THE DEATH GAME

The following day dawned, casting an eerie light upon the grim gathering. Old man Carl stood resolutely on the shore of the sea, his face devoid of any trace of a smile. His stern expression and commanding voice cut through the air as he explained the rules of the game to Ashley and her group, who faced the submarines assigned to each of them.

An intense tension settled upon the shore, amplified by Xander's frequent glances in Ashley's direction. She stood a mere inches away from him, next to Jake, while Carl loomed behind them all.

"Each of you knows exactly why you're here, you bunch of assholes," Carl began, his voice carrying across the water. He gestured toward the six sleek submarines bobbing in the water behind him. "Today, someone will meet their end, and this game will determine who. You will race in these submarines. The first five to cross the finish line shall be spared. The person who crosses last will pay with their life."

With a sinister smile, he pulled out a handgun from his pocket, pointing it into the water and firing a shot. The sound reverberated, sending shivers down the spines of the group, except for Ashley, who remained composed.

Her heart pounded in her chest as she stepped into one of the submarines, her teammates following suit. With a resounding thud, the hatch slammed shut behind them, confining them within the cramped confines of the vessel.

A tremor of fear swept through Dave's girlfriend, prompting her to cry out, "I don't want to die!"

"Don't worry, I won't let anything happen to you. Just follow my lead," Dave assured her, determined to protect his loved one.

"Ready, set, go!" Carl's voice boomed, punctuated by the sound of another gunshot fired into the air. The race was underway.

Ashley's submarine surged forward, the water rushing past as she skillfully navigated through the twisting course. The faint rumble of her teammates' subs reverberated around her, echoing the urgency of their pursuit.

In that moment, Ashley cared not for the others, their neglect from the previous day still fresh in her mind. Her submarine accelerated without a backward or sideways glance, her eyes fixed unwaveringly on the finish line. Xander trailed closely behind, clutching the handle with all his might. Ashley had become his source of strength, and the thought of life without her was unbearable. Selfishness surged within him, even within this horrific game.

Unexpectedly, Jake accelerated, his submarine colliding forcefully with Xander's. "Die, you bastard! Ashley doesn't need your sorry ass. Your relationship is doomed!" Jake shouted, relentlessly pursuing Xander, seemingly willing to sacrifice himself to ensure Xander's demise.

"Jake, I have nothing against you! Stop this madness!" Xander pleaded, desperately attempting to steer his submarine away. However, Jake persisted in his pursuit, as if he were willing to go to any lengths to be the last one standing.

"Jake, enough!" Xander's voice strained with reason, but before he could make any progress, Jake extended his foot and forcefully pushed Xander's sub, sending him tumbling into the water. Xander emerged, gasping for air, his hair drenched, and frustration etched on his face. He glanced ahead and saw Ashley and Chris leading the pack, followed closely by Dave and his girlfriend. Jake trailed behind them.

Determined, Xander mustered his strength, trying to lift his water-filled submarine to fight for his life. Sadly, his efforts proved ineffective, and he found himself waving his hand in the water.

"Help! Ashley, please help!" Xander's voice pierced through the air, his hand waving in a desperate plea for assistance.

Ashley turned, her gaze meeting his, and for a brief moment, her expression transformed from surprise to determination. She couldn't bear to witness him staggering on the edge of death. Without hesitation, she turned her submarine around, speeding back towards Xander to rescue him. A smile spread across his face, a mixture of disbelief and joy, realizing that all his efforts to win her over had not been in vain. As Ashley arrived at his location, she beckoned for him to enter.

"Get on," she urged. Xander slipped into the back of her submarine, holding her waist tightly, his smile a testament to his gratitude and relief. Ashley, her hands gripping the handles of the submarine, accelerated toward the finish line with renewed determination. Chris and Dave had already reached the end, while Jake and Dave's girlfriend struggled, locked in a fierce struggle. It appeared Jake was determined to ensure Dave's girlfriend became the last to cross the finish line, to save Ashley.

"Damn that Jake!" Xander whispered into Ashley's ear, observing the intense fight between Jake and Dave's girlfriend.

As they rounded the final bend, Ashley realized she occupied the fourth position. She pushed her sub to its limits, willing it to go faster as she raced toward the finish line, accompanied by Xander. Just as they were about to cross, a sickening crash echoed behind them. Ashley turned to witness Dave's girlfriend's submarine smashed against the rocks, water gushing in through a huge hole.

A sense of helplessness washed over her as she realized she couldn't prevent tragedy. She drove her submarine toward the shore, where Carl awaited with a somber expression. Dave's anguished cries filled the air as he struggled against Chris and Jake's restraining grip.

As Ashley and Xander emerged from the submarine, stepping onto the shore together, Ashley refused to look back as Carl raised his gun and aimed it at the water.

"My queen, please stop him! Prevent him from killing my girlfriend!" Dave's pleas resonated, each word laced with desperation. However, their collective efforts proved futile. Ashley found herself clutching Xander's hand tightly as she closed her eyes, bracing herself for the sound of the gunshot.

A moment of silence engulfed the surroundings before Dave's cries resumed, his struggles intensifying as Chris and Jake fought to keep him from diving into the water.

"Congratulations, survivors. You deserve a celebration and a proper meal," Carl declared, a grim undertone underscoring his words. He nonchalantly pocketed his gun, casting a glance toward his henchmen who wandered around the shore.

"What are you waiting for? Retrieve the body from the water before the cops arrive," he instructed them.

"You son of a bitch!" Ashley seethed, her gaze locked on Carl, as his henchmen embarked on their grim task.

"Oh, so you know, huh? Did your father enlighten you about how my mother abandoned my father when I was just a child because he lacked wealth? Life deals its own set of cards, you know," Carl taunted, a malevolent grin etched upon his face.

"Hey! That's my story!" Ashley retorted, her eyes welling with tears, her hand instinctively freeing itself from Xander's grasp. However, Xander urged restraint, his words carrying a note of pointlessness. She turned to him, her eyes filled with tears, and reluctantly reclaimed his hand.

Carl appeared before Ashley, casually wrapping his arm around her shoulder. "Let's go home and celebrate, my princess. You naughty mafia slut," he sneered, toying with her hair. Although Ashley burned with a desire to kick him in the nut, she found herself powerless against his grip.

"I refuse to go! I want to die!" Dave's voice pierced through the air as he broke free from Chris's grasp, diving himself into the water.

"After him!" Carl bellowed at his henchmen.