Capewood (Book I) *Completed*

Katherine

Alicia's snoring fills my ears from the bedroom as I watch the time descend on the clock. Of course, there's no calendar, no television, no anything that would give me the remote idea of where I am or what day it is. 

I miss home. 

I never thought I would say that considering how badly I've wanted to get out of there for so long. I miss it though. I miss coming home after school and mom making me a snack. I miss hearing about their days, and how mom is going to lose it with the mean girl squad that runs the teacher's lounge at her school. It was all things I took for granted before, but now, it just all seems like a sweet memory. 

They must be worried sick. 

Before I came into this game, I was getting ready for finals and stressing about Junior Prom. It all seems so trivial now that I look back on it.  Isn't that the shittiest part of this whole experience? Things that are supposed to be important to us as teenagers no longer seem as important now in retrospect. 

I've tried convincing myself that I'm not worried about this, that I know that I'll get through this no matter what and that with time and planning, and just thinking ahead I'll make it to the end in no time. I want to believe that I'm special and that I can push through these circumstances no matter what they try and throw at me. 

That's just not the case. 

Any scenario that I see myself getting to the end of this game leaves me dead in the last minute. Realistically who can beat that is left in this game? If Alicia and I are in final two together, there's no way in hell that I'm overcoming her in a fight. She's shredded, not to mention she could be an Amazonian. 

I couldn't beat that boy that bucked up to Eros at the dinner either. He's also huge. These are the two that are most likely to make it to the end, and there's no way that my tiny body, no matter how much I can think about what is going to happen, can overtake them. 

You can't just sit around and wait for the worst to happen.

I get up from the couch I've been sitting on for the last few hours and walk to the makeshift kitchen. There's barely any food here, some jerky and fruit snacks was all I managed to find, but they have a full kitchen set. 

I walk over to the counter and place my hand on the knife block. Tears are welling up in my eyes as complete disbelief courses through my body. Putting my hand on the thickest knife I can find, I place it in my hand and walk to the bedroom door. I place the door open and walk into the bedroom with a feeling of dread falling over me. 

She's helped you, Katherine.

Yes, but I can't beat her.

It's too early to do this, Katherine.

We are in single digits. 

The door opens quietly; there is no squeak attached to it. Alicia sits soundly in the bed, unaware that her only friend in the world right now is wanting to drive a knife through her heart. No, not wanting. I don't want to do this; I have to do this. 

Her snores quietly fill the room as her chest slowly rises and falls. My hand with the knife in it is trembling. I wish that it would slow down, but I can't bring my hand steady. I carry my hand up above her sleeping body and hold it high. I am just about to drop it when I see her begin to stir and I throw my knife into the back pocket of my pants. 

"Katherine?" asks Alicia. "What's up?"

I quickly look at the wall, 6:40:34. "Oh, I know I said we could switch when the clock strikes at six hours, but I'm falling asleep," I lie. "I don't think I can make it."  

"Oh, of course, you can rest up!" she says with a bright smile. "I feel great after that nap! I'll go see if I can find food or something we can take with us." 

"Sounds like a plan," I say with a soft smile as I walk to the other king-sized bed in the room and get under the covers. "Just don't forget to wake me about 10 minutes before the clock runs out, please. Remember we have to be out of here before it hits zero. I'd rather not get blasted into space." 

Alicia smiles. "Sure thing, friend," she says stretching and getting up from the bed. She goes to the door and turns around one last time, getting ready to close the door she flashes me one last smile, and then closes the door and walks out of the room. I sink down into the mattress and bring the comforter tightly around my neck. 

"Katherine, you've gone off the deep end," I say to myself as I start to allow tears to fall down my face silently. 

I just almost killed my second person ever. This time on purpose. All because I want to be the one person to walk out of here. Is this what Eros wants to see? Is this the game that he wants us to play? Turn on each other and watch us self-destruct? I can honestly say I've never hated myself more than I have at this moment. I've reached a new level of low. One that I didn't even think was possible. 

I am officially one of the most selfish people on earth. 

I'm making a choice right now. I will not let Eros win. He will not get what he wants out of me.  I will stay strong, and no matter what, only fight someone if I have to. I will not let fear rule me. 

My name is Katherine LaClair, and I will fight for my life. I just won't be a puppet doing so.