My hands were moist, but steady.  The room seemed smaller than what I remembered.  Everyone walked in and took their seats in a circle around the table.  I waited until everyone was seated before I sat down. The youngest one in the room looked no older than 18.  He also seemed to be the most confident.

Eyes bounced off one another.  Nerrvous looks.  Cold stares. Some held doubt, but it was to late for any of that now.  No turning back once you entered in. 

There were armed men posted by the door...the only exit door to the room. 

One way in, one way out. 

There was a section stated in the contracts about the armed guards.  The only question I ask myself everytime these meetings take place is "Are they here to protect, serve...or just play the game?" 

It wasn't like this in the beginning, many years ago.  We soon realized that things tend to get a little out of hand sometimes.  The organization send different guards each time.  The ones from times past I have never seen again. 

I wasted no time with getting started.  I believed that time was always of the essence, and not using it to its full advantage was procrastination. 

"Welcome everyone.  I am glad that everyone could make it here tonight. I will be the one who will be conducting this meeting, of sorts.  As proof of my identity I will pass around the first contract which has my name, picture, and signature on it.  It also states the reason I am here.  It has already been confirmed by those of a higher authority that...you all are who you say you are.  If you weren't you would be dead already.  Your body disposed of and never to be seen again."  

I paused to get a glimpse of any hesitant emotion from them.  Two of them moved around in their seats with unease.  But they all stared.  They all just stared at me, waiting for me to continue. 

They knew the rules.  They had been all been informed. 

"When you all view my contract, I will pass out each of your contracts that were agreed upon.  Study them, read them very carefully to make sure everything is correct.  Once everyone signs, being satisfied with their requests stated on the contracts...we shall begin."

All eight participants were here.  It was always eight, no more no less.  Whenever any of the participants ask why this was the number chosen, I tell them one reason is because H is the eighth letter in the alphabet and it represents-

That's when my eyes caught a reaction from the old woman sitting across the table from me.  She was slowly getting to her feet.  The old man who sat beside her rose to his feet too. 

Her tone was one of fear and horror. She trembled as if she was cold.  Her eyes were fixed on the guards.   

"I can't do this. I want to go home." 

She looked at me as I shuffled through the contracts still in my hands looking for her name and why she was here. 

The old man pulled at her shirt, talking calmly to her to sit back down.    

"Please...Betty, sit down.  Sit down, okay?  I know what you are doing and I want you to stop.  You said you wouldn't act this way.  I would never have agreed to come here if I had known you would do such a thing.  Don't do this to me.  Don't do this to us.  If we talk it out, everything will be okay.  I know you're scared.  So am I, but together we can get through this."

He began to cry. 

I realize the woman sitting to the right of me started laughing.  Her arms were stretched out on the table and she kept opening and closing his right hand.  It was like watching someone squeeze one of those balls used to strengthen one's grip. 

The old woman's eyes went back to the guards, who held their guns raised and pointed at her. 

"I want to go home.  I realize now that I have...made a mistake by coming here. This, this is just insane.  I can't go through with it.  I am an old woman who got herself into something I can't handle.  Please, just let me walk out of here and I will never say anything.  I promise, I will never breathe a word of it.  I am known for keeping promises.  She looked at the old man for confirmation.  "Tell them Henry." 

"Betty, please-"

Before the old man could finish the top of her head disappeared and the room echoed from the gunshot. 

The woman beside me screamed.  I watched her hands rise to her head and start pulling strands of bloody hair from it as my peripheral vision caught the old woman falling to the ground.