Everyone for Themselves

Chapter 26

February 21st, 1991 

Chapter 26- 

"NOOO!" Serenity wailed. "Not you!"  

Immediately, fury and intensity flared in Violet's eyes. She obviously did not like how Serenity said the word you.  But she took a step closer.

"Yes," she said quietly. "Me." 

"But... But I thought-" 

"I don't CARE what you thought, Serenity!" Violet exclaimed angrily.  

But Serenity couldn't help herself. She just had to know.  "Why?" 

As far as Serenity knew, Violet had an amazing life... She had plenty of friends, had experienced absolutely no deaths (besides the ones SHE had caused), she got great grades in school, and she had loving parents and a steady relationship. So why did she turn bad? There were no childhood traumas, no mental or physical issues, and really, no reason at all to murder. So Serenity needed to know... Why? 

"I thought you had a perfect life..." she breathed. 

"That's just it," Violet sneered.

"I want to keep it. I want to go home, and pretend none of this ever happened. I want to live. I know I wouldn't have if I hadn't done this. Just look at the others. If I hadn't killed them, they would've killed me." 

"But I want to keep my life, too!" Serenity cried. "My dad died when I was 3... But I want to see my mom again! I want to see my boyfriend, Jake! I want to leave!" 

"So do I," Violet hissed. "And there isn't room in this world now for both of us." 

"But there is," Serenity insisted. "We could go off on our own separate ways, couldn't we?" 

"No. Trent only lets one leave the island." 

"Then we could change that! We could team up against him, and force him to change it!" 

"I doubt that would work." 

"But we could try, couldn't we?" 

By now, Serenity was practically in tears. She figured no one had ever tried to reason with Violet, most likely because they hadn't had time to, but maybe if she could make her see sense, she could spare both their lives. 

It's worth a shot, she thought miserably. Because if I don't try, I'll die anyway.  

Violet, however, was actually considering. Should she try to go against Trent? Or should she just kill Serenity and go home?  Serenity DID seem like a nice enough girl. But then again, to everyone else, so did she. Secretly, maybe Serenity was trying to trick her just so she could kill her, just like she had. Just like she had...  She had done it to everyone else.

She could definitely do it again.  "Alright, Serenity," Violet said, changing her tone of voice to one of sympathy. "I'll help you." 

"Really?!" Violet smirked as she saw Serenity's eyes light up. So far, so good. Serenity believed her.  "Yes. But only because I like you." Violet said, knowing full well that was a lie.  

"Promise?" Serenity asked, holding out her hand.  

"Promise." Violet answered, willingly shaking her hand. 

Little did Serenity know that her other hand was behind her back, and it was forcing her fingers to be devilishly crossed.

***

Serenity snuck around the outskirts of Trent's hideout, cleverly hidden in the shadows that not even the cameras could reach.  Violet was on the other side, supposedly sneaking in the same direction as her.  After much persuading, Serenity had gotten Violet to show her where Trent was hiding. Now, they were going to corner him, knowing there were no windows or doors he could escape from if they both went in the front way. 

The plan was to frighten Trent into letting them leave, to change the rule and to have them both go home. Plan B, though, was to kill him. That was only if he refused to change it. Violet wanted to just kill him first and steal a boat, but Serenity argued against it, saying that she had killed enough people already, and it was best to keep him alive if they had the option. 

As she neared the door, Serenity's heart pounded so hard in her chest that she would be surprised if Violet or Trent couldn't hear it from where they were. Her hands were clammy and sweaty as she pressed them against the wall to keep her knocking knees steady.  

Hopefully, Trent was unaware of their presence.  

Serenity was supposed to be the one to jump in first, even if she didn't see Violet. So when she got to the door, that's exactly what she did. 

Springing into the building, she had her hand stuffed in her jacket pocket to make the impression that she had a gun.  

"Hold your hands up where I can see them, Trent. We need to talk to you about changing-"   Suddenly she gasped.  Trent wasn't there. 

"I can't believe you fell for that, Serenity," Violet cackled as she appeared in the doorway, stepping inside vibrantly. "Priceless, really." 

"W- What?!" Serenity stammered, backing up shakily into Trent's control panel.

"What happened?! Where are we?!" 

"Trent's hideout. I wasn't kidding. But Trent isn't here. I forced him out." Violet laughed. 

"But... But you promised!" Serenity whimpered.

  Wordlessly, Violet lifted up her crossed fingers. "But hey," she chuckled as she grabbed her gun. "Thanks for giving me a good laugh before you die. Because it's only you and me now. Only you and me." 

"Not so fast." a familiar voice said from the doorway. 

Whirling around, both Violet and Serenity turned to look at them. Was someone coming to save her?  Both of them gasped as they processed who was standing there. 

Because it wasn't Trent. 

No...  It was Paul. 

--------- 

Trent's Comments: Now THAT'S a surprise, huh?