The DEATHMATCH

CHAPTER TWO

Chapter 2

Elijah

I'm surprisingly not a Scream fan. Actually, I've never watched it. But seeing those words flash on the screen reminded me of its most famous quote. The quote that led to a trail of murders. Do you want to play a game?

No. Not really.

"How did he know it was me?" Pandora said, alarmed.

"I don't know!" Skylynn replied. Her whole body was shaking. Even Zach seemed alarmed, though he probably assumed it was a harmless super villain I could easily defeat, as a superhero does.

It took me a second to realize I was staring off into space in the general direction of the window. I snapped back into focus as I spotted movement. It took me a second to register. Then I leaned forward quickly, slamming my fist in the table, almost knocking over Zach's drink.

"He's back!" I yelled. Several people in the shop began to panic at our alarming manor. A couple in the corner grabbed their stuff and left. The rest of my team quickly turned to look at the long, dark, car hovering on the street. Skylynn got up and pushed her chair in, a look of absolute frustration on her face.

"I'M DONE!" she screamed. "THIS IS SO STUPID!" Zach began to panic for real now, as did the rest of the people. Two men with assault rifles stepped out of the car, wearing black tactical gear and masks. Several people in the shop screamed, including us. Another man climbed out, dressed in a long black overcoat like someone from the Matrix. He wore a mask as well, but instead of a filter-like mask his cronies wore, a mask similar to the bird beak masks of the Black Death was concealing his features. They approached the door. Zach started crying, huddling close to me. I wrapped my arms around him. Pandora dashed from her seat to an area behind the front desk, the closest thing to the exit door. Before I could get Zach to follow, the doors burst open, spraying glass everywhere. Skylynn screamed and tried to crawl over to Pandora, but the henchmen raised guns in her direction. She froze, fear plastered on her face. I wrapped Zach in an embrace, hoping to shelter him from whatever bullets shot our way.

The man wearing the Black Death mask reached into his pocket. I flinched, thinking he was going to pull out yet another gun, but instead he pulled out a folded piece of paper. He unfolded it slowly, and cleared his throat to read it.

"Pandora , Elijah , Zachary, and Skylynn Rivers, please meet us at The Zone on West Simmons Street tomorrow at 2a.m. If you get any police or other crime investigators involved, you will regret it deeply. Or else." He turned his back to us, walking back inside the car. His henchmen followed, and relief washed over me. I didn't have enough time to comprehend the message. The Black Death guy turned shortly, nodding his head to me. Then all the cell phones in the room received a call, a red number pulsing. The customers answered, and one by one they dropped to the floor, unconscious. Or dead.

I didn't know what was worse, watching the guy invading our place, and hurting people, or the growing desire to obey his command.

SKYLYNN

I laid there on the ground for some time before Pandora dragged me to my feet. I brushed off, my pants wet and sticky with spilled drinks. Pandora grimaced and looked at me, staring at me with her dark brown eyes.

"We need to get out of here." She told me. I looked over to Eli and Zach, huddled in a corner. Zach was crying, and Eli was doing her best to comfort him.

Pandora walked over and tapped Eli on the shoulder, and she turned to look at her. She motioned towards the door, and Eli nodded. I desperately wanted to call the cops so these people would be rescued. But I didn't dare. They were still breathing anyway. For now.