Free The Games Villains Play by Joshua Debenedetto Page B

in a variety of pain ts, staring right back at them.
    When the other students had all gone, one of the group went through the door and shut it behind himself.  Donny was relieved to find that they did not know he was there above them, and he made sure not to move, in fear that he might make a noise and reveal himself.  Donny suddenly remembered the man’s name; it was Captain Williams.
    Captain Williams broke the staring contest first.  “Decathlon, you are certainly a force to be reckoned with, and we need your help.”
    Donny was too far away to tell for sure, but it looked like Jay smiled at this.  His response sounded confident.
    “Where are my friends?”
    “They are going back to their dorm rooms.  All the students were instructed to do so, it is the safest place for them.”
    “I mean the two friends who had kept such good track of me over these past two years.”
    Captain Williams gave a smile now.  “They are prepping for battle.”
    Donny could see that the two were playing a game with each other, but he was not sure what was true and what was false.  He knew what Jay meant when he spoke of hi s two friends, but what battle?
    “What are you asking of me?”  Jay questi oned him, cutting to the chase.
    “We are under attack.  A group of villains have arrived at the school, and we need all the hel p we can get fending them off.”
    “Why don’t you just ask them to stop?”  This was not so much a question as a statement , and Donny knew what it meant.
    “Sometimes, no matter how careful we are, a situation finds a way of getting out of hand.”  Captain William’s smile now faded, and he took a few steps towards Jay.  He spoke quieter, as if he were speaking a secret, but with no other noise around to get in the way, Donny was still able to make out the conversation.  “I am well aware of what you have discovered.  I am also well aware that you do not trust me, or anyone else at this school anymore.  That does not change the fact of what is going on.  The villains are getting wise, and a large group are now coming after this school.  You are entitled to blame us for this if it would please you, but sometimes you must join one enemy i n order to stop a greater one.”
    Donny wanted to yell to his brother, to tell him not to trust them, no matter what they say.  He wanted to, but in stead he kept quiet.
    “There are many students at this school who are not ready for what is coming our way.  Do you really want to let them learn the hard way ?”  Captain Williams asked Jay.
    Jay walked up to Captain Williams until he was right up to his face.  Donny could barely hear the words, but it sounded like Jay said nothing more than “Let’s go.”  Donny saw Jay continue walking past the captain towards the door.  When he reached it, he made one final statement.  “I will do this under one condition.  I want you to keep my brother out of this.  Whatever happens to me happens, but I want my brother to stay out of it.”
    Donny felt these words like a sting to his heart.  He knew what Jay had said was not meant for Captain Williams and those who had come to bring him to battle, but for Donny.  Jay was telling him to let this happen.
    Donny watched them leave the arena, then immediately turned and ran down the catwalk.  He got to the stairs and nearly tripped trying to make his way down them quickly.  He ran out of the storage closet, around the side of the arena, and finally reached the front door where his brother had left with Captain Williams’ group for battle.  He could not see them anywhere.  Donny fell to his knees and wept.

CHAPTER 6
     
    THEY MOVED AT a quick pace.  Jay looked around at the people Captain Williams had brought with him.  Not one of them were a reader.  Jay had a million predictions as to why that could be, but no way of narrowing the possibilities.  Donny could figure it out.   Jay thought to himself.  Donny would know why he didn’t bring readers