Barbara's Pov, 10 years ago
Ever been slapped by your father? If you haven't, it fucking hurts. My 15 year old body was thrown to the floor and my head had hit the kitchen table on my way down. Spots danced in my vision and my head pounded with a fierce headache. The cause of this? I had told my father that I thought I liked girls. Yeah. Abnormal. I know. In the summer of 2006, I, Barbara Washington had been smacked to the floor for potentially liking girls. It made sense. My father's parents had been very...believing in the belief that man was made for women and women alone. Guess my father picked up on their beliefs.

I felt the beginning of tears swim in my eyes. Along with an intense anger. I stumbled to my feet and grabbed the edges to steady myself. My cheek stung. "Fucking homophobe." I temporarily forgot about Zeke, my five year old half brother in the room, and Charlie, my three year old brother who had walked in during the commotion. I focused all on me. And grabbed a knife off the kitchen table. "If you ever t-touch me again, I will fucking end you!" I glared at him.

"Hey!" My mom stepped in between us. "Let's all settle down. We're just a bit...stressed. Let's not do anything we might regret. Please. Think about Zeke. And poor Charlie. If they have to grow up without their father and sister, think of how that might impact them."

My father glared. "That fucking thing needs to be taught a lesson. Now."

My mother gasped. "Just because she's a bit different in preference doesn-". She was slapped as well.

"Mom!" Zeke ran over to her.

Charlie merely stared silently. A blank look in his eyes.

I glared at my father and felt my hands begin to shake.

"Alright. That's enough." The calming voice of my grandfather was heard as he entered the room.

"She will not live here. Not in my house!"

My grandfather shrugged. "I'll take her then."

"Or we could just give her up for adoption."

"My decision is final. She'll be living with me." My grandfather calmly stated. "She won't be a bother to you. I recently moved. A city not too far from here. If you ever come after her, then Amy can add this incident to her files. And she isn't exactly fond of you anyway."

My father glared for a moment before nodding. "I want her gone. By tonight."

A few hours later
Fuck. Giving up everything. My brothers. My life. My friends. My school. My job. My damn fucking crush. All because that fucker couldn't widen his eyes that my desires were none of his business. And grandfather. He taught my father how to act like this. So why was he so eager to take me? Shouldn't he be disgusted? What was he doing? I blinked as his car stopped.

He turned to me and smiled with those ice cold blue eyes of his. "Welcome to Marywood. Best city you'll ever be in. Hope you enjoy your stay." He opened his door and gestured for me to get out as he turned his key. I reluctantly followed. Goodbye Spinview. Hello Marywood.

When I stepped out from the car, I was met with a girl, a few feet away from the car. Staring. I narrowed my eyes and looked at my Grandfather for an explanation. "No warning for the welcoming party?"

My Grandfather shrugged. "This girl here is your bodyguard. Don't let appearances deceive you. She is a very powerful ally in my organization."

I glanced at the girl. Organization? Hmm. If I asked, would they answer? Probably not. I focused back on the girl. Her hair was as black as the night sky. And her eyes were a light brown. She smiled. "Hello. My name is Lee. Lee Jenkins." She smiled a bright smile.

"Barbara Washington." I smirked nervously at her. And shook her hand. "So, you don't seem too special. Why are you a bodyguard?"

Lee shrugged. "Someday, when you need it, you'll see."

2 days later
I sighed as I walked through the city streets. "Honestly. Two days here and they expect me to find my way around." I stretched. "Lee isn't around when I need her. An-". I bumped into someone. "Sorry."

I stared up and saw a boy with dark black hair and dark brown eyes. "Hey! You're that girl who waits for Lee at school."

"You recognize me? I've only been here two days."

"Any person who hangs out with Lee Jenkins is automatically known. She's like the most popular girl in this city. Boys and girls alike love her. She's so sweet. And good looking." He then glanced at my body. "You aren't so bad looking yourself."

"Thanks. I guess. Mind telling me your name?" Creep.

"Mark. Mark Jefferson." He smiled.

"Barbara Washington. Know your way around enough to help me?"

"Depends on where you're going."

"Well, I don't wanna go home so early, so a nice restaurant to get something to eat would be nice."

"Down the block. Follow me." He waved me forward. And I followed. Of course, waiting in front of the restaurant was Lee. She was smiling and just standing there. Was she expecting me? Kinda creepy if she was.

"Lee? You alright?" I waved at her.

Lee nodded. "Yes. Seems your friend has good tastes. I planned on bringing you here sometime."

Mark blinked in surprise. "Jeez. You have lunch with her too? What's your secret, Barbara?"

I shrugged. "Dunno. Doubt I have one. My grandfather just has some thing."

Lee smiled at Mark. "Any friend of Barbara is a friend of mine."

I glanced at her. Friends? Making a lot of assumptions. But whatever. Grandfather would be pleased to hear I'd made my first friend, and it might get me some knowledge on this city. Mark and Lee. Only people I knew. "Let's go in shall we?"

9 years later
I sighed as I sat in my new outfit. A nice bright yellow dress with bananas on it. Childish? Maybe. Did I care? Fuck no.

Same thing. Once I was in my new school, it was just hanging out with the popular kids I didn't really like. Thank God that was over. During that time it was also me pushing how far Grandfather would go for me. Surprisingly, he did quite a lot for me. He didn't bring up me leaning towards girls. He didn't tell Lee about it. Most days he would just talk to me about school or work. Until today.

Today he had on a serious face. He watched the news. And what peculiar news it was.

A brown haired female reporter stood on the screen. "This is Carly Pikes. Reporting live after another shocking murder made by one of the killers who wear animal masks. The first act of murder was a few weeks ago in the Church located on Sider street. Witnesses reported seeing a group of people in animal masks coming out from the church shortly before the body was discovered."

She took a pause. "This group of killers showing up again has caused the police to spread more of their forces more heavily across the city. If you see anyone fitting the description of these killers, please don't hesitate to call the authorities. C-".

My grandfather shut off the TV with the remote and sighed. " Seems the time for caution is now. There's something I want you to know." He looked me right in the eyes. He sighed. "Remember all those years ago when I told you I had an Organization?" His hair was white, the little strands of blond sticking out in random places as he breathed in and out.

I nodded. "Yes. I remember."

He rested his hands on his lap. "It's not just any organization. It's a criminal organization. And I am quite high up in power in said organization. A leader if you will. And well, I may not always be here for them. What I need is a suitable person who could lead in my absence. In case I die as well. Charlie is too young. Zeke is too carefree. You are just the right age. You show caution and aren't immediately trusting. I believe you can properly lead them. And they have been ordered by me to treat you as the second me once I'm gone. With respect. And my most trusted men will take care of anyone who treats you as anything different."

I blinked silently. Hmm. A leader of a criminal organization or a homeless bum. I know what option I'm picking. I nodded quickly.

Grandfather placed a golden pistol and a nice looking sniper down on the table. The door to the living room opened and about 10 guys with guns walked inside. "The two guns I put down are yours. I doubt you'll need them as you'll have people with way more experience guarding you."

I picked up the pistol gently and peered down at it.

"Now, I try to make time for all of my Grandchildren. So I'll be out today. I'm going to Spinview. First to visit the twins and Amy. Then Zeke if he'll talk to me. And finally, baseball with Charlie." He clutched a ball tightly. "Now, obviously there may be those who oppose you. Enemies. Rivals. More. But, when you do receive the job next year, it will be a test to see if you can handle it."

I blinked. "Why next year? Why not now?"

He remained silent. And simply walked towards the front door. "Next year, around or before Halloween, things are going to change. And Spinview will be the place that said change comes from. But that doesn't matter now. Behave with your guards, Barbara."

I sighed as I heard the sound of the door opening and closing. Great. Bomb shells and some apparent shit happening in my old town next year and then nothing.

1 year later
"Even after the time that passed, I can't believe it. I really can't." Mark groaned. "I was totally gonna take her here." He gestured at our favorite restaurant we'd come to for the last ten years. Unfortunately, it had...blown up. And all our memories there, good and bad shared, went up in flames and burned to the ground. Like a snap. Just like that. And now, staring at the blackened and destroyed remains of the building, it gave me a bit of a sad feeling.

Which was exactly why when a famous chef was hosting an event for the lucky winners in a contest, I bought loads of tickets to increase my chances of winning. I got three out of four. Which even with the abnormal amount of tickets I bought, I found it odd. But, I brushed it off as extremely good luck and convenient timing. "Oh quit being such a baby. You've only been dating Charlene for a year."

Mark rolled his eyes. "It's Charlotte. And she's not like the other girls. She's special."

Lee patted his shoulder. "And I'm a blond." She smirked.

"You guys are supposed to be my friends." He pouted.

"We are. Which is why we're telling you. You've called the other girls special too."

"But th-".

I cut him off. " Not important. Let's focus on why I called you guys out here. Remember that chef who was holding that special cooking event at that new restaurant a few blocks from here?"

Mark blinked. "The ticket based one?"

I nodded. "Yeah."

"What about it?"

"Well, I kinda won three tickets."

"And....?"

It was my turn to roll my eyes. "I was hoping we could go together."

"Ohhh." He nodded. "Sure."

Lee nodded as well. "Sounds fun." She sighed. "Let's go. Food better be magnificent."

I smiled. "If I'm here, it's obviously gonna be magnificent." I began walking with my two friends. The only friends I'd kept in contact with.

"So, Barb, you never let me into your heart back in highschool......so who's the lucky guy", Mark questioned.

I opened my mouth to answer him, but no words came out. I looked like a dying fish with how my mouth opened and closed almost in a strange rhythm. I blinked quickly and let out a series of deep breaths. "Can...we..u-uh...not talk about that?"

Mark regarded me closely. "Yeah. Sure. No problem."

Lee looked between us. "So, Mark. Tell us more about Jennifer."

"Charlotte."

"Yeah. That."

"She's really sweet. Soft spoken. Likes plants. Is a vegetarian. She has a liking for people who can say they are flawed and doesn't like it when people pretend to be perfect. She has ginger hair. And her eyes are a light brown. Along with a beautiful smile. A-".

"Oh look, we're here. Time to stop talking about Megan." Lee smirked.

"It's Char-, oh why do I even bother with you?" He opened the front door and held it open for us.

"Thank you", I said.

Lee walked in without a word.

Mark sighed. "No thank you, Lee?"

Lee shrugged. "I'm pretty sure it's a man's job to hold the door. Not another lady. But thanks anyway."

He seemed confused for a moment and then his eyes widened. "Hey!"

I sighed and pulled them both up to the front desk.

A tired looking elder Asian looking woman stared up at us. "If you are here for the special event, then please hand me your tickets."

All three of us handed our tickets to her.

"Thank you." She examined them closely. "Down the hall, last door on the left."

"Thank you, sensei." Mark joked.

The woman simply stared blankly at him.

"Tough crowd." He sighed and began walking down the hall.

I gave an apologetic look to the woman before following with Lee.

Mark glanced back at us as we reached the end of the white almost empty hall. "Three days before Halloween and she's already got her costume ready."

Lee rolled her eyes. "Well, she was talking to a very rude idiot." She brushed past him and opened the door.

I was greeted with a bright red room. White roses decorated the wallpaper of the walls. The floor had a nice blue carpet that went nicely with the colors in the room. Paintings and pictures of many famous chefs were all around the room. The only person I recognized was a recent one. Gordon Ramsey. If I remembered correctly.

Mark and Lee seemed a bit surprised at the room. A bit fancier than they expected I bet. Because of the extremely short totally not 5 minutes ago notice, they wore normal shirts. Lee with red. Mark with white. And simple jeans. So myself in my white dress, high heels, and shiny earrings definitely fit the room. Them? Not so much.

I glanced around the room. "Neither the chef nor our fourth winner is here. Did they get lost?" I glanced at the plates full of food spread all around the long, wide green table. "This food clearly didn't get lost."

Lee picked up a small paper lying on the table. "A note." She read it, talking as she did. "An inconvenience involving the fourth winner has come up. Please help yourselves to the dinner."

Mark nodded. "I won't object."

I placed my hand on my chin. Hmm. Something felt wrong. "Hmm. I hope everything is alright."

Lee glanced at the chicken, and all the meat around the table. "Lauren would hate this place, Mark."

Mark sighed loudly and grabbed a simply grabbed a chicken leg and bit into it. "Can't heaf yoh." He chewed on it.

Lee grabbed a glass and saw that it had ice water in it. "Thirsty life is sad life." She put the glass to her mouth and began drinking.

I had put a small piece of chicken on my plate and was slowly eating it with a fork and a knife. I'm weird. I know. And then as I swallowed another piece, I got another suspicious feeling in my gut. This chef came a few days after the destruction of a restaurant. Then, I buy an abnormal amount of tickets in this not so small city and conveniently win three of them. And now our chef was gone, leaving all this food here. And even left drinks. And what if we all got here at different times? Surely so much food wouldn't have been enough for one person if the others hadn't shown, right?

The sound of glass shattering was all I needed to hear to snap me out of my thoughts. I glanced up to see Lee crumble to the floor. Mark tried to get up but he fell forward into the table. I felt something peculiar happening inside me. But my strength was leaving me before I could pinpoint what. As my vision became blurry, I recall seeing a person enter the room. It seemed like they were laughing. And then I fell forward onto the table.

An unknown amount of time later
I opened my eyes and groaned. I felt like I gonna puke. And my head was pounding in pain. The bright lights around the room didn't help. The room was pretty bare. Plain white and bare. Going from that fancy place to this was definitely....a change.

A voice rang out from a place to my right. "Wake up. Now, Ms.Washington."

Lee came into my line of vision. "Barbara." She peered down at me. "Please get up now." Her voice was strange.

I sat up and glanced to where the voice had come from.

A group of people stood on the other side of a glass wall. I felt anger at their cowardice. And then I felt my eyes widen in confusion and realization. The people in front of me wore animal masks. The last time....he...he.....no. He's gone. It's been a year. I have to let go. If not now, then soon. Even if my Grandfather was the nicest person in my life.

"Now then. As you know, four of you won tickets today."

Mark glared. "Could you make your storytelling go just a bit faster?"

The man talking sighed. He had on a pig mask. And a chef uniform on. "No build-up. Straight to the action. Your girlfriend Charlotte hates that."

Mark blinked. "You..you kn-."

"Of course. Now, let me speak or else I'll make her join the fun."

Mark closed his mouth and stayed silent.

"You. All four of you. Have been infected by a deadly toxin. You are currently in a maze. You have about 12 hours or less to find the keys to open the room with the cures in them. And in that time, you also have to find the keys to the actual exit. There is no food in there. And the maze is full of starving people who are desperate for food. I don't think I need to say what they may do because of them desperate."

I raised my hand as if still in class. "Excuse me. Is the exit close to this or.....these cures?"

He nodded. "Yeah. Really close. Once you find one, you should have no problem finding the other."

I nodded. "One more question, where is our fourth 'friend'?"

The man gestured behind us. And oh my god.

"We have a gang member on our team?"

Said member had on all red. I could have made a joke about his red hood, but now wasn't the time. He had the two words on his sweater that combined with the all red, only confirmed it. He had a nice face but glared at us with blue eyes. He had dark brown hair and freckles along his face. Besides the glare, he looked like a guy who just hadn't matured into an adult. Or maybe, he wasn't actually an adult.

"He's a gang member. Really? He looks like a high school boy."

The boy glanced at me. "Don't let appearances fool you." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a pistol.

The pig mask man seemed a bit shocked. "I thought they checked you wh-".

The boy aimed and shot at the glass, creating a bullet hole and hitting the pig mask man in the stomach. He rushed forward and kicked the glass in with his sneaker, sending sharp glass flying straight at the people with animal masks.

A few of them were hit, some areas more lethal than others.

The boy shot at a few more people in the animal masks which caused them to flee into a different room.

The boy walked over to the fallen and bleeding pig mask man who seemed to be the leader and pinned him down with a knife which he held at his throat.

Mark blinked. "Never doubt this boy again. Jeez."

I nodded silently.

The boy sighed. "This boy has a name. Snake. Call me that. And only that." He pulled a map from the Pig man's pocket. "That's it?" He stood up.

The pig man nodded. "Yes. That's it." He held his stomach.

Snake nodded. "Well, to make sure they don't kill us unfairly, you're gonna be our hostage. Whatever they throw at us, they throw at you."

The man sighed. "Even with having a map, it's still gonna take you a while to leave. Let me go. I want to make it to Spinview by tomorrow. I have to prepare. Host a game before Friday."

My eyes widened. Spinview.

Lee rolled her eyes. "A game? That's what this is? Possibly dying and having people ingest poison is a game to you?"

The pig man remained silent.

Mark cracked his knuckles. "Now....how do you know about Charlotte?"

"Because she sent me nudes."

Mark blinked, startled. "What?"

The pig man stood up. "Obviously you aren't good enough. She doesn't like shrimp after all. She likely sleeps with different men all the time. She likely doesn't think you're special. Or maybe I'm just saying maybe to not break your heart. Maybe I know this to be a fact already."

Mark looked uncertain as he listened to the pig man.

Lee scoffed. "I thought you said she was special?"

"She was. Is. But the fact that he knew about her in the first place is odd."

Snake held the gun to the pig man's head. "No more mind games from you. Just start walking." He glanced at the door the other animal masked people had gone through. "They've likely locked it and prepared traps should we follow. So, we're going through the maze."

"The.....oh boy." The pig man began walking.

8 hours of somehow getting lost later
"Jeez. Another dead end. Who could have seen that coming." I sighed.

Snake groaned as my voice echoed through the halls and likely alerted less friendly people to our location. "The map doesn't tell us where we are currently. It just shows us where things are. And is badly drawn and was seemingly mad quickly", he whispered.

Lee peered ahead of us. "Barely any rest we got. But look, another door." She suppressed a yawn.

Mark shot forward and opened it. "Oh my god. YES!"

His voice echoed even louder than and longer than mine did. And that was just me talking normally. I sighed. We were screwed.

"The cure!" Two vials of blue liquid sat in the room. The room's cold temperature was felt even by myself from all the way back here. The other animal masked people must have unlocked the door. But why?

I realized something. "Only two?"

Mark peered around the room. "Yeah. Only......two."

The pig mask man laughed. "Fools! Did you really think this game would be so easy to play? So easy to win? You must select two people to get the cure. And then pray you escape fast enough to get the other two to a hospital."

Snake peered at us. His eyes narrowed.

Mark trembled. "Ladies....uh...first?"

Snake shook his head. "Hell no. I shot their leader. And wounded and killed some others. I deserve one. I've helped you survive and got a map that now tells us where the exit is based on this room with the cure. Me. You must be on drugs if you think I don't deserve one."

Lee glared. "Says the gang member that I bet is always on drugs."

Snake glared back. "Do you want to die? That'd make the selection easier I bet. Remove one person from the equation."

"I'd like to see you try."

"I won't have to try. I've got good aim. And a gun."

I sighed. "Let's all calm down."

Lee turned to me. "No! Tell him to calm down! I'm perfectly calm."

Mark sighed. "No. You aren't calm."

"Stay out of this, Jefferson!"

"Stop telling me what to do! I'm sick of it! We need to survive but this whole time, it's been all about you! Newsflash. Not everyone cares about you! Not everything is about you! So quit acting like it's the Lee show!"

I groaned from all the yelling. "Guys."

"The Lee show? Oh please! You're always going on and on about girls that we DON'T care about! We don't care about your love life! And I don't care about YOU! I'm only your friend because of Barbara!"

Mark's eyes widened at that.

Snake held his head in pain from how loud they were being in this echoing hallway.

The pig man used the opportunity to snatch the gun from Snake's hands. His wound seemingly not bothering him. He then pulled up his shirt to reveal a packet of what looked like human meat.

Oh. It hit the meat.

Snake sighed. "Oh great."

The pig mask man aimed at Snake's head. "You're a dangerous boy huh?"

Snake shrugged and simply stared at the gun. The hall was silent. Aside from the sounds of footsteps slowly growing closer.

"If I wasn't so sure you'd stab me in the back with that knife you have, I might've considered you working for me."

Snake sighed. "Just go. We don't need you anyway anymore. We're close to the exit. All four of us can escape."

"That's where you're wrong. I hate anti climatic endings to a game. I need a climax. You having a map and being alive makes things boring."

Snake blinked. "You're gonna kill me for being too skilled for your stupid game?"

"Pretty much."

"I have a family. And my sister needs the money I make. If I die, the mo-".

The pig man ignored his words and pulled the trigger. A shot rang out. Snake's eyes had widened as he fell backwards, a small bullet hole in the middle of his forehead.

"Oh my god." Mark stared in horror.

The pig man shook his head and snorted. "Sadly, god won't hear your screams or prayers. I'm all you have. So I hope your pitiful lives amounted to something."

Lee finally was lost for words.

"On the count of three, I'm going to shoot someone. One."

And then about 20 skinny looking people jumped out from the shadows of a nearby hall. They swung their bats and knives at the pig man. Screaming curses and drooling.

I used the opportunity to run forward, grab the bloody map from Snake, keep running, past Mark and Lee, grab the cures and run back out. "Now's our chance!"

They both nodded and followed.

"Okay...cure.....exit. Make a left, then go straight down the hallway, then make a right and the last door on the left."

Mark sighed. "Lee.....sorry. This is all just crazy."

Lee gave him a quick nod. "Don't worry. This'll all be over soon."

Mark sighed. "Don't talk like that. We'll be fi-". The sound of a pistol firing came from behind us. Mark stumbled as blood flew from his stomach. He crumbled to the ground.

I gasped. "Mark."

The pig masked man had torn free from the people surrounding him and was running towards us with the gun.

"Go!" Mark blinked up at us. "NOW!" He groaned and trembled.

Lee grabbed me by the wrist and pull me forward. She turned to the left and increased her speed. When we reached the end of the hall, she made a right and ran to the left side of the hallway.

A gunshot was heard behind us. "Don't stop", I yelled and reached the last door and pushed it open.

A ray of sunlight was barely visible. I shut the door and pulled Lee forward. Well, at least we didn't have to choose who got the cure now.

2 hours later
" I have gathered a good amount of you here today because of the events that took place last night and into this morning."

Lee stood silently to my right as I stood in front of a large crowd of my men.

"That animal group that's been around for a year or so kidnapped us last night. Lee is no longer safe and will be with us from now on. My friend Mark was killed. Shot in the stomach by the leader of those bastards."

I grabbed my golden pistol off the table. And then had someone pick up my sniper. "The leader, if he hasn't changed his plans like the coward he is, will be heading to a town not too far from here named Spinview."

Lee nodded. "Before Friday. That's what he said."

"So, we all know what happens now. I have been disrespected in an act so despicable that I'm shaking. Ugh!" I was breathing heavy.

"Barbara. Calm down."

"Sorry. Mark. And I can only imagine how his girlfriend will feel when she realizes he's gone missing."

Lee nodded, and it seemed to be just us. Everyone else in the room didn't matter.

"That little pig is definitely gonna squeal." I growled. After I got some rest at least. After I rested and ate and gathered more men. I will follow him to the ends of the earth and make him pay. That was a promise. Guess I just have to go to Spinview sometime before Friday.