“And for the last game. The instructions are as follows. Right now you are faced with a psychopath, talk you way out in five minutes or meet your end. Good luck player #367”

The intercom cut out, my eyes bore into the eyes of the man in front of me and his into mine.

“So…,” he drawls “anything to say for yourself. Better be quick Lady Luck doesn’t seem to be on you side this time player” He taunts

“Please! Don’t do this. Let’s work together. We can get out of here. Don’t kill me, please” I beg pitifully as the neon red lights of the timer tick, tick , tick. Sealing my fate with every flicker of the lights.

I crouch down and hug my knees. It was hopeless. I can’t win this round. I’m gonna die. I’m so stupid. I’m useless. All those sacrifices made, just to be killed straight after. This wasn’t a game. It was a trap and we, the players, were the mice following the bait skittering along until…

SNAP!!!

We were caught and killed. Instantly. One by one. But there was no mourning, no remorse. All who died knew of the consequences and fully accepted the hand dealt to them. The games-if you could even call them that-picked us off one by one until there was only me.

But now it was no use. There was no escape. Freedom was no longer an option they (the sick freaks who did this) were just stringing us along.

So I stilled my now erratic breathing and weighed my possibilities.

Maybe I could…..No. Maybe I…No I don’t think I’m fast enough. How about I… NO I don’t know the killers skill set.

But how about…Yes, maybe just maybe that’ll work.

I dug into my pocket and grab the chunk of glass I brought with me from a former room and wield it against the man in front of me.

“Well, well. I see we have fighter here. I’m not complaining though. All I’ve had recently are whiners and beggars. This is nice change of pace. Show me what you got player.” The man entices, grinning madly.

My legs shake and I try to wipe the fear from my voice “That’s where you’re wrong. I won’t give you the satisfaction.”

The man’s smile didn’t falter in the slightest and the fear continued to bubble through me, my hands involuntary clasping

tighter on the glass shard.

Then I paused. I breathed in deep and exhaled sharply and a forgotten feeling of peace and serenity washed over me. I quickly glanced and the time again. 2 minutes and 45 seconds.

I knew it was now or never. I tilt my head back and in a quick blur I slashed the glass shard in an upward motion across my neck cutting off my air supply.

The man still smiled his mad grin. I smile back weakly, slump to the floor and blood quickly starts to drench my hair in its crimson. I hear him walk to stand over me but everything is blurry. I close my eyes.

“Wow. Didn’t expect that. I also haven’t had a person kill themselves for me in an even longer while. Sorry kid, but you just made my life easier. The man says, the apology lacking no sincerity.

***

The timer runs out and the killer drags the body over to the hidden trash chute and proceeds to shove the still warm body down it. Then he moves once again to the stand in the middle of the room the crimson puddle on the floor a complete contrast to the white room

Then the door clicks and the next person walks in.

Again the distorted voice booms over the intercom “And for the last game. The instructions are as follows. Right now you are faced with a psychopath, talk you way out in five minutes or meet your end. Good luck player #372.”