Page 19 of Rat Race

Everything faded into a sea of white noise, laser-focused into one thing and one thing only.

Her.

I’m coming for you.

The lights turned green, the audible click of the catwalk snapping into place barely registering. My body moved before my mind could catch up. Players all around me shouted as it was their turn to race toward the entrance. I wasn’t there to race, but getting in the maze before the others would only help me get to her faster.

Adrenaline ran through me, pumping my legs faster than ever. I pushed past the wall of bodies, the anxiety in the air only making me that much more excited.

There were others stronger than me, who had more experience, were more vicious, but I wasfaster.

Despite how many were assigned to my gate, I was the first of my group to make it in, and I made an immediate left.

The temperature dropped five degrees as I entered the concrete-enclosed maze. Dim lights were spaced throughout, but they flickered in and out, causing gaps in my vision as I pushed my legs faster. The noise from the crowd and the players who were stuck fighting at the entrance faded into the background, leaving just me, the pounding of my platformed feet against the concrete floor, and my thoughts.

I’m late. She’s probably already way ahead.

Frustration gnawed at me as I tried to orient myself. Turns out a completely enclosed maze was hard to navigate. No sun to give you any idea of the direction you were headed.

Just your intuition and a whole lot of hope.

Screams rang throughout the halls, echoing until they died down. The noise was coming from my right, and I took a sharp turn toward it.

I wasn’t in it to save myself, and I didn’t so much need the money. So the only logical option was for me to head straight into danger and just pray that I could get to her before one of the traps could.

The closer I got, the easier it was to make out the noise, the screams needing to hit fewer surfaces before they reached me. It wasn’t just one. It was multiple.

Meaning there is a chance she’s there too.

There was an empty rack as I took the next turn. I fought the urge to roll my eyes. If I’d been in an earlier lot, I probably would’ve been able to grab whatever had been on it—weapons, medical supplies, fuck, even a bottle of water would’ve been welcome. But that was the thing about being in lot four. I was just going to have to learn to make do.

I rounded the next turn, nearly stumbling over a body lying across the path, blood pooling beneath it in a puddle on the floor. The other players either hadn’t tried to avoid it or hadn’t been able to, leaving a trail of sticky, crimson footsteps on the concrete.

A pair of Runners were fighting in the distance, their masks glowing yellow and green in the dim light. It was hard to tell who had the upper hand, the pair clashing violently with their fists.

A bit barbaric, really. But I didn’t have time to worry about that, not with disappointment clawing at my throat like when I’d lost out on Homecoming Queen.

Natalie wasn’t here.

I cursed under my breath.

Another left, maybe?

Just as I was about to move on from the fighting pair, movement further down the hall caught my eye. My spirits lifted immediately at my good luck.

Hello, cunt.

She was down at the end of the hallway, watching it all. Of course that cunt had her nose in everyone’s business.

A smile twisted my face, and a crazed chuckle passed my lips.

Got you.

I charged forward and right into the fighting men with my shoulder, the force of my body colliding with them knocking them to the ground. Their surprised shout rang through the hallway, smearing some of the blood from their brawl across my arms as they tried to grab me.

One got a hold of my jacket, but I slipped out of the heavy material with ease. Nothing was going to keep me from my goal. Not even a fucking contract.

Curses followed me as I ran after the girl.

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