Chapter Seven: Run

The hallway is uncomfortably quiet besides the soft humming of...something. I figure it's the AC unit. But what I do know for sure is that there is no natural light. No windows. Just light fixtures on the ceiling.

"Are we in a basement?" I whisper as Rodney and I walk slowly down the hallway in front of us while James and Ximena stalk behind.

Rodney nods. "That would be my guess. Monica said she drugged us at her party, right? We're probably in her basement. It would be easier that way." He glances over at me. "Do you recognize anything?

He's referencing to how she and I used to be friends. "We never came down into the basement. We mostly hung out in her room or in the living room."

"Shhh!" James hisses.

I snap my head back at him to - well, do nothing. I doubt I'd intimidate him. But when I glance back at them, I try to stifle a laugh. Ximena is clung to James's arm, a look of pure terror on her face. He, however, is very annoyed.

We reach the end of the hall. But it's not what I expected. The path forks. Either left or right. I gaze up at Rodney, my eyes questioning. He shrugs and points at the two behind us.

Ximena seems too scared to offer her opinion. James gestures left while trying to shake off the talon of claws Ximena has dug into his arm.

Rodney has let go of my hand by now, and it feels awfully cold without it. The entire group is silent. I think we're all worried about Monica finding out we've escaped and we have no idea where she is. So, the quiet gives me time to think.

Before today, I never looked at Rodney this way. I always knew him as the quiet, brooding loner. He liked to sit alone, talked to few people, and he'd read a lot. Part of me wanted to go up to him and ask what he was reading, but I figured I'd get the "I'm reading in public for a reason" look.

Hell, after today, I'll probably want to sit and read alone too.

Now when I look at him, I see this strong, intelligent person that has showed me more kindness than any of the other people here. I wonder if he was just being nice or if he sees something...I don't know, special in me.

It's not just him though. I'll never be able to look at any of the people I woke up with the same way again. Albeit some of them are dead, but it's still viewing someone in a different light.

Adrien and Chris were worse than I thought. They took bullying and torment to a whole other level. Jen, who I looked up to, was a coward that was afraid of affecting her life even though it could've saved another. James is selfish and consumed by his privilege. Ximena is smart but she wouldn't show it, perhaps because she was worried of stepping over Adrien.

And Monica. Oh Monica. I always saw her as this sweet, but sad girl. She had a soft heart but it had seen so much damage. I think it changed her. It turned her into a bloodthirsty villain whose revenge has clouded her judgement. I'm afraid she's gone too far to turn back now.

The thought of her face brings me back to where we are. The walls are the same; wood walls with no windows. And before I know it, we reach another fork.

"What?" I mutter mostly to myself. "This can't be the basement, can it?" I ask Rodney. "This is too big to be her basement."

He shakes his head and scratches at the back of his neck. "If it's not, then where the hell are we?"

A sensation of dread crawls up my spine, washing shivers over me. "What if we never find the way out?"

I feel his hand slip into mine again and I exhale instinctively. "We will. I promise."

His eyes shine down at me. I thank whatever God is up there that this guy is still alive. I don't know what I'd do if she had killed him.

If she kills him. Monica is still out there and still has the chance to kill us. Any of us.

"Which way?" Rodney asks me. "You choose."

"How about down?" a voice calls out behind us. My head swarms as I spin around to meet my worst fear. Monica strides down the hallway, her skirt flowing around her legs.

And a gun in her hand.

Rodney grabs my arm and pulls me around one corner while James and Ximena scurry to the other. Although there's plenty of room, he's pressed up against my back, his hand bracing my good shoulder just in case. He gives it a light squeeze.

"Come out, come out..." she says singsongly. "Come out, wherever you are."

"She has a gun," I whisper to him, the terror sliding against my tongue like acid. "She has a freaking gun."

"Oh, Zoeeee..." she laughs. "Come out now. Don't make me mad, now."

I hold my hand to my mouth, too terrified to even speak.

Bang! The sound rings through my ears and shakes in my head. As it fades, a loud, toe-curling buzzing echoes.

"Come out. Or the next shot goes into your gut. Or maybe I'll pop one in Rodney's head instead."

I gasp, my eyes meeting Rodney's in a frenzy. He shakes his head, his hand tightening on my shoulder. But I nod sadly, the salvia in my cheeks burning. I slide his hand off and grip it tight before I step away and into the open path.

She stands mere feet away, her stance reminding me of an old Western standoff. But her grin isn't one of confidence but of pure glee. My stomach lurches as my eyes narrow onto her gun.

"Hi, honey," she says patronizingly. "How are you? How's your shoulder?" She gestures to the one she put a knife through. "I went to check up on you but you were gone." She pouts dramatically. "I was so sad."

Her fakeness is scaring me. How easy it is for her to pretend, to be someone completely different than who I thought she was. I don't know what to expect.

"You were all gone," she says, her eyes shifting to the walls on either side of me. "Come out, all of you. Unless you want Zoe pumped full of bullets."

Rodney steps out immediately. Ximena follows, although with a couple seconds of hesitation. James, however, is still hiding.

"Jaaames," Monica calls. "Come out now."

I meet his eyes but he looks away.

"James," Rodney hisses. "Fucking get over here."

He grits his teeth. My vision switches between her and him. I wonder if she'll really shoot me if he doesn't step out. If he'll really let her shoot me.

Thankfully, she doesn't get the chance to try it out.. Ximena reaches out and sticks her nails into his wrist, and then she pulls as hard as she can until he's by her side.

As Monica looks us over, Rodney slips his hand into mine, the heat of his palm sinking into my skin. Her eyes fall onto our joined hands and a twisted grin slides onto her face.

"Aw, how adorable. You finally found a guy who sees past the whore you really are."

My jaw falls open. At first, my instinct is to cry. But I blink the tears away and swallow that meek part of me.

"That's rich coming from you," I spit. "You're getting revenge for being bullied, and now you're bullying me?"

She doesn't falter. "Am I making you mad?"

She wants me to get mad. "No."

For a moment, she stares me down. Her eyes bore into me like she's judging for herself if I'm telling the truth. Finally she grins and lifts the gun.

"Let's see..." She drags her fingertip down the barrel. "You broke the rules by leaving the room. Who will be punished?" Her eyes lift to us and she points the gun.

"Eeny," she points at me and I flinch. "Meeny," she moves to aim at Rodney. He tries to remain strong but I see he's scared through his eyes. "Miny," she switches to Ximena who screams and covers her face. "Moe."

She stops on James. His eyes widen when he realizes she stopped counting. She braces both hands on the gun, her finger inching towards the trigger.

He twitches, his eyes flashing throughout the room. Our gazes meet, and he gives me a look that terrifies me. No remorse. Just determination.

Before I can stop him, James grabs me and shoves me forward. I scream and fall forward, my eyes locked onto the gun that's now aimed at me. She's shocked too as I collide into her. She stumbles and shoves me back.

Without hesitation, she aims and fires. 

Bang bang!

I was too close to the gun this time.

I collapse to the floor, my ears ringing painfully. I cover them with both hands, squeezing my eyes shut as I pray it stops. I squint as I hear screams and footsteps. Through slanted eyelids, I see Rodney rush towards me, that same concerned expression from before on his face. But the room is clouded over now.

"Zoe!" I hear him exclaim as my ears start to clear. He guides me up and takes my good arm into his hand. "Run."

My heart leaps into my throat. My ears are still fuzzy. Did he say what I think he said? "What?"

His eyes lock onto mine, fear laced in his irises. "Run!"