I roll my eyes. “Only one, huh?”

My hands are steady as I nock the arrow against the string, positioning it against the bow’s shelf. I hold my breath as I draw the string back—exhaling as I release it, sending it flying in a straight line and hitting the man in the forehead. He falls without another word.

I drop the bow and run. The wind cuts into my lungs, the ground crunching beneath me. I don’t think while running—don’t have the time. When I see Marvel, I’m already too late.

“Symphony! Help me!” His cries sound like a million dying birds.

He’s barely hanging on, only one hand still gripping the edge of the cliff. Tears stream down his red face, his auburn hair blowing in the wind.

“Marvel!” I shout, leaping toward the cliff and reaching for his hand.

Stupidest thing I’ve ever done.

He falls, and I fall with him.

_Damn it!_

Now I have to do all this again.

I open my eyes to the sterile hospital lights. I’m lying in a bed. There are four doctors and three bullets in the gun hidden beneath the mattress. The first few times I did this, I couldn’t figure out how to make it work. But now, one bullet is more than enough.

I look out the door where all four doctors are gathered in a circle, discussing something. I have to be sly.

My hand slowly reaches beneath the mattress, fingers closing around the cold grip of the gun. I pull it out carefully while rising from the bed at the same time.

Here’s what I’ve learned… if you call out to the doctors, they all turn their heads at the same time, in a perfect line.

“Hey!” I shout and don’t wait long before squeezing the trigger.

A bullet going through a brain sounds like a toddler eating watermelon.

It still gives me chills. But I’m used to the blood.

I set the gun on the bed and change out of the hospital gown into the clothes sitting on the chair.

Now, time for challenge two.

_Again._

The speaking man, as I call him, is just right outside the “hospital,” which, now that I think of it, is just a random building in the middle of nowhere.

He’s straight out of a horror movie. The antagonist. His face is stitched on and drooping in some corners. He’s wearing a maroon suit, and his hair is a dark, dark black.

He steps toward me, grinning. “Take your shot, stranger. You’ll only get one.”

“Yeah, yeah.” I reach for the bow on the ground.

Do you really want me to bore you with this part again? I nock the arrow, blah, blah, blah. Arrow in forehead.

I run.

I run as fast as I can. Each time, I think I get faster.

“Marvel, hold on!” I cry out.

“Symphony!”

Wait.

I stop in my tracks. That’s not his voice.

I slowly back away. “_Marvel_?”

“_Symphony_?”

This is a trap.

I turn around and try to run the opposite way, but someone stops me—the speaking man. He still has the arrow lodged in his forehead. He yanks it out, leaving a gaping hole.

“Nice shot, _stranger_.” He grins.

I try to back away but reach the edge of the cliff and can’t go any further. I look down into the abyss. It doesn’t look like there’s any end. I’d just fall forever.

I look back at the speaking man, except—it’s not him… It’s…

“Oh, Symphony,” she whispers. “Have you forgotten the face—”

I let myself fall. Into the black.

_Anything_ is better than seeing her again.

It’s kind of relaxing.

_Falling._

I almost find myself getting too comfortable when I suddenly open my eyes, and I’m back in the hospital.

_Are you kidding me?!_

I look out the door. There are no doctors. That’s weird.

I reach under the mattress for the gun. It’s not there.

“What the hell…?” I mutter.

I JUST got the hang of things! And I was so, so close. I was so close. Now, I have to do it all over again?

**!!!NEW LEVEL!!!**

Just great.