Handler 2: [scratches his nose] Rose?
Player 2: [narrows eyes] Fuck you, man.
Controller 2: [sighs] Honestly, I knew Kennedy for such a short amount of time, and the man I knew clearly was just a façade. But if he’s right, then we’re both waiting for the other to make the next move.
Controller 1: [snorts] Zugzwang.
Controller 3: [deadpans] Gesundheit.
Controller 2: [speaks softly] I don’t think we’re going to get anything useful out of them. They’re just peons.
Controller 1: [sighs] Agreed. Want to keep playing or end it?
Controller 2: [smiling] I mean, we can play a LITTLE more.
Controller 1: [chuckles] You just want that candy bar.
Controller 2: [laughs] Hell yeah! Don’t get between me and my chocolate.
Controller 3: [clears throat] I mean, this has been fun and all, and honestly creepier than I ever thought you capable of, Keys, so congrats on that, but I’m out of here. Permission to terminate?
Player 3: [panics] Wait, what?!
Controller 1: [nods] Permission granted.
Player 3: [raises own gun to his head] No, no! Wait, stop! I?—
[gunshot]
Controller 3: [groans and stretches] Well, I’m out. Clearly, I was not the gamer I thought I was compared to you two. I need to practice before we do this again.
Controller 1: I’ve been teaching Oscar. I’m sure he’d be happy to help you.
Controller 3: [chuckles] Ha-ha. Night, everyone.
Handler 2: [clears throat] Hey, dumbass. Come clean up your mess.
* * *
It was wellpast midnight by the time Rose and Keys terminated their players. Even on a video game, Keys had trouble shooting at Rose, so it really was no surprise to anyone when she reigned victorious.
“Thorne owes me a candy bar,” Rose grumbled as they packed up their equipment. “‘Left it right there’, my ass. Clearly he didn’t, or I’d have my candy bar.”
Keys chuckled, throwing his arm around her shoulders. “I’ll buy you a whole case of them tomorrow.”
“Ooh, get the caramel ones, too.”
Keys kissed her temple as she raised her hand to lace her fingers through his at his shoulder. “Whatever you want.”
Since she was closest, Rose reached forward for the doorhandle. “Maybe one with nu—Oh shit!”
Keys’ attention had been on the light switch on the wall, so he didn’t catch what had startled her at the same time she did. But at her scream, his head snapped forward and his eyes went wide.
Ghost stood in the doorway, Scar behind him. Keys’ president held up the chocolate candy bar and raised an eyebrow. “Something you’ve been meaning to tell me, Keys?”
CHAPTER 13
Keys stared wide-eyed at the candy bar displayed before him like evidence in a trial. A cold sweat coated his entire body, and he felt like a kid caught in a lie by his parents. He couldn’t breathe, he couldn’t think, and for one solid, terrifying heartbeat, he could have sworn he felt a noose tightening around his neck.
