Chapter 13: The Finals

E/N: Nice to meet you, Readers! I'm Author-nim's new editor! The delay in this chapter is not Author-nim's fault, it is mine. He is currently working hard on his other stories and sent me this draft on February 20. I wasn't confident enough to make any changes to his work as there wasn't much to correct but he told me to do what I wanted so I did! I apologize if there are any errors in the chapter, I went over it greatly and I might have missed some words.

If you guys have any questions or concerns I'll try to answer them all as Author-nim is currently on break and entrusted his account to me. Happy readings! ^^

"Okay, everything's set. We'll wait for your cue."

"Thank you, Zoe," Daniel said as he looked around the block he was on. "I can't begin to tell you how much this means to me."

"Don't worry about it, you can thank me by taking me out to dinner after all of this is over. As besties of course!"

Daniel smiled at his friend's antics, "Alright, dinner it is."

"You should get going, the Watchers won't appreciate you being late to their entertainment."

"Don't forget to watch me." Daniel pulled his phone from his ear and dismissed his and Zoe's call. It was now or never.

He rounded the corner of the street he was on and walked underneath a bridge to a deserted part of town. Makes sense since it's almost six in the morning. Daniel walked to the building that was ways away and saw a Watcher standing guard by two big oak doors. They seemed almost medieval, they had two symmetrical lines going across the middle of the door and the handles were circled metal.

The Watcher was wearing a jacket with a skeletal design. A skull was placed where their head should be as the jacket was zipped up.

Daniel stopped in front of the Watcher and waited. After a few seconds, the Watcher zipped down the jacket and revealed his face. He looked like any normal civilian and that scared Daniel. He didn't know why he envisioned anything else.

"Ticket."

Daniel stared into the Watchers Hazel eyes as he reached into his hoodie pocket. He pulled out the paper bag and stuck his hand in. Emerging from the bag in Daniel's hand was a revolver with a matte black grip and stainless steel for a body. He examined it for a second before handing it to the Watcher.

The Watcher ran his fingers along the barrel and popped open the cylinder. "Smith and Wesson. Model 60. Only one bullet in the chamber." He lined up the loaded chamber with the barrel and snapped the cylinder shut. He then handed the gun back to Daniel and stood by as the doors opened up.

On the other side of the doors was an arena. In its many stands were hundreds maybe thousands of Watchers- not counting the ones watching elsewhere. Daniel swallowed.

He stepped forward into the pit and heard the cheers of the Watchers. He looked around at his surroundings and saw four screens one would see in a baseball stadium on all sides of him. Two screens opposite of each other showed Daniel looking around the arena, one had the words Daniel vs DG, and the last one had a timer. 3 minutes remaining. Daniel let out a relieved sigh. At least everything was going to plan so far.

Daniel waited for a minute before a roar of cheers and hollers could be heard from the stands as he saw DG emerge from the shadows. Two spotlights were cast in the middle of the arena making Daniel squint.

“Daniel! Are you okay?” DG ran up to Daniel and stood in front of him.

Daniel nodded his head, “Yeah but, what’s happening now?” 

“Hello, Watchers and former Players!” 

It was deathly quiet as the two regarded the automated voice that played off of some hidden speakers. 

“Welcome to the Final round. We’re pleased that you came to support our remaining Players! Sadly, only one can win this round.”

Daniel looked at DG from the corner of his eye and saw him grip something in his pocket. If this is what Daniel expected, it was another gun.

“That being said raise your weapons and may the best Player win.”

The voice concluded and cheers were heard again. Daniel and DG turned to each other with the same expression on their faces.

“Daniel, you have to win this,” DG pleaded. “I refuse to hurt you anymore.” An eruption of protests made their presence known.

“No, DG. There has to be a different way.” The jeers were more pronounced.

“Just do it please, Daniel!”

Daniel sighed and raised his gun aiming it at DG’s heart. DG smiled as he opened his arms in a hug-type manner. Daniel held his aim for a few seconds a took a deep breath. 

The arena was quiet before jeers could be heard all around them. DG visibly flinched as he watched Daniel point the gun behind him and shoot the dirt before throwing his gun to the side.

“I’m not doing it.” Daniel turned to face the Watchers. “I’m not doing it!”

It was quiet for a moment before negative chatter filled his ears once again. “Don’t you see what you’re doing? You really want us to kill each other?”

Daniel heard a few agree noting it was quieter. “It’s easy for you to say yes and be brave in a crowd while you hide behind your masks and screen names! Take off your mask,” Daniel pointed to a random Watcher in the stands, “You! Take off your mask!”

The arena was quiet. “Just play the fucking game!” 

“Shoot him!”

“Just fucking do it!” Once again, the arena was in an uproar. Daniel looked over at DG to see him pacing anxiously. I’m sorry, Daniel thought.

A gunshot rang out and everyone looked to see where it came from in unison. “He’ll do it!”

Daniel saw two new spotlights appear and shine on the person holding a gun to the sky. The light flashed on his sunglasses as he lowered the gun and placed it in the open palm of a quiet blonde. Vin had one crutch supporting him as he stood on a raised platform with a medical boot on his ankle and foot.

“Holy shit, it’s Vin Jin!”

“I thought he bailed.”

“He’s in rough shape.”

“Is that Jay Hong?”

“It’s Jay!”

Daniel heard the confused murmurs of the Watchers and smiled to himself. 

“Turns out, these two pussies refuse to play the game!” Vin shouted. “Should blondie shoot him?”

The confused chatter soon turned into cheers and agreement as Vin continued to provoke them. 

“If you want blondie to shoot Park then vote ‘Yes’ right now!” 

Excited yells were all around as a poll made itself known on one of the boards.

“You want him to shoot?”

“Please, vote ‘No’!” DG was running around the arena frantically begging for people to vote No on the poll that was present.

Overlapping chatter of ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ flooded Daniel’s mind. He looked around for Jay and once met where his eyes should be, nodded. A ping came from the board and a gunshot could be heard.

Nobody moved as everyone watched Daniel fall onto the dirt.

Nobody uttered a word as DG cried out and ran toward Daniel’s fallen frame. Jay lowered the gun and clutched it tightly.

Nobody did anything as a calm sound protruded from the speakers. All at once everyone started to look at their phones and then walk out of the stands of the arena. Jay approached with caution as he logged onto his phone and filmed the Game for the last time. Jay’s screen was mirrored on the screens for the last remaining people to see. 

He inched closer to DG who was cradling Daniel in his arms. He had tears falling down his face as he looked up at Jay. It was truly a heartbreaking sight. DG raised the gun he had in his pocket in between Jay’s eyes and cocked it. Jay froze in fear before Daniel quickly sat up and placed his hand on DG’s wrist in protest.

“No no no no, I’m okay! See, no blood!”

DG dropped his weapon and clutched Daniel tightly. “B-But, I heard it, everyone did. I saw you.”

“Blanks bro.” DG looked back at Jay who had placed his phone by his leg and now had Vin by him. Jay held the gun in front of him before tossing it to the side. 

“Then,” DG started.

“It was Parks,” Vin paused, “Daniel’s, idea.” Vin smiled before reaching a hand down to the mentioned man to help him out, Jay mirroring Vin with DG. 

“You scared me,” Daniel smiled.

“And you scared me,” Vin parroted. He turned to DG, “Your man’s a fighter, literally and figuratively.” 

DG nodded before sighing and smiling.

“Jay,” Jay turned his attention to the soft voice calling him. “Thank you.” He was pulled into a hug by Daniel and flushed pink before scrambling to hug him back. “You were very brave.” Jay blushed harder and smiled, burying his head in Daniels's shoulder to hide his face. Daniel kissed him on his cheek before he pulled away.

“I guess I’ll see you later,” Daniel asked Jay and Vin. “You’re pretty cool Daniel, I’ll see you at school.” Vin smiled at him and turned to leave. Jay nodded eagerly as he handed Daniel a piece of paper. ‘Your welcome to text me whenever you want.’ 

Daniel smiled at Jay before nodding. They waved goodbye and Jay turned to leave. He pulled his phone up to his face and saw the message before him on the screen. 

Jay Hong, you are an accomplice to murder.Sign out?Yes

Jay smiled as he clicked the only option given and placed his phone in his pocket. He was finally free and he owed it all to Daniel and his friends.

Daniel sat on the floor of an empty lookout watching the sunrise. “This is some crazy first date huh,” DG said half-heartedly, lying down next to Daniel with his elbow propped up. Daniel gave a small giggle and turned towards DG who was already staring at him sweetly, “This is one of the most intense first dates I’ve ever been on.” DG grazed Daniel’s hand tenderly before intertwining their fingers together.

“Hey Daniel,” Daniel looked at him with curiosity. “My real name is James.”

Daniel smiled warmly, “Nice to meet you, James.” He smiled back at Daniel and leaned it gently. The two shared a tender kiss as the sky was colored baby blue.

What they didn’t notice was a camera recording them a few feet away.

Hello Readers! This is the last chapter of the story, story number 2 is now completed! As I said in the last chapter, I'll be taking a 2  month's break or less but I'll be hard at work on my other stories!

Thank you for taking the time to read this story. I appreciate each and every one of you. -C