Sweet Dreams: Game of Manlipulation

Chapter one

Alissa was walking back home when she was taken. She wasn't expecting to be one of the fifteen, but, if given this chance, not even death would stop her. Even if she would never be queen, she would take any power she could get.

She was blindfolded, but she could tell she was outside by the feel of the mushy ground and crisp autumn air. When the blindfold was ripped off, she was blinded by the light. She was the first one to regain her sight, and she noticed that they were other people, but no one guarding them. She stood up from her kneeling position, and she knew instinctively that this was one of the games for the thrones. 'What did Brother say game one was?' she thought. 'Gaining favor? No that was game two. So, game one had to be... TRUST!' She looked around. 'Why are we out here if they want us to get their trust. Maybe they want to see who will run.' As she was looking around, she noticed a table with a bunch of weapons and 15 cups of dark red liquid.

She walked closer to the red liquid wondering what it was. Next to one of the cups was a note.

To gain our trust, you must prove you are willing to die for a chance to be a lord, lady or Noble. Drink the liquid in this cup and kill yourself with one of the weapons provided.

Remember the weapon you choose will also help your chances in these games.

You have 20 mins from the time the first person reads the note to gain our trust.

Alissa quickly hid the note. She turned around and saw that the other 14 were staring at her. "What?" She asked them.

"Well, you seem to know more than the rest of us since you moved and don't seem scared." A boy said. He looked much like the man from one of her dreams. He had the same whiskey colored eyes and dark skin. The only difference really between him and the man from her dreams was that he didn't have any of the scars on his neck.

She had decided not to share the note with everyone, so she said "Well, there no one besides us out here, and I don't see any cameras so they can't be watching us, so I'm looking for a way to escape." Alissa then scanned the rest of the fifteen she saw two others that caught her interest. One was clearly part of the Resistance. The Resistance had fought for fifteen to take down the games and the monarchy and make a 'true democracy'. Alissa scoffed at the idea. 'There's no such thing as a true democracy even with supernatural creatures in the mix.' she thought.

The other looked to be of noble birth. 'What was this person doing in the games?' She wondered.

One minute. That's how long it took Alissa to scan the other players.

18 minutes. That is how long she has to convince three has chosen to move on with her to drink the liquid and kill themselves. That is also how long she has to drink herself, choose the right weapon, and kill herself.

She moved to a corner. The three were suspicious of her so they followed her.

Alissa smiled. She didn't plan on this, but it would make it a lot easier. So, she pulled out the note and handed it to them. "Why didn't you share earlier. How long do we have." They asked on over the other.

"Obviously because they are our competitors. And about 17 minutes give or take." she responded tartly.

"Then why are you sharing it with us?" the boy asked.

"Because your suspicious of people and you're clearly smart. I can work with that." she told them.

"Are we just going to ignore the fact that we are going to have to kill ourselves! How do we know if we going to get revived?" the resistance member asked hysterically.

Both Alissa and the boy rolled their eyes. Alissa was about to answer when the boy said "Obviously we don't. That's why this game is for trust. If we trust that we will be revived and kill ourselves, then they will trust us little more."

"Finally, someone who sees it my way." Alissa said, nodding towards the boy. She turns to the other two and said, "If it makes it any easier, I could kill you."

Turning to the boy, she said, "Get the stuff we have to drink."

"Sure." The boy walked to get four cups. He returned and handed the cups around.

"Thank you" they all said.

"To the games of power" Alissa said raising her cup to toast.

"And the friendship made thru them" the boy said, doing the same as Alissa. The other didn't say anything but raised their glasses.

They all down the contents. It tasted metallic and salty which caused all of them to make faces. Alissa then went over to look at the weapons. She found a beautiful dagger. It had a ruby on the hilt and the blade was shining in the sun. It looked very sharp. She picked it up and walked back to the group.

The boy had also gone over to the weapons and chose a sword. Immediately, he stabbed himself in the chest. Everyone, except Alissa, screamed. Alissa thought "Now we have to act fast!"

She moved to the other two, and quickly stabbed them in the heart. They dropped to the ground, and Alissa checked on them. Blood spurted from their chests, and Alissa knew it was a matter of minutes before they bled out.

She walked a little ways away, and debated "Throat or chest?" She glanced back and decide on the chest. As soon as the blade hit her heart, she felt searing pain and then the world went black.