Page 144 of Kill Feed

A rugged guy I barely recognize approaches first.

“Hey... I’m Jeremy,” He offers an uncertain smile. “Mind if we stick with you?” Another contestant drifts closer from behind him. “I’m Nara, by the way.” A few more players look interested in joining my side while others scowl. None of them were interested in speaking to me an hour ago, and now I’m the main attraction.

Fucking predictable.

Amani takes the lead, introducing herself to the man and woman whose smiles reach from ear to ear. I let her entertain our new ‘friends’ as long as I don’t have to talk to them.

“Look at you,” Lucas nudges my shoulder lightly. “Most popular guy in Kill Feed.” His tone is playful; his fingers aren’t. They keep tapping against the face of his watch.

Nothing lights up.

No messages, no sponsorships, no money, with only a rank that leaves him at the bottom.

Beside us, Amani’s watch starts to vibrate. She glances down, smiling awkwardly before locking the screen again.

“I only got a couple,” she says quietly to the group.

“Must be due to your stunt during Russian Roulette,” Nara beams, grabbing Amani by her wrist to take a look at her watch. “Whoa, you got quite a few sponsors, and you’re ranked quite high.”

Lucas peers over, eyes flaring. “Oh,” he mouths, forcing a grin. “Nice.”

She starts to say something reassuring to him, pulling her hand free from Nara’s grip just as another voice cuts in.

“As quickly as they make favorites,” Leo starts, eyes settling briefly on Lucas’s watch, “they’re just as quick to get bored and move on.”

“Pfft, yeah, man,” Lucas utters.

“Can we talk?” Leo whispers as he passes me, and I follow him toward one of the quieter corners of the dorm.

“You should watch your back,” he states, leaning with his back against the wall.

“Yeah, no shit.”

“I’m serious,” Leo states, crossing his arms over his chest.

“So am I.” How naive does he think I am? I’m not a child, nor will the rank and amount of money get to me if that is what he’s worried about.

He exhales through his nose. “That stunt with the ram skull hunter and threatening Mason in front of everyone wasn’t a smart move.”

At this point, he must be mocking me. Every choice, every decision, and every move I made thus far was clean, clinical, and kept everyone around me alive.

Leo shakes his head. “People don’t forget things like that around here.”

“They can remember whatever the fuck they want.”

“They’ll make you pay for it, Adrian.”

I meet his eyes, stepping closer. “I don’t give a shit. In the next game, I’m killing Dante.” The open threat hangs between us, “…and anyone who gets in my way.”

Leo studies me for a long moment. Then one eyebrow slowly rises. “So, that’s how you’re going to deal with this?” He looks away for a second before speaking again, “Killing the ram skull hunter?"

“Yes.”

“And you think he’s the one who put you, Lucas, and Amani in here?”

“Yes.”

He bites lightly at the inside of his lip. “I don't think the hunters have that kind of authority.”