“There are definitely more people playing than I anticipated,” Lia said.

Cassidy Clarke twisted around at her desk. “Did you stalk us?” she asked.

Lia froze.

“Oh my God,” Gem said, pointing to the blue, pink, and white hairclip keeping Cassidy’s bun in place. “Where did you get this?”

“Online.” Cassidy scrunched her mouth up and narrowed her eyes, returning her gaze to Lia. “Did you follow me around?”

“No,” Lia said, and bit her cheek. “I did not follow you.”

Lia had only taken notes on where Cassidy said she was going. That wasn’t following.

“What about me?” Ryder asked, leaning around Cassidy to stare at Lia.

Lia pretended to check her journal and clucked her tongue. “I’m sorry. Who are you?”

“You liar.” Cassidy laughed, turned back around, and shook her head. “You better not win.”

Two days later, a hush fell over the cafeteria as noon neared, the silence so odd even Mr. Jackson, Lincoln’s sole security guard, looked up from his crossword. Of all the seniors Lia could see, at least half were bent over their phones.

At exactly noon, she got the message.

Hello, Lia Prince.

Welcome to Assassins. Your goal is to kill your targets with your team without being seen, and survive until only one is left alive. However, as with all good things, there are rules:

1. Kills must have (mostly) no witnesses. You are an assassin, an enigma wrapped in shadows and trailing mystery. You must be sneaky. All kills must be committed when the target is completely alone, and no one except your team members can see you kill your target. If you kill someone who is not alone, the kill will not be legitimate. Also, they’ll know you have it out for them.

2. Kills must be made with water guns, and the guns may only be filled with water. Any amount of water on clothes or skin is enough to kill the target, so don’t go overboard. Don’t modify paintballs and don’t aim for the face—we don’t want a repeat of three years ago.

3. Shields are allowed, but they must obviously be a shield. Your arm is not a shield; your backpack is.

4. Self-defense is allowed. If an assassin attempts to kill you and fails or you notice them first, you may kill them.

5. Do not commit a crime in order to kill your target. You will be arrested or worse, disqualified.

6. The school is a safe zone. No kills can be made on school grounds during school hours, and any that are made will get you disqualified.

7. Do not camp at your house to avoid death. Anyone who refuses to leave their house for more than three days in a row will be disqualified. Anyone who makes their parents follow them around for more than three days in a row will be disqualified. Do not pay non-players to follow you around. You will be disqualified. The game is about teamwork and survival as much as it is killing. You have your team for a reason.