Naim Elmasri

Ms. Bailey

English 9

8 December 2021

“The Other Game”

My name is Andrei and I could be described as a big 5’11” Russian man. This wasn’t

supposed to happen. None of it. We were all running, running for our lives. Running from

that General with nothing but fear and terror. It’s been 3 hours since we left the house and I

last saw my shipmates, but that doesn’t matter now. I’m going to survive no matter what the

cost! How did we all get into this mess anyway?

About 1 day ago...

The storm was getting worse and worse. I was supposed to be out in a relaxing day at

the sea, me and my friends. We rented this boat, and the captain came along to drive it and

coordinate us. “This ship isn’t going to take much more of this!” shouted the captain in his

thick Russian accent “We need a place to land!” he said quickly. I couldn’t have agreed more.

I started scanning the horizon. It was nighttime, gloomy and fogy. I could barely see a couple

of meters away. Suddenly, the rope holding up the sail snapped. I immediately grabbed it

before any damage could be done, and tied it down. Suddenly, somehow, we ended up in

some sort of passing of an island.

Present…

I heard footsteps just now. I started running immediately; I’m too big to hide in the

shrubs and not agilite enough to climb a tree fast enough. I just remembered that I have a

knife with me. While I was still running I unsheathed it. Just then, I hear shouts of either

distress, pain, or maybe both. It was then followed by 2 faint cries from a gun. I still ran, even

faster now, in fear of meeting the same fate as the person behind me did. After what seems a
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eternity of running, my mind eased up and I collapsed behind a big tree. I then look at the

knife in my hand which I held tightly while running. It was a good knife; rather sharp but

more for stabbing than slashing. “A full-scale combat knife would have been better.” I

muttered to myself.

23 and ½ hours ago…

The storm was calming down now, and this island seemed deserted. We didn’t want

to land here; we could be stuck. “What’s that sound?” My friend said. He was always a

nervous type of guy, but I heard something too. I was about to mention that I heard it too

until all of a sudden the ship began to be crushed to pieces. I did not wait for an invitation off.

I immediately jumped off the ship and my shipmates followed. The captain was the last to

jump. We all looked back at the sinking ship in horror. All we say of the ship was its final

seconds sinking nose-first into the water. The storm was still going. “My ship!” the captain

yelled in complete rage “What in the world just happened to my ship?!”. “Forget your ship!

It’s gone! Let’s get on to this island!” My friend yelled back in a mixture of confusion and

gratefulness he made it off the ship. We started swimming.

Present…

I was walking cautiously through the foliage of the forest, still my knife in hand.

Then, I saw a shadow. It probably wasn’t the General because it seemed to be moving too

hastily. It was then I realized probably one of my friends! I started running after him, but

didn’t call out for the sake of staying hidden from the General. I then saw him trip on a small

log. I quickly went to help him up until I paused in fear – I saw the General approaching my

fallen friend slowly and calmly. I was already far enough from my friend so I was safe, but as

the general walked closer my friend tried to get up, but it was all in vain. My friend was on
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all fours when the general shot a single clean shot through his head. I then saw that monster

Ivan (I knew his name because the General told it to us) come pick up the body.

20 hours ago…

We have been walking around for hours, and nothing. We were all wet, tired and

hungry. I was losing hope in survival. These jungles are bigger then I could have imagined.

We were going through a swamp of some sort until I saw something “Hold it!” I told the

captain. He was about to step into some quick sand. I looked at it more closely and saw a dog

carcass. “Oh my God! What is that?!” One of my friends shouted, pointing at the lifeless dog.

I too was alarmed, but not alarmed at the fact it was dead but the fact that there was a dog in a

jungle. “Comrades,” I said without looking away from the dog “if there is a dog here, then

there must also be men.” They all agreed hastily and decided to search for them now instead

of waiting for the next morning. We knew civilization couldn’t be far from here.

Present…

I was angry. I was full of rage. I was frustrated, tired and stupid. All these things

drove me to what I did next. I decided to follow the General. It seemed like a good idea at

first; I wanted him to die. I wanted him to pay for what he’s done to all my friends. I knew if

I was to kill him, I needed to get rid of Ivan first. Luckily he’s deaf, so he won’t hear me

sneaking up behind him. As I followed them slowly through the bushes, the general began to

hum himself a tune. He was calm and comfortable from the looks of it. Now was my time to

strike. I ran up to Ivan from behind, kicked his leg and put him into a chokehold with the

knife to his throat. It was easy due to the face I’m about the same size as him. He dropped my

friend’s body. The General was already turned around, gun out. “Put the gun on the floor you

monster!” I yelled at him. He calmly put the gun on the floor. Then, I noticed Ivan’s revolver
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in its holster. I took it from there threw Ivan on the ground and attempted to shoot him. Just

then the most fearful, awful, face-whiting sound came from the gun – a *click* but no bang.

15 hours ago…

Our search was in vain. Nothing. Nada. Zilch. We found no one and nothing except

more mosquitoes and trees. My friend swore in Russian. “Why can’t we find anyone this is

all pointless……” my other friend ranted. While I ignored their rants trying to stay focused,

the captain yelled “Look! Over there!” and in that second everyone went silent and followed

the captains bony hand to a light on the horizon. “Could it be?” I said to myself. “It better

be!” said one of my friends, but I was too gleeful to listen. We ran up to the light, it turned

out to be a simple house. I was still hopeful, maybe whoever was living inside could take us

back to civilization. We all stood at the door and the captain knocked on it. The door opened

up slowly and there stood a man only comparable to my height. He made the rest of my

friends look like midgets. He was holding a chrome revolver in his hand and the door in the

other. All my friends slowly looked at each other. I was the first to talk “Easy, brother, we are

not here on a bad intention. All we need is some help.”. He just stood there, gun to our faces,

and he barley acknowledged the fact that I just spoken to him. Then, a voice immerged from

within the house “Ivan,” and a slender man appeared and put his hand on the large mans

shoulder. He nodded and stepped away from the door, letting us in. “I was expecting you.”

The man said. I was confused. “What do you mean?” then he turned around and looked at

me for a few seconds “You’ll see.”

Present
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I couldn’t stop swearing at myself. For my stupidity. For my recklessness. For my

foolishness. As soon as I realized the gun wasn’t loaded I threw it to the floor and ran. I

didn’t even care to where I ran, I needed to get away. Before I had gotten 10 feet away the

General was already emptying clips at me. I was hit by one in the arm. I yelled in pain and

fell over. It didn’t stop me though I got up and ran even more. I was then shot in the chest. I

was on the floor, my back was dead. I couldn’t feel anything. The General stood over me and

said “I knew you were a tar-tar. Good night.” I then looked to the side to see the last thing I

will ever see; another boat – a yacht in the distance. I hear a *ban…

8 hours ago…

We were stuffed into this rather neat room. It had a table with some food on it, and we

were hungry so we ate. We were kind of nervous as to why we were forced into this room.

We were all too tired to even think. Right then, the General (who introduced himself before

we were shoved into the room) and Ivan stepped in to the room with hunting cloths and

knives in their hands. “Let’s play a game in my jungle shall we? I will give you a 3 hour head

start after a nights rest, and then I will come after you with a handgun.” Everyone was either

too shocked or too confused to talk. “Www-h-at do you mean?” the captain stuttered. The

General looked at the captain and inspected him. “You? You’re too old. Oh no no no. You

won’t suffice. Your frail body is no match. Too easy for a hunt, I believe.” The general then

made a gesture of some sort towards the captain and Ivan pulled out his revolver and with

two loud bangs, killed the poor captain. His body hit the floor and we all could do nothing but

stare. Ivan put his revolver away and handed us the cloths. “We will give you the knives on

leave. Have a good night.” and left the room. We knew then that we were in for the Most

Dangerous Game.