THE GAME

EPISODE 18: SELECTED

"Be sober, be vigilant; Because of your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour."

-1 Peter 5:8

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They tried to give Franz countless calls but she wouldn't dare answer them. They even messaged her but no response has been given. To still hide everything, they need to act casual, making some of the police officers follow Franz by tracking her location.

On the other hand was Franz, seated on a cab, nervous what might happen next. But she knew she had to take action due to her instincts. Either her instincts prove her wrong or right, she needed to take a risk for assurance.

"Can't we go a little faster, there?" She asks as she started biting her own nails.

"I'm sorry but I can't hit the gas at a hundred because if that's the case, sooner or later, police vehicle will be on our tail, miss."

"Okay... okay." She said as she continues biting her nails, getting impatient, as she drew herself closer and closer to the hospital.

"Mom! But I need to attend school!"

"No! I am not letting you go there. After what you've told us? How can the school don't inform us about this?"

"It's all because you'll be in danger too, okay?"

Her mother calmed down as she takes a sip on her coffee, embracing the heat as it flows inside her. She takes a seat beside her mom and she held her free hand with her hands.

"Mom?"

"Hmmm?"

"If you won't let me go to school, can you at least let me go and visit one of my classmates from the hospital?"

"What!? Someone was sent to the hospital?"

"Yes. It's Angelica."

"But why-"

"Mom, don't worry. She just fainted and was sent to the hospital. Not related to this crime investigation we are facing, okay?"

She knew she had to lie a bit. And she knew she has something to take part in telling someone who shouldn't be involved. And she can't let her classmates know about this.

"Please? Because if the school activity will continue today, then no one will be there for her. Please?"

"Okay, okay. But you'll let me drive you so I can go to my work."

"Yes! Thank you."

"But remember, if you go to school or anywhere near that University, I will temporarily stop your account and will confiscate any gadgets you have, and you won't be able to go to parties or even if it's a group project, whatever. They have to come here themselves and do your errands here-"

"Mom, chill. Besides, I realize now that, you're doing me a favor. And I don't want to go to school anyways. I guess this is my day off.

Before they could arrive at the hospital, Trish wanted to buy something for her classmate, so she thought of buying bread and snacks, as well as she hid two cans of beer inside the plastic bag. Luckily, the police didn't mind inspecting the bag since they assured them it's just food and they come at peace. As soon as they reach the room, they open the door revealing Angelica Brown, sitting with a 150° angle, adjustable by her electronic hospital bed.

"Trish?"

"Hey, Angelica."

"Hey! I didn't expect you to come and visit me."

"Well, my mom didn't want me to attend school so, I just figured out if I can accompany you here? Cause I know your family's busy too and they will be coming here not later than five."

"Yeah.."

"And oh! We brought something."

"You didn't have to. But, thanks."

"No worries. Oh well, this is my mom. Mom, this is Angelica."

"Hi, sweetie. How are you? Are you still feeling light-headed?"

"Wha-"

"My daughter here told me that you fainted and got yourself here, at the hospital?" She smiles widely as Angelica look at Trish who is signaling her to play long. She got it immediately as she smiled back.

"Oh, yeah. Yes. I felt light-headed. But, I'm okay now."

"That's good. Well, what is the cause of your fainting?"

She looks at Trish again as they look like playing charade. Trish acted like eating and drinking, then fainting. She got it and answer.

"I lack on eating and drinking."

"That's horrible! You should take care of yourself, okay?"

"Yes, I will."

"Okay, well... Baby, I'll be leaving you here now okay? Gotta go to my work now."

"Have a safe trip there, mom." She smiled as her mother looks at her in confusion. "I love you... more than anything."

"I love you too baby. Have fun!" Her mother shrugs the feelings off as she headed out. As soon as she's out of sight, she locks the door and places down the plastic bag, taking out the food.

"Wow, that's a lot!"

"I know. But that's not it." She paused as she rummages to the very end, picking out the two beer cans. Her eyes widen.

"No way!"

"Yes, way!"

"Whooooooaaa! Parrrteeeeeyyyyy!!!"

As soon as Franz arrived at the hospital, she didn't waste a time as she faces the nurse from the front desk.

"Hi. I need to check the patient from room one three six!"

"Ma'am, the visiting hours will be later at four."

"But I need to see her now!!!"

"You have to wait for the visiting hours, ma'am."

"Okay! Okay. " she did surrender and run out of the hospital, adrenaline kicking in. She was about to lose hope when she had an idea.

She runs through the fire exit ladder from the back portion of the hospital building. She starts to look around to check if someone is around. When she is sure that no one's around, she starts climbing, leading her to the second floor. She slides inside from an open window, looking around to see if anyone had seen her. With the assurance she needed, she starts to look for room numbers.

"Three-one-six, three-one-six, three... sh*t!" She cursed as she realized she's in the wrong wing. She kept on seeing rooms that start at 2, and she realized she should be on the left-wing, with room digits that start with 1.

She runs as fast as she can but before she could ever reach the hallway to the left-wing, a couple of nurses came rushing into a specific room. She gasps as she realized what is happening.

"Sh*t. I am late!"

After drinking and silently partying on their own, she decided to stay with her for the next couple of hours, instead of going home and doing nothing.

"You sure you wouldn't want to go home?"

She made up her mind.

"Yep. Unless you don't want me here?"

"No... No, I mean, it's better if we stick together, right?"

"Yeah, you're totally right. So we could protect each other."

As the nurse bring her lunch in, Trisha decided to go out to buy herself two double patty chili slices of the cheeseburger and a can of coke. She knows her mother won't ever let her eat those kinds of stuff for lunch, but she will because her mother's not around.

As she walks back to the hospital, she took the elevator for her to not waste any time and be seated in the room and watch some cartoons.

While waiting, she received a message from Angelica.

-hey Trish. I'm just gonna go and visit a friend of mine from the other room. Don't worry, my room's open you can still go and do whatever you wanna do. Kay?

She smiled as she responded okay, and continue waiting before the elevator dings just a matter of seconds. She walks out of the elevator as she walks freely, back into Angelica's room.

As she closes the door behind her, she was a bit surprised to see a person lying on the bed. She locks the door as she takes a seat, starts to devour her food.

"I thought you visited someone on the other door?"

No response.

"Hellllooo?"

No response, just small movements. She starts to feel a bit curious. "You sleeping?"

No response.

"You okay?" She finally asks as her smiles fade. She looks at her with such confusion, as she places down her burger.

"Angelica?" She stood up and approach the person lying. Her heart did start beating faster and faster until she's too close to the person lying, with the cover all over the body.

"Ange-"

She wasn't able to fight as the person moves, immediately swinging the knife right into her throat. Trish gasped for air as she tries to move away, with eyes wide open. She stares at the cat mask, worn by the killer with a sharp knife.

"I can't... I ca-" She wasn't able to speak it out when he felt like something's crawling into his throat. He starts to cough until it became brutal as ever, spitting blood for the nth time.

"Help" She struggles to speak now.

"What is it? Want more?" The killer asks, drawing itself closer to her, as she tries to crawl away.

"B*tch!" She mouthed as she decided to stop, facing the killer.

"F*ck you!" She cursed faintly, as the killer kneels in front of her. The killer pulls a strand of her hair as she could feel herself getting colder.

"Oh don't hurt yourself too much. Shhh, darling... Soon, you'll be okay."

"F*ck you!" She shouted once more and with full force, she was able to remove the mask, the killer was wearing.

As the mask lies onto the white cold floor, her eyes lie to the face of the killer. She was even too surprised to see the person behind.

"It's... it's y-you" she said as tears fell down onto her eyes. "H-how could you do this to me?"

The killer smirks.

"You know why, Trish. You just don't want to admit it to yourself."

"You-"

"Figured out that you deserve it... And now, you'll be one of my victims. Soon enough, you will go to hell and for sure you'll be able to see everyone I've killed and you will all have a GRAND REUNION!!!" The killer exclaimed as she spits at her face, mixed with red liquid. The killer smirks as it wipes its own face.

"You-" the killer was about to swing its knife when they both heard a knock.

"Trish? Hey Trish! Can you open the door?"

"Hhhssmmmmhh" she tried to shout for help but failed after the killer covered her mouth.

"Guess I have to kill you now!!"

The killer pulls her up into her feet and that made her take chances, as she hit the killer right into its stomach. As she had a bit of an advantage, she runs to the door, and luckily, she was about to unlock it but too late to open and call for help.

"You son of a b*tch!"

And with that, the killer stabs her countless times. She could hear the continuous knocking. She couldn't do anything for she is too weak to handle the pain.

"You're gonna die now, b*tch." With so much advantage, the killer stands up as the killer wrap the twisted white cover into her neck, as she struggles to fight back. The killer tied it up into the metal where the curtains hang. And with force, she smirks, pulling the cloth in, making Trish stand an inch above the floor.

"This may sound so ironic but, what you want to get killed is not that thrilling. You know why? Because those names on that list weren't nominated because of the gruesome death wish."

"Wha-"

"You're all selected for a big reason."