AN (in the beginning this time because I don't want to dull the ending): I can't believe this is happening, it's near over. It's been almost a year and I'm sitting here having a hard time even writing these for sticking by, everyone. I freaking love all of you so much I can't even. Thanks for putting up with me and my late updates and rushed chapters. Honestly I love you guys and I'm going to miss all of you (sounds a bit creepy, huh?). But this is NOT the end, a bit of a sequel/alternate ending will be coming out soon, so keep an eye on it. Hopefully you guys like the little twist at the end, I've had it planned since the very beginning. I love you guys, but again this isn't goodbye, I'll see ya later :)

The Ending: But wait, there's even more than that! Yes, those are all possibilities, but what about what happens even after?

Sami: HAPPY BIRTHDAY YOU AWESOME PERSON! I'm pretty sure I found your account, but I'm still figuring out the site so if I mess something up, don't be mad! Just checking, you mention Dragonball Z and Harry Potter on your profile, right (both of those things are freaking awesome, by the way. Vegeta ftw)? And yeah, time flies, but I really am looking forward to reading that! My next fanfiction is going to be for The Haunting in Connecticut. I'm so excited for it! Ah, I'm so glad you're excited for the ending, hopefully it's satisfying! I'll be sure to see you on Quotev (and if that doesn't work out, I'll tell you when I publish the sequel through here, okay?) Thanks so much for helping me organize the due dates, I hope you had an amazing birthday!

Anyway, without any more rambling, here is the final chapter of First. Thank you all for your time (but like I said there is a sequel, so don't think it's over yet!).

Chapter Twenty

It started out like any other time. At first, the Program seemed to pass like any other day. Then it flew by, the hours seemed like minutes. Time sped up. But the minute Erisa Sakamoto dug a knife into her best friend's chest, that's when everything came to a halt. It all slowed once again. Seconds seemed like hours as Erisa watched Ruriko die in front of her. She didn't think it would be so hard.

They were the last two students on the island, and now there was about to be only one. Even if Erisa had wanted to, she wouldn't have been able to save her friend from death. "Oh my god," she said. "Oh my god, Ruriko, I am so sorry."

With those last words, a shocked and scared Ruriko fell into a never-ending sleep.

"Game over?"

Girl #16, Ruriko Kobayashi - Dead

1 Student Remaining

Girl #18, Erisa Sakamoto - Winner

Game Expired

. ~ .

Soldiers led her down the hallway. She was shaking, but she still had a smile on her face. It was all becoming a blur to her. She was vaguely aware of soldiers coming to get her, taking a picture of their "champion", and having to tear her away from her best friend's body. How did Ruriko die again? Oh, right. I killed her. Fuck. Her head still hurt. She was glad she couldn't remember everything exactly as it had happened, she didn't want to hate herself.

As they walked, she didn't ask where they were going. She didn't care. She wanted to sleep. She felt numb, but at the same time she felt pain. I'm not weak, she told herself. She knew she should have been happier, she had just won the Program! She was invincible, and now she could go home, wherever that was.

"Sakamoto, Erisa," Yemon Satō stood in front of her with a small smile on his face. "Congratulations. You've won the game."

"I know," Erisa managed to say. Her voice was emotionless.

He looked at the soldiers. "Men, dismissed. Leave me and our victoria alone." The soldiers did as they were told. Yemon pulled out two metal folding chairs and set them up right there in the hallway. The two sat. "That door's locked," he said. "I'm going to give you a minute, but when you're ready, we'll open it." Erisa nodded. "How do you feel?" he asked. He sounded just like she did, neither of them really cared.

"Fine," Erisa answered. I must look like hell. I don't even mind, I'm a champion. "What are we doing here?" she asked.

"You're here because you won," Yemon said. Does it even matter, though? The game is still going to go on. It's always going on.

"I mean, why are we here in this fucking hallway?!" Erisa spat. Her temper was a lot shorter than it had been before, Yemon noted. I want to go home, she thought.

Yemon leaned back in his chair a bit. "Think about it, Erisa. You know why we're sitting here." Erisa thought a minute, then nodded. Of course. There can be only one reason.

"So, you hate me."

"I don't hate you, Erisa. You did what I would have done."

Erisa chuckled. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a cigarette. It was the last one in the pack, she'd have to buy a new one soon. "Got a lighter?" she asked Yemon, who handed one over. "So. You had a favorite. You had someone who you wished was sitting in my place right now."

He sighed. "I did."

Erisa took a long drag and then slowly exhaled the smoke. It felt good. "Who was it?"

"It wouldn't be professional to tell you."

"Funny, that gives me the impression it was someone I killed," she said. I killed people. God. How did I even make it? Fuckin' miracle. Yemon nodded, slowly and sadly. "Ooh," Erisa said. "Can I guess?!"

Yemon sighed. "Go for it."

"Well, Ruriko," her voice broke when she said her best friend's name, but both ignored it. "She seemed to be everyone's favorite." She was definitely the better of us two. If she were here, I wouldn't have to worry about what's behind that damn door. Yemon shook his head. "Huh. This got boring, just tell me."

"Okamoto," he said quietly. Kiyoshi. She remembered. She also remembered how Yemon's voice broke when he announced that the boy was dead.

"Kiyoshi, eh? Not a bad pick for a favorite. But why?"

He looked down at his hands and smiled. "He was the underdog. He was alone, but he didn't feel like it. He went on all these amazing adventures - "

"You mean by reading those comics?" Erisa interrupted.

"Yes, boy, he loved those. He reminded me of myself when I was his age. I felt close to him."

"And I killed him," Erisa said.

"Yeah, you did."

"But I was also his only friend." Erisa took one last drag and put out her cigarette. She exhaled. "Come on, open the door."

Yemon stood and pushed their chairs out of the way. He took out a key and unlocked the door, flicking on a lightswitch. He stepped back, Erisa stood into the room in front of him. One entire wall, the one in front of her, was a giant mirror. Then she saw it.

"You won't do it," she said, but she didn't know. She was stuck.

"I will," he said.

"Don't. I have a life, I have a place I want to get back to. I have so much to become."

Erisa noticed that he was crying. Yemon wiped his eyes and said, "So did he."

Erisa's eyes drifted from the gun Yemon Sotō had pointed at her back. Through the mirror, her eyes met his. "If you kill me, he will have died for nothing."

"I'd rather have him die for nothing," Yemon said, "than for a monster like you, Sakamoto, Erisa."

Since he was honest, he pulled the trigger.

What?! No, this can't be happening, I have it all under control. I just won, all I have to do is go home. This is a lie, right? A joke? A test? Oh god it can't be real, it can't. No.

I gave up so much for this, I killed people. Oh god, so many. More than anyone else. I can't lose now, this is bullshit. I'm not dying, I can't be dead. I have a life to go live, I have to grow up and do something for everyone else who died here. I gave up my best friend, for this?

I mean, yeah, I treated them all like shit. I used all of them to get what I wanted, but still. I know it was horrible but it was the only way, and they were stupid enough to be used. But her, what I felt for Ruriko, that was honest. She was my best friend, and I killed her to survive. So I can't die here.

It hurts so much. I didn't mean to, but at the same time I did. I killed them, that's that. That is what we were told to do, wasn't it? Did I miss something? Fuck, what was it? Was it just a mistake of choosing the wrong victim? No, come on. I can't die for that, this is stupid.

I just won. I was so smart, I was three steps ahead of everyone else! I gave up so much, how can I be dying?

It wasn't even worth it. I'm. . . . I'm sorry.

Girl #18, Erisa Sakamoto - Dead

0 Students Remaining

Game - Discontinued

. ~ .

Yemon smirked. It was so satisfying. He had never liked her, she didn't work to get what she had earned. She was smart, yes, but she was a smartass about it.

He grinned. Oh, the satisfaction. The seconds of fear in her eyes when she heard him speak, the itching to pull the trigger finally pleased, the blood spewing all over the walls, the body falling, crumpling to the ground, Erisa Sakamoto, lifeless.

He wiped the blood off his cheek. He looked around. The room was a mess, blood on the ceiling, on the walls, on the mirror. Her body was on the floor, laying in a pool of the red liquid, even more spreading out around her.

He turned and yelled to a random soldier walking by. "Soldier!"

The young man was terrified of the authoritative figure. He stood up straight. "Sir?!"

Yemon Sotō moved over and let the other male look into the room. His smile had yet to fade.

"Clean up the mess."

THE END