Free Panic Button by Frazer Lee Page B

can’t be.”
     

    “Who is it then?” Dave railed on, “It’s all legit - this trip...”
     

    “You read it in an email did you? It’s got to be legit then hasn’t it!?” Dave’s idiocy was beginning to grate with Max.
     

    “This is their competition - we were contacted through their site, remember.”
     

    “You think a social network is out there killing people? For what reason? Profit margins not high enough so they’ve moved into hit jobs? Snuff videos? No mate, whoever it is, it isn’t All2gethr.”
     

    Dave shook his head in disbelief. Max looked past him at the cockpit door.
     

    “We’ve got to get to that pilot,” Max said.
     

    Dave looked defeated. “I bloody tried, door’s sealed tight.”
     

    “People are dying because we broke the rules.” Gwen was now at the bar, helping herself to some chilled water. “Maybe we should just think about playing along before someone else gets hurt.”
     

    “They can’t wipe out everybody can they? I’ve got over a thousand people on my friend list...”
     

    “Oh, go you , Dave. This isn’t a bloody popularity contest!” Gwen shouted.
     

    “That’s not what I...”
     

    “Ladies and gentlemen, please take your seats...”
     

    Alligator’s voice interrupted Dave’s protest, the reptilian voice making the speakers rattle.
     

    “It is time for Round Three.”
     

Ten
     

     
     

     
     

    “Why the hell are we flying to Oslo?” Max demanded.
     

    He was standing in the aisle next to Jo, both of them looking defiant.
     

    “All in good time,” Alligator teased.
     

    Gwen began to sob from her seat, pleading with them to sit down, to just do as Alligator said.
     

    “No more,” Jo said, “We’re not playing any more.”
     

    The speakers crackled faintly, then Alligator made his next move.
     

    “Very well, you give me no choice but to initiate another forfeit. Let’s see...”
     

    The touch screens flickered into life, rifling through Jo’s friend profiles. She watched in abject terror as familiar names and faces scrolled across the screen. So many innocent people.
     

    “No!” Jo shouted. She couldn’t allow him to harm anyone.
     

    “Then take your seats,” Alligator said as the screens flickered into life.
     

    “Please,” Jo said to Max as she sat down.
     

    Last man standing, Max looked around the cabin at the others - at Jo’s pleading eyes boring into his. She’ll be the death of me, that yummy mummy , Max thought as he reluctantly sat down.
     

    The words ‘ROUND 3: DO OR DIE’ appeared on the monitor screens in front of the terrified passengers. An atmosphere of dread fell over the cabin like a dying breath.
     

    Dave shifted uncomfortably in his seat as the animated Alligator returned to their screens.
     

    Gwen glanced out of the dark window at the stormy night sky, biting her fingernails.
     

    Jo and Max exchanged frightened glances - no brave faces to put on this time.
     

    “You will each be given an assignment,” Alligator instructed. “Failure to complete your assignments will result in more deaths. I will gladly kill more of your friends if need be. Or your families.”
     

    Blank terror fell across Jo’s face. She thought of her little Sophie and Dawn, all alone at her home. Her mind conjured screams of terror from her loved ones, and she put her hands to her ears as though to block them out.
     

    Max looked at Jo, concerned. “And if we refuse to play along?”
     

    “Please - don’t cross him,” Jo said.
     

    “Finally, Jo makes a constructive comment. Better late than never...” Alligator purred.
     

    Jo frowned. Why single her out?
     

    “Jo, please report to the ‘diary room’.”
     

    Puzzlement flashed across Jo’s face. She glanced at the others - they looked just as confused as she did.
     

    “My little joke,” Alligator continued, “Please proceed to the bathroom, alone, and close the door behind you.”
     

     
     

    Jo had