Lucas POV 
I watched as Emery's Father fight came to an end, feeling a mix of relief and dread. It was my turn now, and I couldn’t shake off the anxiety gnawing at me. Next, I would be up against Mireign, and that was the part that really got to me. Damn it, Emery, this is too much, I mumbled under my breath, trying to calm my racing heart.
Abigail noticed my frustration. She reached out, grabbing my hand tightly. “Lucas, whatever happens, you need to survive first. Help others after you’ve made it through this,” she said, her voice steady and reassuring.
Nathalie, Finn, and Alex nodded in agreement. Their support was a small comfort, but it was enough to push me forward. I knew I couldn’t afford to lose now. We were so close to making it through, and I had to survive.
Emery’s voice cut through the tension, commanding, “Lucas and Mireign, step forward to the battlefield. Choose your weapons wisely and make your choices carefully.”
I took a deep breath, my heart pounding as I moved toward the weapons rack. Mireign followed, her eyes cold and focused. Emery’s games were brutal, and now she was playing with my mind, making me second-guess everything.
The battle began. Mireign and I circled each other, each waiting for the right moment to strike. The fight was intense from the start. Mireign moved with precision, her attacks sharp and calculated. I tried to keep up, dodging and countering as best I could.
In a sudden, chaotic moment, I managed to hit Mireign’s legs with a knife. She screamed in pain, and for a split second, I froze. The look on her face was one of pure agony. I hadn’t meant to hurt her that badly. 
I stepped forward, trying to check if she was okay, but everything seemed to slow down. Before I could react, Mireign’s knife sliced across my face, leaving a shallow cut. Damn it, it was a trap!
Mireign pressed her advantage, trying to cut me again. I stumbled back, narrowly avoiding her blade. My heart raced, and I knew I had to focus. I grabbed another weapon, determined to turn this fight around.
As I fought, I threw quick glances at Emery. I knew this was what she wanted—a show of skill and determination. I needed to give her the satisfaction she sought.
I ducked and dodged Mireign’s attacks, my movements becoming more fluid and precise. The fight dragged on, and I could feel my exhaustion, but I refused to let it show. Finally, I saw my chance. With perfect timing, I managed to bring Mireign down to the ground just as the time ran out. It was a hard-fought victory.
Mireign, still on the ground, began to panic. “I won’t take the injection!” she screamed, scrambling toward the exit. I could see the fear in her eyes, and for a moment, I felt a pang of guilt.
As Mireign rushed toward the door, I retreated to where my friends were waiting. Suddenly, Amara appeared beside Mireign and, without hesitation, injected her with the fatal dose. Mireign’s scream of despair echoed through the room as she realized her fate.
I felt a mix of satisfaction and guilt. I had won, but at what cost?
Nathalie broke the silence with a mumbled comment. “How stupid can Mireign be? Didn’t she understand the rules of the game?” Her words were meant to lighten the mood, and they did. 
We all started laughing quietly, and Finn let out a sigh of disbelief. “I’m not wasting my last pass to save her soul,” he said, shaking his head.
I looked at Emery, who had her eyes locked on Mireign. Her disappointment was palpable. She had hoped for something more from her players, but Mireign had failed to meet those expectations.
The room was filled with a mixture of relief and tension as we prepared for the next round. The intensity of the battle was far from over, and each of us had to stay sharp and focused.
The fight was over for now, but I knew there were more challenges ahead.
I watched the aftermath of the previous fight, feeling a mix of exhaustion and tension. The next battle was about to begin, and my mind raced as I thought about what was coming next. 
Alex’s fight with Christian was already over. It had been quick, Alex’s flexibility and sharp aim making short work of Christian’s attempts to counter him. Alex had won decisively. Christian hadn’t stood a chance against Alex’s skill with a gun and his nimble movements.
And now, it was Noah’s turn to fight against a black elite. I saw Noah moving to take his position, but before the fight could start, Emery stood up from her seat, a look of disappointed draw on her face again.
“Honestly,” Emery said, her voice dripping with boredom, “these fights are getting quite dull. We need something more exciting.”
Her words sent a ripple of concern through the group. Emery continued, a smirk playing at her lips. “Instead of Noah and Matthew fighting, I want Nathalie and Abigail to step up next. I want to see a fight that will really entertain everyone.”
Her eyes locked on Abigail and Nathalie. I could feel the tension rising in the room, a mix of anger and frustration evident in everyone’s expressions. It was clear Emery was enjoying the power she had over us, manipulating the situation to her satisfaction.
I felt a surge of anger rise within me. How could she be so callous? I wanted to protest, to tell her that enough was enough. But before I could open my mouth, Emery’s gaze turned sharply in my direction.
“One more protest from you, Lucas,” she said coldly, “and I’ll be the one administering the fatal injection to you. So you should better keep your mouth shut.”
Her threat hung in the air, and I felt a cold chill run down my spine. The last thing I wanted was to be on the receiving end of Emery’s wrath. I sat down, frustration boiling inside me. Finn gave me a hand sign to stay quiet, and I had no choice but to comply. We were trapped in this hellish game, and there was nothing I could do but watch.
Abigail was still recovering from her previous fight. I knew that even if Nathalie or Abigail won, one of them would still face the injection. The thought made my hands ball into fists, my knuckles turning white with anger.
Alex, sensing the tension, spoke up. “Nathalie, Abigail, just give it your all. No matter what happens, we’ll find a way to come up with a plan to save you both. We can’t let this end like this.”
His words were meant to be encouraging, but they did little to calm the storm inside me. I glanced at Abigail, seeing the determination in her eyes despite her exhaustion. Nathalie, too, looked ready to fight with everything she had. It was clear they were both ready to face the challenge head-on, despite the odds stacked against them.
As the tension mounted, I could feel my heart racing. The intensity of the situation was almost overwhelming. I couldn’t stand the thought of either Abigail or Nathalie facing their end, and the prospect of having to watch them fight each other, knowing the stakes, was almost too much to bear.
The room was thick with anticipation as the next fight was about to begin. The stakes were high, and everyone was on edge. I knew that whatever happened next, it would be a brutal test of strength, skill, and survival. And through it all, I could only hope that we would find a way to turn the table in our favor.
As I watched the preparations for the next fight, my mind raced with plans and strategies. There had to be a way out of this nightmare, a way to save my friends and end this twisted game once and for all. But for now, all I could do was watch and wait, my frustration and fear growing with each passing moment.
The intensity of the moment was palpable, and I could feel every emotion, every beat of my heart, as the next game might get more intense.