3 Chapter Three: Consequences/Elimination

At first, everyone stared at each other when nothing happened yet. "See, this person is only playing ga-" Liam started only to get cut off by the oxygen beginning to leave the room.

The people gripped their throats with their free hand as they fell to their knees. No one could breathe as if it felt like someone took the air from their lungs. They were choking.

"Y-yo-" Catherine tried to curse Liam because it was his fault that they were all suffering through this. She couldn't help but scratch at her throat as drool began to fall from the corner of her mouth.

Lilian never had a good body as she always fell ill as a child. The doctors told her that her organs did not function as they should, and her immune system was the worst of them all.

When the oxygen in the room started to disappear, her face was already purple as her eyes rolled back. She would have landed on her back, but the chain kept her from fully hitting the ground. She passed out while it was hard to tell if her chest was moving.

Elrick gripped the podium, trying to keep himself from falling. He was straining himself, which was making the effect worse. Small wheezing sounds left his dry throat as his nails were scratching into the stand.

Scratch marks were appearing on the podium with small spots of blood.

Kevin tried to remain calm as tears streamed down his face. His nose was even running as his face turned red. Every time he opened his mouth for some air, it felt like someone was squeezing his neck.

And when he tried to breathe through his nose, it felt like he had a clogged nose; he was helpless in this situation.

Taylor did nothing. The teen girl squatted with her back to the podium as she let herself choke. Even though it was painful, she did not try to resist.

The little boy was the same as her, except his drool was dripping down his chin.

Liam would hit himself against his podium, pulling his chained hand. His grip on his neck, with his erratic movements, only made things worse. He was close to ending up like Lilian.

The Watcher observed everyone with a delighted expression. Their eyes almost glazed over at the pure torture on everyone's face. Even though the Watcher did not like liars, they loved to see others suffer. So, they could lie as long as they want. The Watcher would not mind.

Sadly when the five minutes were up, the Watcher had to bring the oxygen back into the room.

When the oxygen came back, everyone was greedily breathing in and out like it was the first time they had air fill their lungs. Some were coughing while still taking deep breaths, and the others were throwing up liquid.

Only one was not moving.

"Lilian," Elrick called out, his voice sounding rough when he saw that the woman was not moving. She was hanging there, with her chain keeping her from hitting the ground.

Hearing Elrick call for the woman, everyone turned towards her and saw that she was not moving. They couldn't even see her chest moving. Liam snorted as he coughed again. The man was breathing a bit hard as handprints were present around his throat. "Such a weak woman."

The little boy was the only one not staring at the woman as he was throwing up most of the liquid in his stomach, wiping the spit and drool off of him with his shirt. His hands would not stop shaking.

Catherine stood up as her body was still shaking as she felt sluggish; she was wiping her face and eyes. She turned towards Liam, glaring at him, "This is your fault. You had to lie. I hope you die!"

"I do too." Kevin softly spoke out as he looked at the man with anger present in his eyes. Liam scoffed at them both as he rolled his red eyes.

Taylor did not chip in as she still squatted on her podium.

Elrick looked at the camera, "Please do something!"

The Watcher thought for a while as they looked at the unmoving body of the woman. They could leave the lady like that, but then again, it would be boring if she died in that way. They wanted something more entertaining.

So, they pushed one of their buttons.

A needle flew out from the ceiling, stabbing into the woman's chest; the syringe pushed the liquid in itself. Once the liquid was gone, most of the people in the room watched the woman, waiting for something to happen.

As a few minutes passed, Elrick was getting ready to say that nothing happened until everyone heard a gasp as Lilian's body lifted. Her eyes popped open as she started coughing, covering her mouth with her free hand.

Her eyes were watering as she greedily breathed in the air after her coughing fit stopped. When she finished, she looked at the others, watching her as she furrowed her brows, "What happened?"

Elrick and Catherine let out a sigh of relief as Liam was getting ready to make a mocking comment. But, it did not happen because the Watcher started speaking.

"We have entered the first elimination round. Your choices are the four people who had the woman as a counselor. One of the four options could be the killer, or they all can be innocent.

Those four people have five minutes to plead their case. The person can choose to use all their time, a little of it, or not at all. And, do not think you can get out of this without selecting a person. No selection equals consequences.

The four people can vote too. Begin." The Watcher explained.

The button's light turned on as names were shown in them. The person turned off the light, only shining it on the four people and the corpse.

No one said anything as they waited for one of the people to speak. Half an hour passed before Catherine was the first one to break. "Look, I did not kill that freaking woman. I have no reason to murder anyone; I am trying to keep my record clean so that I can get a full-ride scholarship in sports for college."

"What about the drugs you were doing? That is not clean. I bet the woman told you she was going to put it on your record, so you killed her, not to let it happen." Liam narrowed his eyes at the teen.

Catherine growled at the man, "Shut up! I would never do it, and for your information, she said she would keep it off my record if I stayed clean. I've been clean for three months already. Why would I kill a woman who helped me out?"

She crossed her arms and finished pleading her case as she continued to curse the man in her head. Forget rational thought; she will vote for this man whether he was the killer or not.

"I did not hurt the lady," Taylor started once Catherine finished and pushed herself up, "I know most people would look at the quiet or depressed one, but I would never do it."

"Really? You did say that her counseling did not help you. How do we know you did not kill her because you thought she was incompetent? Teens like you are f*cked in the head." Liam cut in.

"I would never!" Taylor shouted, breathing hard like she was not used to shouting. "I indeed said she never helped me, but that wouldn't mean I would get rid of her. I left her office two months ago and stayed locked in my room."

Taylor squatted back down, hiding from everyone's view. She pleaded her case and did not want others to see her. She made up her mind, too; she was voting for Liam.

"You keep going after everyone else; what do you have to say for yourself. You did lie. Are you trying to hide the fact you may have killed the woman? What did she do, not give you the time of day?" Elrick put out.

He was getting tired of the man going after everyone else. At this point, he did not care if the man was innocent or not; he is voting for Liam.

They stared at him, waiting for the man to say anything, even though they already made up their minds. Liam sneered at all of them, "I don't have to say anything because I did not kill that woman. What about the freaking child. Children could be killers!"

The little boy shook his head while looking down when he felt everyone staring at him. He stayed quiet, not wanting to plead his case at all.

"Leave that boy alone!" Lilian shouted; she thought the man was despicable and immature; she is voting for Liam without hesitation.

"It is time to vote; you all have a minute." The Watcher interrupted.

A timer started in the room, counting down, causing everyone to turn towards the button.

Liam quickly made a choice: Catherine.

Catherine slammed her's down: Liam.

Elrick didn't even think about it: Liam.

Lilian did not hesitate as she made her choice: Liam.

Taylor stood there for a while before hitting the button: Liam.

Kevin gave it thought and chose the only one who did not speak or tell their name: Alan.

The little boy's hands shook as he pushed down the button: Liam.

The Watcher smirked as they saw everyone vote. How funny that the worst character in the room is the first one people want out without thinking about their choice. When everyone finished, they pushed the intercom.

"The votes are in."

A name flashed above so everyone could see, but they did not have time to react as the lights shut off. The Watcher let a weapon appear in the killer's hand as they said, "Liam is all yours."