Josh picked up the dice, then put it down. Glancing at the tail protruding from the end of his spine, he said, "Maybe we shouldn't go through with this."
"What?" said Jill incredulously.
"What if we just - stopped? Wecould-"
Josh's voice was drowned out by angry shouts from his friends. "How dare you even suggest -" began Marcus angrily. "Look at me! How am I supposed to live the rest of my life as a lizard? I-"
"Calm down," said Jill. Everyone fell silent. "Let's try to take this calmly. Marcus, you know what people are like. Nobody would want us around like this. I mean, what happens to Allison if we stop? She wouldn't last a day as a rat. I can barely move from this seat as it is." She struggled to remould herself. "The fact is, we have to finish this game, one way or another. Come on, Marcus, roll."
Marcus nodded in understanding, picking up the dice and rolling. "Okay," he said. "I didn't mean - it's just that I didn't want whatever's about to happen to happen, I guess."
His piece stopped moving, and he picked up a card. He read: "You are better off than your friends. Choose one who you can help."