Page 20 of The Players

Run, Vivian. Run like hell. Save them all.

But first I had to pick my first button.

Hector was on the left, Lowell was in the middle, and Mills was on the right. I needed to head in one of those directions in a second or I would waste precious time and risk all three being plunged in. But who to choose? I’d been with all three. They’d all taken care of me after the coffin incident. They’d all held me as I shook after nightmares, or stared off into space as I fought through my demons. Hector was the most tender, Mills the most fun, and Lowell the most passionate. They all fulfilled different roles in my life. I couldn’t stack one above the other.

But I had to. This was torture. This was what gave Easton his jollies.

My eyes tracked between all three buttons. I had to pick. I had to pick now.

I ran straight ahead. Lowell. He was in the center, and frankly, he’d been through the most. Easton had already made the Lords beat the shit out of him when he’d been nice to me. I’d pick Lowell first and explain all those reasons.

I sprinted forward and smashed my hand on the red button.

A noise sounded, a sort of grinding and a beep.

“She picks Lowell,” Savannah said, like a carnival barker over the loudspeaker. “Did you hear that, boys? She likes Lowell best. Huh. Interesting. Who would have thought? He’s pretty rough around the edges, but maybe that’s how she likes it… rough.” She laughed at her dirty joke.

I shook my head, but there was no time. When I glanced back, I saw that Lowell had stopped with his head above the water, but the other two were still dropping. In seconds, their mouths and noses would be under the water.

“Hang on!” I shouted. I started to run for another button but realized I had another decision to make.

Right or left? Hector or Mills?

Shit. This had been stupid. I went for the middle so now I had to run all the way one way before doubling back and going for the third button. But it was too late now to second guess myself. I was running out of time.

“Their heads are going under!” Savannah shrieked. “Hurry. Hurry. You only have time for one more.”

“No!” I shouted at her, at the game, at everything.

I didn’t think. I just… ran. I went left.

Hector.

“She picks Hector! Oh, Mills. Sorry, buddy.Whomp whomp. I guess you just didn’t do it for her. Too bad you have to pay with your life. Maybe you should’ve thought of that when you picked her sweet titties over your loyalty to the Lords.”

I shook my head as I ran. No, I wouldn’t let Mills drown. That was not happening.

I finally reached Hector’s button and smashed my hand down. The same sound rang out as it had with Lowell. I looked over and saw that Hector was craning his neck to keep his nostrils above the water, but he was safe for now. But at that second, Mills’ nose dropped below the water line.

If I didn’t do something, he would drown.

Feeling like my lungs were going to burst, I tore toward Mills’ button. In a few seconds, I was there before the control panel with the name ‘Mills’ above it.

I smashed my hand down. “Bring him up. Bring him up!”

Nothing happened. I looked over my shoulder and saw Mills’ eyes locked on me as he stared back from inside his watery coffin. He was completely submerged.

Drowning.

“No, no, no!” I said, smashing the button over and over. “Bring him up!”

“Sorry, princess,” Savannah trilled. “It doesn’t work that way.”

“No, this is not happening,” I said, spinning around. I could not let Mills drown. Not today.

Giving up on the button, I ran toward his tank. His blue eyes watched me approach as bubbles trailed up from his nostrils. How long had he been in there? Thirty seconds? A minute? Too long.

I ran to the tank and glanced around. There had to be a way to get him out.

---