Misunderstood

Chapter Eight

Harper’s POV

“So the game is, I ask questions, you tell the truth or officer Berkley here walks the plank,” the masked man grins, coming back into view and giving us all a smile. 

“You can’t do this!” Satine shouts. Wow, she speaks. I turn away from her and back towards the television to see that the masked man is just grinning humorously at her as if he has been told a very funny joke that the rest of us haven’t been clued in on yet. 

“I assure you that I can do this, and it is exactly what I’m going to do. I gave you all two hours, two hours to comply to my demands and were any secrets told? No, so it resorts to this!” he exclaims, his voice getting louder with each word, the previous humor being replaced by anger. “So now, let the games begin!” he announces with glee, clapping his hands together and letting a weird, high pitched laugh out of his mouth before walking over to his makeshift plank. 

“Do you guys like how I did the whole pirate thing to match the beach? You know, I thought why not just make a whole beach theme of this, and everyone loves pirates,” he grins, talking more to himself than to us. I look over at everyone else and see the fear that I have boiling in my stomach masked in their facial expressions. This guy is completely crazy. 

“So, we’ll start out easy. With each wrong answer poor officer Berkley here will have to take a step towards the edge of the plank. The poor plank may not make it for long though, it seems as if this officer hasn’t been laying off the donuts,” the masked man asks before giving the large man a poke in the side to which he yelps in return, almost falling off the plank in the process. 

“No, why should we do anything you say? Who’s to tell us that you’re not just bluffing?” Michael suddenly states and I can’t help but glance over at him in surprise. When did he get so brave. 

“Oh dear Clifford, you may want to watch your tone. I assure you that I am not bluffing, and if I didn’t want to use poor Berkley here to my advantage he’d be dead already,” the masked man answers, no emotion in his voice as if he isn’t upset at all about getting ready to kill an innocent man. 

“Okay, okay we’ll play the game,” I speak up, no longer being able to watch officer Berkley stand dead still on the shaky plank hanging over the bed of jagged rocks. 

“Very good Harper, I always knew you were a smart one,” the psycho speaks, as if proud of me. I almost shudder in disgust and I feel Luke’s arms wrap around my waist from behind me, pulling me into his chest. “Oh calm down Luke, I’m not going after your girl. But, I would like to see what she thinks of you after some of these secrets come out,” he winks, giving us all a glance. 

“What is he talking about?” I ask quietly, but I don’t get an answer. “What are you talking about?” I say louder, going towards the television and seeing a large grin on psycho’s face. 

“All in good time Harper, it will only be a few minutes until you find out,” he winks again, before coming fully in front of the camera. “Now, let’s begin. Why don’t all of you sit, let’s get comfortable,” he grins, putting his hands together and tapping his fingertips. I hear a few audible sighs from beside me, but we all go towards the large couch. Sahara, Ashton, Ethan, Mikey, and Satine sit on the couch while Luke, me, and Mr. Winchester, and Calum sit on the floor in front of them. Let’s get this game started. 

“Hm, we’ll start out easy shall we?” the psycho, I feel like I should give him another name but hey if the shoe fits, says happily. I guess he is ready to get this show on the road. “We will start with the fearless leader: Ashton,” I feel Ashton tense up behind me as he waits for his question, I know he is terrified that if he even says one thing wrong officer Berkley is literally one step closer to his death.