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Vernon and Vaga had been in Carp for 10 months now. Vernon had found a small trailer home and used the money from her savings to pay for it, however it was still pretty tight in the money department. Although it was extremely lucky that her sister, Vaga, had survived, she now lived with severe disability and needed someone to look after her most hours of the day. Vernon was still in school so, as much as she wanted to, she couldn't stay home with Vaga.
On a walk through the shabby neighborhood she came across a lovely little old man, when she mentioned her sister they decided to strike up a deal. The man she came to know as Mr. Alfie, would look after her sister while she was away, but in return she must allow him to come over every night to cook dinner. She thought it was a little weird at first but she realized that this man probably just misses his children dearly, he was quite lonely and it was quite comforting to know that she wouldn't have to worry about missing a meal. She agreed to the deal and Mr. Alfie quickly became a part of their little family.
That's exactly what Mr. Alfie was doing right now though, he was taking care of Vaga while Vernon skipped her graduation with her group of friends. She was sitting in Ray's boat and was waiting for everyone to get in when Adam came up. He gave Ray a graduation gift, a "Get Out of Jail Free Card" just in case he wanted to visit his dad. The joke honestly wasn't that funny but Ray was slick with a comeback.
"If only it was a free pass on herpes, then I can bone Tyler's mom again." Ray obviously thought that was so very clever.
"Awww are you finally gonna lose your virginity?" Vernon was fake pouting as she looked at Ray, the comment had everyone laughing at him. He looked at her with a smirk and threw the card at her.
"Oh, baby, we both know you're the only virgin here." He got in the boat as Vernon sat laughing.
"I can't believe you guys are skipping the ceremony." Sarah said as she handed Vernon a beer.
"Well, we are." Ray shouted and they drove off. As she sat on the boat she began to think of the game she only learned of a few months ago. Every small town has a secret, ours has a game. The losers stay here where losing is what we do best. The winners get out. In Carp, Texas, out is the only place worth going, that's why players risk their lives to win. But the game isn't meant to kill you, and it won't. If you follow one rule. Don't. Panic.
The games had always started right after graduation and lasted throughout the summer. All graduating Seniors were eligible to play. Sometimes 40 players enter, sometimes half that, but there is only one winner. Each year there are new players, new challenges, new judges. But the game has ghosts, too. We don't have to say their names, they know where to find us, They know we aren't going anywhere. Not unless we play.
Or at least that was the bullshit Ray had spewed to her when he was hassling her for money when she showed up. Apparently it's a dollar a day and everyone has to pay. When she didn't have any extra money to give to him, he covered her fair, that's how the two became friends. Naturally after a while Vernon became a part of his little friend group, they weren't welcoming at first because it was weird for someone to move into Carp rather than move out. Even with his friends disapproval he kept bringing Vernon around, which they eventually began to take a liking to her. Sarah also enjoyed the company of another girl around with all of the swinging dicks they called friends.
With all that aside she knew she wanted to play, maybe not necessarily to leave but so she could pay for all of her sister's medical bills. She was running low on her savings and needed a solution asap.
꧁a/n꧂ i don't actually know if i like this book yet. idk if im capable of writing a good story lmao.
