THE ULTIMATE STANDER (COMPLETED)

Chapter Ten

      "Begin!" Sam called the shot.

      Livy swung her blade at Hannah. Hannah lifted her dagger in defense. The blades clanged together. Their knives clashed as they fought against each other. Any time Livy would lunge forward, Hannah was prepared to block her attack. Every time Hannah would swing the dagger, Livy wouldn't fail to dodge the attack. Hannah twisted her wrist as she tried to get the dagger out of Livy's tight grip.

      Livy let out a fierce cry as she swung her arm back down. Hannah raised her weapon and blocked her. She pushed Livy and took a step back. Her chest was heaving as she was panting for breath. With the back of her hand, she wiped the beads of sweat off her forehead.

      Livy lunged forward with the blade, and Hannah side-stepped it. She brought up her knee and hit Livy hard in the stomach. Livy groaned, before grabbing hold of Hannah's knee and shoulder and threw her down onto the floor. Hannah swiftly got back onto her feet, however Livy pushed her back down. She knelt on one knee over Hannah.

      Hannah had her dagger clutched in her chest still. She swung her weapon forward, however Livy grabbed her wrist. She twisted it at an awkward angle. Hannah shrieked as her bone snapped. The dagger fell off her hand and onto the floor. The pain had her cradled her arm to her chest.

      Livy took the dagger, she placed her other knee on the other side of Hannah. She reached down to move Hannah's throbbing wrist out of the way.

      "I'm sorry," I heard her say, before raising the dagger and thrusting it into Hannah's chest. Blood spurted onto Livy's face.

      "Excellent! Marvelous!" Sam stated through the intercom. "That was a wonderful fight. I can't wait to see more of this."

      Livy dropped the weapon and fell to her side. She looked back at Hannah's lifeless body. I could see tears welling in her eyes.

      "Alright ladies." Sam returned. "That will be all for today. Kindly exit the room, please. Mr. Houston will take it from here."

      I watched Livy rose onto her feet, a drop of tears fell off her eye as she brushed past me heading for the exit. It must be a hurtful thing for her to do. I looked toward Cameron giving instructions to the ninjas. Without thinking, I marched toward him in furry. The ninjas reached for their katanas as they saw me approaching.

      "Stand down," Cameron told the ninjas and they backed away. "Is there something you need, Phoebe?" he asked.

      "You lied to me!" I barked. "You told me this was just a combat. You never mentioned anything about killing ourselves! You fucking lied to us all!"

      "Calm down, Phoebe."

      "Don't tell me to fucking calm down! This whole show is damn wrong. I want out. I want out right now!"

      "You can't back out now," he stated. "You can't leave, Phoebe."

      "Watch me." I turned around.

      "You'll only get yourself killed and we don't want that."

      I paused, turning to look at him. "And why's that? What is it that you all want with me?"

      "There is more to you than meets the eye, Phoebe."

      I frowned. "What?"

      "Phoebe!"

      I heard my name and turned around to see Mia standing by the door.

      "Go join the others, Phoebe," Cameron mentioned to me. "Lunch will be served in an hour." With that he left.

      "What was that all about?" Mia asked as I came over to her.

      "I had to confront him. We can't continue like this. Livy looks traumatized by killing Hannah!"

      "How do you know that?"

      "I saw her cry, Mia. I saw her trembling. I don't think she's ever killed anyone before."

      "Are you sure it's trauma? I mean anyone can cry after what happened."

      "It doesn't matter what I'm sure of. This is fucking madness! We don't know who'll die in the next fight. It can be anyone!"

      We made our way into the room and I marched over to my bed. Mia sat next to me watching my face.

      "What?" I asked.

      "You're feeling concerned about everyone of us. That's sweet."

      I went silent looking away. Well I was feeling concerned. However about her mostly. I saw the way she felt anxious when Sam was stalling or perhaps contemplating on those to call. The way her hand trembled around her pendant. Her pendant.

      "A present from your parents?" I asked, gesturing to her necklace.

      Mia looked down at it. "Not really. It's from my brother. Said it'd always remind me of him. No matter where I go."

      "How thoughtful of the little guy," I uttered. Mia smiled.  "I'd love to meet him someday."

      "Really?" However she suddenly looked crestfallen.

      "What's wrong?" I asked.

      "We don't know if we're going to make it out of here alive."

      Indeed. No one knew who would die next. And it would be such a painful thing for me if I watched Mia die. I had watched people whom I cared about die. Mom, Dad, and Simone. I do not wish for Mia to die. Aside the fact that I had grown attached to her, and also seemed to like her, she had a little brother to return to. A brother who was awaiting her return.

      "Guys, we have to do something." Mariya Petrov called to our attention. "We need to get out of here. Did you not see what happened in that temple? Livy was forced to kill Hannah! If we don't do something fast we're all going to die!"

      I looked toward Livy sitting alone in the corner of her bed. She seemed less interested in the conversation.

      "We can't escape even if we want to," Saanvi Roy mentioned.

      "I remember Sam saying this place is built on an island," Merida González added.

      "We have to try," Mariya stated. "Guys I don't want to die. I have a grandmother back home I must return to. I'm sure you all have someone you wish to go back to?"

      "Guys she's right," Gloriana Tavano chimed in. "I have a sister to go back to. She's ten! I can't die here."

      "Nîmen dōu shì shâguā." For the very first time Lady Creepoid spoke. All eyes were on her the moment she did. We had always thought she was mute and couldn't speak. However we were all astonished when we heard her spoke in Chinese.

      "What?" Mariya asked her, requesting for a translation of the word she'd uttered.

      "Shâguā," she mentioned, ignoring us and continued to file her familiar pocket knife.

      "O . . . kay." Mariya faced the rest of us. "Alright. Anyone with plans to get us out of here?" she inquired.

      "Hang on." Carmel stated. "We haven't concluded yet if we want to escape or not."

      "Alright then. Raise your hand if you're with me on this."

      I looked around, no one raised their hands. However Gloriana and Sofia did.

      "I think this is a bad idea," McKayla mentioned. "You guys don't know what's out there. Besides you're gonna get yourselves killed."

      "Killed out there or get killed in here, what difference does it make?" Sofia uttered.

      "Guys, don't," McKayla warned.

      "I'm not listening to you, McKayla."

      "Aiit. Do as you please." She laid down on her bed.

      Gloriana, Sofia and Mariya gathered together as they silently planned their escape. From the little I heard, they planned to leave tonight.