Note: this chapter contains some strong language, as well as mild homophobic views; depictions of death; and loss.

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The final eight partygoers follow the masked team members to the fifth game — the room is about the size of a classroom once again; but this time it has seven chairs arranged in a circle at the centre of the room. A large speaker sits in the corner, with a masked guard stood next to it.

"What do you think this is?" Whitney asks Michael, clutching his hand tightly with nerves.

"I-I don't know ... some sort of sick game," he responds, partly-sarcastically.

"Players, this is your fifth game. The game is, Musical Chairs. I will now give you the instructions. The music will start, and players must walk around the circle of chairs. Once the music stops, players must take a seat to pass the game. The remaining player will be eliminated. There will be five rounds, in order to decide our final three players."

"Shit," George curses under his breath — perhaps the first sign of emotion he's shown since Andrew's death. "Just like at the birthday parties I used to go to as a kid."

"The first round will commence — now."

The music begins; the eight players slowly walk around the chairs, with nobody wanting to take their eyes off them for a single second. The tune is nameless; it's just a breezy melody on the piano, but one that could easily get stuck in your head. After around a minute, the music abruptly stops, and all the players scramble to the nearest seat in the hopes to pass the game.

Each player glances around, until they spot Player 009 still standing. The expression this player is giving shifts from panic, to realisation; as the masked team member from the corner of the room marches to her and shoots her without a second thought. Her body falls quickly, with splatters of blood hitting the players she was stood near to. Each remaining player flinches in fear, knowing they could be next.

"Player 009 — eliminated."

And so, the music begins again. The players rise from their seats, reluctantly walking around the chairs as the masked team member removes one — leaving only six. The disturbing piano continues on, for approximately two minutes this time, before stopping suddenly once again.

Another mad dash for the chairs takes place. Michael, George and Whitney safely claim a spot; along with Madonna and Elton — they all notice Freddie and Player 044 run for the final chair. Player 044 takes the victory, leaving Freddie without a seat. The group realises this, all widening their eyes.

"Freddie!" Whitney cries, being the first to react.

"I love you guys. Thanks for playing with me," Freddie calls out quickly, so that he can get all his words out in time; a single tear falls from his eye as he blows a kiss. The masked team member approaches him, holding up the gun. He closes his eyes, as the bullet flies through his skull. He collapses sideways, becoming yet another victim to the deadly challenge.

"Oh god!" Elton gasps. "Oh Freddie!"

"Player 091 — eliminated."

The game is a lot sadder once the music resumes. The remaining six players get up once more, trudging around the chairs as one is removed by the masked team member. Michael looks to his lost friend's lifeless body, shedding a tear over his grief.

"Goodbye, pal," he mutters under his breath, as he walks past him in the circle.

"Thanks for caring so much, mate," George frowns, unable to look for too long because it hurts too much.

The music stops once more, beginning another battle for the chairs. Whitney claims one; as does Michael. Elton and Madonna do, too. This only leaves Player 044, who — in a frenzy — tries to pull George from his chair.

"Get the fuck off me!" George shouts, pushing the player away from him. "Get your own fucking chair!"

"I'm trying to, Gayboy!" Player 044 retorts. "Now get up!"

"Don't talk to him like that!" Elton demands angrily. He is about to sacrifice his own chair to pull 044 away from George, but before he can do that, a gunshot is heard. The players turn around to find 044 on the floor, with a bullet wound in his chest. Elton expels a breath. "That's what I thought, motherfucker."

"Player 044 — eliminated."

The music begins again, so the last five players rise again from their chairs; and one is removed to leave four. With only Madonna, Elton, George, Whitney and Michael remaining — it's a high-stake game, to put it lightly.

"Hey Michael," Madonna sneers. "You think you're gonna lose this one, by any chance?"

"It's not my goal," he responds through gritted teeth, keeping close to the chairs to prevent from losing. "Why? What makes you hate me so much, Madonna? Hm?"

"The fact you broke my friend's heart," she informs him, an expression of anger evident on her face. "You ruined her final days, so I'll ruin yours."

"I've done nothing to hurt you, not ever. Why the fuck are you so concerned about who I love? It's nothing to you."

The music stops, so everyone dashes for a chair. Whitney is the only person who doesn't get one — which sends everyone into a panic.

"Because I know what you did!" Madonna shouts, pointing to Whitney. "This poor girl here is about to die, and yet you never told her you're married back home with a baby on the way!"

Whitney looks to Michael, shock on her face. "What did she just say, Michael?"

"Don't you dare try this shit!" George suddenly rises from his seat, risking his place in the game to confront her. "All he's trying to do is be happy. What's it to you? I've had enough of your games, Madonna!" He grabs hold of her shoulders, pulling her from her seat. "Michael's happiness doesn't depend on you or your opinion, you hear me? Let him be with who he wants to be with! He might not make it through to the end anyway, so who gives a fuck if he wants to make the most of what time he could have left?" He pushes Madonna to the floor, keeping her there with his foot; before looking up at Whitney. "Get on that chair, now!"

Whitney nods, before rushing to one of the two remaining seats — watching intently as George and Madonna battle it out. Michael and Elton clutch to each other, anxious to see who ends up on the final chair.

"Get the fuck off of me!" Madonna shrieks, trying her hardest to push George from off of her. "Get the fuck off!"

"Not a chance!" George responds assertively. "There's no way I'm letting you hurt any of my fucking team! I'd die before you hurt any of them!" Out of his character, he kneels down and punches her in the nose; it begins to bleed instantly, so he uses this chance to run to the other chair while she's recovering from the blow.

"Fuck you!" she calls out, as the masked team member walks towards her with their gun. They take aim, before firing — finishing the job that George started. Madonna doesn't move again; she lays still, with the sticky burgundy substance oozing from her nose and mouth.

"Player 069 — eliminated."

George watches the death with heavy breathing. He's amazed that he has managed to save Whitney's life in such a way. The other three players sit for a moment, even after the music has begun again. This is the final round — after this, only three players will remain.

The masked team member comes over to remove the final chair — leaving only three. With four players, this is the highest-intensity match of them all. The four hold one another's hands as they walk around the circle; all four of them acknowledge that somebody they care for deeply is about to die. It's just a case of, who will it be?

"I love you guys," Whitney whispers under the music.

"I love you all," Elton adds.

"I love you so much," Michael chimes in.

"Thank you for playing with me. I love you. All of you," George concludes.

Just like that, the music stops for the final time. All four players scramble for just one of the three chairs; to claim their position in the final three. Michael claims one; George claims another — they close their eyes, both hoping that their respective lovers claim the third.

They both feel the impact of the third player sitting down on the final chair; but neither of them want to open their eyes. Both of them feel just as anxious as the other. A silence fills the air for a few moments — until a gunshot is heard, and a body hits the ground.

"Player 080 — eliminated."

George's eyes snap open, as he turns his head to see Elton laying on the floor, with blood escaping from his chest quickly. He's only just alive — but alive all the same. George rushes over to him, lifting Elton's head onto his lap to console him.

"Hey, Elton, it's okay ... I got you," he whimpers, sniffling uncontrollably. "I've got you."

"Th-Thank you ... for accepting me and caring for me," Elton speaks, his voice weak from the agony he's enduring.

"I love you Elton," George sobs, leaning down to place one last kiss upon his quivering lips. "I love you so much; and you'll never realise just how much; you made me the happiest I've ever been ... " He tries to list off every thought in his head as quickly as he can, so he can tell Elton everything he wanted to say in the limited time he has left. "I'll always remember you, and treasure you in my heart. I'll keep going for you and Andrew. I promise. I'll keep going. I'm so sorry it had to end this way. I'm so, so sorry. I love you."

Elton looks up at him. "I love you ... Mr Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou ... " He inhales his final breath with no sound, before exhaling long, and loud. His eyes roll up, as the life leaves his body.

At the side of the room, Whitney and Michael are stood, shedding tears silently for Elton — and for Freddie, too. They watch sadly as George mournfully screams out for his lost love — the only one who ever knew him inside and out, other than Andrew. In just a few short days, they learned; loved; laughed and cried together.

George leans his head down against Elton's chest, his crying muffled against the bloodied yellow jogging jacket on his still body. He stays there for a good while — until the masked team members eventually enter the gaming ground to clear out the bodies that have accumulated from the game. They pull George away from his deceased lover, so that they can carry Elton away.

George pleads desperately at them. "Please, let me stay longer — please! I'm begging you!" he calls out, but to no avail. As they take Elton from the room, he admits defeat. "Goodbye ... I love you so much ... " He lowers his head, closing his eyes to try and calm himself. It proves difficult, however.

"Player 025 — please return to the main function room."

He forces himself up from the floor, walking by himself, back to the main function room as he's been instructed to. His chest is overcome with grief; his soul has been crushed at all he has witnessed. To lose both of his favourite people twenty-four hours apart is more than anybody could take. He arrives back at the main function room, sitting alone in the corner. He can see Whitney and Michael talking about what Madonna revealed during the game. He feels guilt; he tried his hardest to prevent the secret from coming out. He knows how wrong it is to hide cheating, but when you're faced with death it seems a lot more trivial than it does in normal day-to-day life.

"Congratulations, Players 025, 063 and 077. You have successfully passed all five party games so far, and are now in the final three. To show our appreciation for all your hard work, we invite you to a celebratory banquet later this evening. A team member will present you with your banquet outfit. Please place this outfit on, then return to the main function room."

Three masked team members enter the room holding lavishly-decorated boxes. The three remaining partygoers pace slowly over to them, taking their respective box; before they each head to their own rooms to change.

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Chapter sixteen! Were you expecting that? Who do you think will die next?