With the 2022-23 year quickly coming to an end, Chamblee students are studying for finals and AP exams, with seniors also preparing for graduation. Amongst common activities such as returning Chromebooks, paying senior dues, and ordering their caps and gowns, seniors are participating in a new game: Assassin.

“[The game] started pretty organically. We were all in that EOC block period, a fourth period block period a few weeks ago. Me, Demetrius [Daniel], and Lauren [Hill], we had seen a lot of different videos and [thought that the Assassin game] was a really fun idea. Normally, people do it the first semester of senior year, but we [are using this as] a fun way to really bring this senior class together for one last fun little game before we leave,” said one of the organizers and judges, Maggie Council (‘23).

Samantha Booher (‘23) was one of the biggest advocates for starting the game at Chamblee.

“I was actually the person who wanted it to happen, and I talked to Maggie Council and Lauren Hill in my first period. I [said that] this has to happen, and if no one does it, I’m gonna have to do it. Then I got a text from Maggie, and she [said] ‘You’re gonna be so happy we’re doing it,’” said Booher.

The announcement of the proposed game garnered a lot of attention and support on Instagram, with many signing up to participate.

“We had over 100 people interested, [and] I think around 80 paid. The first part [of] getting our name out there was easier, [but] the most complicated part has been making sure we account for everyone who has submitted money and did the Google Form, and then how we organized the targets versus the assassins,” said Council.

Many participants felt that this game was a good way to end their senior year.

“I think it’s just a fun way for seniors to have their last hurrah and have some good laughs, make some fun memories,” said Matéo Hunter (‘23).

The rules of the game were posted to the Chamblee Assassin 2023 Instagram, along with information about the $5 payment required for participation.

“Everybody is assigned a target, and everyone has someone targeting them. We send assignments over the weekend and people start on Monday. They have to water-gun their target and have some kind of evidence, whether it’s a picture or video, [but] most of the players have been sending in videos. You cannot get your target on school grounds because that’s against the Code of Conduct, so don’t get in trouble. They cannot shoot [their target] inside of their own house, and they cannot get them while they are driving a vehicle. But if [their target is] in a car that’s parked and not moving, or in somebody else’s house, that’s fine. The goal is pretty much to get your target before the round ends, [about] a week, and if you don’t get them, you’re eliminated,” said one of the coordinators and judges, Demetrius Daniel (‘23).

However, participants are able to protect themselves from being eliminated by wearing certain safety items.

“If you are wearing inflated floaties on your arms or goggles on your face, you are safe. Starting [the second] round, I think we’re gonna have one day [where] nobody can wear any protective gear, so kind of a free-for-all,” said Dani19

Judges help to determine the validity of the evidence submitted to the Instagram account.

“We have to make sure we see [that] the water ends up being put on the person, and you have to make sure it wasn’t on school grounds, because that’s obviously a no-go. We also have to make sure that they actually got the right person too. All-in-all, it’s been really entertaining watching how everyone has planned out their specific ways to get their person,” said Council.

The winner of the Assassin game will receive a cash prize of $200.

“We had a cash pool [where] everybody who participated had to pay $5, so the cash prize is pretty much all of the [money] that everybody put in at the beginning. Our initial idea was to have half of it go to funding our senior prank and half of it going to the winner, but our senior prank doesn’t really require money, so we might just end up doing the whole cash prize,” said Daniel.

The goal of the game is simple: get your target. But the process of actually executing this can be challenging.

“My target was Ava Deljou (‘23), and oh my gosh, I went so many times to go get her. I went to her work, before and after, [even] at 11pm, but she was wearing her stupid goggles so I never got her,” said Hunter.

Some participants have dedicated numerous hours into getting their targets in order to stay in the game.

“I was [at Ava’s place of work], between Thursday and Friday for a total of five hours. Yeah, that was my plan and it failed,” said Hunter.

Others were more successful in their lengthy pursuits.

“I found out that my assassin, Sofia Molina (‘23), was at my house for three hours already, and then waited for another four hours while I was talking to them inside my house. [However], I’m a very competitive person, so when someone is trying to get me out to win a game, I’m not going to let that happen. I didn’t care that I didn’t get Ava at that point because I had already come to terms with it, but I was not letting my assassin progress ahead of me. I gave her an ultimatum. I told her if she gave me $100, I would [give up]. It took them an hour-and-a-half to pay up, but eventually, I got my money and I walked out of my house looking all surprised,” said Hunter.

Some participants have concocted elaborate schemes to secure their assassinations.

“I’m kind of using a different strategy depending on the person. First round, I knew that my person had to leave at a certain time, so I kind of hid in his driveway [to] get him. This round, I think I’m gonna do sort of a similar method. I’m going to trick this person into thinking that they’re going to be able to get their target, but really, I’m going to be the one that comes out of the house,” said Gabby King (‘23).

Additionally, participants have developed strategies to increase their chances of survival and of getting their targets.

“A lot of people actually get really big guns because they think it makes them better, but my strategy is to have a mini handheld gun in my pocket, so I can whip it out and shoot whenever I want,” said Booher, who was eliminated four people at the time of interview.

Others found collaboration to be a useful tool in planning their assassinations.

“I have been working with other people to help set up something [to get my target], so I haven’t been working alone. [For] my first target, his parents also wanted to help, which [was unexpected], but they offered and it worked out,” said Abby Barnes (‘23).

Despite eliminating their targets, those advancing to the next round still have the potential to be eliminated by their assassins.

“I’ve been living in fear– I wear my goggles every time I leave my house, [and] in the morning when I walk from my door to my car, I run and I have my goggles on,” said Barnes.

While the cash prize is lucrative for many still in the game, it isn’t the only thing that participants are motivated by.

“I am hoping to win because $200 is pretty hefty, you know? I don’t know what I’m gonna buy with that, but I may go on an Amazon shopping spree,” said King. “Hoping to win, [but] if I don’t, this was an interesting experience, so I guess it was worth it.”

*Since the time of this interview, the rules have since been changed: goggles are the only safety item, floaties are no longer effective.