Battle Royale Fan Fiction ❯ Battle Royale: All American High School ❯ Play to Win ( Chapter 4 )

--------> TONIGHT ON A BRAND NEW EPISODE OF "BATTLE ROYALE!"

The blood flies wild in tonight's episode! Two vicious boys capture an innocent beauty to feed their wild sexual desires! But what does their self-appointed "leader" think of this? Does he approve? Will he participate? Or will this action send him into an uncontrollable rage? Meanwhile, a young and innocent girl encounters another of her kind that might lead her to survival, or to the Valley of Death! But which one? The answers to all these questions and more on tonight's vicious episode of "BATTLE ROYALE 5: DESERTED ISLAND!"

At 2000 hours tonight on America Network 7.

GOD BLESS AMERICA AND THE GOVERNMENT! <--------

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Chapter 4: Play to Win

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My name is Hannah Williams. I'm a junior at Bakerlane High School. I'm the daughter of a pastor and a cartographer. At least I was but, according to Mr. Stephens, I'm not anymore. I'm a contestant. No, not even that. I'm just girl number twenty.

That and they spelled my name wrong. "Hanah Williams." That's how they spelled it on my nametag. There are two "ns." It's always been that way and I've never really complained about. You'd think Hannah would be a pretty easy name to spell. I mean, it's spelled the same backwards too. How could the school get that wrong? But I guess it's too late for any of that, now. After all, I'm just Girl Number Twenty.

I saw that most of the other kids where heading straight from the school into the woods. I decided against that. There would be a lot of people in the woods that would probably be willing to kill me. Besides, it was going to be dark soon and it would be even darker in the woods. I've never been one to do what everyone else was doing. I went around the school and away from the forest, and hopefully away from any one whom would be willing to hurt me. I would have liked to gone with Karen Crim, one of the few people in the school who I trust, but she left way before me.

Right now, the sun is setting. It's getting dark and I'm half worried that if I fall I'll stab myself with my axe. I've never been all that athletic and running as fast as possible while carrying a full daypack and a heavy axe is taxing on my body. It's not a very big body as it is. I was (and suppose still am) one of the shortest kids in my homeroom. Only 5 foot four.

In front of me, I can hear a river running. Also in the distance, the silhouette of a village is visible. The plan is to get across that river somehow (hopefully there's a bridge) and get into one of those house where I'll hide for the night. In the morning I'll figure out what I'm doing. I'm not real kin on the idea of "playing." I really don't want to kill anyone. Sure, I've thought about how life would be easier if some people mysteriously wound up dead, but I never actually wanted to do that. There have been times when I was bullied by Ben Manoli or Jessica Clayton and when I got home I would scribble in my journal about how nice it would be if I could murder them. But... I guess I never really wanted to do it. Just a stress-relieving fantasy. I guess this game has put it in prospective for me.

Before me, the river is visible. I get to the bank and look down at it. The current looks strong. It flows out into the ocean, no doubt. I pick up some pebbles off the ground and drop them into the river. It's kind of deep too. I don't think I can swim that well. In retrospect, it probably would have been a good idea to join the swim team like Mom said I should.

God, Mom... I wonder what my Mom is going through right. Oh, God...

I turn around and over look the land. There is a grassy field in-between the school building and me. It's maybe a couple meters long. It would make for a nice spring day walk on better situations. The school building can still be seen even through it's getting dark. I look to my left. The ocean is visible from here. I see the silhouettes of small boats going up and down the water. What are they there for? Just in case one of the students swims out to the ocean? Didn't Mr. Stephens say that our collars would explode if we went beyond the beach? Who knows.

I sit down by the river. Maybe I should just sit here until someone finds me. Hmm, that's no good. I just need to rest a little. A breeze picks up, sending a draft right up my skirt. I pull it down and grumble. Damn uniforms. I always feel like such a skank in these things. What are you going to do, Hannah?

Suddenly, things are very urgent.

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"Move the fuck along!" Bradley shouts at Amber. He pushes her and she falls to the ground. She shouts in pain.

"I'm hurt!" She calls out. Bradley gets an angry look on his face. He kneels down beside her, pushes her head down into the dirt and holds his gun to her face. He shouts at her, "You want me to just blow your fucking brains out, right now? Bitch?"

Amber cries out again but stands back up. Bradley pokes her in the ribs with the muzzle of his gun and makes her move along again. I watch all of this from behind them.

I look down at my gun. It's a revolver a lot like the one my Dad always kept under his bed. The manual that came with it said it was a "Smith and Westen 357 Revolving Hand Pistol." Most of the gun is sliver, but the handle is brown and looks like polish wood. The top of the gun's barrel seems to be a little wider then the rest of the barrel. Its fairly good size, not overly heavy but not small. Bradley's gun is too big though. He's got the "Dirty Harry" gun.

Brad turns back to me and shouts, "Hey, Ben! What are you doing?"

Yeah, Benjamin Manoli, that's me. Boy Number Sixteen. I look over at Bradley and shout back, "I'm coming!"

Bradley had a plan. He said we would get out of the school, meet at the edge of the forest and wait for the Boss. But Boss never came. I don't know if he went a different route then us or something, but we didn't see him. The Boss is smart, though. He's probably found a good hiding place and is waiting for us. I'm sure the Boss knows what to do.

I'm beginning to think that Brad's plan is a little fucked up. He's doesn't know where he's going, of course, he never does. Not that I can never tell him that. He's way too stubborn. Without the Boss around, Bradley always seems to think he becomes the leader and you can't tell him any different. Or else he'll get angry and want to fight you. That's the least thing I need right now. So I'll just go along with his plan. He's thinking we'll find the Boss eventually. I like that part but I don't think where going to find him by wondering around the woods. And while I wouldn't mind having a piece of Amber Hamilton, I think she's baggage we don't need now. We should have found the Boss then find a girl and fuck her up if we wanted to. Bradley's a dumb fuck, but he's got the bigger gun, so I guess he makes the rules.

Not that I'm saying I'm really all that smart. I'm stupid, too. My Dad always said I was stupid, always hit me when I was stupid, and I know I'm stupid. I wouldn't be half the person I am today with it weren't for the Boss. He changed me. Made me more of a fighter, more of a man. I'm better because of the Boss.

His real name is Luke Shipman, even though I only call him that every once in awhile. It's "Boss" most of the time. Before him I was just a real son-of-a-bitch. Striking out at whom ever would get in my way. I would pick fights left and right. I was a real bad fucker back in middle school, but high school was new turf. Like I said, I was stupider back then. I figured, different pond, but same fishes, same rules. I would own this whole fuckin' place in weeks.

That was wrong. Real fucking wrong. At first, it all seemed the same. The teachers where basically the same. The first time I tried to beat up some geek, they jumped on my ass. A week in detention. No big. Next time I'll pick a better location to the wipe the floor with a fag. Well, no luck. Freshman year, it's outside the weight room. I'm beating into J.D. Collis, real loser. This scrawny geek thought he was smart, wouldn't let me copy his answers. Well, I taught him. Beat the shit out of him. Then though, I remember it real clear, a voice rung out to me.

"Hey, stop that."

"Fuck off," was what I said. Big mistake. Big fucking mistake. Next thing I know, three seniors are tearing into me. They saying that freshmen need to be put in their place. Apparently, the freshmen's place is knocked out on the floor. The one guy had a knife, I remember. A little pocketknife, but he messed me up. Cut me real deep up my chest and across my face. Made a really badass scar eventually, but it hurt at the time. Hurt like hell. I was pretty sure I was going to die, right there in the weight room. No hope for me. The seniors had me. I was through. That's when, Luke showed up. Luke walked into the corner of the room, just to lift some weights he told me later, and saw these three big kids cutting into me. Luke didn't like that. He saw it as unfair. The Boss is okay with fighting for fighting sakes, but he thinks it's got to be fair. That's way he's never let us actually hurt any of the kids that we bully. He's like a samurai thing or something. He's got honor. The Boss showed those seniors a thing or two. He showed them who the fuck's in charge in here.

I was in the hospital for a while after that, but while I was there, I became obsessed with the kid that saved me. He was a real fighter, you know. I decided I was going to follow him. He was going to be my master, my teacher, and my boss. Gonna' teach me his honor. I wasn't sure of it, but I could tell, this kid was different. He was special. I think that's the first time I ever really idolize somebody.

About a week after I got out of the hospital, I finally got to meet him. He seemed completely unsurprised by the fact that someone would idolize him like that. As if he was born for greatness. So Luke and me started to take over the school. All the little drug dealers where working for us. We're where taking in more money then what we knew to do with. After a while, Brad teamed up with us. So now where the troublemakers, the crooks, the delinquents. We owned the school. I couldn't be happy about that.

But it all comes back to the Boss. Without him we where just a bunch of angry punks. He got us organized. He knows what where good at and he lets us work with our strengths. So, yeah, Brad and me are stupid, but weren't not dumb. I don't know if that makes any sense, but it's the truth.

This game, though, I don't know about this. I don't think I could kill someone. I mean, I talk tough, I act tough, I am tough. But I'm not cold. I wouldn't kill anyone just because. I can't do that. We've got our honor. It's twisted and fucked up, for sure, but we still have it. Yet what if someone tried to kill me? I would have to fight back. I can't believe they're doing this to us. Goddamn schools. The Boss will deal with it. He'll know what to do.

Brad and me have been in the forest for about an hour now, I guess. Like I said, he doesn't know what he's doing. Still, I guess I am looking forward to doing whatever the fuck I want with that Amber. Still, I don't know. It's fuck-uped.

The Boss will know what to do. He always knows what to do.

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The cave is cold, but it's a good hiding place. Out in the open is a dangerous place to be. Here, in this cave, I have a sense of protection. That I'm in control of this situation.

I'm always in control.

I'm Luke Shipman, of course.

I sit down on the cave floor and decide to look through my daypack. I hadn't bothered to look into it yet. I was more interested in finding someplace where I could take control.

The government thinks that the students won't know what to do. That they will lose all sense of control. If they are out of control they'll be scared. When people are scared they do stupid things. When people are scared they start to loose control of not only the situation they're in, but of everything else. Their minds jump to the wrong conclusion. They think that the government is right, and they have no control. That's not true.

All my life people have been telling me I don't have control over things, but I've always realized the truth. You are only powerless if you think you are. I believe I red that in a book, once. So I learn to write, read, fight, paint, sing, dance, drive, fuck, whatever. Whatever it takes. I have made sure that no matter what happens I would be in control. Perhaps I have been preparing for Battle Royale my entire life.

Inside my daypack are about five different objects. About five containers of water, a bag of bread rolls, a package of soap, a bag of toilet paper, and another bag. I remove the first four bags and place them on the ground. I'll probably need them later. The fifth bag I open and look inside, curious. It contains a small booklet and a metal object. The metal object has a rectangular center. A handle comes down from the rectangle. An object seems to be centered inside the handle. There is a small cylinder emerging from the front of the rectangle. There is trigger in front of the handle. It's a gun of course. The booklet says it's a Fully Automatic 9mm. Uzi Machine Gun. I hold it by the handle. It seems to fit. I point the gun at the wall and hold the trigger. Bullets exploded from the cylinder and slam into the cave wall, leaving small circle shaped indentions in the wall. I like this weapon. It feels right. I look into the bag and notice something else. There are four other rectangles lying in the bottom of the bag. Cartridges for the gun. This is the correct weapon for me. I like it.

"Boss!" A voice from beyond the cave calls. I look up and see three figures heading toward the cave. I know them, they're my associates. The group I "hang out with" at school if for no other reason then it helps pass the time. The two figures are Ben and Bradley. I don't recognize the third figure immediately. Soon, as they get farther into my plain of view, I recognize the third figure as Amber Hamilton. What is she doing here?

"Boss! See, Ben, I knew we would find him!" Bradley shouts back at Ben, who is behind him. In his hand, Bradley holds a large handgun of some sort. Ben holds a gun that's smaller then Brad's, but is similar in build. Ben also holds three daypacks, presumably belonging to the group. They enter my cave. Bradley throws Amber to the floor. She is kicking and screaming. I stand up and look at the three of them.

"Hey, Boss." Ben says and leans against the cave entrance.

I point at the girl and ask, "What is she doing here?"

Bradley cackles and looks up at me. "I figured we would be able to have a little fun with her."

Amber cries hysterically. She looks up at me and then at Bradley and screams, "Don't touch me, you perverts!"

Bradley laughs again, "Well, Boss, what do you think? Piece of work or what?"

"It's fine. Do with her whatever you want."

"Don't you want a piece?"

"I may participate later."

Ben looks at me, "What's the plan, Boss? We gonna' fight back. Take down the school?"

To be honest, the thought never occurred to me.

"I'm thinking of something. What weapon does the girl have?"

Bradley laughs again. Ben throws the three bags at him. He opens one up and removes a plastic case. Bradley opens it and shows it to me. Inside are four separate piles of black, strange shaped object. One set is shaped like small circular saws. The second set are like four pointed stars, the third set has four rounded points. Finally, the fourth set are like small spears. I look up at Brad who is still laughing.

"Ninja stars! Fucking ninja stars! Can you believe that? They expect us to know how to use fucking ninja stars!" Bradley lets out another laugh.

I didn't bother to tell him that the proper term is shurikens. Ben holds Amber down so that she won't escape. I motion to the gun in Bradley's hand.

"What kind of gun is that?" I ask. Bradley smiles at me and holds up the large weapon.

"I think it's called a Magnum, but I'm not sure. All I know is it's a badass looking motherfucker." Bradley pointed the gun at the wall, "I bet I could fuck some shit up with this."

Bradley laughs again and points the gun at Amber's head. "You image what your head will look like if I pull this trigger?" Amber screams again, "It would splatter all over the place. Look like a fuckin' bowl of chili. Can you fuckin' imagine that?" Bradley looks up at Ben as Amber screams again. Bradley licks his lips and throws his gun to the ground. "Get off her, Ben. I'm gonna' fuck her."

Ben stands up and walks beside me as Bradley descends on Amber. He rips open her uniform suit. Her two plump, pale breasts pop out into the night air. She screams again as Bradley takes one of her nipples in his mouth. He starts to undress himself as he continues to tear away Amber's clothes. Ben walks beside me. He turns away from the ugly display. I myself turn away. Amber is a very attractive girl, but Bradley's physical features are unpleasant to say the least.

I hold the Uzi in my jacket. Ben looks at me and asks, "What weapon do you have?"

I pull out the Uzi and he's eyes grow wide. "Uzi." I say simply.

Ben looks surprised, "That's a good piece. You may actually get away from this place."

I hear Amber scream as Bradley begins to enter her. He grunts loudly. In the corner of my eye I can see his body beginning to pump up and down as she continues to scream. What an ugly, ugly, display.

"This place? You mean the game?" I ask.

"Yeah. We can't let those government assholes win. We have to escape, or die trying." Ben seems confident.

I look at my designated weapon. "Yes, I understand."

Brad is loud and Amber's screams are even louder. I look over out of morbid curiosity to see that Amber's crying face is bruised. Bradley appears to have punched her. Bradley continues to moan loudly. I quickly turn away. It is unpleasant. I make a decision, right there. A very important decision.

"Luke," Ben calls. "Do you really think there's a way we can escape this?"

I nod, "Yes. There is a way."

I lift up the Uzi and hold down the trigger.

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Not a lot of things are going through my mind as the bullets rip into my body. I don't feel much pain, really. For a fact, the only thing I feel is a little angry. A little pissed off you could say.

I see Luke walk over and shoot at Brad and Amber. They're bodies explode open and blood flies all over the place. Boss picks up Brad's gun and plants one more bullet in my head.

Like I said, not a lot of thoughts came to me. Only one. Foolishness. I guess I am pretty stupid.

Honor… What a bunch of bullshit. God, I'm stupid.

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Ben, Brad, and Amber's bodies lie on the cave floor in a large puddle of blood. Tiny holes mark all of their bodies. Blood still runs from them. The upper half of Ben's head has exploded. Bradley was actually right about something, for once. The mixture of blood, bone, and brains that surround Ben's head does rather resemble chili.

I pick up the three packs. I remove the bread and water from them. I place them into my bag. I probably can't have to many resources like that. I place Bradley and Ben's handguns into my pant's pockets. I decide not to take the shurikens. As interesting weapons as they are, they're impractical in this situation. I walk out of the cave and head west, further into the forest. I hear the distinct sound of a running river in that direction.

That decision I made earlier, it was a simple one. I've decided I was going to take control of the situation. I decided that I am going to kill all my classmates. I decided that I am going to win Battle Royale.

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Hannah Williams, that's my name. I'm hiding in a house right now. There was a small bridge over the river a little whiles down from where I was sitting. I broke open the window with my axe and snuck in. I'm hiding in a closet. One of those closets that fold out. It's got like a grid in the door. I can see into the house. My hand hurts. I think I cut it on some broken glass, getting into the building.

I panicked, I guess you could say. Someone came running toward me. I couldn't tell who they where. Does it matter? I got afraid. I figured they where coming to kill me. I'm a small person and a girl. I'm weak. An easy target. I just scream, come and kill me, I won't hurt you to much.

So now I'm hiding in a very nervous state. Even though my mind says it's very illogical, I'm telling my body that I have to hide because everyone is out to kill me. This game is getting to me.

What do I do now? If I run out in the open I will probably get killed. If I stay here, I'll probably get killed. There's no escape. I can't trust anyone. This sucks.

I hear something. My arms snap up. I'm ready to chop into anyone who comes near me with my axe. I can't believe it. Minutes earlier I was just thinking to myself that I couldn't kill anyone else, but now, I'm saying that I will kill anyone who gets near me. I try to reassure my self. I can't let my feeling get out of hand. I need to keep my self together. I can't fall apart. It's just the foundation of the house. There's no one here. It's just the wind.

I hear footstep. Shit, well that puts that theory away. I hold unto the axe. The footsteps get closer. I'm shaking. Can't get scared, Hannah.

A girl walks into my plan of vision. A girl? Maybe she won't hurt me. She has long auburn hair. A small black object lies in her hands. I think it's a stun gun. Isn't that what those things are called? Can you kill someone with those? Wait… I recognize the girl.

It's Ashley Nixon. The class slut. She always boasted about how she's slept with all those boys. She's ruthless. Oh, my God. She's has to be playing. She's vicious. Ashley Nixon is going to kill me with that stun gun. I know it.

I raise the axe above my head and I'm about to attack her when she opens the closet door. She's been crying. Why has she been crying?

"Hannah? Is that you?" Her voice sounds… Frightened.

I freeze in my place. This is completely unexpected.

"Hannah! I'm so glad I found you! I was so scared! I was afraid someone was going to attack me! I know I'm not liked! I knew someone was going to kill me! God, Hannah, I'm so happy it's you!" Ashley's voice is soft and angelic. She's crying. This isn't like her at all.

I lower my axe and exit the closet. Ashley hugs me. I can't believe this. She doesn't know me. Yet, she's happy to see me. I guess I'm better liked then I thought. I can feel her tears fall on my shoulder. Ashley Nixon is crying on my shoulder. I can't believe this. This would have never happened if not for the game.

I probably wouldn't say this under any other situation, but maybe this game isn't so bad after all.

Ashley parts and looks up at me. She's still crying. She's a really pretty girl. No wonder all those guys slept with her. Well, maybe she didn't sleep with all those guys. Maybe she just has an undeserved bad reputation. Yeah, deep down I bet she's a really good person.

Ashley smiles at me and says, "Hannah, is that an axe?"

I answer, hearing my own voice for the first time this evening. "Yeah. Why do you ask?"

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I turn on the stun gun and shove it into Hannah's neck. Her body shakes and falls to the floor. I drop the stun gun and pull the axe out of her hand. I raise it high and send in down into her neck, right above the collar. Blood flies up at me, a little splashes on my face. Hannah coughs and blood ekes out of her mouth. I lift the axe back up and bring it down again. This time into Hannah's forehead. I hear her skull cracks. More blood. Her body stops shaking. I remove the axe and I can see her brain. She's dead.

Hannah was always a little outcast. A nobody. Not a geek really. She wasn't annoying like a geek. Just an outcast. No one will miss her. It was a mercy killing.

Not like it's a big deal. Battle Royale is just like high school. Different classroom, different rules, same game. Destroy all that get in the way of having what you want. Don't let anyone stand in your way. Maybe I am a heartless bitch, so what? It's not like you wouldn't do that same thing.

I leave the stun gun. Piece of shit. Wouldn't do me any good. I can't fool everyone like I did Hannah. Some people actually know me better then that. The axe is a much better weapon. I take it.

I can't believe she bought into that act. Jessica Clayton (one of my friends) always said I was a good actress. I laughed and say to myself, "Ashley, you are a devious little bitch." I laugh again and head toward the house's door.

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End of chapter four.

"34 contestants remaining!"