To top off the exodus, my roomie Cassie left just an hour ago this morning.  My heart can hardly take this.  It’s one thing to leave, I’ve discovered—another thing entirely to be left!

Some say all is fair in love and war, but I say that on Monday the 26^th all was not fair in games of the same.  The week of ASSASINS had hardly begun before brother turned against brother, friend rose up against friend and caused him to be put to death.  It is a sad story I must tell you now—a story of deception, betrayal, and injustice.

As the last few minutes of the Monday workday counted down, I shot off a quick email reply to my fellow OUian, intern, and friend Amy Elrod agreeing to go for a run with her later that evening.  Shutting down my computer, I was reminded that from this moment on the game ASSASINS had begun.  Gripping a clothespin in my fist, I nervously packed my things and headed off to meet up with the other interns, calculating how I could pin the target I’d been assigned without being terminated myself.

Soon, many of us had gathered in the rotunda.  For nearly a quarter of an hour we suspiciously kept our distance.  Slowly people began to square off and make attacks, and though no threat had yet been directed at me, my heart rate began to skyrocket.  My target had not yet appeared, and I felt exposed to attack just standing around eyeing everyone.

Interrupting my train of thought, Amy Elrod emerged from worship practice from a door behind me.  Amy gave me one look and laughed, “Whoa!  A little tense?”  I laughed too, as I realized I’d been wringing my hands.  I shoved my clothespin into my pocket, “Yeah, I just know I’m gonna’ get killed!”  Amy shook her head at me, “Relax!  Anyhow, did you get my email?  You wanna’ go running later tonight?”  A vague suspicion washed over me and I replied, “Sure I’ll run the first lap with ya’ (I’m not much of an athlete compared to Arod), as long as....” I threw her a doubtful look. “…as long as this isn’t some great ploy to get me assassinated.  You know, friends don’t kill friends Amy!”  I backed away alarmed as she laughed and grinned guiltily.  “You do have me!” I shouted.  “No, no, no!” she tried to assure me, “I so would’ve killed you already if I had you.”

Knowing from the friendship we’d developed over the summer how competitive we both are, it did seem logical that if I’d been her target she would’ve launched right at me the moment she spotted me.  So I relaxed a little and soon turned to talk to one of the guys.  As I spoke with him I grew nervous again, however.  I contemplated out loud, “I need to get outa’ this building.  I need to go on offensive.  I’m gonna’ get clipped and taken outa’ the game for sure if I just hang around here.”

Amy, who’d been sitting just a little ways away, moved closer and tried to calm me.  “It’s okay.  Don’t worry about it.  I’m playing it as a waiting game.”  I smiled and began to sing “Time…is on my side.”  She joined in, “Time…is on my side, yes it is!”  Automatically I threw my arm around her shoulder, but as she did the same I spotted the weapon in Amy’s hand!  That’s right!  A clothespin!  Immediately I tried to jump away, screaming as I went, “Noooo!”

It was a vicious struggle.  Knowing Amy could easily outrun me, I stayed and tried to wrestle the pin out of her hand.  It might have worked too, except the guy I’d been talking to earlier grabbed me up in a bear hug, blocking my escape and obliterating my defense.  And then Amy clipped me.  I was out of the game less than an hour after it had started.  It’s so true.  She lured me into her snare and took me out!

However, I had fought valiantly.  I told Amy, “Pal—no matter what you do; no matter how deceptive you are; no matter how you take advantage of a friend’s trust; no matter how cruelly you betray your fellow OUian; no matter how absolutely, utterly, completely, and wholly you double-cross me, I still love ya’ Arod. And just you wait—just you wait—for Manhunt!  You’re going DOWN!”

That coming Saturday I would have the opportunity to face her again.  In a game of dodgeball meets capture the flag, I was determined it would be I who gained the upper hand.  Retribution may be the Lords, but the rematch would be mine!