CHAPTER 4

J.T.

I didn't sleep that night. I stayed up staring at the address.

1694 August Lane, Apt 608. The text message said two people died. For all I know it was the girl who lived here. The "Game Master" will probably do something to my computers if I don't kill her…

Not like computers are more valuable than a life, but they are my only means of finding this guy.

That being said, I still have absolutely no leads. Text messages are hard to trace and emails take some work. Why couldn't he just call!

The email was sent from a public library. My plan was to tap into the security cameras and see what I could find, but that library didn't have any.

Even if I could trace the test message, I doubt this guy would be stupid enough to use his personal cell phone.

My computer beeped. I had an email. Opening it, it was from him. KillingGame78 . Creative.

Dear Mr. James Tyler Sage,

She's still alive. I thought you were going to prove yourself. A fierce player of the Killing Game! Really, I'm disappointed. Two deaths and one was a suicide! If you don't kill her, I'll have to send someone else that address!

Remember, in the beginning I said I wouldn't target players specifically? Keep sticking your nose where it doesn't belong and your sister will be decapitated.

Not really. That's messy.

I sighed. This guy was crazy! But maybe I should stop, it's not like I had any leads. Maybe if I hide, I could just out last everyone else? Then again, some players might go to my university. I wouldn't know who to avoid.

I googled the address. At least I would know one player. One person to avoid.

I click on the first link.

Her name was Raina Glenbrook. She was my age, 18. Studying Graphic Design. Previously lived with her aunt, now lives alone (easy target).

I scrolled down and saw her picture. She had a childish face, crystal blue eye, and light brown hair, up to her shoulder.

She was pretty, definitely not attracted to some guy with blonde hair past his ears, dorky glasses, and plaid shirts.

Wait. What was I thinking? She could kill me!

This was going to be harder than I thought.

RAINA

I stood in my bathroom, looking at my reflection in the mirror. A few days ago, I dyed my hair a dirty-blonde color, but I just wasn't feeling it anymore. I turned to a wheel attached to my bathroom wall, just above the light switch.

It had five sections: Black, Blonde, Red, Brown, and Weird. I spun the wheel and it landed on red.

"Time to buy the dye," I said to myself. I walked out of the bathroom, entering my bedroom. I opened my closest and pulled out some close: a blue and black striped sweater, black skirt, and black leggings. Exiting my room, I walked to my door and slipped on my navy blue converse. I locked up my apartment and headed to the store.
Once I was back, I saw that the door next to mine was open.

"Looks like someone moved into the old bat's place," I whispered. My old neighbor hated me. She was a frail old woman who thought I was the spawn of Satan. Not really, but she was crazy religious and always insulted me when I died my hair.

I walked into my apartment and took of my shoes. I went to the bathroom and opened my box of hair dye.

"SCREW INSTRUCTIONS!" I laughed to myself. Every hair dye box came with a different set of instructions, specific rules for that brand. But really, it didn't matter. JUST DYE YOUR HAIR.

In a few minutes, my hair was a "fiery red". Not really, that was just the brand name. It was more like the shade of a red apple than fire. Fire is orange.

I entered my living room/kitchen area and turned on my radio. I flipped channels until I found my jam. Little Talks by Of Monsters and Men. I turned it up. Creepy phone calls and texts couldn't keep me from being me.

"'Cause though the truth may vary, this ship will carry our bodies safe to shore!" I sang along, while dancing.

"Hey! Don't listen to a word I say! Hey! The screams all sound the same! Hey!" I laughed, singing completely out of tune. I spun around and laughed more. The next versus was about to start when I heard pounding on my wall. So maybe "turn it up" was an understatement. More like blasting the music through the whole building.

I walked to the wall and pounded back. This new person was just as bad as the old bat.

I barely heard the doorbell ring with my music. I sighed, knowing it was my new neighbor. I turned off the radio and opened the door.

He was defiantly my new neighbor. I knew every face in the building and his was a new one.

His skin was pale, but hair a dark brown. His eyes were grey with a tint of blue, face angular. Probably in his twenties. His rugged black jacket and black jeans gave me the impressions of an emo wannabe. But his hair wasn't shaggy. Kinda…Spiky.

"May I help you?" I asked the man innocently, leaning against the door frame.

He smiled a fake smile. "I'm Carter Chamberlin, your new neighbor."

"Nice to meet you," I said returning the fake smile. He wanted to yell at me, but I was going to play little shy girl for now.

"I can tell by your hair you want to be an individual, but please try to keep your hipster music to yourself. Some of us prefer other genres," Carter said calmly. Damn. He can play the "I'm insulting you, but in a very nice way, so you can't hit me" game too.

I smiled again. "I'm sorry. Next time I won't play it so loud." We both knew I was lying, but he simply said "thanks" and walked into his apartment.

I stuck my tongue out and made that "pllleeewww" sound. After I turned around, his door opened and Carter threw a pillow at me before closing the door again.

"I'm keeping this!" I yelled at the door.

Carter Chamberlin. I could respect him.