The Adaptive Game

"NOBLE BASTARD"

- Shaun

Was that a goddamn metaphor?

I legitimately can't grab onto David, he's already swinging so low.

David grabs onto Conner with both his hands instead.

No, it's gonna happen.

I can't let it happen!

"CONNER, LET GO OF HIM! HE'LL PULL YOU DOWN!"

"YOU WANT ME TO LET GO OF HIM?!"

David cries out to me. "WHAT THE FUCK! CONNER DON'T LET GO OF ME!"

Conner is slipping down along with David. David will drag him into the lava if Conner keeps holding onto him.

"YOU CAN'T SAVE HIM! LET GO, CONNER!"

Conner is trembling. He's losing it. He's gonna break down.

Conner, shaking and almost crying, says:

"I'm sorry, David. I'm letting go."

"NO! NO, NOT LIKE THIS! PLEASE, I'M BEGGING YOU!-"

Conner's muscles give way and he lets go, David falls into the lava just like the rest.

"SHAUN! WHAT ARE YOU SMOKING?!"

"I couldn't do anything. You did the right thing."

"THE RIGHT THING?!... The right... thing..."

I hope he does realize it.

Meanwhile, Emilia drops down onto the barn's support beam and sees us. Then, Gavin drops down and the support beam starts to shake.

"GAVIN! YOU GOTTA MOVE!"

"ME?! YOU MOVE!"

There's not much time, so Emilia jumps for it. The beam starts breaking, so Gavin gets back on top of the barn by pulling himself back onto the roof.

Emilia, on the windowsill, prepares to jump over here.

"I'M GOING IN!"

Conner reaches his hands out, she falls a little bit short, but it looks like he has her secured.

"SHAUN! HELP ME!"

Nevermind, she's not secure.

Again I can't reach her from where I am. Conner can see that.

I look at him. I'm not so impressed - almost angry.

"WELL? PULL HIM UP!"

I hold him down onto the lamppost while he uses the last bit of his strength to pull Emilia up. She gets a safe place to crouch and won't be a problem.

The lava rises up again, and it's the last rising lava. That's everything.

One of the contestant cheers for our survival.

"It stopped!"

The roof breaks again and he falls through along with another contestant.

The Square Guard is in an observation room, there is a loud speaker going into the room.

"Congratulations contestants, the lava will be drained through the vents. Stay where you are."

The lava drains from each of the drainage vents we saw earlier.

I couldn't save David.

But I saved Emilia.

Why?

Why am I going back to being nice?

I shouldn't be a noble bastard.