Free The Games Villains Play by Joshua Debenedetto

of the night meeting, Donny refused to get up early.  Jay had entrusted him with dangerous information, and the last thing he wanted to do was to show a sign that something was different.  He got out of bed, washed, and went to breakfast with Lenny as he had originally planned.  After breakfast he attended his classes, got lunch, and went about a normal day.  Donny was surprised to see Jay at lunch, eating with his friends normally, untouched by the school.  Whatever they will do, they must need time to organize it.
    Donny had called for a second practice that evening, so the group gathered once more at the arena.  Donny had a new idea for this practice.  It would be suspicious, but he felt like he could talk his way out of any questioning.  Beside s, his brother needed the help.
    Once everyone had arrived, Donny began.  “Alright, yesterday was a good practice, but there was one thing that made the teams uneven.  Anyone care to venture a guess as to what that one thing was?”
    “My plans to stop Decathlon didn’t work ,” Duke responded with a smile.
    “Well, yes, in a way that is what I was getting at.  The teams were a little uneven due to Decathlon playing with so many other strong players.  Can anyone think of ways to divide the teams that would be fairer?”
    “There are no fair teams with Decathlon here, whatever team he is on, he will win.” 
    That was exactly the response Donny was hoping for.  “Ok, then I suppose the fairest we could do would be ev eryone against Decathlon then.”
    A few laughed, but the laughter quickly ended when they realized he was serious.  Jay said nothing.  Donny told everyone to get ready, then he called Duke and Flash over to himself.  Duke started be fore Donny could get a word in.
    “I’m not so sure this is a good idea, your brother seemed to have had a tough practice yesterday.  Don’t you think we should give him a day or two to recov er?”
    “I’m glad for your concern, b ut he’s fine.  This will help.”
    “Ok, but this is a little bit overkill.  I don’t see how this will get us r eady for the simulation games.”
    I’m not preparing him for the simulation games anymore.  Donny thought to himself, disguising his thoughts so Duke would not detect them.  With the matter settled, Donny began his instructions.  “Halfway around on the right side of the arena is a storage room.  Inside are the paintball guns that they sometimes use in the games.  This game will consist of your team getting all the guns, and going after Decathlon.   If you can hit him, you win.”
    Duke paused to see if Donny had any further instructions, so Donny took that moment to turn and walk away briskly.  He did not want any more questions or comments about the exercise.  He then went to Jay, and together they began their walk around to the other side of the arena.  Donny wanted to talk to him about the previous night, but he realized that if Jay did not initiate conversation, the spies were probably back on him.  Finally Jay opened his mouth to speak, but it was not what Donny was hoping for.
    “So what is the exercise going to be today?  This would surely make an inter esting capture the flag event.”
    “It won’t be capture the flag today, and I’m actually not going to te ll you when the event will be.”
    “How am I to have any chance if I don’t even know what I’m supposed to do?”
    “You’ll learn quickly enough.”
    The conversation ended as quickly as it had begun, and they reached the far side without another word.
    Once again, Donny sat out of the game and watched.  This game was meant to do two things; for one thing it was to prepare Jay for anything.  With the information Jay found, they were both sure something would be coming after him.  The exercise was also for Donny’s sake.  He wanted to see what Duke and Flash would come up with to stop Jay.  Every plan that they came up with would be one more attemp t that they could be