Everyone for Themselves

Chapter 12

January 15, 1991

Chapter 12-

Lulu stretched and opened her mouth into a big yawn. Even though she didn't think she would, she was actually looking forward to today. "Another day spent in a huge mansion and the games being postponed because of a storm," She muttered to herself as she got out of bed. "What could be better?"

Silently, not waking any of the girls up (especially Gwen, since she was her bunk mate), she strode over to the window, thanking Mother Nature mentally for all the rain and storms. She rubbed her hands on the smooth, velvet curtains... They were her favorites. Usually she wouldn't be thinking about what curtains were her preferred kind, but today, well, what else was there to think about?

Definitely more than she thought.

As her hand clasped around the plush drapes, she tugged them open, grateful to listen to the BOOM! of thunder and the constant claps of lightning... While they lasted. Her eyes landed on the window, and she smiled to herself.

"Just as much sunshine as always!" She whispered as she turned away from it. And then she realized what she saw.

And she screamed.

***

"Welcome, everyone, to the 4th Annual... Uhh... Game!" Trent boomed across the clearing like the thunder they all wished they still had. Lulu assumed this was his way of trying to sounding cool. She clenched her sweaty palms to her sides as her thoughts drifted away from what Trent was saying. Was the murderer going to come back again today? And if so, who was it going for next? She knew that one person... One sick, twisted person... Would be excited for the games, and that, of course, would be the murderer.

She looked around the clearing at all the frightened faces, until she came upon one that looked... Well... Cheerful. It was Marissa. So that HAD to be it. Marissa had to be the murderer, and that was that. No questions asked. But then, she had to kill her... Right?

That was just the rules...

***

Lulu was panicking. This challenge was so stupid! Who could get into a metal BOX to save three kids?! WHO?!

The challenge this time... was to be a 'superhero'. 17 kids were the superheroes, trying to break into a huge metal facility (which really was more like a box) and rescue the three kids, Lulu, Gretta, a very pale and skinny girl with long black hair, and Gunther, a chubby boy who only ever talked about food, but had a great sense of humor. Now was no time for it. The ticking time bomb was set to go off in ten minutes. TEN MINUTES to save her life.

She sat on a small metal bench, practically throwing her head into her hands. This was impossible. She was going to die. What a terrible way to die, too. An explosion. Were the others thinking the same thing?  She looked up at them and decided they were still in the state of utter terror and panic.

Gretta was throwing her frail body against the metal walls, and Gunther kept looking around wildly as if someone was about to save him, and each time he figured out no one was, he would scream for help. Lulu sighed and fresh tears streamed down her face. This was hopeless. She could hear the other kids TRYING to get in... TRYING to save their miserable lives. She decided there wasn't much to live for, anyway.

By this time, Gretta and Gunther were sitting on the floor, exhausted and, apparently, had accepted death just like she did. They all looked at each other, and, when Lulu saw the tears in Gretta's eyes and the terrified look on Gunther's face, she knew that they needed each other more than ever, and so they reached out to each other... Total strangers, accepting that they needed this. For themselves, and for everyone else. 

They all moved towards each other and, gradually, hugged one another.

"Let's think of something happy, before we die," Gretta whispered between her silent tears.

"Our family." They all said at once.

"I'll never be able to see my brother again," Gunther moaned dejectedly. "He even wished me good luck... But he thought this was just a vacation."

"I'll never be able to see my baby sister again," Gretta sobbed quietly. "She was only two... I'll never be able to see her grow up."

Lulu thought about how her two older brothers drove her CRAZY. She couldn't STAND them... But now she needed them more than ever. "And I'll never be able to see my two older brothers," Lulu whispered. "I'll never be able to hear their maniacal laugh whenever they pulled a prank on me. I'll never be able to see the triumphant gleam in their eyes as I screamed at them. And I'll never hear my mom yelling at us to get along. I'll never have any of that again."

Their quiet sobbing was interrupted by a very loud BEEP! That was it. That was the signal to get away from the building before it exploded. That was the way to let you know there was one minute left. Lulu thought it was so silly how, just this morning, she had thought there was nothing to think about. How the things she chose to think of were what curtains were her favorites.

They pulled apart from each other then, and held hands. All three in a row, Gretta in the middle, and Lulu and Gunther on either side.

"I never really knew any of you, but I sure wish I did now," Gretta whispered.

"Same here. I'll miss you guys. I'll miss everyone here." Gunther agreed.

"Goodbye, mom. Goodbye, dad. Goodbye, Tommy and Billy," Lulu said softly.

"Goodbye, daddy. Goodbye, Kimmy," Gretta sobbed.

"Goodbye, mum. Goodbye, Sammy." Gunther choked.

"Goodbye, world." They all finished together, and squeezed each other's hands tight.

And for that moment... For that last ten seconds they were with each other... They all realized how grateful they were to be here... On this Earth... while it lasted.  

They decided that, even though they didn't really know each other, they would be true to one another in their hearts, even in death.

In those last few moments, they found peace. Those last few moments they had, and they accepted death.

They finally accepted.

And they didn't even cry out when the loud booming reached their ears.When plentiful screams pierced the air, they knew it wasn't from any of their own mouths. And even in death, they knew they would still be holding hands as they left the Earth for the last time.

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Trent's Comments: Yes. We held a tribute for them. Well... They did, anyway.