PANIC ROOM

Eight

"Right candidates, we don't have much time left – let's go!" James shouts. Several stone doors open all around us. Only one is correct.

Candidates, a word of warning. There are killers in your midst.

The other candidates look around at each other, suspicion and fear poisoning their faces.

"Who is a killer?" Will asks, hoping the voice will tell us. But the voice is silent.

"We'll have to figure it out ourselves..." The youngest, Andy mutters. The younger ones mutter amongst themselves, discussing whom they think killers might be.

"How many killers are there?"

Three.

We can reveal the identity of one killer; but there is a price.

If PANIC ROOM exposes one killer, three random candidates will be denied from leaving.

Three people will die here?

Isn't that a risk we cannot take?

Searching the faces of the others, the risk of a killer on the loose is far greater. Charlie clears his throat.

"It's obvious, isn't it?" he looks round at the others. "It's 020."

The others turn to me. I open my mouth to protest, but nothing comes out.

"Don't be an idiot, Charlie. 020 can't even kill a Fallen..." Kun shakes his head firmly.

"She's lying about who she is. Why wouldn't she fake her abilities too?" Charlie snaps. Murmurs of agreement reverberate around the tunnel.

"I'm not lying, I honestly don't remember-" I stutter, but it's no use.

James surveys me coldly as he puts his mask on, his brown eyes holding the same reminiscent stare as before.

He knows something about me that I don't. Am I a killer?

"The voice doesn't lie. We can't trust 020." Charlie now speaks directly to James, to ultimately secure my fate.

"Tie her to that post." James orders the others, his voice emotionless.

Lucas and Johnny seize my arms, pulling me backwards towards the grim metal post. I try to resist, kicking and writhing like an animal caught in a trap.

"I haven't done anything! I'm not a murderer! Please believe me!" My voice gets more and more desperate.

Johnny ignores my cries, fastening my arms around the pole, the cold metal stinging the back of my neck.

"This is BULLSHIT!" Jacob shouts angrily, drawing his knife. Charlie draws his knife too, and the atmosphere stiffens.

The others spectate the gladiators as they begin to fight. Jacob throws his knife at Charlie's head. He misses.

Charlie slices his blade into Jacob's wrist. Jacob snaps Charlie's jaw with his foot, pulling the bloody knife out of his ruined arm. Charlie pins him to the wall, beating Jacob's face to a pulp with his bony fists.

"ENOUGH!" Johnny yells, forcing the two bloodied opponents apart. Jacob removes his mask, spits a pool of blood at my feet, before mouthing a bitter "FUCK YOU" to Charlie.

"Let's get moving. Goodbye 020." James leaves without another word. Johnny drags Jacob and Charlie behind, the other candidates running to catch up.

It's just as I feared. But we're losing our humanity faster than I thought.

Now I'm being left to die.