Page 50 of Drop His Mask

The question was understandable, I had the same one myself. How were we supposed to overtake these men that were much larger than us?

The mechanical voice didn’t answer though.

Even as confident as I was in my abilities, it would be hard with the limited space and with how weak my body still was.

“What about the winners of the last round? Who are they and what was their ‘special prize’?” I recognized 197 as he spoke, and my eyes flashed to him.

He stood three players along the circle to my left and was staring at me, dissecting me. His green, haunted eyes swirled in promise as they met mine. He cocked his head as he brought a hand to his lips, blowing me a kiss. My stomach churned uncomfortably as my attention caught on the ink on his arm. The Griffin tattoo that wrapped around his forearm was on full display, a reminder of who he was. My eyes shifted to the man that was next to him in line.

195 was pacing his platform, not paying me any mind at all. Bouncing on the balls of his feet as he swept the perimeter of his space, hopping here and there.

Balancing.

“It will be awarded after this game.” This time, the motorized voice answered. “Now everyone, the first round is about to begin. Remain on your platforms while the round is played out above. The order has been chosen by the Sponsors. Those that have pressed the button first on their team will be the one to play when it is their round.”

A whirring drew my attention upwards. The two platforms that remained above our heads were nearly across from each other, but now they were spinning until they lined up exactly and then extended. They were about forty feet apart, but metal plates were reaching towards each other’s platform creating a terrifying make-shift bridge. I couldn’t see Levi from this angle, but I knew he was up there. Knew that he might very well be down here soon,dead.

I gasped a few times trying to catch my breath as worry sunk into me, I managed to subdue it.

There is no time for weakness. I need to get it together. I can’t break apart every round. I need to think up a plan.

“Once the bridges connect, a siren will sound, and the game will begin. Make sure to follow the rule to win.” The robotic voice paused. “One more item. The fastest to complete this round will be exempt from the next contestant-based game.”

Contestant-based game? What does that mean?

The siren blared, and I had no more time to think anything through.

I held my breath as my heart pounded its way into my ears.

Louder and louder it beat.

Thump.

Stomping above.

Thump. Thump.

Clattering along the metal bridge.

Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.

“No!” an unfamiliar man cried from above.

Thump.

“Ahhhhh!” the same man screamed.

Thump. Thump.

A blur of motion from above as a body was thrown over. I shut my eyes, I didn’t want to look. To see who it was. I hoped that it wasn’t Levi. It didn’tsoundlike him.

Thump.

Blubbering.

Thump.

Wailing.

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