The Assassin Game by Kirsty McKay

as the one in Vaughan’s hand—where the flob did he get a frigging dagger at school?! I cringe into myself. Don’t, don’t drag me into this, Vaughan. But I don’t say anything, because I’ve already betrayed him once in this lifetime and I won’t do it again, even if he just shoved me under the biggest bus in Toy Town.
    â€œNow, don’t blame Cate,” Vaughan says. “We were besties in a previous life, but she has no part in this. Anyway, as I was saying, I have something you need, and that is why you’ll let me into the Game.”
    â€œWhat could you possibly have that we want?” Rick scoffs.
    â€œI can build you a social network,” Vaughan says. “Wouldn’t that be wonderful fun? The bulletin board in the common room is terribly old-school—if you’ll excuse the pun—but wouldn’t it be rather more millennial of you to have your own social network? Profiles, IM, posts, and threads? Think of the possibilities. Updates, news, strategy, theories? Pictures too. Selfies with the Killer? You’re a little deprived of Internet here, no? A social network all of your own, just think of it.”
    â€œBeen done, friend,” Carl says. “More than once someone’s tried to put a student network up. Staff find it; staff take it down.”
    â€œThey won’t find this,” Vaughan says. “Imagine. Space to post whatever you like. Clues, hit lists, the possibilities are endless. Plus, tracking individual users, the ability to see who is online and where at any time. How cool would that be? It would bring a whole new element to the Game.”
    â€œSure it would,” Rick says sarcastically. “What, the library, the studies, and a handful of classrooms? The only places in the school where we can pick up Wi-Fi?”
    â€œOh, there are other places. Aren’t there, Marcia?” Vaughan looks at my friend. “The ones no one thinks about.” He points to the laptop on the table. “The newspaper office has Wi-Fi, if I’m not mistaken. You can even get online at the art studio. And the PC in the secretary’s office in Main House. Staff members’ machines in their private quarters—encrypted Wi-Fi there.” Vaughan shrugs. “Even so, even discounting those other opportunities…a murder is carried out while half the users are logged on in the library? You instantly know where those users are. Could be interesting.”
    â€œIt would be great, no doubt,” Marcia says. “But they would find it within a week and take it down. Probably shut the Game down too, because our headmaster is so paranoid about us actually being able to get online that he’d think he had a mutiny on his hands.”
    â€œThey won’t find it,” Vaughan repeats.
    â€œOK, OK,” Alex says. “You have the guts to come here and throw your cards on the table? Let’s talk. But first”—he looks around the cave—“you droogs need to get back to civilization. Only Elders for this.”
    Everyone groans, reluctantly beginning to leave. I cannot wait to get out, but I’m terrified of what Vaughan is going to lay on them when I go. In any case, I don’t get the chance to escape.
    â€œCate!” Alex says. “This nut job is your friend. You can stay.”
    Great.
    Everyone looks at me as they leave. Especially Daniel.
    When they have all cleared out, Alex sits, and the rest of us—Carl, Rick, Marcia, Cynthia, and lil’ old me—follow suit. Except Vaughan. He stands in the middle of the cave, still wearing the cape, looking a little like a disheveled crow that got left out in the storm. But he has a glint in his eye and the air of one who tastes victory. That’s a little premature of him, I think.
    â€œI know you all have trust issues.” Vaughan grins at Alex. “That’s only sensible. But I’m good at this. Ask her.” He