Game Over (Whithall University Book 2)

by Lisa Helen Gray

  He holds his hands up, grinning at me. “Retract the claws, otherwise I may have to change your nickname to kitten. I’m fonder of my cupcake.”

  I shake my head at him but can’t help but feel relief that he’s not mad. “What was that about, then?”

  He wraps his arm around my shoulders. “Me showing him who’s boss, so if he does think about making a move, he knows I won’t stand for it. And before you claw my eyes out, I know you’d never do anything. Not only do I trust you when it comes to us, but I know you wouldn’t do that to anyone. And you love me.”

  I giggle because there’s just something about his charm. “Yes, I do. But be nice. That was awkward.”

  “Come on, let’s hope I get to kill him in the end. It will teach him for putting his arms around my cupcake.”

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  We’re put into a dark room, just a set of glow lights illuminating various parts of the set up. A burnt-out car is in the centre, and all around there are made up walls for cover. There are hallways and crates and other things filling the room to give you chance to sneak up on your opponent. It’s filled to the max with different things. Even the ceiling has stuff dangling from it, along with cobwebs and smoke to mist the room.

  Zombie noises immediately blare from the speakers. However, I’ve yet to see any actual zombies. It doesn’t mean they aren’t there.

  I find Cole and Willow still standing by the door we just entered, the light from the exit sign shining down on them. They look ready to bolt, and just before I turn to find somewhere to go and hide, I notice something slow walking towards them, arms out in front of it. I’d have warned them, but Willow’s reaction when she turns to look is priceless. She screams, shoving Cole towards said zombie, before heading off into the dark.

  I laugh. “Did you see her face?” I ask, turning to CJ, but he’s gone, and instead, I find a zombie walking towards me.

  I roll my eyes. I shouldn’t be surprised that he ditched me the first chance he got.

  My heart beats a little faster as I crouch down a little, shooting my gun in its direction, hoping to make a hit. I keep shooting till I reach a corridor to the right of me. I swipe at the cobwebs as I follow the small lights down the hall towards a crossroad. I look left first, the glow lights showing there are a few boxes down there, littered rubbish, and a few holes in the wall.

  Next, I look right, but not before checking behind me for zombies. Turning back to the hallway to the right of me, I can make out it’s a dead end, blocked off by bars that a few zombies are trying to get through. On the far-right wall, just before you reach the bars, there’s another corridor, camouflaged in cobwebs.

  With my mind split, I take another look to the left corridor, which is clear, knowing it must be a trap. No way would they make it that easy for us.

  Would they?

  And I’m right in my guess when I see another player walk out of the darkness at the other end of the hallway. They move down the hall slowly, keeping their back to the wall. I watch as arms come out from the wall, making me jump, and swipe across the big button on the person’s vest.

  When the second bloke we spoke to said we would have buttons the zombies would press, I presumed they would have to get close and personal. They don’t. All they have to do is swipe a hand in front of where the big sensor buttons are and our vests vibrate, indicating we’re out.

  I’m actually kind of glad, because even though I protested at the beginning that I would have more control, I lied. I’d totally kick out if one got near me. I don’t think there’s a person alive who wouldn’t. It’s human instincts.

  I laugh when the screams of a girl reach me, even over the music. I keep laughing as I turn right, running down the corridor I noticed hidden earlier, next to the zombies behind bars. I wave at the zombies, a smile stretching across my face.

  “You’re doing an amazing job.”

  I hear one of them laugh, but I don’t stick around for a reply as I make my way down the corridor. Cold mist hits me in the face again, startling me.

  I keep moving, checking the wall for any hidey holes and looking behind me. I hear another scream above the sound system playing the zombie noises and giggle to myself.

  I’m back in the open, but now on the other side of the room. There are more boxes this side and some crates that are stacked high above my head. I keep moving.

  As I turn the corner, a zombie jumps out at me. I point and shoot, screaming my head off, before running back in the other direction, nearly colliding with another zombie. I shoot—thankfully, not missing—before moving forward, stepping around the fallen zombie. I creep around another box, noticing a group of zombies are crowding around the burnt-out car. Willow is standing on the roof, screaming bloody murder.

  I roll my eyes whilst laughing. She isn’t even shooting at them. I aim my gun their way, helping her out a little since she is doing this whole day for me. Three light up, indicating they’re out.

  I keep shooting when the buzzer of a fallen zombie sounds right behind me. I turn around, finding a zombie on the floor, right by my feet.

  What the hell?

  I look around, not finding the person who saved me. I keep looking, growing frustrated, but movement from above the makeshift walls catches my attention.

  CJ is crouched down as he walks across it, shooting at the zombies crowding around Willow, who runs the first chance she gets. I laugh at his antics.

  He must feel my eyes on him because he turns towards me and gives me a salute. I giggle, moving forward towards the larger stacked boxes but trip over something hard before I reach them.

  What the fuck?

  “Shit, sorry,” I hear hissed.

  “Ian?”

  “Yes,” he laughs. “I’m trying to blend in. Didn’t think I’d be trampled on.”

  I laugh before helping him up. “Where are your friends?”

  “Only Nathan is left I think. Well, he was the last time I saw him. He’s around here somewhere,” he tells me, before shooting his gun down the corridor to the left of us, which is filled with zombies. When one of them press his button, he groans, looking disappointed.

  “All players move on to the next level,” is announced over the speaker.

  I look to Ian and grin. That means I’m one of the last three to stay alive. The next course only needs two to remain alive for us to move forward. I’m hoping I’m one of them.

  We make our way over to the sign with a glowing red ‘Doom’ blazing at us. I meet up with CJ and hug him.

  “My hero,” I gush.

  He grins at me, kissing my nose. “Couldn’t let my cupcake die.”

  I melt. “You’re so romantic.”

  He grins bigger as we step inside the next room. “I know.”

  My chest bubbles with excitement when I see little tunnels scattered around. There are stairs leading to various platforms and other rooms. Cobwebs and those flaps you’d find in a butcher shop are all over the place, separating the rooms and covering the corridor entrances.

  It’s also darker, and lightning flashing gives it an eerie effect. The noise of rain and thunder roars through the speakers, before the groaning and shuffling sound of zombies join them.

  Knowing this level will be harder, I waste no time in moving away from CJ, hearing his laugh trail behind me as I run up the first lot of stairs. I move along the metal flooring, laughing the whole way. I’ve not had this much fun in a while, or laughed for this long.

  I move towards another group of steps. There’s only four, but I run up them, moving along the railing. Hands reach out of the holes in the wall, making me scream and laugh at the same time.

  I jog down the next flight of stairs, reaching a darkened corridor, and stopping just short of the entrance. There’s a lot of boxes—places for zombies to jump out and get me—but there’s no way I’m going back up those stairs to those hands reaching out for me. One was close to getting me.

  Slowly, I move down the hall, stepping around some o
f the boxes, careful not to knock any over. I turn left down the next one, bumping into a hard body.

  “Shit, sorry,” I whisper-yell over the noise.

  His face lights up through the lightning, and I recognise Nathan, Ian’s friend. He laughs when he sees me but doesn’t stop, choosing instead to keep going.

  I’ve not seen Willow since the car incident, and I haven’t seen Cole since Willow left him to defend himself at the entrance.

  When I reach the end of the hall, I come out into a maze of crates and boxes. My heart is still racing from the adrenaline, but I keep going, excited and scared at the same time.

  I peek around the first stack of boxes, only to scream in fright when two arms wrap around my stomach, lifting me off the ground.

  Laughter rumbles against my ear, vibrating against my neck.

  I twist out of CJ’s hold, turn around and slap his chest. “Don’t scare me like that when there are zombies around. Are you trying to get me killed?”

  He laughs as he pulls me against him, before walking us into a secluded spot between some crates and boxes, hiding us from anyone walking by.

  He kisses me, his hands gripping the globes of my arse cheeks. I moan into his mouth, my fingers digging into his shoulders for support.

  He pulls back, and through the flash of light, I see his eyes are heated. “God, you’re so fucking hot when you’re shooting shit,” he whispers against my ear, so I can hear him.

  “You’re getting turned on by zombies?” I whisper, but there’s no denying the heat in my voice. He’s turning me on, especially when he grinds his hips against me.

  A soft kiss on the base of my neck causes a shiver to run down my spine. “No, Cupcake, you turn me on. Seeing your arse run through the mazes, your cheeks flushed from the chase and the excitement in your eyes… that turns me on.”

  I cup his face, bringing my lips to his, swiping my tongue against his. His fingers dig into my arse, lifting me higher up his body. Instantly, I wrap my legs around him, rubbing myself against him, moaning.

  He groans against my mouth, pressing his lips harder against mine. My fingers run through his hair, wanting him, needing him.

  “Please enter your next mission. It’s a game of survival, may the best warrior win.”

  I pull away from CJ, looking into his dilated eyes, pouting. “I didn’t get to kill any zombies.”

  He chuckles, letting me fall down his body. “I got a few on my way to find you.”

  I tap his chest, kissing him quickly on the lips. “You’re the best boyfriend, but when we walk into that room, you’re on your own.”

  He lifts an eyebrow, smirking at me.

  Ah, those dimples.

  “Cupcake, are you saying you’re going to kill me?”

  I give him a coy look. “Yes. Yes I am.”

  He laughs and walks us towards the next door. I don’t get a chance to look for Willow because the bloke starts talking.

  “Pick a door. When you enter, remember: you’re on your own. Good luck.”

  “He makes it sound like we’re going to war,” the girl next to us says, clearly not enjoying her time here. Ian and his friends, however, look high off adrenaline. They haven’t stopped bouncing around since we walked up, their hands twitching on their guns.

  “I’ll—” I start to say, but when I turn to glance at CJ, he’s gone. I shake my head when I see he’s already in front of his door, gun up and ready, before he’s off.

  Smiling to myself, I move to my own door, also lifting my gun and moving through. All around me are walls of boxes, so from that, I take it it’s a maze, one I’m going to get lost in. I know it. I went into the maze at Adventure Wonderland and got so lost I had to ask kids half my age for directions.

  It was a defining moment.

  A few seconds in, and zombies come in from all sides. I scream and start shooting along with them, grateful none of them managed to hit me before coming out of the hallway, before moving into another, this one narrow with other paths leading off.

  I keep moving, finding it hard to breathe. I feel a little trapped, but I’m not going to let that stop me from winning this. If CJ wins I’ll never hear the end of it. We’re always arguing over what would be best if there was ever a zombie outbreak. I still think my idea is better.

  A girl from the other group comes running around the corner, and I shoot, hiding my laugh when her face looks up from the floor in shock. I quickly move down the next path before she can see me.

  Another zombie moves around the corner, and when they see me, they lift their gun. I shoot first, giggling as I keep moving.

  I hear a loud howl in the distance, sounding an awful lot like CJ. I stop and look up, since it sounded like it was coming from above. Not seeing anything, I keep going, moving down the hallway until I get to the next, shooting zombies along the way.

  Another howl.

  I look around as I run out of another hallway, coming to the centre of the room. In the middle is a stage, boxes, and fake bodies littered around it.

  What has me pausing is CJ, who is standing on top of the walls they’ve used to make the maze. He’s howling, shooting at everything and everyone he sees.

  He looks kind of deranged. The weirdo.

  His back is to me, which makes me smile as I move slowly into the circle, wanting to get to the table. If I can get to that table, I’ll be able to aim my gun better to shoot him. I also need to be closer for the laser to work.

  The first step up I take, he spins around, grinning when he spots me. I’d been so occupied on getting to the table that I forgot to have my gun ready. He aims, he shoots, he hits me.

  I groan, covering my face at losing to him.

  His boisterous laugh echoes around the room. “Am I not king?” he shouts, throwing his hands up in the air. He jumps down from the wall with such grace my eyes nearly pop out of their sockets.

  That. Was. Hot.

  The bloke from the front entrance walks in, laughing, clapping his hands at CJ. “I have to say, mate, watching you in here was hilarious. You didn’t get hit once.”

  “I’m awesome,” CJ tells him, bowing.

  I roll my eyes and walk over to him, just as Cole walks out from a hallway, looking around. “Hey, guys, have you seen Willow?”

  I look around, but don’t see her, either. “I’ve not seen her, either,” I tell him. In fact, I don’t think I’ve seen her since the car incident.

  CJ starts to say something, but then stops, before bursting into laughter.

  “What?” Cole states dryly, eyeing him curiously. I have to admit, I’m curious too. He looks like he knows something.

  He stops laughing, but still smiles wide. “I don’t think I saw her enter the second room.”

  Cole’s eyes widen. “Oh, my God, what if she got eaten by a zombie?”

  CJ looks at him thoughtfully. “She had a good life?”

  Cole rolls his eyes before turning back to the worker. “Can you take us back to the first room so we can take a look?”

  He nods, pointing to the door I hadn’t seen before. It’s camouflaged with the wall material. “Just through there.”

  We all follow Cole as he runs in, shouting for her. The lights are on, bright, and I look around the room in amazement. They’ve done a pretty bang up job decorating the place. It looks derelict, like you see in the movies.

  “Willow!” Cole shouts through his cupped hands.

  “Is it over?” I hear her muffled voice, and turn in time to see her come out of hiding from the box she was in.

  CJ and I burst out laughing, and as I look at Cole, I notice his lips twitch in amusement. He walks over, plucks her out of the box, and pulls her close.

  “Why were you hiding?”

  She sighs, leaning into him. “It was scary as hell. It was dark and there were zombies walking around with guts hanging out, cuts on their faces, and I’m pretty sure one of them had an eye hanging out of its socket. They didn’t look fucking fake to me.”


  He laughs, kissing her forehead. “It wasn’t real.”

  “So, you chickened out and hid?” CJ goads, grinning from ear to ear. “I wasted bullets for you.”

  She narrows her eyes at CJ. “You didn’t have bullets; it was a laser.”

  He shrugs, looking at his fingertips. “My little grasshopper, you must learn. It was survival, and you, my friend, died.”

  She cocks her hip, resting her hand there. “If we’re going to argue over it, then technically I won. I stayed alive and didn’t get buzzed once.”

  “Because you hid,” he tells her, throwing his hands up in the air, chuckling.

  She raises her eyebrows at him. “It’s survival, my little grasshopper, you should learn.”

  CJ laughs as he pulls me against his chest, kissing my cheek. “Thank you so much for bringing us. We’re going to have to come again.”

  “On your own,” Willow mutters.

  CJ chuckles, kissing my cheek once more before facing her. “Chicken.”

  “I’ll find your weakness one day, CJ, and you’ll be sorry.”

  He gives her a knowing smirk. “No need to look, she’s standing in my arms.”

  I turn away from her shocked expression and face the love of my life. He says the sweetest things. But when I see his expression, I can tell he’s dead serious. I melt against him, overwhelmed by how that makes me feel.

  “CJ,” I whisper, pressing further against him.

  He looks down at me, shrugging. “It’s true.”

  “Ah damn. It’s hard to be mad at you when you’re all cute and romantic,” Willow says, groaning.

  He turns to her, grinning now. “Want me to give Cole a few pointers?”

  I giggle. Cole glares and Willow rolls her eyes. “No, he’s got the romantic thing down to a T.”

  “Yo, mate, you beat the score.” We all turn to the worker who met us to put our gear on and eye him with puzzlement.