The Game is On.

Marcus threw a light coat over his shoulders, raised his collar and walked quickly to the main exit, "We are leaving," he said to Rick, who was standing on the steps of the stairs and smoking.

"But what about the guests?" the man asked and realized that the question was pointless. It was obvious that something had freaked out Marcus, and the best decision was to leave the hall until this demon switched to the mode of mass destruction.

"Did you see a kid next to the Andersons? Find out who he is. I need all his ins and outs from birth," Marcus did not slow down and walked confidently towards the car that was already waiting for them.

"Ask Simon why should I do this?" Rick immediately realized what kind of kid he was talking about.

He was talking about Nick Anderson. Even if Marcus hadn't ordered this, he himself would have taken up the analysis of the ins and outs of this young man.

Marcus threw a fierce glance at Rick, to which the man raised his hands up, agreeing with the order, "Okay, done."

"That's the spirit. I'm not in the mood, so don't drive me mad ever aga-"

Marcus stood still in his tracks and slowly turned around. Rick swallowed a lump in his throat, even in the wildest imagination, he could not have expected this.

Who was so anxious to say goodbye to the life that he thought of throwing a stone at this monster?

When Rick turned around, horror gripped his body. Marcus's murderous gaze was directed at a little girl, standing in the middle of the path and holding a stone in her hands.

Ashley, ignoring any sense of fear or instinct for self-preservation, brought her little hand over her head and threw a second stone at Marcus, which hit the man in the chest.

"You are a bad, very bad man! Bring my dad back!" The girl cried out and pointed her finger at Marcus.

The man stepped forward, "Oh you..."

"I'll take care of that," Rick stopped him in the hope that Taubert would not explode here and now.

"Yeah, take care of it now, just so that it's clear," Marcus hissed in response, turned around and went to the car.

Rick closed his eyes and took a deep breath, he knew perfectly well that Marcus's people were following his every move. Just like in the hall, here too, there were more than a dozen people who read his every step and every word. He carefully looked around, noting the positions of the guards.

The man straightened up and walked toward the girl. Ashley stepped back when her father approached her with a cold expression on his face, he was not like the person who was visiting her in the bedroom.

The girl froze and raised her head, the man was tall and did not even bother to lean in her direction.

He was looking at the child as if she were a useless insect, which he was ready to crush at any moment under his foot.

"Is your name Ashley?" Rick asked in an indifferent voice.

"Y-yes," the girl said quietly, trying to hold back the tears that had already appeared in the corners of her eyes.

"Listen here, Ashley Williams. I don't know what your mother told you but remember one thing. You do not interest me, and I do not need you, so from now do not dare to bother me with your childhood whims. If you are a smart girl, then this will be our last meeting. Do you understand?"

"Y-yes."

"I did not hear the answer. Look at me when you speak," Rick said in a menacing voice.

Ashley raised her eyes and froze, "Yes, sir, I understand," the girl answered confidently and remained standing still until her father got into the black car, which immediately started off.

"Oh my god, Ashley! I thought I would lose my mind when I was trying to find you!" Corey ran to her daughter and squeezed her in her arms, "My girl, do not be sad. Everything will be fine! Mom loves you more than anything else!"

Ashley extended her arms forward and hugged her mom in response, "Sorry, mom. Everything is all right. So can we go home?"

"Of course, let's go," Corey breathed a sigh of relief when she realized that Ashley was fine.

The girl took her mother's hand and put the second hand into the pocket of her dress. A small palm, hiding behind layers of fabric, was squeezing a round candy.

The girl felt well and calm. Because before leaving, dad handed her this candy, smiled and winked at her. He kept their promise. Their game went on.