Lindsey and Brian talked rapidly to each other, trying to take in everything they had just witnessed. Zoey trudged several feet behind them, avoiding all conversation. She didn't want to talk to anybody. She felt she deserved to be alone.

She felt stupid. Stupid because the imposter had used the fact that she was smart to manipulate her.

It wasn't just because you were smart, she reminded herself. Alexis wouldn't have done that, she thought, recalling one of her good friends.

She never would have killed someone unless she had cold, hard, physical proof that if they lived, they would cause harm to others, and even then Zoey highly doubted that she would take part in the actual killing. Alexis Wolf was the smartest person she knew, but even her logic and common sense could be ruled out by her conscience if necessary.

Zoey closed her eyes for a moment and remembered the awful scene back in the room where they were trapped. The boy who annoyed her on a daily basis was pleading for his life and she wasn't listening.

She had been overwhelmed by killing him from the start, but now that she knew he was innocent, it was much worse.

I'm an awful, horrible person, she decided.

She kept her eyes downward while walking forward, but as she did, she noticed something peculiar about the ground.

The floor ahead of her seemed slightly sunken in. She backed away quickly. That's weird, she thought.

"Guys," she began, but it was too late. Ten or so poison darts shot out of the wall up ahead of them where Lindsey and Brian were. They both collapsed from trying to dodge too many darts. It wasn't any help though. Lindsey had one pierce the skin just above her ankle and Brian had one stuck in his wrist.

Idiot, she chastised herself. You should have warned them. You should have noticed. You should have talked faster --or something!

She ran ahead to see if they were all right. Lindsey pulled the dart out.

"What do you think these are?" she asked.

Zoey shrugged. She was afraid of responding because she had a bad feeling that they were lethal.

Lindsey had a similar bad feeling, but she tried to ignore it. "Come on," she advised. "Let's just get out of here before anything else gets set off."

The three of them ran ahead. Brian was clutching his right wrist, where he got him, in his opposite hand. Lindsey's leg hurt too, but she was determined not to limp. They ran until they reached the end of the hallway. When they opened the door, they saw a boy, a white haired boy.

Zoey racked her brain. The notes. They had said something about a white haired boy. Something along the lines of "take him with you if you value your life" She still didn't know what to think of him though.

Just that moment, he broke into a half-hearted smile and held a note out in front of him. "This is for you guys," he said.

"Are you the one who's been writing the notes?" Brian asked.

"Yes and no," the white haired boy replied. "Kind of both, but not actually really. You see 'M' writes the notes and I'm not 'M', I'm 'A'."

It wasn't exactly the answer he was looking for, but he figured it was as good as it was gonna get.

Lindsey grabbed the fourth note and the other two peered over her shoulders to read it.

To Whom it May Concern,

At this point in time, there are no more than three people left. The chimeras most likely took two of your team; three could have also been the casualty count. The trap before reaching the white haired boy undoubtedly wounded one of you. There will be a first aid kit in the upcoming room on the right. However, if the chimeras only claimed two victims, then there is no antidote to the poison that your comrade has been incapacitated with. By now the truth of the imposter has been exposed and that person was killed during your last challenge if they hadn't been killed already. The clock will soon strike thirteen. If you come across a grandfather clock at that hour, break it. The white haired boy will lead you down the right path. YOU MUST TRUST HIM. PROTECT HIM AT ALL COSTS!

-M

The group stayed silent for a moment. Brian was the first to speak up after running his hand through his hair. "The chimeras only killed two people."

"No antidote," Zoey responded quietly.

"A" sensed their pain. "I'm sorry," he apologized. It sounded like a genuine apology. Unlike anything else in this house, he seemed actually concerned for them. "Which one of you got hit?" he asked . Both Lindsey and Brian raised their hands.

He looked at them puzzled. "Whoa two victims!" He paused, slightly embarrassed. "Sorry, it's just, I don't think that's ever happened before. I don't know, it's a long shot, but there might be an antidote, but I'm not really sure. Like I said, this hasn't happened before. But we can check for a first aid kit. I know where to find it."

The rest of them looked at each other, trying to decide whether or not to trust him.

Zoey figured he had something to do with the notes, and although the notes weren't always helpful, they were usually right.

She nodded. Brian shrugged. "Lindsey, what do you think?" he asked.

She was trying to figure out exactly what she thought. The white haired boy didn't seem like such a bad guy. He seemed rather good natured, easy going, funny, and could be a bit tactless at times, just like one person she knew she could always trust. Plus, if he tried anything, she still had her sword. "All right. We'll go check," she agreed.

"A" led them down another dark hallway.

"What if there isn't one?" Zoey worried. "I should've-"

"Zoey," Brian cut her off.

"But I should've said something as soon as I realized..."

"Stop beating yourself up," he told her.

She looked up at the two of her friends, "You guys should hate me," she said with a small voice.

"Zoey," Lindsey began. "I am mad at so many people right now, but trust me, you're not one of them."

"But what if there's no antidote," Zoey reminded them.

The other two looked at eachother apprehensively. Despite their act, they were very worried about their situation.

"We'll...we'll figure something out," Brian tried to assure her.

"Yeah," Lindsey added. "I mean...let's not give up hope that we can somehow get out of this place and find actual help."

Ahead of them, "A" opened a door on the right. Zoey quickly ran inside. Her hopes soared when she saw the first aid kit, but they dropped just as quickly when she opened it up. She felt completely hopeless and defeated.

"There's no antidote, is there?" Lindsey assumed.

Zoey didn't speak for several seconds. Her expression made it seem like the situation was worse. "There's only one."

Lindsey felt her heart sink right into her stomach. This couldn't be happening. It wasn't fair. Of all the cruel, horrible tricks the house had played, this was the worst. She desperately tried to fight back tears. "Well...we'll share it," she tried to sound confident.

"Um...actually," "A" said awkwardly. "The antidote needs to be taken in full. Only one person can take it."

This time, she couldn't stop herself from crying. "No," she sobbed. "No, they can't do this!" She collapsed to the floor in despair. How could they make her and her best friend choose between only one of their lives?

Brian knelt down next to her and handed her the tiny bottle filled with blue liquid. "Here Lindsey, you take it."

She got up startled and pushed the bottle back. "What? Why me?" she asked. "What makes me any more important or deserving?"

"Words can't explain why," Brian responded. "I just know it's true."

"I don't wanna live if both of us can't," she said, still in tears.

"Please Lindsey," Brian begged.

"No!"

"I'm not taking it," he said calmly, but firmly. For the first time, he was sticking to his guns and not settling for an alternative, simply because it was "good enough".

"A" was observing them. He looked around frantically, but his lips were pursed together, as if they were literally clamped shut.

"But-"Lindsey tried to interject.

"Please Lindsey," he repeated. "It's what I want."

She wanted to ask him if he was sure, but she already knew the answer. She just didn't want to believe what was happening. It wasn't fair, she didn't want to lose him. They had been best friends since they were four. For twelve years, he had put up with her bold personality, accepted her strong opinions, listened to her when no one else wanted to. They had stuck by each other's side even when the genders became segregated in elementary school. Since they met, Lindsey had always wanted him to stop being so compliant, and now that he was, how could she say no?

Impulsively, she wrapped her arms around him while in hysterics. "Brian, you're my best friend in the entire world, just-"

They both winced in pain. The poison was starting to spread..

He placed the bottle in her hand. "For me?" he asked.

She nodded weakly. Her hands were shaking so much it was a surprise that she didn't spill the antidote. She drank the small liquid in a matter of seconds. She thought it tasted horrible, but she couldn't figure out what it tasted like. Maybe it didn't even have a taste and she wanted it to be awful. After all, if separation was a flavor, it would taste bad.

Brian winced again, even harder. It was like the poison knew who it was going to claim permanently.

Lindsey choked on another sob. "I can't watch," she said barely audibly.

"I don't want you to," he said.

Lindsey wiped her eyes, but it did no good. A fresh batch of tears would stream as soon as she took her hand away.

"I want you to know you're the best part about my life," he told her. "Always know that. I love you more than a girlfriend--"

"Like a best friend," Lindsey finished, giving him a small smile. It was likely going to be the last time she ever did. "I'm gonna miss you so much," she said softly.

"Miss you too," he tried to reply, but he began to wince again.

Unable to watch anymore, the rest of the group left the room and Lindsey began to cry even harder once the door was shut. She knew for a fact that she could never be happy again.