House Of the Desperate (COMPLETED)

Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Funnily enough, after Lucy predicted a more dramatic change in the house, The Leader delivered what was anticipated, as one of the contestants was about to face an extreme moral dilemma...

The morning after Molly failed the task, Ruth was called to the task room.

"What's this?" she asked.

"There's only one way to find out", replied Emma, "and if it is a surprise task, please do your best".

"You don't even have to ask that, honey. I will. Of course I will".

Ruth was used to been above lots of people in society, so she seemed to look down on the others in the house. Some spotted that, but others didn't. When Ruth entered the task room, she saw a small box in the corner. Unbeknownst to Ruth, there was also a gun hidden in a compartment.

"Ruth, step into the box", said The Leader.

Ruth followed the instruction, and she entered the box. It was cramped because it was so small, but she still managed to stand up. There was a large hole at the top, so she could see through into the task room easily.

"Ruth lay your head back and rest it against the wall", said The Leader.

Ruth hesitated to do this, wondering what was going on, but, feeling she had no choice in the matter, she did it anyway. When she rested her head against the wall, a round piece of metal shot out of the wall and fastened her head to the wall, just like in the bond films. Her head was stuck there; she could move the other parts of her body, but not her head. She could see everything that was about to go on in the task room.

"Emma, come to the task room", said The Leader.

"What is going on?" asked Emma, getting up to go into the task room. When she entered, the door slammed shut behind her. She then saw Ruth and the position that she was in.

"Ruth, what on Earth is going on?" Emma asked her.

"I would love to know!" cried Ruth, waving her arms in the air in temper, "this is not funny!"

"Nobody's laughing!"

Suddenly, in the living room, the television came on, showing Emma and Ruth in the task room. Everything they said could be heard by the other contestants. Then, The Leader spoke.

"Emma, I am about to give you the opportunity of the competition".

"Oh, no. She's going to get the last place!" cried Molly. "Sshhh", replied Lucy.

The Leader continued to speak.

"If you look to your left, you will see a handle in the wall. Open it, and take out the object inside".

Emma slowly approached the handle, and opened the box in the wall. She saw a gun, and picked it up.

"The gun you are holding contains one bullet. The safety is switched off. You now have the choice of

murdering Ruth. Think about the advantages and disadvantages of this, Emma. You may take as long as you like. If you choose not to shoot Ruth, you must instead fire the gun somewhere else in the room, and Ruth will be released. Ruth will not be able to grab the gun off you if you keep your distance, but since the barrel of the gun is large enough, you should be able to kill her easily, should you wish you. Knowing that there is only one place left to leave the house alive, will you shoot Ruth? How far will you go to save your own life?"

By the time The Leader finished speaking, there was a horrified look on Ruth's face.

"Please, don't", said Ruth, "I beg you".

The other contestants were watching, waiting for Emma's action to this.

"Please forgive me if I do this", said Emma.

"Forgive you? How can I forgive you when I will be dead?"

"Look on the bright side", Emma said, with tears in her eyes, "if you die now, you won't have to face the horror of dying in that cage".

"Listen to me, Emma. I know you want to live. I do, too, but there might be another way out of here".

"He has it all planned!"

"He might go wrong somewhere! We'll work something out!"

"No, we won't. The only way out for me is to make sure everybody else dies".

"I totally understand the situation you are in, and believe me, for some people, I would not think twice about killing them, but think about the guilt you will go through, Emma. If you are the one who gets out of here, you will be feeling guilty for the rest of your life. Besides, if you do get out of here, it would mean twenty-five years in prison if you murder me. Believe me, I know".

Emma cried and cried, as she raised the gun.

"I have a family", she said.

"And I have parents, too".

"I have sisters who are waiting for me!"

"Don't do this, Emma".

"I'm sorry!" Emma cried, pulling the trigger.

The shot went straight into Ruth's head, killing her instantly. A mortified Emma dropped the gun and started shaking all over. She fell to the floor and struggled to breathe, shocked at what she had just done. She started doing small sit-ups, breathing hysterically. The door opened, and everybody else rushed into the task room, where they saw Ruth's motionless body. Emma had murdered Ruth, and everybody knew that it would shake things up even more.