Page 72 of My Roommate from Hell
“Is there?” she says, not missing a beat. She gets up, scans her shelves, and then slides out a game in a dark green box.
“Betrayal,” says Zarmenus, reading the title on the box. “Sounds promising.”
Madison beams. “Shall we?”
She sets up the game. Only six people can play, so there are only two free spots. Those are quickly taken by Avery and a guy who introduces himself as Rory.
“Who wants to go first?” asks Madison, once everyone has their game pieces. I’m playing as a priest, and Zarmenus is a schoolgirl.
The table is quiet.
“In that case,” says Madison, “who is the youngest?”
“I’m nineteen,” says Avery. “I had a gap year.”
“Nineteen also,” says Rory.
“Eighteen,” I say.
“When’s your birthday?” asks Zarmenus.
“February sixth.”
“Aquarius, that fits,” says Zarmenus. “Mine’s March tenth. Guess I’m going first.”
Zarmenus didn’t get the chance to murder everyone.
Betrayal always ends with someone turning against the other players, and that person was Madison. Her character was transformed into a werewolf and given the mission to kill all of us before the sun rose.
Murdering every other player is something she proceeded to do with a wicked glee. Like, she gave us no chance. I took one shot at her monstrous form with the crossbow that I found while exploring the house, and she proceeded to rip me apart with her claws, then stole the crossbow off my lifeless body and used it to murder Zarmenus’s poor innocent schoolgirl.
Even though he didn’t get his wish, I can tell Zarmenus is having a good time. He’s been laughing a lot, as well as cracking a lot of jokes. A lot of the other partygoers have stopped to watch this game, most likely because Zarmenus is playing. It seems like he’s the center of attention even at a game night.
“Good game,” says Zarmenus to Madison.
She shakes his hand. “I’d say it was close, but I’d be lying.”
Zarmenus grins. “I like you. You remind me of my aunt. She’s known for her ruthlessness.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“You should! Nobody is as bloodthirsty as her.”
“Cheers to that!”
Zarmenus finishes his drink.
“Refill?” I ask him.
“Yes, please.”
As I’m pouring some Coke into his cup, I hear someone come up behind me. I finish pouring the drink, then turn around to find Zarmenus has followed me into the kitchen. Even though I’ve been spending so much time with him lately, him being here is still slightly jarring. Madison’s house is nice, but it’s ordinary. It’s a little cluttered, there’s store-brand dish soap by the sink, and it’s next to a cheap air fryer that could use a clean. It’s all so normal, so human, and yet standing before me is the prince of Hell.
“You should know something,” he says. “My birthday isn’t March tenth.”
His confession startles me. I’d already memorized the date. I was thinking about if I’d still be in his life next time it’s his birthday.
“It’s the equivalent of August eighteenth. And I’m nineteen in human years. I just wanted to go first.”
