Greed. Need. Fame. [Full :)]

Effy Culpepper

I watched as Ten, the man on the leash, bit that Persephone girl. Now that was interesting. I smirked and crossed my arms. Her sister began yelling at him, while he threw apologies. The man suddenly came back and told us that the car was here. My eyebrow shot up when I saw a limousine.

I crossed my arms as we walked towards the limousine. I stopped halfway, staring at the long, black car, while other people passed by me. I took a deep breath and continued walking towards the limo. I ducked my head so I could sit in the limo, and the door closed behind me. Seemed I was the last one to enter. I looked around the car, and crossed my legs.

"Hi, I'm Micah," someone beside me said. I turned my head to see a boy about my age with red hair sitting next to me. "You're Effy, right?"

I give him a small smile, "Yeah, that's my name". He pulls out a piece of wood, in which looks like a flute, and he begins carving it.

"So why exactly are you risking your life?" he asked. My eyebrow shot up.

"You don't have to answer that, sorry. I'm just curious, but it's not important...In case you're wondering, though I'm sure you're not, I'm in for the fame. Maybe then whoever my next foster family is will give me a little respect rather than treating me like shit," he said. I looked down and laughed a bit.

"You think that's bad? Try running away from parents who never really cared about what you do. Freaking wanks," I muttered. Micah nodded and looked down.

"Anyways, I'm in for the wealth and power. I'd love to see how those wanks would react when they see me with power," I said quietly. "They'll finially know what they've lost".

I light up a new cigarette and bring it to my lips. I let out a small puff of smoke out and look up to Micah. I hold up the cigarette.

"Want?" I offered.

(Hope this is okay!)

Nadia

The girl, Effy. had shaken my hand. And I smiled at her. It was a bit of a fake smile but I think I could grow to like her. Heck I could grow to like everyone here. But it would take some work. Some getting used to. I sat back down. Each person was being assigned a weapon. And some were complaining. I never complained but I was worried. Though I would never admit it.

I received the weapon I was to be using in the game. A double edged dagger. Splendid, small and dangerous. I knew how to use it. But I couldn't help but worry about those with knife edged staffs and pistols. I would just have to be careful. Very careful and use the weapon with skill. I sighed, tucking it into my boot.

The car had arrived, though I did not notice until everyone was filing out. I saw the leashed man bite the girl and looked, still curious about the pair. I had watched intently as the red-haired boy tossed the knife. He was very good. I would have to watch out for him. And then I was daydreaming as the crowd began to file out, file out to the car. The limo no less. Never had I ridden in one of these. I slid in behind all the others and slid a little onto the seat. It was slippery and I allowed myself to laugh a little at how out of place I looked.

I listened, like a true street bread twat, to Effy and the red haired boys conversation.

"You don't have to answer that, sorry. I'm just curious, but it's not important...In case you're wondering, though I'm sure you're not, I'm in for the fame. Maybe then whoever my next foster family is will give me a little respect rather than treating me like shit." He finished and looked angry. I only wished I had a foster family when I was growing up. Judging by how angry he looked I guessed that maybe I was glad my cousin had raised me.

"...Anyways, I'm in for the wealth and power. I'd love to see how those wanks would react when they see me with power," I said quietly. "They'll finally know what they've lost". She finished by blowing out a puff of smoke, again. I coughed and waved a hand in front of my face.

"I would like to buy some food instead of taking it. And I want a house. A nice house and someone to want to take care of me." It slid out before I could stop it. I put a small hand over my mouth instinctively and turned pink. Stupid stupid eavesdropping Nadia. "Sorry! I shouldn't have been listening." I said quietly. I was by no means shy but these people, were different, I was going to be with them for a while and I didn't want to look like an idiot.

Micah,

I look at the proffered cigarette, "Nah, I'm good." Effy shrugs and puts it away.

"I would like to buy some food instead of taking it. And I want a house. A nice house and someone to want to take care of me." The girl, Nadia, who is sitting near us, says, and then covers her mouth with her hand, seemingly embarrassed. I laugh.

"I feel ya, mate," I say, smiling, and lean over and pat her shoulder, "Someone to love me would be great." I finish my flute, and blow the wood shavings from inside it. I put it to my lips and start to play. Truth be told, I only know one tune, and I don't even know where or when I learned it. As long as I can remember, I've been humming it, whistling it, playing it. I like to think that maybe it was a lullaby that my mother sang to me, but I never knew my mother, so I'll never know. It's a haunting melody, full of many ups and downs, and it comforts me, especially now, when I might be going to my death. I don't care that it might be weird to play a wooden flute in a limo that is taking me and many others to a fight for our very existence. I don't even notice that many people have stopped talking while I play, until I stop. I look up, blushing.

"Sorry," I mumble, stuffing the flute in my pocket, "Carry on with...whatever,"

Nadia

I jumped a little at his touched, and tried to balance out my awkwardness with an equally awkward smile. I had never really been touched in a casual way before. Physical contact, yes. I had had that. But never a friendly, "I understand you" type touch. "Thanks." I muttered lowering my head and playing with a stray piece of hair.

The boy started playing, playing and almost everyone stopped what they were doing. I listened to the others, the tune was unfamiliar to me but sounded like a lullaby. He stopped, looking embarrassed. I felt him there.

"No. It was pretty." I said smiling a little. "You play...very well." I said stretching in the vehicle. Not much room to stretch but I needed to relieve some of the tension in my body. I rotated my ankle around again and sat back. Sighing. I wanted to get there. I wanted to start the game and I was fidgeting. One of my most distasteful habits.

Effy Culpepper

I closed my eyes and threw my head back slowly, listening to Micah's flute playing. When he stopped, I opened my eyes and rotated my head as if I were high. I licked my lips and cleared my throat.

"I just want to be a child, and be in a family. And the parents aren't twats," I said with a tired voice. I licked my lips again, and it tasted like the smoke from the cigarette, but with a bit of cherry. I smirked. I looked up to Micah, and tilted his head up and kissed his cheek. I slumpe back in my seat and made myself comfortable, my head leaning on the car window.

"What was that for?" he asked. I rolled my eyes.

"I'm high. Lovely isn't it?" I said quietly with my eyes closed.

(Hope this is okay! Oh, and Effy kisses cheeks a lot. )

Micah,

The last thing that I expect is for Effy to kiss my cheek. But that's exactly what she does.

"What was that for?" I ask, stupidly. She rolls her eyes.

"I'm high. Lovely isn't it?" She smiles and settles back in her seat.

I blush, although I don't know why, "Umm, okay. Thanks, I guess."

I settle back into my seat as well, thinking bitter thoughts. It's only slightly sad, I tell myself, that a girl kissing me on the cheek makes me go brick red. Right, I mutter inside my head, that isn't pathetic at all. I shrug off the thought. It's not like this whole situation is going to lend itself to romance anyway. I need to focus on what's ahead.

I realize that the windows are blacked out, inside and outside, so we can't see where we're going. So I voice the question that I'm sure is going through everyone else's heads:

"Where are they taking us?"

Mavrick Lock

Mavrick sat comfortably in the limo. Soft conversation overlapped as the the contestants got to know each other. Glancing over at the two men, Dill and Ten, his gaze ligered on Ten. The man looked normal enough, that is if you ignored the collor and leash, but after the incident at 495 Victor Lane it was fairly obvious he was completely insane. Then again, perhaps he wasn't the only one, Mavrick couldn't help thinking, shifting his eyes to the girl who'd been bitten. She looked a little shaken up, but she was still here. Any normal person would have walk away after something like that, yet here she was, sitting across from the very man who had sunk his teeth into her. Most would have headed for the nearest exit just after seeing that happen to someone else, much less themself, but not one of this group had even seemed to consider it, making it seem likely that more than one of them might be a tad bit off their rocker. Than again, He thought smiling ruefully to himself. I'm still here as well, so I guess that makes me as crazy as the rest of them.

"What are you smiling about?"

A voice broke into Mavrick's thoughts and he turned to the speaker, a women who looked to be about in her twentys, her dark brown hair pinned loosely at the nap of her neck.

"Nothing really" He answered with a slight smirk. " Just cotemplating my sanitly" He stuck out his hand. "Mavrick Lock, at your service"

The women chuckled and shook his hand, her grip firm. "Lire Else," She grinned "and we're all mad here.

Mavrick laugh quietly, then half sobering asked, "So what sort of maddness enticed you into coming? Fame, Power, Money, or" he snorted a little. "Excitement?"

Dill Rivanni

"London is..." Ten turned and looked up at me for help. I just shrugged. Ten sighed and turned back to Seph, his eyes trailing up to the ceiling and around the room, thinking hard. "London is... a bad person." Ten looked back up to me for conformation and I nodded again. Mason scoffed and I turned to glare at her. I wasn't liking this girl very much. She grew more annoying with each second that passed.

"A bad person," Seph questioned. Ten nodded and pushed his head up into my hand. It was then that I realized that I was too busy glaring at Mason to comb out his hair with my fingers. He only answered Seph when I continued with my musing.

"Yes. He does bad things to people and London get's me in trouble. He doesn't listen and he's mean to Dill. He's mean to everyone! And he talks a lot. London talks a lot and he never shuts up, and Dill says I should ignore him if I can but sometimes it's hard."

The smell of smoke entered my nose and I coughed and waved it away. I glanced over to see that one of the girls had lit something inside of the car.

"That's rude as hell," I told her, but I'm not sure she heard me.

"London doesn't like anybody and he's always hungry, always," Ten continued. "He likes... he likes to eat people and he killed my dad and ate him. He eats everybody he kills. He says it's because he likes the way-"

"Ten, enough!" I moved my hand to cover his mouth and shook my head sternly. "That's enough. God, I don't know why I let you come here."

"Where are they taking us?" I turned towards the person that spoke, glad for a change in topic.

"If we knew then it wouldn't be much of a "disclosed location" now would it?" He stuttered before nodding.

"I guess."

"We're here."

The limo stopped and everyone got out, some quicker than others. Ten and I were last to leave. But the area around us was a beach, surely nothing we could have driven to.

John got out the drivers seat and after visiting the trunk came back with a large box. He set the box down and bowed once.

"Wait," I said with a small chuckle. "How the hell did you drive us to this island, John." John smirked and ran a hand through his curls.

"There was a reason, Mr. Rivanni, the windows were blacked out." He smiled knowingly and opened the box, revealing weapons.

"The games start now," he states. "Good luck." And with that he returns to the limo and speeds off into the dense island forest.

"Oh, my bow's in here," Lire said softly. I reached in to retrieve my revolver, a case of ammo, and Ten's claws. He made a move to grab them but I held him back.

"No," I said. "Not until you need them." He deflates but backs off anyone. I don't want London coming out on us and wearing these claws - they were razor sharp. And I really didn't want to activate the collar on Ten just because London decided to fool around.

Everyone gathers their weapons and we all sort of subconsciously form a circle in the sand.

"First order of business," I say, immediately taking my Boss role - it was like second nature to me -, "we find shelter and a good source of food and water. We need a way to purify water because salt water won't help us at all. Do not go out looking for the other team." I look everyone in the eye just to make sure they got my point. "It would be too dangerous seeing that it's already getting dark. But if you are attacked, by all means, fight back with everything you've got."

Lire Else

I laughed at Mavrick and shook my head.

"You think I'd go through all of this just for a bit of fun? I need the money." He nodded and smiled, I returned the gesture.

"Understandable. Do you just want more money or-"

"I need it. I have a little brother, Roman, who I have to take care of, and bills to pay. My current job isn't bringing in enough money to give Roman what he needs and keep my apartment as my apartment." He nodded in understanding and I sighed, fully realizing how pathetic my life was.

"Well, that sucks," he replied.

"Why are you here?" He smiles widely then and fastens his hands behind his head.

"Just one act of rebellion against my father." I sputter and stare at him wide eyed.

"You're going through all of this just to defy your father." He shrugs and says something but I don't quite catch it as another conversation pulls my attention away.

"He likes... he likes to eat people and he killed my dad and ate him." I stare at Ten in horror and cover my open mouth with my hand. "He eats everybody he kills. He says it's because he likes the way-"

"Ten, enough!"

What have I gotten myself into? Luckily the limo stops and I'm one of the first to get out. I was appreciating the fresh air when I noticed the sound of waves crashing against a shore. Startled, I look around and see we're on an island.

"What the heck," I mumbled to myself.

"That's what I'm saying," a small voice says beside me. I look over and see a girl, I think her name's Nadia.

"How the hell did you get us on this island, John," Dill asks with a chuckle. It's almost unsettling how he can laugh at a time like this.

"There was a reason, Mr. Rivanni, the windows were blacked out," John replied with a grin. "The games start now. Good luck." And then he gets into the car and drives away into the forest.

"Strange." I go to the box he left and pull out my bow and arrow. I fiddle with it a bit before shooting a practice arrow at a tree. Not spectacular, but those archery lessons in high school have finally done me some good. I go to retrieve the arrow and run to take a seat in the circle everyone's gathered in. Sitting beside me are Mavrick and some other guy who's name I don't quite remeber, I think it was Micah, or something like that.

"First order of business," Dill startes in a stern voice and for some strange reason I feel compelled to listen to him, "we find shelter and a good source of food and water. We need a way to purify water because salt water won't help us at all. Do not go out looking for the other team." The last part is said with a hard and serious frown. He catches my eye and I stare a bit before he looks away. I find myself sighing in relief from the broken eye contact before I can catch myself. "It would be too dangerous seeing that it's already getting dark. But if you are attacked, by all means, fight back with everything you've got."

"What if you don't have much," I ask with a small nervous laugh. Dill shrugs and stands up.

"Then you've just wasted your time."

"Oh... okay..." I stand too and dust the sand off my jeans. "So, shelter," I ask. He nods and starts off into the woods. I follow behind him slowly.

"Intense, huh?" I jump slightly at the voice next to my ear and turn to see Mavrick grinning. I roll my eyes at him and clutch my bow and arrow to my chest.

"Yeah, I'm only hoping I can stay alive." It's then something clicks in my mind. "Hey, who here can make a fire?"

Nadia

The limo was getting smokey and I watched, highly amused as Effy kissed the red haired boy. Himself going as red as a brick. I laughed a little and then began to cough again as the girl took a draw on her cigarette.

"Getting high is an excellent way for you to get killed. What will you do when we are out in the wilderness and no one can get you those..things?" I said loosely gesturing to the cigarette hanging from her fingers. Or joint or what ever the hell it was.

I turned my attention to the two men. Ten and...Dill. That was it. The stories coming from that side of the limo terrified me and made me more interested in my--teammates? Opponents? What ever they were I wanted to know more, but the, Ten put his hand over Ten's mouth. The story was over, it was apparent that he had the authority in that, partnership.

The car came to a stop. I looked around and filed out just as every one else was doing. We were on an island, a bloody island. I collected the blade and slid it into my boot. So many other weapons, so many people I needed to get to know, to analyze. The group forms a circle, it hits me now that we are really on our own. We need to survive here and I may be dead soon. Any time really I could die. There were a number of reasons. The mention of the other team gave me shivers and the thought of the claws that Dill now had scared me even more. Picture getting ripped apart by those.

The man, Dill. That was his name. Began to speak, give orders even. I raised an eyebrow and looked at him quizzically.
"Now you're the leader...by default? By good looks? By strength? Sorry just trying to clear things up." I said coolly. "Or do you just have... a natural gift for leadership?" I said again. Why was I such a brat, why was I still talking. It was just second nature to challenge authority, and why should he tell me what to do. I gathered we needed to work as a team, hell. Maybe we did need a leader.

I clenched my jaw and stood steady in the group shifting slightly on my feet. I new how to do so little survival things. But I did know how to make a fire. I turned to the asker. "I think I could make. One if some one found some flint. Or just a couple of rocks." I said quietly.

*mMason and Seph*

"I don't think Dill likes you." Seph whispered.

"I coule care less." Mason snapped, pushing her sister out of the limo. She was annoyed by the way Dill kept glaring at her. So what if she was a bit protetive? Seph was her life. Seph and Jerr. Before they left the house, Jerr made Mason promise to protect Seph with her life. And letting some freak named London bit her was exactly what Jerr meant by protect. He would have a cow if he saw what his girls were around. Cannibals, druggies, freaks in general.

The man, John, tried to hand her a sword. Mason shook her head polietly. "I have one, thanks." He nodded and handed Seph a pair of polished daggers. Seph grimaced at them and slid them in her boots.

Dill started giving orders to everyone. Mason rolled her eyes inwardly. Of course he'd take charge. He was rambling on and on about finding shelter, stay away from the other team, blah blah.

"Yes sir!" She cried mockingly.

Effy Culpepper

I stepped out of the car, examining my surroundings. What the hell? We're on an island. John opened the trunk of the car, which had weapons. I picked up the dagger and examined the blade in the light. Hm, pretty easy to carry, sharp, and shiny, I could work with this. I noticed that everyone has their weapons.

"The games start now, good luck," John said before driving off. I stare at where the car used to be. What now?

"First order of business," Dill starts, "we find shelter and a good source of food and water. We need a way to purify water because salt water won't help us at all. Do not go out looking for the other team. It would be too dangerous seeing that it's already getting dark. But if you are attacked, by all means, fight back with everything you've got." that Dill man instructed. I crossed my arms and rolled my eyes.

"Now you're the leader...by default? By good looks? By strength? Sorry just trying to clear things up." Nadia said. "Or do you just have... a natural gift for leadership?" I gave a small smile tilted my head.

The group began talking about survival skills, while I listened. It appeared Nadia knew how to make a fire. What. The. Hell. I have a freaking lighter with me, I'm sure I could light up a fire. But I keep my mouth shut and listen to the group. I'm just a quiet wanker in a game where we have to kill to win.

Faye

O
While everyone started talking about what we were going to do next I found a small tree and started climbing. Soon, I was at the top. I surveyed the island; it was large enough that I could barely make out each edge of it. I glanced at a rocky outcrop about 3 miles away from the group that had a small pool of water near it.

"You guys." I said, climbing down. No one stopped jabbering. "Hey." Still, they seemed not to hear me.

I flipped my hair back angrily. I wasn't used to being ignored like this. "PEOPLE!"

The voices quieted.

"Thanks." I smiled sweetly around at them, but didn't meet anyone's eyes. "There's a sheltered place made out of rocks about 3 miles from here. There's also water near it..."

"Good. Let's go there," said the boy who seemed to have taken over the role of leader. No one contradicted him so I pointed the way I'd seen the shelter then let him lead.

Micah,

We're on a frigging ISLAND. The thought runs continuously through my mind as I shrug off my long trench coat to reveal my double longswords. Dill seems to have taken up the position of "leader", which many people don't appear to be happy about, including Mason and Nadia. I happen to agree. Dill is pushy, overbearing, and haughty, and it annoys me. I feel kind of sorry for Ten, but I really don't want to see the other, London side of him again. I'm standing alone, looking around at people doing various things, like trying to start fires, etc., when Faye yells from the top of a tree that she can see some rocky shelter about three miles away.

"Big island," I mutter to myself.

Dill says that we should go to the shelter and gestures for everyone to follow him. However, I stay firmly planted.

"Why should you get to take up the role of leader?" I ask loudly, so that I can be heard, "I don't remember any of the rest of us deciding that you could." Dill turns around.

"Do you not think that it's a good idea to go to the shelter?" he snarls.

"That's not the point," I say, "You made the decision to go there by yourself, without asking the rest of us what we think. If we're gonna survive out here, that's not gonna work"

Dill Rivanni

I smile at the boy, Micah, and slowly sit down on the sand.

"Oh," I drawled, "my apologies sir Micah. Let us all sit here in plain sight and discuss further what we should do next while it gets darker out here. While we're at it how about we all start to yell at the top of our lungs and dance around a giant bonfire, I'm sure no one will try to kill us."

Micah glares at me harder and I laugh lowly, but the laugh soon turns to a dark growl.

"Well now, come on, let's sit here and have a conversation. We've all the time in the world," I continue, my voice no longer sarcastic and joking but hard and angry. Never in my entire life have I been so openly challenged, and by no more than a child. I stood up and walked forward until I was face to face with the red headed kid. "Talk, boy," I ordered. "Isn't that what you were just bitching about?" My hands clench at my sides and my face heats from anger. My anger seemed irrational and I knew this, but I never sat well with being questioned or spoken out against. And to be challenged by a boy, a little child? Me, Dill Rivanni, boss of one of the countries largest Mafia gangs, being questioned by some kid? Not even Ten dared speak against me and he could very well tear me apart with his eyes closed.

My eyes snap open as realization hits me like a train. I'm no longer holding Ten's leash.

"Shit." I spit off a few more swears and turn around quickly], searching frantically for Ten. My heart raced in my chest and I could hear it pounding in my ears but I was calmed quickly enough when I saw Ten sitting in the sand making what I suppose was meant to be a sand castle. I sighed and jogged up to him, running a hand through his hair when I got close enough. He smiled up at me and stood.

"I didn't go anywhere," he announced happily. I gave him a weak smile, suddenly very tired. Today has been way too long.

"I see, that's really good, Ten."

"If I promise not to run away can you take off this thing?" He tugs on the leash with a small frown before turning back to me.

"We'll see." I turn back towards the group, a hard frown in place along with a smoldering glare. "Do what you want," I start evenly. "We are a team, yes, but please know that protecting you is not my first priority. Actually, I'm realizing that I don't even like some of you, Micah and Mason to be exact." I look both of them in the eye before scoffing and rolling my eyes. "You two annoy me. The rest of you I have nothing bad to say about and I would actually hate to see you all die, you seem like good people. I've no intention in 'leading' you all." I sigh and give what I hope to be a warm smile though I'm not sure it came across as warm.

"Now," I continue, "since I've managed to offend someone, let me rephrase my previous statement. I am going to the shelter because that seems like the safest thing to do. I also assumed that going there was obviously the safest and best choice but it appears that wasn't as obvious as I thought it to be. What do you think," I ask sarcastically.

"I think it's getting dark outside," mumbled Ten in my ear. Shit, I forgot. Ten's afraid of the dark. His hands gripped my shirt tight enough to tear the fabric. I cursed audibly and turned to walk towards the shelter.

"Sorry if I come off as a bossy, rude, pompous asshole," I call over my shoulder. "Just trying to stay alive, kiddies."