This one is a long one oof.

We stared frozen at their lifeless body as it just hung there. This was too much. It was overkill. They didn't deserve this. I thought silently to myself as we saw their body get crushed slowly, blood pouring out onto the what used to be clean floor. I closed my eyes tightly, not wanting to watch anymore. I opened my eyes for a split second to see only an arm sticking out of the hydraulic press. The rest was just blood. Blood everywhere, blood all over the room. It looked as if a bomb had just gone off. My eyes widened and small sobs left my mouth. My heart ached at the sight. They're dead. I won't ever see them again.

"Aw, too bad this had to happen." Ex said teasingly as if they enjoyed this sick twisted game. "But, I mean, it was going to happen eventually." They giggled.

"Oh, fuck off!" I could hear one shout. With that, everything went into madness, not like it wasn't already.

[A week prior to the incident]

"So, what's your guys' plan?" Ex asked.

"We're teaming up. I'm going to stay back and defend our flags while Noemi and Maria go get other people's flags!" I said, looking at Noemi and Maria so they could confirm.

"Yep! You think you're going to be alright on your own, Lucia?" Maria asked with concerned eyes.

"I should be as long as I have my axe." I smiled slightly, picking up the item from off the ground. "You guys have your weapons?" I glanced at Noemi.

"Yep."

"Of course."

I looked at each of their weapons. Maria had her rapier and Noemi had her daggers. "Ok, well, be careful. Please. Also, if you're ever in trouble, please just come back here so I can help you. I don't want you guys to get hurt."

"Got it!" They said in unison as I gave each of them a goodbye kiss.

"Bye, Lulu!" Maria yelled, waving back at me as I she slowly disappeared into the forest.

"See ya later, Lucia!" Noemi ran swiftly into the marsh.

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"Now, Eric, I know how you are but PLEASE don't just goof off." Ex sighed as they watched me mess with the frogs. "I knew I shouldn't have let you into the marsh area."

I laughed picking up the frogs. "Now, let's go my friends! You'll protect the flag while I'll try to get more! You got it?"

I hear one ribbit. "Ok, well, I'll be on my way." I made sure I had on my metal gauntlets. I looked at the sharp blades on it. "Are you sure I have to fight people? Can't I just negotiate?" I asked Ex again for the fifth time today.

"I really hope you die. The answer is the SAME as it was the LAST FOUR TIMES GEEZ! Negotiating won't work with everyone you come across." I could hear how annoyed they were.

"Well, I'll be on my way then!" I said goodbye to the frogs.

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"You're just gonna stay here the whole time, Tobias?" Ex asked me for the second time today.

"Yeah." I said plainly as I looked around for food. "What else should I do?"

"I don't know. Take someone's flag? Go into the action? I mean I guess out of everyone you're the smartest person here. Mostly because you're here for a week. So... But, still I want to see action!" Ex pouted.

"No." I sighed as I grabbed my darts.

"Hmmm... Fine." Ex sighed, excepting the fact that they can't convince me to do anything.

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"Cody?!" A surprised scream left my mouth. "You're here too?!" I gave him a surprised look.

"David?! Oh my gosh! That was you!? I'm so sorry!" He panicked as he realized what he had done to my eye.

"It's okay, you didn't know." I chuckled lightly. "We shouldn't be fighting."

"You're right... I still feel bad though! I'm going to go see if I could get someone else's flag then.." The brown boy left as quickly as he came.

I guess it's back to defending my flag from someone else...

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"Fuck you, Felix!" I yelled angrily as he tried to take the flags.

"Oh, fuck off, Lucia! I'm just trying to not die!" The black haired boy yelled back. He swung his scythe at me as I jumped to dodge it.

"You heard what Ex said! If this thing ends in a tie we all die! I can't allow that to happen! So, if you're gonna get mad, get mad at Ex! Not me!" He explained as he kept trying to get closer.

I ran closer to him as I swung my axe. He barely managed to dodge it as he then hit my leg with the head of the scythe, causing my leg to start bleeding. "You little-!"

I stopped as I realized that he had already grabbed one flag. "No! Felix! Please!" I began to beg as I slowly but surely swing at him.

He smiled sadly. "I'm sorry Lucia. But... I can't have David dying on me..." He said as he took another flag and left. I looked back at the only flag left. My flag... It was the only one Felix didn't take.

Tears slowly started to seep out from my eyes. 'Why? I couldn't stop him. I'm going to be the reason one of us dies. I don't want them to die. I love them too much.' I looked around, trying to find something to stop the bleeding from my leg.

"Lulu! Are you okay?" Maria and Noemi came running up to me. "Yeah, I'll be fine don't worry." I said sadly. "Why are you so sa-" Noemi stopped as she saw only one flag left.

Everything fell silent. "So... Did you guys get any flags?" I asked softly, not being able to look them in the eyes.

"I got one." Noemi answered almost immediately but, Maria stayed silent. "Maria?" I silently begged that she also had one. I didn't want one of us to die.

"I'm sorry." I looked at her to see her crying. "I couldn't get one. I looked so hard but, the only I found already had it's flag taken."

"Hey, maybe it's not too late." Noemi tried to lighten the mood. "How much time do we have left, Ex?"

"Sorry to say it but... There is only five minutes left and that's not enough time to get any flag within your distance." Ex said lowly.

"No... But-" I stopped Noemi from saying anything else. "Maria. Take my flag." I say shakily.

"What?" She couldn't believe me.

"Maria. Take. My. Flag." I demanded

"But, I don't want you to die, Lulu!" She hugged me tightly.

"Maria, Noemi." I looked at each of them. "It's my fault that we don't have our flags. So.. it's only right that I'm the one that dies."

"But, I didn't get a flag! That was my one job! And I failed!" Maria tried to protest but, I cut her off.

"Please. Survive for me. Maria take this as my last wish. I just want you two to survive. I don't know what I would do without one of you. Even if I lived, knowing that one of you died for me would make me want death too. So... Please... Just take it." I cried, hoping I could convince them. I remember back when we were little and Noemi had twisted her ankle. Seeing the pain she went through hurt more than when I had broken my arm later that year. I couldn't bare to see either one leave me. I would rather leave them, to be honest. I was okay with death as long as it meant they could live.

"Lulu!" Maria cried. I cupped her cheeks with my hands and wiped her tears with my thumbs. "It's going to be okay." I kissed her on the cheek, nose, and lastly, the lips.

I looked up to see Noemi crying too. "Please take good care of each other." I whispered loud enough for them to hear. I slowly got up and hugged Noemi. Giving her kisses for the last time. One on the cheek, nose, and lastly on the lips, the same as I did with Maria.

"I love you guys."

"I love you too, Lulu."

"I love you so much, Lucia. Have sweet dreams."

The results are in! Let's see who lost!

>Felix: 2

>David: 1

>Tobias: 1

>Eric: 1

>Cody: 1

>Noemi: 1

>Maria: 1

Loser - >Lucia: 0

"Let the execution begin!" Ex's voice rang throughout the entire area.

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And that was how we ended up here. Sobbing over the girl Maria and Noemi had loved so dearly.