Prologue
“I really didn't think I would come, but my brother needs the help this person can give him. Hopefully, this event won't last long so that I can get back to him. I just need to think of him while I'm here.” I whisper to myself as I hold onto my locket.
There are so many cars in the lot. I can only imagine how many people will be joining this event tonight. I am flustered with how I'll fit in. They'll probably think I stick out like a sore thumb. This property is something I could never have imagined owning from the deep crimson and creamy white roses that covered the estate to the perfectly aligned decor that fascinated me while I walked. I gawk over how beautiful everything is. It feels like it's straight out of a fairy tale. I'll take it in while I can and tell my brother about it when I see him. He probably won't believe me, especially when I tell him they put me in this beautiful white gown.
I walked up the stairs to the door and knocked. A tall man stood before me and seemed to inspect me from head to toe. It made me feel self-conscious because no one had ever looked at me for that long. I can get past the disgusted looks, but this just felt wrong.
“You must be Penelope,” He said with clear disdain, as if he already knew who I was.
He opens the door wider and lets me in, showing me to a lavish room. Filled with a three-tiered crystal chandelier, wooden floors filled with dancing, and beautifully played music that bounces off each wall. It's like nothing I've seen before. Where I come from, we don't have things half as nice. I look around the room and notice it is filled with beautiful women and men you don't normally see. To only look at myself in this dress that I can't say where it came from, because I don’t know. It’s nicer than I could ever imagine, but I don't think it suits me. From paperboy to Cinderella in one night is baffling to me. I have noticed more people are trying to talk to me while I wear this getup. They must be trying to play nice. I felt silly trying to act like someone that I’m not with all this makeup and clothes. I'm just curious to know how they knew my exact shade color. I mean, it's not that hard when you're probably the lightest shade. All of this, it's just not me, but it's only for a few hours, and then I can go back to being little ole me. I should enjoy it while it lasts. I walked across the room to find a bar area. There stands a man pouring himself a drink.
"For a fine establishment such as this, the liquor sure is of poor quality." He drawls mockingly before continuing, "I could find this in any rundown tavern in this forsaken town." He obnoxiously tossed aside his glass and made a face.
I walked up to this man, immediately annoyed by his lack of manners. “It’s bold of you to insult what someone else has when it isn’t even yours to begin with.
“And who are you?” He asked, his eyebrow arched as he looked at me with the same disdainful look.
“Who am I?” I scoff. “I'm not inclined to answer,” I reply, lifting my chin high and narrowing my eyes as if he were below my level.
He mutters under his breath, “Fuckin’ bitch.”
“Do you want to say that a little louder? I know the small man isn't scared with that famous mouth of his.”
“Sorry, I don't talk to belligerent girls. If you know what belligerent even means.” He says with a smirk.
“I'm not stupid, nor do I have to put up with you a second longer.” I grabbed my gloves, ready to roll them down.
Abruptly, a speaker goes off, and silence fills the room. You hear a honeyed voice coming from that speaker, and everyone looks around.
“Okay, everyone, calm yourselves. There's no need to fight. That’s all for later. I am known for many things, but you can call me Samuel. I want to welcome you to my home, where most of your corpses will live from here on out. Let's just see how long you can make it before your bones decorate my shed.”
The speaker let out a small giggle after hearing what he said.
“You all are undoubtedly confused as to why you are here. I hand-selected all of you after a certain amount of observation. You all fit into the same criteria…well, besides one of you. Have you figured out who?”
I felt like everyone’s eyes were looking at me, and I was right.
“I wanted this game to be as interesting as possible. You can probably tell just by looking around the room. A good lot of you are sociopaths. Throughout the remainder of the time you are here, you are going to be broadcast. I have hidden cameras in every bedroom. My plan is for you to kill each other until one of you is still standing. Whoever is left standing will inherit this house and the rest of my fortune or be offered a chance to take my place.”
What kind of sick game is this? Is he serious about this? These people can't be that messed up in the head to want this. I thought to myself.
As I look around, I see grins on many people's faces; a shiver immediately runs down my spine. All of this feels so wrong. The air is weighing down on me, and everything I do feels like I'm stepping on broken glass. I feel like everyone can hear me breathing hard, and I hate it. My thoughts are scrambling, and I'm scared. I know murder isn't something that should be normalized, but they act like it is. The silence felt like it was suffocating me, and I don't know what to do. All I feel is panic, and I'm trapped in a place where I can't show it.
“Now, it's almost time for dinner. I'll have my butler show you to the dining room.”
The butler leads everyone out of the room into the next, and I notice it’s a much smaller group.
