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"Up and at 'em, everybody!"

Leonie's voice sprang out through all the girls watches. Vanessa groaned as she rolled over and crawled out of bed. Silvia silently put her hat on, and watched Wendy get out of bed.

"Sleep well?" She asked, with a smile she prayed conveyed friendliness.

"Yeah." She nodded. Her face was calm, just looking a little pissed off.

"Right, now that everyone's up, I'll explain what's going on! Make your way to the arena! It's a pretty quick challenge today and the sooner we finish, the sooner you can go back to sleep or eat or bang or whatever it is you feel like, got it?"

Silvia walked by Wendy to the arena. Wendy didn't say a word to her.

"So, what's with the metal pole?" Silvia asked. "Where'd that come from?"

Wendy observed her metal pole. "Found it walking back to the house, why?"

"I mean, are you going to do anything with it?"

"We're in the endgame now, it makes sense to try to protect yourself."

"Right, right." Silvia nodded quickly. She thought it best not to press her further. Besides, she wasn't todays target. She stood in front of the arena, taking a single deep breath inside as she did. She opened the door for Wendy, who stepped in silently.

The other arrived soon after. Cyrus, Andrei and Odebode were naturally already there, relaxing on the couches. Amber and Micah arrived a few minutes after, and Vanessa was the last to arrive.

"Good morning, everyone!" Leonie yelled, swinging the doors open which led into the main field. "Today's challenge is a simple one, a one-on-one tournament!"

"One on…one?" Vanessa asked, her eyes darting across who she could be fighting.

"Relax, Vanessa. It's not to the death. Unless you want it to be." Leonie continued. "Let me explain. We have eight players remaining. So, we're gonna set up four one on one fights, winner moves on to the next round. Last one standing gets to pick who dies. Unless one of you kills your opponent, in which case the challenge ends early. Make sense?"

"Perfect sense." Wendy replied. "So do we pick who we're fighting?"

"That sounds like a lot of hard work, so we did that for you! Fight one is Amber vs Cyrus. Fight two, Andrei vs Vanessa. Then Micah and Wendy, and then Odebode and Silvia. Okay? You guys have twenty minutes to talk things out in your specialised rooms, which are on your watches. Now, have at it!"

Silvia glanced at her watch. Room four, just like she was told. She and Odebode entered the room and saw the food in front of them. Several bags of potato chips in actual flavours, like sweet chilli and barbeque. Sodas from cherry to vanilla. Chocolate bar flavours she didn't even know existed.

"Is this all ours?" Odebode asked, looking on the verge of crying.

"Well, it's our room." Silvia replied calmly, taking a strawberry cheesecake chocolate bar and bubble gum soda. Odebode took some coconut soda and crab seasoning chips, sitting on the felt couch across from Silvia.

"So, any idea on who you want out?" He asked, scratching his neck.

"I don't think it matters. I don't see either of us winning."

"You think?"

"Cyrus, Amber, Andrei. It'll be one of them."

"Oh, right? Who do you see them voting for?"

"Beats me. if Amber wins, I think everyone except Vanessa is fair game. Cyrus, I'll let you guess. Andrei, I can't imagine wanting to kill anyone, but if I were to guess, he'd pick Amber or Micah, because they're the most evil looking people left."

"I don't know who Cyrus would vote for, honestly." Odebode sighed. "He doesn't really tell you what he's thinking. But he'd probably vote out the most useless person… which would probably be you."

"Damn, really?" Silvia asked, trying not to show any emotion to the statement. "What makes me useless?"

"I'm just guessing. It could be Micah or Wendy. Killing Vanessa would cause an issue with whatever cult she's a part of, so that's probably out of the question."

"You think Cyrus would try to recruit her cult into whatever he's planning?"

"Maybe. He'd like the numbers but I don't think he'd want a religious group playing a role in decision making. Could cause some issues, you know?"

"Right, right." Silvia nodded. "Mind if I go to the bathroom really quick?"

"Yeah, sure." Odebode nodded.

Silvia calmly went into the ladies room. Nobody else was in there, so she went into a stall.

"Oh, fuck!" She yelled. She checked her watch again. Maybe what happened last night was just a weird dream?

Nope. It was real. Her goal for today was killing Odebode.

"Okay, so we all saw what happened today, and the higher ups aren't impressed." Leonie started, taking a sip of her fruity looking beer.

"Really?" Silvia replied slowly.

"Your goal was to kill Wendy, and you didn't do it despite having basically every opportunity to do so." Leonie continued, looking annoyed as she did so. "But the boss thinks Wendy has potential, so he's letting you off as long as you do one more thing."

"Which would be?" Silvia asked.

"Killing Odebode. You heard him speak about Cyrus plan to start a revolution, right? It's got the Novas kind of scared, to be honest. Couple things stirring up on the lower levels, too. And while you killing him is basically impossible, you should be able to kill Odebode easy enough."

"And I'm assuming I'll die if I fail?" Silvia asked.

"Nah, just taking away your brother's college money. I think watching the hope drain from your eyes is better than outright killing you, you feel me?"

"I guess I do." Silvia sighed, walking out of the door.

"Good luck, sweetie!" Leonie screamed after her. "Now, where did Kalea run off to?"

"So, you decided who to vote off?" Cyrus asked.

"Haven't thought about it." Amber replied, taking a sip of plain soda, focusing on the wall next to Cyrus. Just looking at him made the space her eye used to be ache. "You?"

"Micah."

"Micah, huh?" Amber asked. "Can I suggest someone else?"

"No, my mind is made up."

"I feel the need to ask why it's any of them, exactly?"

"Simply put, Me, you and Andrei are the strongest people here. Odebode is loyal, and my second in command. Vanessa has a place to stay if me or Odebode need it. Wendy's just a kid who didn't do anything, so I don't feel right killing her. Silvia is from Level 2, so she could help me with my plans."

"Plans?" Amber asked.

"I'll admit, the plans are in the early stages, but my current plan is to unite the people and overthrow the Nova families. They don't contribute anything to the people and trap us in levels to divide us. They rule over us without anything to back it up. And the only way to change the system is to take it by force."

"And I'm assuming you're leaving me alive because you want me to help?"

"That would be correct. So, will you?"

"I'll admit, Cyrus. I want nothing more than to see the Novas die, especially since they might be funding my rivals. But let's say the Novas lose their influence. Who's taking their place?"

"I hope I'll do the job well. Have a few people by me as advisors."

"Right. You rule, you do well by the people. But then you get old. How's the new leader decided?"

"I'll decide." Cyrus affirmed calmly. "With a few others, naturally. Can't have all that power go to one man."

"Right, but then you die, and the new guy selects his successor. But he gets complacent with the power and hires a few other guys. Before you know it, you have the Nova families all over again."

"You think that'll happen?" Cyrus asked. "What options do you have to prevent this?"

"Call me naïve, but to me, the only reasonable option left is no rulers at all. Destroying the Novas, the levels, and letting everyone find their own way."

"I'm sorry, but that's ridiculous." Cyrus sighed. "No police to enforce law and nobody to stop someone else from gaining power? All it would take is one powerful person to gain influence in the shadows and take over the city."

"Things like that happen regardless of a government or not. And without one, the people are fully within their rights to stop them. Vigilantes, so to speak."

"Ridiculous." Cyrus replied with a solemn shake of his head. "That would divulge into the Novas under a new name faster than the idea of it would cross the minds of anyone near me."

"Cyrus and Amber. Game one begins now." Kalea's voice droned slowly out of their watches.

Cyrus let out a long sigh and got up slowly. "We'll discuss this later."

"I'm looking forward to it." Amber replied without any emotion in her voice.