Thin Line Between Heaven and Here

[Laurels]

((Paige Strand continued from With Great Power, Comes Great Responsibility))

Good morning, kiddies. You've all survived your first night away from home. Isn't this just the vacation you've always dreamed of?

Goddamit, I'm still here.

Paige slowly opened her eyes and sat up. She hoped that she could fall asleep and wake up back home. But, the voice in the air informed her that, no, she was still in this fucking game.

The man was listing the dead from the last day. Paige was silent for those moments. Danya mentioned Craig and Maria, confirming to Paige what happened in the jungle yesterday. Maria shot Craig, and Marty shot Maria.

Paige wasn't that surprised that there were three other names on the list. Sidney Rice was killed by that guy who wanted to make movies. Liz Polanski was killed by Jen Steinman, someone who Danya mentioned as being very cold. The last name on the list surprised her. Paige hadn't seen Quincy since the incident. She figured he ran away as soon as bullets began flying. However, it just pushed him towards that Reeves kid.

Way to go Maria, your one bullet got two people killed it seems.

Danya then listed areas to stay away from, saying that their collars would explode if they went to the Eastern Shore or the Inland Lake. Paige sighed a heavy sigh of relief, as she wasn't at either location.

Paige spent most of yesterday walking through the jungle after escaping the calamity in the jungle. As the sun began to go down, she found herself approaching a large metal structure going high into the trees. She decided to climb the steps, her Beretta in her hands. Fortunately, no one was at the top. After a dinner of bread and water, Paige fell asleep on the helipad, keeping the gun close in case she ran into any trouble.

But it was morning, and Paige had managed to get a good night's rest, despite the suffocating collar and lack of pillows and blankets. Now the day was hers to do whatever she pleased, which, in her case, meant not dying.

Paige grabbed her bag for some breakfast. If the lake was closed off, she needed a new source of water. Her water bottles would have to be rationed. She realized how hard that would be with the somewhat dry bread. Still, she ate the bread regardless.

After a small breakfast, she looked at the map.

"Okay," she said to herself, "the shore and lake are closed. Now where to go?"

Paige ran all the possibilities in her head. The helipad gave her some semblance of location after getting thrown off in the jungle.

Well, this place might not be such a bad place to stay for a while. There is only one way up, and I can easily shoot anyone who tries to come up. Then again, I'll be trapped here, there's very little cover, and if I fall, I'll probably die.

Paige folded her map up.

I can deal with that later. Might as well take the time to enjoy some solitude.

Paige put her back on the floor of the helipad and looked up at the sky. At least the weather was okay, for now anyways.

[Lord_Shadow]

((Timothy Walker continued from Karmic Backlash. Jennifer Steinman continued from Karmic Backlash.))

They had traveled into the jungle for only a little while. While on the balcony, Jennifer had seen a few landmarks and had taken the liberty to verify their location with her map. A lighthouse, helipad, those were the ones that rose far enough above the trees to be seen. Jennifer had set them out towards the helipad, Tim leading. They traveled through the night, and into the day with no rest.

"Lousiest birthday of my life. I'd have reminded her but I think right now she'd just shoot me if I did. Stay quiet Tim, keep your head down, give the crazy bitch her space and when she lets her guard down you run like a madman. Don't be an idiot, you can't take on a girl with a gun, even if you really want to choke the smug sense of superiority out of her with your bare hands. It ain't happening. Just run, bolt, make like a tree and skedaddle all the way to the other side of the goddamn island cause your life depends on it."

He shook his head. A million thoughts were crossing it and they were interfering with each other. Jen walked close behind him, gun in hand but not trained on him. Still, Tim knew that if he ran now she'd just point shoot and that would be the end of the gambler. The idiot who thought he was Captain Cool instead of Fool and didn't know when to hold em, to fold em, and to stop mixing metaphors and gambling terminology. He chuckled at that last thought. Captain Fool, what a godawful name. He loved it.

Jennifer cleared her throat, stopped walking. "Move on ahead, we're close. I'll be able to see you from here so don't try to run unless you think you can clear the sound barrier. Go on up to the helipad and check if any—"

Just then the announcements blared on and her instructions stopped. Tim considered running, but decided it was better to live than gamble on a two-second distraction. He took his hat off and held it over his heart in honor of the dead. Liz Polanski, he'd have to remember her name and carve it on Jen's smug face when she got hot justice served her way. That would definitely even things out, at least for the dead girl. "You'll get your revenge girl, I promise you."

The announcements ended with Danya mentioning danger-zones. The helipad was not of them. Tim frowned, Jen smiled. "Thank you Mr. Danya, for not ruining my foray today. Tim, get moving. And put your hat back on, the dead are dead, their time came and our has not yet. That's all. Get on, go."

He put his hat back on, gave her a thumbs up, and trudged on ahead in silence. After a few minutes of walking, he cleared the trees. Somehow he knew she was still watching him. And there not too far ahead was another girl, and one he recognized. The smart girl.

Normally he'd be grinning with this chance to tip things back in his favor, but now all he wanted was for this girl to somehow pick up that her best bet would be to run now. With a sigh, he walked closer, one hand waving sheepishly. "Fancy meeting you here! Looks like you had the same idea I did, find a high place and wait things out."

[Laurels]

Paige was in a strange state of ennui. The sky was a bright blue, with plenty of clouds scattered about. Birds would fly across her path of sight every so often. It was....nice.

Fancy meeting you here! Looks like you had the same idea I did, find a high place and wait things out."

Oh what the fuck?

Paige shot up and saw a boy with a weird hat near the steps. She suddenly remembered who he was. She played a game of 21 at his little card table. She left without even paying for a game.

Great. Everyone else I saw on the beach that day is dead. Don't tell me this guy is going to be next or something.

"Hey," she said.

She stood up, keeping the Beretta in her hand.

"So, Card Shark, let's chat."

She held the Beretta up to Tim.

"Tell me what you are doing here. I'm still not ready to play, but I would like it if you didn't force me to use this. So, if you are going to be shady, I'd suggest you be honest, or else you can take a plunge off the platform."

[Lord_Shadow]

Tim stared blankly at her for a second, at a loss for words. He put his palm over his face and muttered something about not deserving this. He removed his palm, adjusted his glasses and spoke. "Alright, you want honesty, I can do that. Right now I'm being held prisoner by a psycho bitch just in those trees. She's got a gun too and has threatened to shoot me in the back if I defy her. Now I'm stuck with you pointing a gun at me too and I'm about to completely lose my mind and go run off into the jungle if people don't stop pointing FUCKING GUNS AT ME!"

His breathing was erratic and his fingers twitched. He was so afraid that these would be his last moments but he didn't dare move. He couldn't. He was just a puppet on a lonely string, wishing he could be free.

It was then that Jen chose to step out, gun in hand as well. "Good show there. Even when unarmed you recognize a threat for what it is. A shame that my formally-dressed friend was useless for what I intended him for. He doesn't even have a weapon." She started circling behind him, gun trained on Paige. "You have a few options you know. You could shoot him, which I won't stop you from doing. You could go after me and get shot back at. Who knows what will happen then? Or you could always take a third option."

She smiled and placed her free hand over her heart. "You could let me help you. You have a will about you, the kind of will I'm trying to awaken in others. Enlightenment awaits my friend, once you've realized your will. What is it you want? What is it you desire most?" She stretched out her hand and pointed it at Paige. "My will is to help you realize yours. Do you want that? Do you want to be free?"

[Laurels]

Paige kept the gun up. The boy looked nervous. He then put his palm to his head.

Great, he's in disbelief that I would be suspicious of him. Did he forget where we are?

Alright, you want honesty, I can do that. Right now I'm being held prisoner by a psycho bitch just in those trees. She's got a gun too and has threatened to shoot me in the back if I defy her. Now I'm stuck with you pointing a gun at me too and I'm about to completely lose my mind and go run off into the jungle if people don't stop pointing FUCKING GUNS AT ME!

"Well, sorry about that," Paige sarcastically replied.

Good show there. Even when unarmed you recognize a threat for what it is.

That's when Paige realized that another person appeared on the helipad, presumably the bitch the boy was talking about. Paige realized who she was. Jen Steinman. The announcement guy said she killed Liz Polanski.

Shit. Those two are right by the exit.

Jen continued talking. The situation had truly become a standoff. Jen was talking about options. Paige could kill Tim, try to kill Jen and receive a bullet back, or let Jen help her unlock her potential or some bullshit.

Paige bit her lip. She thought for a moment, then spoke.

"Well, those are all fascinating options Jenny. But let me ask you something. Did you give that guy the same sales pitch?"

Paige motioned towards Tim.

"Are you helping him 'realize his will'? You sent him up the helipad, unarmed, when I could have been Marty Lovett or Adam Reeves, waiting for flies to be attracted to my spider web. Would he reach enlightenment if I killed him? From what he told me, he doesn't seem to be getting all he wants from you, so I'm really doubting your abilities."

"You want to prove you can enlighten me, open me to something greater? First, show me how enlightened you are. Prove to me that you have the will to survive. I've already encountered three people who couldn't even make it past the first day here, and if you are anything special, you better show me that."

Paige then looked at Jen and Tim. She grinned.

"Kill him. Show me you can kill someone if you have to."

Paige placed her finger on the safety of the gun and clicked it. She couldn't believe she threatened Tim with a gun that had the safety on. At least he bought it.

"You've basically proven how you really feel about him. Someone like you probably doesn't need a human shield if you've really tapped something great within your being. So go ahead, kill him. Prove you are serious about the game."

Paige pointed the gun towards Jen.

"Just know that I'm here in case you decide to try anything mischievous."

Don't lose focus Paige. You can't die. They're threats to your survival. To everyone's survival. Don't let them win.

Paige kept her gun steady on Jen.

Then again, I could just shoot her as soon as she shoots Tim. Then I can easily walk off the helipad, twothreats to my survival gone.

[Lord_Shadow]

Jennifer looked Paige straight in the eyes, rage slowly building in hers. Who was this person to question her? She hadn't understood or even seen things the way that Jen did. Clearly she was a fool to think that she could question her. But she decided to play along.

"If you really must know, no I didn't offer that stupid boy the same thing. Do you want to know why? Because I gave him my gun, and told him to shoot himself with it. He complied, and in that moment proved he did not have the will to do anything but follow. Why waste my time with him then? The gun wasn't even loaded! I'm not stupid, but I didn't expect him to just not fight back. He could have pointed it back at me, could've took off and ran, could've done ANYTHING else! But he didn't. And so he's here."

She gestured to herself with her free hand. "As for me, I know I can kill. I know that I will kill when necessary. I gunned down Polanski for throwing a fucking garbage lid at me. I tried to shoot another boy for merely witnessing that event. Don't think that YOU can cause ME to doubt myself or my enlightenment. I'm not some cliched villain. I'm not a megalomaniac. Ideas are immortal but the bodies that house them are not. Being enlightened does not make you bulletproof!"

She used both hands to steady herself, still aiming at Paige. "You aren't open to the truth yet. Nor are you not a threat to me at this point. To abandon self-preservation merely to attempt to enlighten you is more foolish than coming up there on my own in the first place. Now, enough about me. This isn't about me. This is about you Paige. This is whether YOU have what it takes to make it. Don't assume that because I haven't shot the thought hasn't crossed my mind about killing you. If you continue to try my patience and show yourself just as much of a lost cause as Tim then I won't give you another moment of my time. You are trapped and there is only one way out of here." She was done with the formalities. "Do as I say or you will not come out of this alive!"

Tim sighed and shook his head. "May be just a prisoner here but I swear to god if one of you idiots doesn't just shoot the other then I'm just gonna write you both off as crazy and make my way out. For now it's just morbid curiosity, and the fucking guns, that's keeping me from just bolting and leaving you two to your dumb standoff. Also, if she's going all dark side on people then I might as well represent the light. Kill her and stop playing this game. She's evil so she deserves it, but we don't have to do what these terrorists want. We can figure it out. Trust me, we'll find a way."

[Pippi]

((Aileen Borden continued from The Darkening Ground))

The walk from the mansion to the helipad had, thankfully, been a lot shorter and easier than the walk out of the jungle. It had been across flat plains, with no tree roots or vines to make Aileen stumble. She had walked, almost jogged, faster than normal after leaving the mansion, but as soon as she was a good distance away, her pace slowed to a stroll. The weather was stupidly beautiful. Everything was calm and serene and completely unfitting to the act that was unfolding on the island.

The walk had dissolved most of Aileen’s feelings of nervousness, and they had been replaced with her usual temper and sarcasm. As she walked, she had thought again of the announcement, focusing this time on the killers. For whatever reason, they had all decided to end the lives of their innocent classmates. No matter the reason, how matter the fact that they had been just as innocent when they’d all been abducted, they had murdered people. Aileen felt her fists clench, free of the hockey stick. She’d managed to wedge it between her back and her bag, after it had grown too cumbersome to carry.

Aileen had reached the area of the helipad, standing sentinel over the jungle around it. It was only at this short a distance away from it that Aileen could appreciate just how tall the pad was. A fall from that height would kill you, no questions ask. And there was only one way up; the set of spiral staircases twining around the legs of the helipad. It would be quite a useful safehouse, as far as Aileen could see.

Looking up at the actual pad part of the helipad, Aileen could see a girl standing near the top of the steps. Aileen took another couple of steps forward before she stopped dead in her tracks. She’d noticed two things. Firstly, the girl’s identity. Paige Strand. Gymnast, runner, massive gossip. Aileen wasn’t a fan. Secondly, and more importantly, Paige was holding a pistol in her hands, and was pointing it down towards the ground. Aileen lowered her vision, and saw, standing at the bottom of the steps, two more people, their facing away from her and looking up at Paige. Even so, she recognised them both. The boy in front was Timothy Walker, who Aileen didn’t like either. He came across as incredible creepy, and his gambling habit didn’t help him either.

The second girl was much more interesting. Jennifer Steinman. The girl who had murdered Liz Polanski. She appeared to be holding a gun too, and had it pointed up at Paige. No doubt she was planning on killing again. Aileen knew she couldn’t just walk away from the helipad, not after seeing this. Jennifer had her back to Aileen; there was a possibility that she could surprise the girl, and take her weapon.

Removing the hockey stick from its resting place (and feeling rather foolish as she did so), Aileen crept forwards, making sure Jennifer’s back was still facing her. As she did so, she listened to what the trio were saying. It was almost a fatal move, as Aileen felt like laughing when she heard it. Jennifer was talking about how she’d found “enlightenment” or something, and Tim was going on about the “dark side”, as if he’d decided to play Star Wars all of a sudden.

Aileen was a few feet away from Jennifer, when her thoughts got the better of her. If Jen turned round with the gun raised, Aileen knew she’d be prepared. Straightening up, she held the hockey stick defensively, and said “What the actual fuck are you lot talking about?”

[Laurels]

((GMing approved))

Wow, I must have really touched a nerve there.

Paige watched as Jennifer began to spew her angry response. She seemed to really believe in her own strength and abilities, and certainly hated to see Paige doubt her mantra. Paige let Jennifer air everything out, just to let her calm down. Paige just kept the Beretta trained on Jennifer.

It wasn't until Jennifer gave Paige an ultimatum: do what she says, or die. Paige shook her head.

This girl really wants me to follow her. Maybe she'll want me to drink some Kool-Aid next.

Timothy finally chimed in. He was getting really antsy. Sure, Jennifer wasn't going to kill him like Paige dared her to do, but he really didn't want to be there anymore. He then asked her to kill Jennifer. Paige simply chuckled to herself.

This is just getting ridiculous. I need to get off the helipad, and I can't let Jen take me down. She's a hassle, and I need her gone.

Paige stepped back and picked her bag off the ground, swinging it over her shoulder with her free hand.

"Well Jen, Tim does bring up a good point. What does our standoff actually prove? That we have guns? Wow, woop-dee-doo. So, what exactly do we-"

What the actual fuck are you lot talking about?

That's when Paige realized someone else was here. Another girl appeared at the steps. Paige then smirked.

A distraction! Now or never Paige.

Paige held her bag in front of her chest. She quickly pulled the trigger of the Beretta. After a few shots were fired, she bolted towards the steps, keeping the bag close to her chest and her gun out in case Jennifer would fire back. She would not die here.

[Pippi]

For a brief moment, everything seemed to have turned in Aileen’s favour. The fascinating conversation between Paige, Jen and Tim became quiet at Aileen’s words. Apparently they hadn’t expected anyone else to appear. Aileen smirked slightly. She could take Jen’s weapon now, and hopefully stop anybody else getting killed here.

Then suddenly, Aileen heard a crack sound, repeated three or four times, oddly familiar and painfully loud. The next thing she knew, she was on her back, facing up at the sky. She was a couple of feet away from Jen; her hockey stick lay where she had previously stood. For just a few seconds, Aileen could only wonder what the hell had happened, and why exactly she was feeling so much pain in her stomach and arm.

Aileen tried to stand back up, but her arms felt weak and lifeless, her right one in particular. The best she could do was sit up slightly. And that was when she noticed the ever growing patch of red on her stomach area. A similar, though smaller, pool was flooding from her right arm. Aileen didn’t even try and convince herself otherwise; she knew what the pool was. She’d been shot. She’d just been shot, she’d just been fucking shot.

Aileen opened her mouth to scream out in pain and fear, but all that came out was a shocked-sounding gasp. She was breathing heavily and her thoughts whirled round her head and lightning speed. Oh god, she’d made a horrible mistake. She’d walked up to two people that she knew had fucking guns and now she was bleeding out on the grass and oh god oh god oh jesus fucking Christ.

Aileen tried to angle her head to look up at Jen, to look at her killer one last time. To her shock, Jen hadn’t seemed to have moved. Yet more confusion joined the pile in Aileen’s head as she rested it back on the cool grass. As she did so, she heard footsteps padding closer. She could still see Tim and Jen, and the dull realisation hit Aileen that it had been Paige, the girl she’d been trying to save, who had hit her.

She had fucked up. That was the only way to describe Aileen’s actions. She’d fucked up big time. She never should have left the mansion, never should have left Dougal. She was paying the price for it, and there was nothing she could do.

Slowly, Aileen’s eyes flickered closed, and her consciousness faded. The last thing she saw was the beautiful blue sky up above her, the clouds passing over the sun, and one last thought passed through Aileen’s head.

How fucking cliché…

G02-AILEEN BORDEN-DECEASED

[CondorTalon]

((Augustus MacDougal continued from The Darkening Ground.))

I didn't make it in time.

That was the only thought he had in his mind as he ran, and ran, away from the Helipad. Away from where he saw someone die.

Dougal had made his way over to the Helipad, slowing down at the clearing surrounding the thing. He could see Aileen up ahead, at the bottom of the steps. It looked there were other people there, two of them. Dougal couldn't make out the finer details of what happened before Aileen fell over, as several loud cracks made themselves known. He watched as Aileen fell, and didn't get back up.

And that's when he turned right back around and ran. There was no doubt about it. Aileen wasn't getting up.

Dougal thought the whole thing was ridiculous. There was no way people were killing, he had thought. He was talking to Aileen less than a half-hour ago. How could she be dead?

She was dead. And Dougal couldn't do anything about it.

Fuck.

He didn't stop running.

((Augustus MacDougal continued in All Along the Watchtower.))

[Lord_Shadow]

It all went to hell more quickly than anyone could have imagined. Paige made her reply, interrupted by the words of a newcomer. Tim strained his head to catch a glimpse of who it was. He didn't even get a good view before gunshots rang out. He covered himself quickly and got low to the ground. Strangely, he didn't feel anything hit him or leave him. Remembering that if he had been hit, he'd have been hit before he heard the shots he realized the shooter didn't aim at him. But was it Paige or Jen? He looked at Jennifer. Her eyes were wide and there was a blank look on her face, as if she really truly hadn't expected that. All right Paige, he thought, way to go. He then noticed that Jen hadn't been hit either, but also that she hadn't fired her weapon. The realization came but he didn't have time to check on the other person. Now was the time to act.

Timothy tackled Jen to the ground and shouted for Paige to run. He knew she had shot someone but right now he had to deal with the psycho first. With his left hand he pinned her gun arm down, and with his right he raised his fist above his head, and brought it down on Jennifer's face. Again, and again. Each hit was painful but he knew it hurt her more. "Psycho bitch! Not so tough after all huh?"

She laughed between blows and the occasional cough of blood. "You won't kill me. You can't kill me. You're too weak, no will, no conviction." Jennifer didn't offer any resistance to Tim's attacks. And they slowed, and stopped altogether.

He sighed and spoke to Paige, keeping his eyes on Jen. "She's right. I can't kill her, or rather, I won't. I'm not like her. And... I'm not like you. Both of you think you're different from the other. But you're the same. Murderers, one due to selfishness and the other due to insanity." He pointed at Paige, looked her in the eye. "One day, you'll have to answer for that life you took. For now, go. I'll deal with red. Only the kill of a killer is justified, otherwise it's just murder. I hope you know that."

[Laurels]

Paige should have kept running. Jennifer could have fired back and easily killed her. The bag Paige held in front of her chest was a weak attempt to shield her vital organs. Paige would have kept running. But Timothy stepped in, or rather, tackled in.

Paige watched as Timothy tackled Jennifer to the floor of the helipad, pinning her gun arm down and punching her repeatedly. Paige tried to listen to what they were saying to each other, but that's when Paige realized what happened to the girl who showed up. She was lying on the floor, a hole in her chest. She was dead, and Paige killed her.

That's when Timothy began to speak to Paige. Jennifer taunted Timothy's ability to kill, and he began to draw comparisons. He claimed that Paige and Jennifer were the same, claiming that Paige was selfish and that Jennifer was insane.

"Well, I was trying to hit Jennifer."

But you're aim fucking sucks. Now this other girl is dead.

"You wanted her dead too. If I only hit Jen, you wouldn't be calling me selfish."

And yet that other girl had to die for your own benefit.

Tim then pointed at Paige.

One day, you'll have to answer for that life you took. For now, go. I'll deal with red. Only the kill of a killer is justified, otherwise it's just murder. I hope you know that.

"Alright. You can take the bag of the dead girl. I have all I need."

Paige made her way to the top of the steps. She could vaguely hear someone else running down them. It didn't matter. She still held the Beretta in her hands, so she could blow away any threats. She turned back to Tim one last time.

"Don't hesitate. You'll die."

Paige then began to hurry down the steps of the helipad. She still didn't trust him to actually kill Jennifer. For all she knew, Jennifer could be right behind her ready to put a few rounds in Paige's back. She soon reached the bottom and bolted into the forest.

Selfish. Bullshit. Everyone would benefit from her death. But, she isn't dead. That other girl is.

Paige began to feel tears well up in her eyes. She then remembered some of what Tim said. Only the kill of a killer is justified.

Well then I guess he'll get a big fucking medal. We'll all be killers by the end of this.

She disappeared into the forest, tears still falling down her face.

((Paige Strand continued in The House of the Undying))

[Lord_Shadow]

Tim knew what was coming next, but he still didn't feel prepared. He stared her in the eyes, stared down death itself in them. "You are right you know. I don't have what it takes to get out of this. I never did. Who am I kidding? I'm just an ordinary guy with an ordinary amount of uniqueness and weirdness. I'm not cut out for this. This is crazy! We're high-schoolers after all! WHO THE HELL WOULD EXPECT US TO HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO DEAL WITH THIS?" He grabbed Jen's neck with his right hand, and held on tight enough so she wouldn't be able to do any moving, but he didn't choke her.

She stared back into his glasses. "Then that's the difference between you and me. Nice that you let her go, but those words of yours were pretty harsh. She and I are nothing alike. There is a difference between conviction and pragmatism. But so long as you have me pinned I have one question before you let me up to kill you. Why? Why do you throw away your only chance to live? Just squeeze for a few moments as hard as you can and I'll expire. It's part of the game, and a part I'm well aware of. That doesn't mean I'm okay with dying but you have me pinned. If it were anyone else they would kill me. Hell, Paige was aiming for me. So why can't you just..." Her voice trailed off.

Tim didn't answer her. He just shook his head. For all her talk of enlightenment Jennifer really had gone crazy. She just didn't understand. He raised his head to the the sky. The air felt cool on his face, and the sun felt warm. He had forgotten for a moment how beautiful it all was. He removed his hand from Jennifer's neck and took off his hat and glasses. More than anyone else he understood. It was all too much. He was never meant for any of this. Survival? Who were any of his friends kidding? These people took them here precisely because they knew no one would ever get there in time. "I'm done with this game. You can take me out now. But do me a favor okay, call it my price for helping you out with your issue back home, don't try to do what you tried to with Paige with anyone else ever again okay?" He helped her up with his left hand, stood Jennifer to her feet.

"I swear I don't understand you at all Tim. Our relationship isn't real, our deal means nothing here. Why would I even think of honoring..." She was interrupted by Tim's embrace, and his lips meeting hers. He kissed her for a full minute, not letting go. She was wide-eyed the entire time, even more bewildered by his actions.

"It meant something to me. So please, honor our arrangement okay? Now, I'm ready babe. Send me to the other side whenever you're ready."

She was speechless, but the words somehow came out of her mouth. "O-Okay. Okay." She checked her gun, somehow knowing he wouldn't try to run away. Everything was in order. She leveled it at his chest. Pulled the trigger.

Click.

Click.

Click.

Click.

Click.

Tears ran down her cheeks, and a knowing smile was on his face. She still didn't understand. Why was she sad? He was giving up. He was letting her kill him. Even when he had the chance to kill her. She just didn't understand. And for some reason the gun didn't go off five times in a row. Was it damaged when he tackled her to the ground? She cried, but no sobs came. Only words. Words that she didn't understand why they were coming out of her mouth. "I-I think that I might... love you. I'm so sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry."

BANG!

She helped him to the ground gently, laid him down next to the dead girl. Jennifer recognized her, Aileen. She felt a pang of guilt for her death. And guilt was coming back for Liz's death. When she became enlightened, she didn't feel anything like that. But was she really enlightened? Or was she just crazy like how Tim said? His pulse was fading, and she knew he was in pain. But somehow he kept that smile on his face. His hand in hers, Jennifer stayed with Tim until he passed.

B11: TIMOTHY WALKER - ELIMINATED

---

She wiped the tears from her eyes when he did, stood up, and went back to work.

She had to survive. They weren't meant for this, but she had to be. For all of this sick game to not mean nothing, someone had to come out alive. Jennifer aimed to make sure it was her. She went over, took his hat and glasses, and put them on. She smiled. They did make her seem cooler just by having them on, she had to admit. With a sigh, she grabbed his pack and slung it over along with hers. She left's Aileen's with her.

"Well lover," she said adjusting the glasses, "I guess I'm crazy after all. That was my first kiss, just so you know."

Without another word she walked off into the jungle, steering clear of Paige's tracks, completely oblivious to the other set of tracks leading away from the site.

((Jennifer Steinman continued in Cream Cheese and Salsa. SCENE 2 COMPLETE.))