Episode 14: The Next Kill List
Jaden lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. His ribs ached, his jaw throbbed, and his body felt like it had been through hell.
Because it had.
Blaine and his goons jumped him. He survived. Barely.
But next time? He wasn't just going to survive. He was going to fucking end this.
His phone buzzed.
Abby: You awake?
Jaden exhaled, gripping the phone. She knew. Maybe not the details, but she knew something was wrong.
Jaden: Yeah.
A pause. Then—
Abby: I had a dream about you.
Jaden smirked slightly. She always knew how to pull him out of his own head.
Jaden: Yeah? What kind of dream?
Abby: The kind where you actually take care of yourself.
Jaden let out a small laugh.
Then—
Abby: You don't have to do everything alone, Jaden.
His smile faded.
But I do.
He didn't type that. Instead, he just stared at the screen.
After a moment, Abby sent another message.
Abby: I know you won't tell me what's wrong. But whatever it is… just come back to me, okay?
Jaden's chest tightened.
She didn't beg. She didn't demand.
She just asked.
And fuck, that made it worse.
Jaden: I will.
It was the only promise he could give.
The Kill List
Morning came fast.
Jaden's body still ached as he walked into the common area. He could feel the stares. The whispers.
Everyone knew about last night.
Leo strolled up beside him, chewing on an energy bar. "So. You gonna murder Blaine in his sleep, or you gonna wait for training?"
Jaden exhaled sharply. "No point. He'll come at me again either way."
Leo chuckled. "Damn. Cold."
Jaden didn't answer. He wasn't in the mood.
Then—a voice from behind.
"Carter."
Jaden turned.
Vance stood there, arms crossed. "With me. Now."
Leo raised an eyebrow. "Ooooh, someone's in trouble."
Jaden ignored him and followed Vance down the hallway.
The List of the Dead
The office was silent.
Vance leaned against the desk, staring at Jaden with that unreadable look.
"You think you're tough, Carter?"
Jaden didn't flinch. "I don't think. I know."
Vance's lips curled slightly. Not a smile. More like amusement.
He pulled a folder from the desk and tossed it onto the table.
Jaden frowned, stepping forward. Inside was a list.
Names.
Most of them crossed out.
He read the header.
IRON STRIDE ELIMINATIONS – FINAL ROUND CANDIDATES.
Jaden's eyes narrowed.
His name wasn't crossed out. But Blaine's wasn't either.
Vance watched him carefully. "This is what you're up against. The ones who made it this far. The ones still standing."
Jaden flipped through the pages. Ryo Tanaka. Leo Foster. Blaine Mercer. Luis Delgado.
And more. Twenty names in total.
Jaden clenched his jaw. "So what? We're the final twenty?"
Vance's smirk disappeared.
"No. You're the next twenty to be cut."
Jaden's stomach tightened.
They weren't fighting to win anymore. They were fighting to survive.
Vance leaned in. "Iron Stride doesn't care about fairness. It doesn't care about second chances. By the time this is over? Only ten of you will still be here."
Jaden stared at the list again.
Blaine's name. Still there.
Jaden exhaled slowly, his grip tightening.
Fine.
If this was a war? Then he was going to make damn sure he was the last one standing.