I had done it. I finalized my membership into the three-way alliance with Henrika and the mystery person. From my understanding, the three of us would work together to uncover the identities of the traitors among the other players. Upon finding them—we’d wing it from there.

Sure, it wasn’t a well thought out plan. But, it was better than nothing. I had to do something to speed things up. If not, I feared for what would happen if I stayed in Serendipity for too long.

Two people got murdered outside of the game room. The killers found loopholes in the rules and thoroughly exploited them one way or another. I didn’t want to be cooped up in the same facility with them anymore.

I thought I passed the point in my life where I’d have to look over my shoulder every few seconds. But, it turned out karma tended to bring things around full circle.

Go figure.

With the discussion of our alliance completed, I left Henrika’s room and decided to head back to my own. Almost immediately, I encountered Nicholas on my way out.

“Oh, hello, Ambrose,” Nicholas looked over at me then smiled.

“Hey, Nicholas,” I responded.

“What are you doing on this side of the facility? Is your room not on the whole other side?” He questioned me. He moved his shades to his forehead. His eyes beamed with curiosity.

“Henrika wanted to talk to me about something.” I vaguely answered.

“Oh, is that so?” Nicholas brought his hand up to his chin as an unreadable expression crossed his face. Being alone with that man made me uncomfortable. I could never quite understand what went through his head at times.

“I'm going back to my room. Need to get some rest before the next game starts.” I bid the man farewell and tried to walk past him. But, he reached his arm out and grabbed my shoulder.

“I am sorry, but, would you mind if I asked you something?” Nicholas inquired.

“What is it?”

“It is about Wyatt. Do you find it odd how strange he has been acting lately?”

“Yeah. I’m sure everyone finds it odd.”

“It may be nothing. But, I am going to try and talk to Wyatt. Something is wrong here, and I want to get to the bottom of it.”

“And you think Wyatt may have a clue?”

“Perhaps. There is only one way to find out.” Nicholas turned his back to me and walked off down the hall. “I am sorry if I wasted your time. I will let you know if I learn anything.”

“Yeah, sure thing.” I rubbed the back of my neck. Afterward, I headed back to my room. I spent the rest of the time there in solitude until the most dreadful time of the day arrived—the games.

The seventh game. I didn’t even want to begin to imagine what we were all going to witness.

All the remaining players gathered around Caius, waiting anxiously for who out of us would get chosen to play. Like all the other times, the Game Moderator pressed the button on his tablet and activated the randomizer. Pictures of Wyatt and Nicholas were the couple of faces that matched up on the screen.

It was a matchup no one expected.

Out of the other players, those two often hung around each other. For comrades such as them to face one another—it couldn’t have been good. However, the only one that showed distress of the situation was Nicholas. Wyatt quietly stood there—frozen—off in his little world with a grim expression plastered on his face.

Honestly, I didn’t believe that a single word spoken in that room had reached him.

“I think Doc’s broken,” Melanie approached Wyatt and waved her hand in his face. The man didn’t even blink. “Holy shit. The fuck happened to him?”

“Maybe the thought of playing a game himself is too much for him to handle?” Salomon suggested.

“Wyatt? Wyatt, speak to us,” Henrika approached the man and placed her hand on his shoulders. Once she gently shook him, the doctor snapped out of his trance.

“Huh? What? What’s happening?” Wyatt looked around in a daze. His sights soon rested on the woman in front of him.

“You and Nicholas were picked to play in the next game, Wyatt. Focus.” Henrika commanded.

“We cannot let our guards down, Wyatt,” Nicholas added.

“No need to tell me that,” Wyatt shook his head. “I had no intention of doing that from the beginning.”

“Then, please go ahead and spin the wheel, Caius.” Nicholas requested.

“You two seem confident today. Hopefully, that confidence stays with you in today’s game.” Caius approached the wheel and spun it. His expression filled my body with dread. He too appeared confident in the game.

The wheel eventually stopped on a panel that depicted two stick figures operating on other stick figures.

“Oh, don’t tell me…” Darius’ face paled at the sight of the picture.

“Congratulations! Player number one, Wyatt Ackerman and player number six, Nicholas Damon, shall face off in a game of Operation!” Caius happily announced.

“Operation? Well, I guess Wyatt already has an overwhelming advantage.” Nicholas nonchalantly mentioned.

“While that may be true, I will not let it get to my head. I am sure that Caius will find some way to shake things up.” Wyatt crossed his arms and looked over to Caius. No enthusiasm crossed his face despite his advantage in the game.

“We shall see,” Caius didn’t bother to hide the mischievous look on his face. “Now, if both players are ready to proceed, follow me.”

Soon enough, all three men left the room.

Operation.

I remembered that game. The thought of Caius manipulating that childish game made my hair stand on end. I pictured the horrors that game could offer. I hoped none of them would come to fruition.

However, I knew better. That wasn’t how things worked for me.

Everyone’s attention turned toward either the glass window or television screen. Wyatt and Nicholas stood in the middle of the game room. People in black entered the room, pushing around a wheeled table with a white cloth draped over them. Underneath the white fabric, everyone spotted the outline of a human body.

More and more people in black entered, setting up medical equipment around them. After they left, Caius’ voice echoed from the intercom and surround sound speakers.

“The game of Operation shall begin shortly,” He announced. “I will now begin with an explanation of the rules. As the name suggests, Wyatt and Nicholas will act as surgeons and perform operations on their patient."

“Is it possible to allow a single person to operate?” Nicholas raised his hand. “I do not do so well with blood.”

“It is possible,” Caius answered. “However, it can only be done on a single part of the operation. I will not allow Wyatt to play the entire game himself. That is no fun.”

“I figured…” Nicholas lowered his gaze to the floor.

“Now then, would the players please remove the cloth from their patient?"

As instructed, Wyatt and Nicholas lifted the cloth from the table. Their faces contorted at the sight of their patient.

It was a man, possibly in his late forties with a well-groomed beard. An odd contraction with a lock resided over the man's chest.

"Who is this guy? What's with that thing on his chest?" Wyatt asked as he reached his arm out and grabbed the lock. Nicholas, on the other hand, remained silent. He moved his index finger and thumb to his chin. A small smile creased across his lips. "Nicholas? You have any idea?"

Nicholas' smile faded. He looked up at Wyatt and shook his head. "No clue."

"What are we going to do here, Caius?" Wyatt looked up at the security cameras for confirmation.

"The point of the operation game is to remove specific organs and other items from the patient," Caius revealed.

Nicholas' face turned pale as he brought his hand over his mouth. Likely to resist the urge to hurl at the idea. "Why do we have to do that?"

"You have not figured it out? Remember how Wyatt claimed that he needed a heart for his wife? Well, here is his chance to get one." Caius said.

Wyatt's eyes lit up as he examined the lock over the patient once again. "You serious? I can get a heart from this game?! Is this man's heart even suitable, Caius?!"

"We would not have brought him here if he was not, Wyatt," Caius said. "This is your chance to save your wife."

"My chance to..." Wyatt kept his gaze affixed to the lock on the man's chest. "Where's the key?"

"Please do not tell me that it is in the--"

"Yes, Nicholas. The key is hidden somewhere within the body of the patient. Therefore, it is up to you two to find it." Caius revealed.

"Great..." Nicholas' shoulders dropped. His grimace remained plastered on his face as he looked over the body on the table. "I would not even know where to begin to look."

"That is where these come in," Right on cue, a section of the floor split open, allowing a single table to rise from the open space. On the said table were two small decks of cards. “On the table before you are your Doctor and Specialist cards. The doctor cards determine which ailment you must operate on. Should a player fail to treat the ailment, the one holding the specialist card may take a shot at it. Should that player succeed, they will get awarded double the original points.”

"What kind of objects did you put in that man's body?" Wyatt inquired.

"You will find out when you both take turns operating on him," Caius' tone turned menacing.

"How do you determine if we fail to treat an ailment?" Nicholas asked.

“Like in the original game of operation, numerous objects are placed in the body of the patient. However, unlike the original, you do not have to worry about something silly like touching the sides. To make up for that lack of effect, I have decided to implement a time limit.” Caius answered. Right on cue once more, a section of the farthest wall split open, revealing a large screen with a timer on it. “Players will be given fifteen seconds to remove the ailments from the patient. Should they fail, their turn will be over.”

“This is dangerous,” Zoey stated.

“How so?” asked Darius.

"Wyatt's goal is to get that heart by any means necessary. He hasn't even asked Caius if the game room has been disinfected or sterilized. So, even if they get the heart, there's a chance the heart will get infected if they remove it." Zoey answered.

After she listed off a few potential problems with the game, the severity of the situation sank in. Wyatt’s entire purpose for playing the games was right there in front of him. His wife’s life rested in his hands. One misstep could prove fatal.

The pressure the doctor felt must’ve been insurmountable.

“So, how will we know when the game ends?” Nicholas asked.

“When all the cards on the table are gone. Now that you know the rules let the game of Operation begin!" Caius announced.

Almost immediately, Wyatt rushed over to the table and grabbed a card. Once he gave it a quick read, he rushed over to the equipment table. In a matter of seconds, he put on the apron and gloves. The man moved with urgency and yet professionalism.

Meanwhile, Nicholas stood in place, confused as to how to move about in the game.

“Nicholas, I need you to get your head in the game,” Wyatt called out to the man as he approached the patient.

“It is, but, I am not sure how to proceed,” said Nicholas as he stepped aside. He could only stand there and watch as Wyatt used the scalpel in his hand to make an incision down the patient’s ankle.

The blade glided across the man’s skin without resistance. Wyatt quickly looked up and noticed the timer on the wall. He had ten seconds left. The doctor split open the man’s torn flesh and reached inside. He pulled out a wad of tangled string.

“This is ridiculous.” Wyatt’s face contorted in disgust as he tossed the bloody string over his shoulder without a care in the world.

“Wad of string?” Nicholas tilted his head to the side.

“A tangle in the ankle,” Wyatt corrected as he showed Nicholas the doctor card he drew from the deck earlier. The exact words displayed on the card.

“Hilarious, right?” Caius’ joyous tone brought solemn expressions on the faces of Wyatt and Nicholas. Neither of them seemed amused by the card. “Anyway, Wyatt has successfully treated the ailment. He has earned himself ten points."

“It is your turn now, Nicholas.” Wyatt set his card aside and gestured for the man to head for the table.

Nicholas looked back and forth between Wyatt and the card table. Reluctantly, he approached the table and drew one of the cards. Once he read it, he followed Wyatt’s example and dressed for the operation.

Afterward, he joined Wyatt by the patient and took a few deep breaths. One hand was placed on the patient’s face, keeping it steady while the other slowly inched the scalpel toward the man’s throat. The blade cut deeper into the man’s throat than intended, which I judged by Nicholas’ frantic reaction. He quickly backed away from the patient once blood leaked from the slight opening in his throat.

Nicholas’ face turned pale as he covered his mouth with his bloodied hand. The red liquid smeared across his face, only intensifying his reaction of disgust. The once calm and collected man lost his composure, and his lunch, all over the floor.

“I guess Nicholas wasn’t kidding when he said he wasn’t good around blood,” Henrika commented. She turned her head away from the sight of the man hurling.

“This game isn’t in his favor,” Salomon added.

“You think there’s an option for him to give up? Cause if Shades is just gonna keep hurling each time he sees blood, Imma take a nap.” Melanie complained.

“Nicholas’ time has run out! He has failed to treat the ailment! However, he may have a second chance if he has the specialist card for the throat!” Caius announced.

Eventually, Nicholas straightened himself out from his hunched over position. He cleansed his face from the barf and blood with the sleeve of his shirt. Afterward, he searched through his specialist cards and heaved a sigh of relief upon not finding it.

“You have it, Wyatt. I leave it to you.” Nicholas showed no hesitation in passing off the objective to the doctor.

“Got it.” Wyatt quickly took over where Nicholas left off. He grabbed the scalpel lodged in the patient’s throat, then slid it across the throat. Fortunately, he did not have to reach into the open flesh wound. A sheet of paper was visible. The doctor grabbed the paper then pulled it out.

“What does it say?” Nicholas turned his head away from the bloody paper, placing his hand over his mouth again just in case.

Wyatt turned over the sheet of paper then frowned. “I can't read it. If there was something written on this paper, it's illegible now because of the blood.”

“Congratulations! Wyatt has successfully treated the note in the throat ailment! And because he used the specialist card, he has acquired double the reward points! The doctor is now in the lead with thirty points!” Caius declared.

“Thirty points?! Already?!” Melanie exclaimed. “Son of a bitch! Doc is gonna take first place from me if this goes on!”

To had seen Melanie act panicked for a moment brought a small smile to my face. The bitch didn’t deserve a million dollars anyway.

“I don't have time for this madness. I have to find the card that has the keys.” Wyatt headed for the table and drew one of the cards. He smacked his lips once he read it, but went to perform the treatment anyway.

Like before, he cut through the designated body part—which was the forearm that time. He reached into the wound then pulled out what appeared to be some charm.

“Charm in the forearm,” Wyatt revealed in monotone as he tossed the charm aside. “It's your turn now, Nicholas.”

“I…I do not know if I can keep this up…” Nicholas placed his hands on his stomach. “Too much blood. I do not feel so well.”

“Caius, is it possible to skip turns?” Wyatt inquired as he turned his gaze to the security camera.

“Absolutely not! I said so in the beginning that both players must play! It does not matter if Nicholas fails or not! As long as he attempts to play, everything will be fine!” Caius answered.

Wyatt returned his gaze to Nicholas then shrugged his shoulders. “I'm sorry, but, you must go.”

“Alright…” Nicholas reluctantly approached the table. He drew his card then grimaced. “Oh god…”

“What is it?” asked Wyatt.

“I…I do not want to do this…” Nicholas backed away from the table. He dropped the card then used his hand to keep his trembling one steady.

“What do you mean?!” Wyatt snapped at him, fiercely glaring at the man with eyes of contempt. “We don't have time for this, Nicholas! Perform the damn treatment!”

“Wyatt, calm down and think,” pleaded Nicholas, “Something is wrong with this game. I believe we should think this through.”

“There is nothing to think through! Caius gave us all the facts! The key to save my wife is in this man's body!"

“Yes, I know that. But, something has been bugging me since the start of the game.”

Wyatt approached Nicholas and gripped the collar of his shirt. He pulled the man closer to him and whispered something into his ear. Nicholas’ face paled once again after Wyatt released him. With great reluctance, Nicholas approached the body and proceeded to cut open the stomach.

His cringed and grimaced as blood seeped through the cut and stained his hands. It must’ve taken every ounce of his strength and willpower not to hurl over the body. He eventually reached into the body in search of his specified item.

However, he quickly retracted his hand in a state of alarm when his patient let out a horrified, pained scream.

A man believed to be dead, was in fact, not.

“What the fuck?!” Darius exclaimed.

“Oh shit! This is getting good!” Melanie exasperated.

“Oh my,” A feigned tone of surprise had come from Caius, “it appears that the sedatives we gave him have worn off.”

“Sedatives?! You mean he has been alive this whole time?!” Nicholas dropped his scalpel and stepped away from the hollering man.

“I do not recall claiming that the patient was dead. However, you should continue with the operation.” Caius nonchalantly suggested.

“Continue with the operation? Are you crazy? If this man has been alive the entire time, we cannot go through with this.” Nicholas shook his head. “Wyatt! Help me close him back up! I will check and see if there are any more sedatives on the medical table!”

Nicholas rushed to the medical table and desperately searched for any sedatives to nullify the pain of the hollering man. Meanwhile, Wyatt didn’t budge an inch. He stood there—frozen—perhaps every word was drowned out by the screams of the unfortunate patient.

“Wyatt!” Nicholas desperately called out to the man again. When he received no response, he rushed over to the doctor then shook him. “Wyatt! Wyatt! Come on! Snap out of it!”

“He is…that man is going to die…” Wyatt mumbled.

“What?! No! We can save him! Help me save him!”

Wyatt took a step back and shook his head. “No. He has to die. Once he does, I can take his heart and save my wife.”

“Listen to yourself! A man is dying here! You are a doctor! You took an oath to save lives!”

“I am! I am choosing to save my wife! It is no different from a heart transplant! Someone has to die in the first place!”

“Have you lost your mind? If that man dies, we become murderers!”

“No. You are the murderer.” Wyatt declared as he pointed at the frightened man. “You are the one that cut his stomach open like that. No reason for you to get cold feet now after all you've done.”

“I only did it because of you…” Nicholas stopped abruptly once the screams finally died down. Both Wyatt and Nicholas turned their heads and expressed complete horror as the man lied there motionless—undoubtedly dead that time.

But, Nicholas didn’t want to accept it. He moved over to the patient and shook the body, calling out to the man, but received no response. Afterward, he rushed back over to the medical table in search of supplies that could potentially save him.

“Give it up, Nicholas. The man is dead.” Wyatt coldly told him. No ounce of guilt or remorse hinted in his tone. “Let's continue with the game until we get the key and his heart.”

Nicholas slammed his hands on the table. He took several deep breaths then responded, “How can you be so heartless?”

It was a tone that I had never imagined would come from his mouth. Nicholas had always been so calm and collected. Even when others had died around him—he never lost his composure. But, at that moment, he snapped.

“Is that supposed to be a joke?” Wyatt walked over to the dead body. “Nothing has changed. We don't have the heart yet."

“Nothing has changed?!” Nicholas sharply turned to face the doctor—seething with intense rage. “A man died, Wyatt! We killed a person!”

“It had to be done to save a life!”

“Do not give me that shit! Before, you had no idea the man was alive!”

“Of course! Caius mentioned that he was dead!”

“I already told you, Wyatt. I made no such statement.” Caius corrected.

“No matter! The man's dead! We need to finish this!”

“Look at you…your eyes are completely different from how they were in the beginning. You are losing your morality.” Nicholas took a step back.

“I told you from day one that I would save my wife…” Wyatt threateningly brandished his scalpel at Nicholas, “Her salvation is right in front of me! I will not let her die! No matter what the cost!”

“Wyatt put the scalpel down. Calm yourself.” Nicholas pleaded.

“I don't want to hurt you, Nicholas. But, you are leaving me with no choice. If you don't want to die, then you will continue with the game.”

“Well, Doc’s gone fucking nuts,” Melanie commented. “Sweet! Wonder what’ll happen next!”

“Nicholas should grab a weapon and defend himself! Wyatt will kill him if this goes on!” Darius exasperated.

“If he does choose to fight, then things could get bloodier than before,” said Salomon.

“Avoiding a fight is the best solution.” Henrika chimed in, “it’s terrible that the man is dead. But, Wyatt has a point. Nothing can be done for him. Helping his wife should be the priority now.”

“What are you going to do, Nicholas?! If you're not with me, then you're against me!” Wyatt slowly approached Nicholas. His eyes showed clear malicious intent.

Left with no other options, Nicholas raised his hands and exclaimed, “Alright! Alright! I am with you!”

“Smart choice.” Wyatt lowered his scalpel then gestured for the man to continue with his turn in the game.

Since Nicholas failed to retrieve the item within the dead body the first time, he would receive a second chance if he possessed the specialist card for that item. It turned out he did.

He cautiously approached the body again, keeping a close eye on Wyatt. Then, he reached inside the tear and searched for the item. He turned his head away, expressing his evident disgust of the situation. When the timer ran out, he instantly removed his hand from the body.

“Nicholas has failed in both attempts to treat the ailment. Therefore, the ailment will remain in the body and no points will be awarded to either player.” Caius declared.

“My turn again.” Wyatt drew his card then smiled at the sight of it. “Key in the knee.”

“Which one?” Nicholas asked.

Wyatt paused. He looked at both knees of the corpse, trying to discern which one he should choose. He approached the body and examined the knees. His hand ran across the left knee, smearing foundation that covered up a scar.

“This one,” The Doctor cut open the knee and reached inside. He pulled his hand out when the timer ran out, scowling in response.

“Wyatt has failed to treat the ailment! Should he possess the specialist card, he may have a second chance!” Caius announced.

Wyatt searched through his specialist cards and frowned.

“Damn it,” He cursed.

“It lies on me then, huh?” Nicholas reluctantly shifted through his specialist cards. A grimace crossed his face the moment he found it.

“Nicholas, this is the last chance I have to save my wife. You need to find that key.” The desperation in Wyatt’s voice resonated in my head. His will—his desire to save something important to him mirrored my own. Sure, he went to extreme lengths to do it.

But, who wouldn’t?

“I will try my best…” Nicholas approached the corpse then stuck his hand into the opening. He rummaged around for a few seconds. But, it still proved far too difficult for the man. He turned his head away and barfed again.

“Nicholas! Pull yourself together before…” Wyatt stopped abruptly once the timer ran out.

“Time is up! Both players have failed to treat the ailment! Therefore, they must move on to the next operation!” Caius announced.

“Move on?! No, no, no! Wait a minute! That last attempt did not count!” Wyatt yelled. “You have to give Nicholas another chance! Or at least let me go again!”

“No can do, Wyatt. I cannot bend the rules just because an event occurred that was not in your favor. The game will proceed.”

“Wyatt, forgive me…” Nicholas straightened his posture then wiped his face clean with his apron. “I…I messed up…”

Wyatt said nothing.

He stood there—frozen in place. His face grew red as nerves on his forehead pulsed. To say that he was pissed would’ve been an understatement.

Slowly, the doctor turned to face Nicholas. “You…messed up?”

“…Wyatt?”

“You messed up? You messed up?! You make such a huge blunder, and that is how you respond?!” Wyatt hollered. “Because of you, my chance to save my wife is gone!”

“Calm down, Wyatt! You can still save her! You just cannot do it right now!” Nicholas desperately assured him. “We can keep playing the game. Once it is over, we can keep trying to find ways to escape."

“How long do you think that will take?! With the traitors still at large, we could be here for weeks! By then, my wife could be dead!”

Nicholas was left speechless. There was no telling how much longer we would remain in Serendipity. Time was of the essence for some players, but that wasn’t the case for others. Wyatt needed the heart transplant done as soon as possible.

But, thanks to Nicholas, his hopes were destroyed.

“You are going to pay for this…you traitor…” Wyatt raised his scalpel then approached Nicholas. “Because of you, my wife may become a victim of your games…”

“Wyatt put the scalpel down. We can talk about this…” Nicholas slowly raised his hands and took a few steps back.

“I'm done talking! I'll kill you!” Wyatt lunged at the man and drove his scalpel into his chest. Nicholas staggered back with his hands over the sharp instrument in his chest. He collided into the equipment table and knocked it over, hitting the floor with the objects.

“Holy shit! Did Doc just kill Shades?!” Melanie pressed her face against the window, fogging up the glass with her hot breath.

“He’s lost his god damn mind!” Henrika cursed.

The facility fell silent. The only sound heard were Wyatt’s heavy breaths as the man attempted to calm himself down. He stared at Nicholas’ motionless body.

Afterward, he moved over to the patient and reached within the knee in search of that elusive key again.

“Wyatt, by trying to find the key again after I told you not to is a direct violation of the rules,” Caius warned him. For once, there was no joy in his tone. For once, the game moderator spoke in a monotone.

“Shut up! I am sick of you and your games! The only thing I beg of you is to let me save my wife!” Wyatt shouted.

“Last warning, Wyatt…” Caius alerted. But, the doctor refused to heed it. He continued to search through the corpse until he finally found what he was looking for. He pulled his hand out and held the key up to the light.

Its shine of crimson and gold brought a smile to Wyatt’s face. The moment he took a step toward the patient. His eyes glanced down at the bracelet on his wrist.

“You…you did not…” Wyatt sharply turned to the security camera.

“You were warned, Wyatt. You broke the rules and must face punishment. You have therefore been disqualified from the games and sentenced to death by lethal injection.” Caius announced.

“You…you can't do this to me! All I wanted to do was…” Wyatt placed his hand on his chest while the other clamped over his mouth. He coughed violently for a moment and withdrew his hand. Blood covered it. “No! No! This can't be happening!”

The doctor desperately looked at the bracelet on his arm. The bracelet tightened, blocking his circulation. The nerves on his arm pulsed exceedingly fast while he attempted to remove it—but with no success.

Eventually, he dropped to his knees. Copious amounts of blood leaked from his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth as his body convulsed violently. His arm slowly reached out in a desperate, yet futile attempt to reach for us.

“Chloe…” He softly called out and collapsed.

All went silent.

Wyatt Ackerman had died.