Death's Game - Episode 3

 

Previously on Death's game

*****
"Not again." I said in a daze, all of the incident had been forgotten, the pain, the drama, the tears. In that moment I knew was going to die again, except this time I would remain dead as the car fell to the side and glided down the track.

I saw myself relive my death.
******

Panic rushed through me. My entire being was awake . I struggled with the seat belt until it finally unlocked. My head was on fire, like I had been hit with bricks, and blood oozed from cuts on my head, arm, and leg. "I'm not going to die," I told myself desperately, ignoring the pain that shot through my body as I maneuvered my way to the other side of the door since mine laid beneath me. The train was getting close, and just when I was about to accept my fate a hand pulled me out rather roughly and I screamed in agonizing pain. At least I was alive.

"Thanks," I whispered, trying to calm my racing heart and clutching my head before looking up at a pissed Derick. Why was he angry.

"Don't thank me. I only saved myself!" He turned to leave. He always did that, always left me in the dark.

"I don't get it," I croaked.

"Then you are stupid," he responded.

"Why won't you explain?" I begged

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/death-s-game

. I was desperate for answers.

"Like I said, we are bound, linked by a single life. If I die, you die and if you die, I die". Shit, and here I was thinking he had been speaking in parables.

"Why you and I? Are we destined for something?" I felt stupid saying 'destined'. Did I think I was in some silly soap opera? He confirmed my stupidity by laughing dryly. "Destined?" Another laugh. "This is a game," he looked me in the eye, "you either survive or they kill you, mentally or physically, and you are already dying in both ways," he scoffed.

I was pretty sure he referred to the accident physically and the dried tears mentally. He was right, I was screwed both ways.

"I made a mistake with you." He frowned and walked away, leaving me, a bruised girl, on the street. Another romantic and gentleman-like act. Well at least he called 911.
The paramedics came into view, placed me on a stretcher, took me to the hospital, and called my parents.

"Darling!" my mum was on the verge of tears

"Don't cry, I'm not dead," I hugged her, wincing at the contact. "Dad do something about mum, she is taking this too seriously!" I tried a smile.

"Death is not a funny subject." Dad looked serious and I wanted to burst out in laughter. Since when has thinking of death been so funny? Oh yeah, since when I died. I giggled inwardly. If only they knew I was already dead or supposed to die or be dead. This was confusing.

"We are your parents, we're supposed to worry," Dad placed his hands on my shoulders and slightly squeezed. "Now let's head home, you need a bath."

"What a nice way of telling me I stink," I rolled my eyes while Dad smiled, comforting Mum and leading her out the door.

"I'm sorry, but I doubt this is the end," I whispered to no one in particular and followed behind, but I could feel it smile.

It watched but I didn't know who It was. It was etched in my subconscious since I died and I knew It was out for blood 'Mine'.

I blacked out immediately I hit the soft mattress of my bed, to exhausted to think about mine and Derick's conversation, if that little exchange could be called one.

I awoke to a knock on my door.
"Milianda honey, your dad is on the way to the mall. I was thinking you should go with him, help out and get fresh air."

"Sure mum."

I got up from the bed, took a shower, wore a three-quarter pair of blue jeans, a black top and was out the door while my father stood by the door of the car.
"So how are you feeling?" Dad prompted. We had gone a few blocks in comfortable silence till he thought it was awkward. I shrugged

"Alright I guess, a little sore."

"School?"

"The usual" Oh wait, except my best friend and boyfriend, yes the ones you know, were banging each other's brains out in the toilet. Got a detention slip. Met an arrogant, annoying guy called Derick Stawkins.

"Good," his hands stroked his hair. He was nervous about something.

"Dad, what's wrong?" I had to ask.

"Nothing dear. Don't mind your old pops," he smiled. This wasn't good, dad never called himself old. Something was up but I smiled in kind.

We didn't stay long in the mall, just got all the necessities. But he did stop to buy me a charm, which he claimed was a late birthday present. It was a gold chain and hanging on it were a key, a heart, a book, and a bird. It was simple but beautiful. I loved it.

"Hope you like it." We were in the car now, driving back home.

"I love it." I sighed in satisfaction staring at the charm. "It's beautiful."

"I'm glad to hear it." I looked up at him and back at the road.

No, no, not again. "Dad watch out!" But it was too late. We were off the road and onto a construction site. I looked at my dad my sight still a little blurred so I blinked a little and looked again. He stared back at me in horror. He wasn't blinking, his mouth opened in an attempt to pull air into his lungs. Except that those lungs now laid on his laps, torn by a large pipe with a smaller pipe that ran from his unbeating heart to his back, piercing the seat, blood escaping his wounds and mouth as he turned and gave me a slight smile before he slumped.

I screamed, jolting awake with my pillow soaked with sweat, my heart pounding, my lungs failing. I couldn't breathe, or rather, I didn't know how to. In, out, in, out. I chanted to myself. It worked and my lungs were functioning again.
- knock knock -

"Milianda honey, your dad is on the way to the mall. I was thinking you should go with him, help out and get fresh air."

"S-sure mum," I stammered. Now I knew my dream wasn't a dream. It was going to happen. It was playing with me again but I didn't care.

Read " Eve " by the same author ( Amy Maduka )

. I was going to save my dad.

I got up from the bed, took a shower, wore the same clothes, and went out to find my dad by the car.

"So how are you feeling?" He asked the same questions and I gave the same answers. He bought the same charm and I loved it just as much as I did before.

"Hope you like it."

"I love it. It's beautiful." I looked up the road, saw it coming, and without warning took the steering wheel and got us on the right path.

"There was a construction site there," I answered Dad's unspoken question as he looked at me, stunned.

"How did you know?" He asked, eyes on the road now.

"I passed by here recently," I shrugged.

"But the timing was too perfect."

"Yeah, I guess we were lucky. Coincidence." I wasn't lying, I just wasn't saying everything. At least, that is what I told myself. I couldn't have him worry about something I didn't understand either.

He accepted it and we made our way home without any more incidents. I was gloating to It in my own abnormal way, hoping It was listening to my thoughts as It invaded them. My laughter was short lived however when I saw my dad slump down on the concrete. Unsure of what was happening I stopped breathing and looked down at him gasping for air.

"Dad, please no, anything else," I begged the unconscious man and begged the air around me. My dad wasn't breathing. "You shouldn't have saved him."I felt whatever It was smile.