THE ULTIMATE STANDER (COMPLETED)

Chapter Fourteen

      I scowled at Erika sitting across the table to my left. How dare she went close to Mia?! Warning and blathering rubbish to her. I focused my attention on her, ignoring whatever it was going on around me. Our eyes met, Erika and mine, and I chose not to look away. I held the gaze, scowling deeply. Perhaps she found my expression amusing, for she gave me a smirk, popping a grape into her mouth.

      "Phoebe." Mia placed her hand over mine on the table.  "Aren't you going to eat?"

      "I will," I answered, without for once taking my eyes off of Erika.

      Mia might have noticed the look I was throwing at Erika. "Stop Phoebe. She doesn't worth your attention."

      "I hate the fact that she threatened you," I gritted.

      "She didn't threaten me. She warned me."

      "What's the difference?" I cut her off.

      "Let it go, Phoebe."

      "I will alright."

      "Let's eat. Look how delicious and inviting these foods are."

      I eventually looked away from Erika to the plates, bottles of wine, and platters of meals on the long table. For a moment I wondered those who might have prepared these. Could it be the ninjas? Or some mystery cooks? I didn't seem to see anyone else here aside us, Cameron and the ninjas. Not even Sam himself. No one seemed to know what he actually looked like.

      "Hello, ladies." Speaking of the devil. "How pleasing to see you all this evening. I threw this banquet to honor you all. You fought greatly, and proved to be the best. However, the eight of you still have a long way to go. You still have to battle against one another. Do not forget, I only need one winner. So, I'll make a toast. Please, do lift your glasses." We did as he asked, lifting our half filled glasses. "To your success so far. Cheers ladies."

      "Cheers!" We stated in unison.

      For few stretched minutes, we forgot all our worries. And the fact that we'd sooner or later face one another. We got caught up in the moment. Dinning and enjoying ourselves. However halfway into the feast, Sam's voice re-appeared. Sternly this time. We all seemed worried as the ninjas began to shut the huge double doors of the room.

      "What's going on?" Saanvi asked no one in particular.

      "Ladies," Sam called to us again. If you want to make it out of this room alive, each of you has to eliminate one person."

      "What?!" McKayla boomed.

      "You have to kill one person or you . . . will be eliminated."

      Ninjas surrounded us now, with bows and arrows.

      "Sam this is sick!" Roxanne yelled, banging her fist on top of the table. "Why can't we just battle each other like we've been doing?"

      "I call the shots here, Roxanne. And I say kill one person and you'll be free from this room. Otherwise. You see those ninjas?" Roxanne scanned their hidden faces. "They're dying to shoot those arrows. So, it's your choice."

      "Guys. We're not actually going to kill ourselves in here, are we?" Nancy asked.

      "Sam has gone too fa—" McKayla was cut off as Erika snuck up behind her and slit her throat with the familiar pocket knife. Blood gushed out of her neck.

      "Oh my fucking god! McKayla!" Roxanne bellowed.

      All our eyes went wide in astonishment when McKayla's body fell to the ground with a great thud. Erika returned her small weapon into the holster attached around her thigh underneath her red gown. No fucking way! She had that under her dress this whole time? As though reading my thought, she looked at me and smirked.

••••♦••••

      Within seconds the room descended into chaos. I stepped in close to Nancy's body, so when I turned, my right shoulder brushed her chest. Using the edges of my opened hands, I struck her upper and lower arm. The combined force of my strike and her swing, made her arm went immediately limp.

      Grabbing her arm, I twisted it until the heel of her hand pointed toward the ceiling. Then I pivoted, placing my right shoulder under her elbow. Could I take the next step? Nancy dug her fingers into my throat. Oh yes. I yanked her hand down. With a loud crack, Nancy's arm broke.

      Finish this, I thought, spinning around to face her. I punched her twice in the nose. Blood gushed. While she was off balance, I kicked her kneecap, shattering it. Nancy crumpled to the ground. I moved to kneel beside her body. I felt for her pulse. A strong throb met my fingertips. Nancy suddenly clutched my elbow. I yelped and punched her in the face. Her grip relaxed, and I pulled my arm free. That was stupid.

      I stood up and looked around the room. We were four in the room. McKayla was dead, so were Livy, Roxanne, and Nancy.

      "Great job, ladies." Sam applauded. "You all fought so beautifully. It's such a great honor to watch you all fight."

      "Let us out of here, Sam," Saanvi ranted.

      "As promised, each one of you kill a person and you are set free." We watched as the ninjas reopened the doors. "Ladies, you're free to leave. And have a good night."

      I scoffed, shaking my head at Sam's last words.

      Mia tossed and turned on the bed next to me. "What's wrong?" I asked.

      "I can't stop thinking about my little brother. And I can't stop thinking about tomorrow."

      "Tomorrow?"

      "There are four of us now, Phoebe. Two of us has to fight tomorrow. Either I fight Saanvi, or I fight Erika—"

      "You're not fighting Erika." I cut her off.

      "What makes you so sure? You know how Sam is."

      "I'll plead with him even if I have to. But I won't let you fight that bitch."

      I watched Mia's face lit up. "I love you, Phoebe Knowles," she said to me.

      Our lips collided and I kissed her gently. "I love you, Mia Zhang," I uttered after breaking the kiss. She suddenly sat up, her hands behind her neck. "What're you doing?"

      Mia took off her necklace. "I want you to have this."

      "What? No way. I can't have that." I refused.

      "I really want you to have it."

      "Mia, this necklace is precious to you."

      "Which is why I want you to have it. Please?" I took the necklace from her and wore it around my neck. Mia's face lit up with excitement. "It suits you perfectly."

      I pulled her back onto the bed and wrapped my arms around her, pressing her against my body.