Hayden's Game

Chapter 1

The blade was in his right hand. The hand he always killed with. It didn't feel heavy at all, but familiar with his long fingers wrapped around the handle.

The torches surrounding burned bright and unforgiving. All positioned three metres apart in a circular shape.

And in the middle of the circle a body kneeled, face looking down at the floor, hands tied behind their back and hair covering their face.

Using his left hand, he grabbed a fistful of hair and pulled so that the person was looking up at him.

When those hazel eyes connected with his, he stood stunned, the blade in his right hand beginning to grow heavy.

"You're better than this," the body croaked.

Tears filled his eyes.

"Do it," there was a harshness to the voice now. "Just fucking do it!"

He cried out in anger and proceeded to stab the person in the throat. Then pulled out the blade. And did it again. And again. And again.

****

Bailey screamed and sat up in bed.

Sweating, hair glued to her forehead and tears streaming down her face. Her nails dug deep into the bed sheets as she began hyperventilating. Suffocating on the air.

"What the fuck is going on?" A voice came from beside her.

The boy sat up and registered his friends fear.

"Another nightmare," it wasnt exactly a question more a statement of the obvious. "It's ok, it's not real. Deep breaths."

He began rubbing Bailey's back and wiped the hair off of her face. This seemed to soothe her and she began to breathe normally again.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," she whispered.
"Dont worry about it."
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry."

The boy wrapped an arm around her and felt the weight of her head fall to his shoulder.

And again she repeated it: "I'm sorry".

****

"Hey baby, you miss me last night?"

The rugby team leader stepped up behind Bailey as she chewed on a piece of toast and wrapped his arms around her shoulders, planting kisses on her neck.

"Thanks for looking after her last night Benny," he said as his "best friend" walked into the room half dressed and looking exhausted.

"That bitch is like a sister to me, I ain't gonna leave her to walk home alone after that much vodka," Ben exclaimed opening the fridge which was pretty much bare save for a half empty pint of expired milk and a couple of apples.

"I didn't drink that much last night," Bailey muttered knowing full well that was a lie.

"Yeah whatever you done chewing that toast so you can give me a proper kiss?" the boy exclaimed pushing the issue aside so he could snog his girlfriend.

"For christ sakes get a room," Ben groaned biting into an apple.
"Yeah whatever Ben no one cares."

"Put a shirt on Ben and let's go," Bailey said dumping her plate onto the ever growing pile of dirty dishes at the sink.