this?" If I can fight it, so can they.

Fight me? Sure, but win? And what makes you so confident that he could?

Because you're in my head right now. "I know you're mad at Gideon, I know you're mad at me. But we can stop this trail right here and work together to make it out!"

Hot breath stings the air, all of us now in a chorus. Redge, with bloodlust. Me, a gentle worry. Gideon, a much less gentle panic.

"Do you still hear it?" He asks softly. Progress.

"Everyday." I smile. "Worse and worse, but I get better and better, too. I don't always have to listen to it."

Now that's a temptation. You think I've had to try my hardest on you? Don't make me laugh!

"You can't make it stop?" His face contorts, anger? Pain?

"No, but I can help, surely!" I hold my hand out to him, an offer of friendship I hope. He does not make a motion to move. "At least let me try."

Red eyes lock onto my battered hands. It seems like he will consider it, that he will reach out, and maybe we can… "He's over here, guys!" I hear Ethan shout over the hill, followed by the Redge's army.

"I'm sorry, Scout." Redge chuckles, a deep pained look turned quickly into a malicious smile. "But we all had to choose our rolls here. And mine? The crown."

Don't forget, Scout. I run this map.

"Come on, G," I pull him along and we book it as fast as staggered breaths will allow.

"Gideon, Scout!" Trent? Yes! An ally. We join him, and another battle ensues on Sebastian's hill. The first of their army to fall. Does it scare them? Does it give us half an advantage?

We seem evenly matched this time, arrows flying in both directions but so far no one has fallen. An endless stalemate, it seems, until something a bit unexpected happens. Mark falls, slain with an arrow. And the bow wielder?

"Sorry, Redge, but I have to do this." Issac joins our ranks, and we manage to take the advantage. The army starts to scatter, but not without one more casualty. Issac's last arrow flies through a campfire, striking Ethan on his descent down the hill. That's it, for him, he was red. Mark adds a fresh pair of red eyes for their team, but an old pair is lost to the dust and fire.

Can we trust Issac? I don't know, but he did make both the kills in this battle. He heads off to regroup with the rest of our party, but I pull Trent and Gideon along with me.

And if the lines are truly drawn here, then I guess Redge was right. But if he has chosen to play the King then I know what I must do.

I will become the King slayer.

We're really doing this. We're really about to face Redge and his army. On purpose. Just three battle-worn individuals. On the top of a frigid mountain.

I guess it's true, though, what Scout said. They would be expecting us from any direction but up. "Ready to jump in?" Scout hands Trent one of the bottles we picked up from Sean's things in the woods, and he takes it. I take a quick gulp of mine. It has a sour taste, but I hold back a gag. Scout takes his in a quick shot and discards it into the woods.

"Like Mary Poppins." Where do I come up with this stuff? Both men slowly turn to stare at me with a pointed glare. "Sorry."

"I guess it is kind of like Mary Poppins." Trent shrugs, a hint of a smile. I'm not gonna lie, though, even a smile on this man looks malicious.

Scout sighs. "Sure, fine, like Mary Poppins. Alright, let's go." Scout leads us in, and we all send our first wave of arrows. Alarmed, Mark (still recovering gear) begins announcing our presence to the rest of the camp, and then…

Chaos. Absolute Chaos. With wild arrows, I unload almost my whole quiver without landing a single shot. Trent faces off against Mark, while Scout tries to corner the King. "It's you and me, Scout! As it was always meant to end!" Shouts Redge. Who does that leave me with?

I watch a flash of blue dive into a cave. Someone I think I only met once, here, and clutching a burlap bag. Well, I guess this is my battle now. I can follow him inside, he may never even know I am there if I am quiet enough.

A coward's battle. Fitting. But then again, how so? Is it cowardly to strike smart?

Is it cowardly to run away? Afterall, what takes more restraint? To kill, or to let be… but my team is counting on me. I make my way down the stone steps to the enchanting table, as slow and silent as my worn tennis shoes can handle.

"It worked, Sir." He chuckles, without looking around. He heard me, I guess, but he hasn't seen me.

I pull the bow back and point it at him. Letting him provoke me would be ideal. I would have very little time to reload. "Sorry. But I'm not Redge."

"Oh, I know. I'm talking to you." An echo booms up the stairwell as he claspes the leather book closed in one hand.

My eyes tighten on him. "What?"

"It all worked!" He laughs, spinning around. The string nearly slips from my fingers. "Wow, and she did a number on you, didn't she?" He combs a hand through his short, curly hair. "You don't even recognize me."

"Recognize you? Why would I… who are you?" Sure, I recognize him. He shoved a boot into my legs and gut when I visited the first time. And he tried to stop Scout and I from making it down the mountain. Right after the explosion.

The one that took three lives in one.

"It took me a while too, Sir, but I've figured it out." He opens the book to a page, extending it so I could see. "I wrote it." I grip the bow tighter.

"Wrote… the book?" He already sounds red, but his eyes are yellow. So it couldn't be the voice. What was he going on about, then?

"See, see, that's what I thought too!" A wicked chuckle. "Just… just… think about it! Listen to her, I can wait." Uhh… her? "You get it now? It doesn't take long, down here."

"...no?" Wow, this game really does have a way of getting in our heads. I thought Trent sounded crazy but this guy is taking the cake so far.

He blinks a few times at me. "Wow. I mean, really, wow." His hand falls to his side. "I know she needed to make us ignorant, but you're not even beginning to see it… are you?"

Beginning to see… what? "Who is she?"

"Use context clues." He shook his head. The only she I can think of is Chloe, given she is the only she in the game. But what would Chloe have to do with this? He must've realized I wasn't going to respond, because he continues with, "Or maybe you just don't want to remember."

"Want to remember what?" What could I have possibly forgotten between us? We'd only met a few days ago. Wow. Ok. That puts it into perspective… We've only been here a few days.

"If you don't remember, then why are we here?" What is that supposed to mean? Why are any of us here? I've been trying to figure that out! "You were supposed to help them."

I tried. But I couldn't. "I'm sorry. I really am. I wanted to, but I couldn't find the controls and…"

"The controls?" He laughs, it fills the cave, and when he stops the silence stings my ears. "You're someone I would have called brilliant," he snorts. Would have? "But instead of celebrating what we've done, what you've done, you're trying to burn it to the ground."

What is he talking about? What I've done with what? "What you've done is chosen the wrong side. What I'm doing is keeping my promise. Nothing more."

"Was your promise to kill me?" His head tilts to the side. The book is slipping between his thick fingers. What can I say to that? That's what Scout brought me here to do. He smirks. "Then I don't know what you're waiting for."

The bow shakes between my fingers. "You've not provoked me in any way."

"Can't you hear what's going on up there?" His eyes drift up the staircase that I am still half upon. The crackling of fire. Screams and shouts. I take a few steps backwards, I need to get back up there and help Scout. "You have your reason. It's a war. And I'm on the opposite side to you."

"Aren't you going to try to fight? To stay alive?" What is this? Some sort of a mind game? If so, he's winning.

A light snort. "Do I look armed?"

"Gideon!" Scout's faint voice filters down the stones. "Finish it and get out here!" I turn my head only slightly to look out. I cannot see but I hear Redge and Mark's voices mix with his. As I'm turning back into the room I see a flash of blue coming towards me. Flinching, the string releases from my finger and an arrow embeds in the printed cookie on his sweatshirt.

"Oh, gosh," I draw another arrow and load it. He pulls the broken shaft from his shoulder and jumps behind the table. When he comes back up he's got a shovel, glowing at the head. Dodging about the room, he knows I only have one more chance to hit him. But he's advancing now, it won't have the same impact. My foot catches a step as I go to retreat and the arrow flies towards him.

It hits him in the forehead. He falls forward and the impaled object pushes further into his skull. "Oh…oh my gosh." What happened? Did he trip? How did that just work? I do not stare any longer than I have to. He will be back. And I still have a fight to finish.

"Gideon!"

"I'm coming!" But the words do not feel like mine. I'm still stuck thinking about what in the world just happened.

The first thing I see on the surface is Trent's fallen form. Another red life. Another long, ring in my ear. Turning about, it's Scout against Redge and Mark on his own. Oh, I hope I'm not too late. He can't take on them both!

Scout makes it atop their fortress and sends an arrow. Redge is down. I'm awestruck. Just like that? Our greatest threat is gone. I fumble with my own bow, directing my aim at Mark. My hands are absolutely shaking. There is no way I can hit him while he's running.

But I don't have to. Another arrow fires from Scout's quiver. It knocks the boy to the dust.

Did we do it? Did we actually… win?

Rather, did Scout do it? Both of them? All while I accidentally killed one.

But it's not over yet. Scout meets me by the entrance to the enchanting cave. Wordlessly, he offers me a glare. What is he thinking? Is he mad I wasn't here? Or is this something else? But we're off to the castle.

One more fight to go.

Mark, Mark! Of all people, Mark is the one who is going to end my life. I've fought so hard! And where are you, now, when I need you?

Silent. Like you've always been to me.

"Sorry, Trent." Mark pins me to the ground with the end of his sword at my neck. "I never really got to know you, to know if you really deserve this. But you chose the wrong side."

"And I'm sorry too, Mark." I smirk. If he's going to kill me anyways, might as well not give him the satisfaction of it. "That you had to waste your time on me, when it looks like your king is struggling over there." I look over his shoulder to see that Scout does, somehow, have the upper hand on Redge. He's got the king pressed against the village wall, and running out of options.

Mark growls, pulling the sword back. I close my eyes. And it's dark. Darker than I've ever seen dark before. Does that make sense? Whatever, it doesn't matter.

And… my heart is racing for the first time this whole game. Why now? This isn't the first time I faced a sword. It never worried me before. I always knew…

You did good, Trent. Really.

My eyes fly open, but I'm not on the battlefield anymore. Dread fills my stomach. Like I've seen this place before.

It's quiet. Everything, so quiet. Shadows creeping across cave walls. And the blue moss glows, like a familiar memory, but I don't recognize this place.

It'll come back to you. Your services have been satisfactory, but I'm afraid they're no longer needed.

Services? But, I didn't…

I told you, didn't I? Puppet.

I told you to stop calling me that.

You were only playing your part. Right? Is that not what you told Brock? It doesn't matter. We don't need you anymore. Next time we'll look for someone who can… listen.

We? A purple light washes over me and it makes me flinch. When my eyes open again, it's Mark I'm staring at. Sword raised above his head. And as it comes down, I'm helpless but to watch.

Super exciting news! Exciting, or sad? The next chapter is the last one! I am so happy I have been able to post here and I hope you have enjoyed it too. So my next question is, are you excited?