Carmine's POV

It all happened so fast. One second, it was just me, Iris, Zayna and Slater who were left in the game.

The next, Zayna was shot, then down went Slater because he refused to shoot Iris, and he chose to just lay on the ground and call it quits. I'd been about to betray and shoot Iris, when someone suddenly shot me instead.

My body hits the ground with a thud, leaving Iris standing over me and cackling like a maniac.

There, in all his glory, stands Leandro with a smirk on his face. Slater, the weakling, also stands up and smirks right back at Iris and Leandro.

... Did he know about the betrayal?

As much as my heart hurts because Iris betrayed me, and cheated by involving Leandro, since there are no actual rules of the game, I can't help but feel just a little bit proud.

I don't know why I haven't passed out from being shot with that stupid stun gun like everyone else has, but, I can't move my body so there's that, at least.

"You really thought you'd be able to betray me? Me? Your wonderful sister?" Iris asks me, smiling condescendingly at me.

"He did, Leggro," Leandro hums, narrowing his eyes at me. "that's why I'll always be your favourite. 'Cause I won't betray you."

"You're an opportunist." Iris laughs.

"Damn right I am. This was my chance to prove that I'd never just leave you to fend for yourself, even if it seems like I might."

"Thats sweet, Leo. And Slater?"

"Yeah?" The weakling asks.

"Thanks for not shooting me."

"You're welcome." Slater winks.

"Did you just wink at my sister?" Leandro asks, his voice cold.

"Maybe?"

"I'm giving you a three second head start. Run." Leandro orders, counting to three, and I hear Slater's footsteps, indicating that he did, in fact run.

"You're not allowed to chase him." Iris says.

"Says who?"

"Me."

"Fine." Leandro huffs, stomping away in the other direction.

"He's such a child, Carmine, you won't behave like that, will you?" Iris pauses. "Oh, wait, you can't talk just yet. Sucks for you, huh? I told Leo to shock you on the lowest setting, so you should be able to move in like ten more minutes, and the others will be awake in another half hour. Weak rats."

True to her words, thirty five minutes later, the last of us make our way into the house, groaning about the horrible pain we feel after being shot while Iris laughs at us.

Does it feel horrible knowing I lost to her when she hasn't even shot a gun before? Yes, I do. Do I wish she'd lost, also yes. Do I wish I'd shot her, yes. Will I shoot her? No. Mainly because Leandro would probably put an actual bullet through my skull if I did, but also because somehow, it looks like she's managed to get Slater on her team.

I don't know what voodoo powers she used on him, considering he barely even talks, but the two of them are currently yapping about I don't even know what.

As much as every part of me wants to put a stop to whatever conversation they're having, there's two reasons why I won't, and also why Luka won't step in either. Number one, we're in pain and that means we're in no condition to fight Slater right now. And number two, he's only a year older than her, and she needs to be around more people her age.

As much as I don't like that he's a guy, he's the closest person to her age, and she needs her own company.

"Can you believe he thought he could betray me?" Iris laughs, telling Slater how we managed to shoot the others down in the first place.

"No. I don't understand how he thought he could betray you." He agrees with her, his eyes shining in a way that makes me want to punch his face.

"You're seeing what I'm seeing, right?" Aaron nudges my shoulder.

I nod, while Luka huffs.

"At least it's just Slater, right?" Luka says, trying to convince himself. I just nod again.

"It's cute." Zayna says, and I immediately agree with her. I sign as much, making Luka laugh. I think he suspects my little crush, I need to fix that soon.

"Of course you agree with that." Aaron rolls his eyes. Damn, am I that obvious?

"Ah, young love." Jay coos, standing up and going over to pinch Iris's cheeks. Slater, to his credit, slaps away his hands.

"Don't touch her, dude." Slater snaps, glaring at Jay while Iris tries and fails to hide a smile.

"Maybe it isn't such a bad pairing after all." Luka says, looking proudly at his friend. Honestly, I kind of see where he's coming from.

"I told you." Zayna sings, grinning at the pair who are back to yapping. Well, Iris is yapping, Slater is just looking at her like she's his whole life, and occasionally says something back.

Later on, the gang goes back to their houses, and it's just me and Iris in the library again. Today feels like it took forever to get over with, but honestly, it's the memories that matter.

"So, you and Slater, huh?" I tease, preparing myself to murder him if she like him.

"Don't start." She glares at me, looking at me like I'm the one who's going to be killed. Damn, two betrayals in one night? I'm on a roll.

"What? I'm just saying you two looked pretty comfortable with each other."

"So?"

"Nothing, just saying. Why does it have to be something?"

"Because you mentioned it. That automatically means you want something, or you're fishing for information." Iris narrows her eyes at me.

"Fine. I just want to know if you like him."

"I don't know. I just met him today. Literally, you were there." She deadpans.

"Fine. Just tell me if he makes you uncomfortable, okay?"

Iris snorts, "And what? You'll save me? You were going to betray me today!"

"But I didn't, and you betrayed me instead!"

"Only because I knew I was about to be killed. You know the saying, kill or be killed. I chose to kill." Iris shrugs as if there's nothing wrong with that.

I mean, there shouldn't be, especially considering the family we're in, but I would never have thought that the Iris I met on the first day she was here could also be the Iris that's sitting in front of me. They're everything and nothing alike, and I feel like that shows the amount of growth she's gone through in the past few weeks.

Somehow, this still felt surreal, almost too good to be true. How I wish we all realised that this was the calm. And after every calm comes a storm that you're never ever fully prepared for.

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Hiiiii. I did the double update! Well, double for the week, not the day lmao.

Guys, I dunno, I forgot what I was gonna say.

Oh, how do we feel about Slater? There's no real content planned for now in regards to Slater, I just wanted to open up the possibility.

The possibility for what though? That's something we'll never knowwwww.

HOW ARE WE AT CHAPTER TWENTY ONE ALREADY??????

Anyway, so, I sprained my freaking wrist yesterday. I don't know how tf I did it, but I realised it when I was eating and tried to pick up the bowl the food was in and I couldn't because it hurt too much.

Turns out it was red and swollen and I do not have a single clue about how the hell that happened, but like whatever, I guess.

Anyway, the only reason y'all have these updates is because I didn't go to school on Tuesday, or today lmao.

Anywho, buh bye peeps, see y'all another day.

Also, in case anyone read the last authors note, my jelly tots is now out of hospital. Turns out he was there for a suspected hernia or something like that. That's what my brother said anyway-

Okay, now bye for reals.

Love y'all ♥️