THE GAME

EPISODE 16: INVESTIGATE

"And I will fill his mountains with his slain men: In thy hills, and in thy valleys, and in all thy rivers, shall they fall that are slain with the sword."

-Ezekiel 35:8

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"Mr. Heaven Anderson, we just want to make things clear. We are here to help you-"

"Well f*ck you because you are too late for the saving! Lee's dead, Regina's dead, Ford's dead, Angelica's at the hospital, and now, my bro Kezee is also DEAD! You think, you forcing me here in this secluded plain room with hidden microphones and you telling me that you've come for our aid will change my classmate's faith!? No! Because you're all too late. Too late to even stop this freaking mess!"

"Mr. Anderson, you've mentioned the names, Lee and Regina. Are you partaking on Mr. Scott and Ms. Howard from the same school you attend?"

He immediately went silent after the detective asks him the questions he wanted to not be mentioned. He gulps as he could feel him sweating cold, anxiety hitting him by the second.

"Mr. Anderson, aren't they your classmates?"

"T-they are... were." He said, tapping his shoes onto the floor. The detective pulls his chair closer as he leans in, near the table.

"Mr. Anderson, what do you know?"

"I don't... I don't know anything okay!? If you're asking if I killed them, no. I didn't do any of these things because I can't —"

"But what you did to Miss Simoné is pretty clear that you can."

"But that doesn't mean I'll actually kill her!" He slams his hand on the table as she took a deep breath before answering. "I don't have any reasons to kill them, I promise you... Yes, I was pretty mad at Franz and had this suspicion about her that she's the one doing it—"

"Why have a suspicion to her?"

"Because she's the one who walks upstairs, looking for Kezee. I know it may be that helpful but that moment, we found out that he's dead in his own room. That can't be any of such coincidence right?"

"Mr.—"

"I know this is madness because I might lose my mind because of these consecutive deaths of my classmates but please, look out Franz. I know she knows something.

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"Are you sure you want to go home now?" Her auntie asks as she nodded, combing her hair.

"Yes, aunt Lei. And besides, It's not like I've been hit in the head or something." She paused as she turns to her auntie, giving her a reassuring smile. "And you know I'm not easily traumatized."

"I know but, isn't it a bit much for you since you'll be still seeing each other at school?"

"Auntie... Don't worry okay? And besides, I understand him because I'll definitely do the same thing. And as he did, I will also do everything just to save my friends and family."

They hug each other as they weren't able to notice Iriss coming in. As soon as they break the hug, Iriss helps them after her auntie signed some papers provided by the nurse.

"Thank you for coming and picking me up." She said as she nodded.

"I just want your safety too, Franz. And if you thought staying here is a bad decision, then I am happy to save a life." Iriss explained as she smiles widely. She responded with a sweet smile after, but soon her smile fades after seeing someone she knew familiar.

"Hey Iriss, that guy seems familiar." She said as she pointed a guy standing from a room on the left-wing of the hospital.

"Oh, that guy? That's Paul."

"Oh really? What is he doing here?"

"Wait... Didn't he came to see you too?"

She could feel a sudden pain in her heart after realizing that her best friend Paul, didn't even manage to visit her.

"Well, he may have not heard about me." She said, a bit disappointed.

"Well, he came to check on Angelica."

"Wait, she's here?"

"Yes."

"That I didn't know. All I know is she's confined somewhere here in our city."

"Franz?" Paul asks as he turns his gaze on them. She noticed something was off.

was he trembling? She asks herself as she tries to observe him.

"Hey, Paul!" Iriss waved as she got excited to approach them. Franz, on the other hand, is not really excited to see him. Not because she's disappointed, but she felt like he's avoiding her.

As soon as they approach each other, they hug each other as Franz stayed there, standing. She manages to turn away, as if she's looking for her aunt Lei, expecting she'd come for her aid so she won't need to deal with Paul.

"Hey." She got startled after hearing Paul's voice, as he is already standing right in front of her.

"Hey!" She said as she gave him a fake smile. And without any doubt, he pulled her in for a hug. Her body got frozen at first, for she is not expecting him to do that.

Or maybe he's doing it for Iriss not to realize they're not okay.

"Why are you doing this, Paul?" She asks bitterly as she doesn't want anyone being plastic in front of her.

"What do you mean?" He asks as he breaks the hug.

"Why did you hug me? Because the last time I remember, you don't even dare to talk to me." She said.

"What are you talking about?" He asks as if he's dumbfounded.

"I..." she paused as shes starting to think that she's just thinking too much.

"How are you?" He asks as he gave her a sweet and concerning smile.

"I'm okay. I think?"

"I got so worried about you."

"Don't be. You know I'm strong."

"I know. But Franz, you should always take care of yourself, okay?"

"Franz sweetheart, there you are."

"Oh, Aunt Lei. This is my classmate, Paul."

"Nice to meet you, Paul. I am Lei, her auntie."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, ma'am. "

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[So, are you saying that we should still continue classes?]

"Yes."

[Have you lost your mind, detective? These students still have their anxiety about what happened!]

"I know and you should give them a break. But ma'am, we had a lead. And the killer might come into your school if that happens-"

[And kill the rest of the class 6-13?]

"No. Because we won't let the killer do it."

[And how will you be able to do that without getting noticed?]

"By using one of them as bait."

[Are you saying detective, that I should risk one life again? No! I cannot do that to my students because they are my responsibility!]

"You're not getting the situation, ma'am."

[I AM GETTING WHAT I'M HEARING, DETECTIVE!] She shouted from the other line, indicating that she had enough. She releases a long sigh before talking again. [I won't be risking another life because the last time, I didn't think straight and made them go home without precautionary measures, making one of my students get killed! Do you understand?]

"Yes ma'am but think of it this way. Are you willing to risk one life... ONE LIFE to save the remaining thirty, or are you risking all of theirs?"

The detective didn't receive any response. He respired deep, before talking again.

"Have a good day ma'am " he was about to hang up when the person from the other line speaks up.

[Wait!]

"What is it, ma'am?"

[Just... Just make sure that no one gets hurt anymore, okay?]

"We will do our very best, ma'am. "