ManHunt

Family Game Night

    2 weeks had passed and life was all it could ever be. I was loaded with homework, so was Charlotte. We shared some classes like English and advanced math. The boys were rowdy as ever but it was fun. I felt like a real family. Even Mr. Heller showed up once at dinner. He seems like a nice guy. Also, Charlotte and I have been getting really close. I still wonder about her though. I tried to slip a hint into one of our conversations before.

"I remember when I was a kid, I had this foster sister named Alexa? We used to play dress-up all night long until we passed out on the bed," I laughed. She laughed too but I could tell she really had no idea what I was talking about.

Days passed by and life was normal for once. I had made a couple of friends at school and usually went to MiniMall with them after school. MiniMall was a small shopping centre behind the school. It had the most delicious and delightful food and drinks there. I still feel the warm gooey chocolate s'more i had the other day. Mmmmm...

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Supper waited for me at the table. Long rows of pasta, salads and main courses filled my eyes with delight.

"Wow what's all this for mom?" Oh by the way, I started calling Mrs. Heller mom. It suited her more. She was actually really kind after she warms up to you.

"Oh. Just a little stuffing up before game night. It's real competitive," she smirks.

Game night? Cool.

...or not so cool. As the words left her mouth Josh and Marcus's faces shown with horror.

"But mom, we had that only a month ago, its too early for another one. Every 3 months remember?" The twins said through clenched teeth.

"Yes, but since we have Charlotte and Alice with us, I'd like us to have it...hm...on Friday," she replies coldly.

"But-"

"No but's, boys. End of discussion."

Tomorrow was Friday. And why were Josh and Marcus's faces so horrified when she said it? Maybe Game Night was really intense.

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Then so, Friday morning came quickly and I looked forward to night. Thinking of all the fun I would have playing games with the ol' bunch made me smile.

I hop down the stairs two at a time with Charlotte behind me.

"Hurry your lazy butt Char!" I giggle.

"Excuse me Alice? Oh you're going down," she races down the stairs beating me to the bottom. We laugh as I come down but our laughter stops shortly.

"Girls go back to your room. There will be no breakfast today," mom hustles has back upstairs.

"Wait what? But we're hungry," Char questions.

Mom shakes her head disapprovingly, "no questions, just go. And do not come back down again. I will call you down."

Char and I share confused and worried looks. Then we run back up.

"Should we ask the guys? They seem to know what's happening," Char asks me. I say yes and we head to their room.

*knock* *knock*

"Hey Josh? Mark? You there?" I whisper shout into the hole of the knob.

The door opens suddenly giving me a fright.

"What's happening guys? What's game night??" I demand.

The boys shiver and pull us into the room. It's freezing in here.

"Youch! What's with you guys, it's freezing here," Char chatters rubbing her hands up and down her arms keeping herself warm.

"Preparing for the game," Josh turns back to me, "We can't tell you all the details, but here's what we can tell you."

"Family Game Night is terrifying. Mom is crazy, we thought she'd stop doing it but we guess not. There's no way to escape the Game. And if you try and leave before it...well you don't want to know. She'll explain the rules later."
Marcus says anxiously glancing at the door every now and then as if Mom would appear there.

"Wait, will we die," Char inquires in a low voice.

"It's possible." The twins say together nodding.

Again, I'm too stunned to speak. After I though everything was normal, our foster mom was trying to murder us?!

"We've got to get out of here!" I scream.

"Shhhh!!! There's no way out, you have to play or she'll kill you on the spot." Josh shushes me.

"Who else plays?"

"Whoever she summons. Kids and adults, that's why dad's always in his office. Looking for people for the game. It usually takes 2-3 months but I think they've found them."

"So anyone can get 'chosen'?"

"Yep. Anyone in the world."

I shudder. It's too awful to think about. We all start crying and whining. It's life or death. Actually more like death or death.

Finally, the time comes.

"Children, come down here!" Mom shouts.

We trudge down the stairs. Accepting our fates.

This is not real. It's fake, you're dreaming. I tell myself.

But each step I take, it's closer to reality more and more.

End of chapter 3.
Chapter 4 - Rules, coming out soon.