the game

katie

every time i move someone dies. no matter how much i wish my training had calmed my powers it has only made them stronger. it makes me feel weak in proportion.

ken on the other hand looks almost overjoyed. head after head slides of. neck after neck snaps in two. body after body hits the floor like bloody rocks. dead to this world. his face contorts in a smile that is wide and murderous. there are flecks of blood dotting his body and his face like paint but he does nothing to wipe it off. his eyes look bloodthirsty as he slaughters. and a shiver runs down my mind. i'm cold and it has nothing to do with the weather. who have i chosen to train me?

he's a killing machine. a phychopath.

"where's amy?" he asks a kid. he doesn't know. ken cracks the kid's index finger like a carrot.

i can't take it.

"ken, this isn't what i meant! now stop killing people," the words tear from my lungs.

and then a grin like a cheshire cat grows on his face. his dimples deep and shadowed.

"they're not dead, it would take points off of my stats if i kill my own team mates, this is just a lesson," i vomit on the spot. he snap a man's femor down the hall. why hadn't i been listening to the screams? and then i realize it. the whole base is screaming like some undulating pustule ready to explode. something burns white hot through me. i feel like cattle being branded by white hot iron. all of those poor people are alive?

i tear back down the hallway, my lungs fighting to keep up. he's running after me. i bend down.

"where does it hurt? how can i help?"

"but aren't you with ken? aren't you just looking for another reason to torture me?" the kid coughs up blood.

"i'd rather die and restart with zero points than feel this way. he's a monster," and the kid dies in front of me, his body dissolving into black sand in my hands.

i gulp and look up at ken.

"who hurt you?" i say slowly. his brows are creased in anger and confusion.

"what do you mean?" he asks.

"if you had to rule a kingdom, would it be by fear or by respect?" i ask. i try and keep my voice level.

"respect only counts for so much. alasians are always looking to take advantage of eachother. it's how we're made," his grin resumes as he looks upon his handiwork.

now i understand that look the others gave him all of last year. he's had a hold over many students since they were knee high and he's done it through fear. but then why do the girls still like him! why would anyone want someone who tortures people for fun?!

"katie!" i'm heading towards the medical bay to see if amy is there. next i'll have the medics clean up ken's mess. i roll my eyes as i keep walking. he trails behind me.

"wait!" i hear him yell down the hall.

"you go look for amy, i'm going to get people to the med bay. if you have to, kill them but no more torture," he grabs my wrist and it sends a shiver down my spine. my body subconsciously electrocutes him.

"don't touch me!" i scream.

he's on the floor propping himself up on his elbows in shock.

i take a deep breath.

"sorry if i hurt you, good bye," and then i turn and walk away.