Demise Game

16. players

Even with a sharp object aimed towards your throat, you found yourself unable to move in the moment, brain stuttering and trying to process.

        Jinsei was already a pale teen, but he looked sickly, skin an ash color, with burgundy eyes that seemed too bright and shiny.  You had no time to ponder over his appearance, though, as Isora roughly tugged you out of the way thanks to your nonresponse.  Jinsei barreled into the wall in response, and Hanami shrieked, diving off to the side and further down the hall.

        "What the hell?!"  Isora was furious; you couldn't see his face from your position, but his grip on you was crushing, and his voice dripped in pure hostility.  Normally, Jinsei would have backed off.  The brunet wasn't known for being the most assertive.  Not now, though.  Instead, he waved the box cutter around, pointing it violently at you.

        "Stay out of this," Jinsei wheezed, carding a hand through tangled and messy black locks, nearly tugging his own hair out.  "I have to kill her.  If she dies, then I'll be free!  We all will!"

        Your mouth felt dry, and you found it hard to breathe.  "What...  Are you talking about?"

        Jinsei laughed, frantic and crazy, and it sent chills throughout your body.  "I figured it all out!  After debating and thinking and wondering...  You're the traitor, aren't you, [Y/n]?!"

        "No..."  Your voice came out hoarse, and you ripped yourself from Isora's grasp, taking a step forward.  "No!  I'm not!"

        "Stay back!"

        Jinsei waved the box cutter in front of him threateningly, and you jerked back a second too late, feeling metal slice thinly across your cheek bone.  Instinctively, your hand came up to cup your face, blood slowly welling up from the cut.  It wasn't any deeper than a paper cut.  It certainly stung like one.

        "That's it."

        Isora had had enough.  Stepping around you, he deftly caught Jinsei's waving arm, twisting it roughly until the taller male let out a cry and dropped the weapon, box cutter clattering to the floor.  Isora then kicked the box cutter backwards, the item tumbling down the stairs as he shoved Jinsei back.  Unable to withstand the force, Jinsei fell to the ground, scuttling backwards from the teen that loomed over him.

        Isora took a step forward — not wanting to see what might happen next, you yanked on Isora's arm, gaining his attention.  You didn't say anything.  You weren't sure if there were any words that could diffuse the situation, but you hoped that the look on your face was enough to convey your feelings as you nodded slightly towards Hanami, who was sobbing in a squatting position with her arms wrapped around her legs, clearly scared out of her mind.  The darkness in Isora's eyes seemed to ebb a bit before he looked away, taking a deep breath.

        He ripped his arm from your grip with ease, bending down only to lift Jinsei by his collar.  "What was that?"

        With the height difference, Jinsei still had his feet on the floor, although he didn't struggle against Isora, looking defeated.  "If I don't play the game or kill the Fox...  I'll die....  I don't want to die...  You understand, right?"  He had started to cry, a snotty, pathetic-looking mess as he pleaded with Isora.  "I don't want to kill her...  But I don't want to die....  I don't want to die...."  He had started to mumble incoherently, and Isora dropped Jinsei with a look of plain disgust on his face.  The teen took a step back from him, deeming him a waste of time.

        "Let's just leave him," Isora spat.  "There's no saving him."

        You hesitated, mind still reeling.