Survival Of The Fittest

Chapter 2: Searching

      Maroon sat typing furiously in the local library. It was rare for her to come to this library. She typically just worked in the school library or at home if you needed to study. But she wanted to be alone to do this. Even still, she felt their icy breaths on the back of her neck, judging her every move. She was probably just paranoid. But for some reason, the breaths didn't feel like her imagination. Maroon turned quickly in the swivel chair to see an old man with balding gray hair and lanky limbs staring at her computer screen. He appeared to have zoned out, because he didn't look up when she turned. Annoyed, she finally addressed him.

    "Can I help you?" Broken from his trance, he laughed awkwardly. His open lips exposed pearly white teeth.

   "Excuse me, young lady. I wasn't trying to interrupt. I was just wondering if you were new? I have never seen you around here." Closing her tab, she said,

   "No, just don't come here much." He seemed to get lost in thought for a moment.

     "Oh, that's odd. I've come here every day since they opened, from opening to closing. I'm shocked I haven't seen you around." Maroon shifted in her chair. Why did she feel like she was being interrogated like he thought she was lying to him?

     "Uh...yeah, that is weird." She replied and, trying to avoid making the situation any more uncomfortable than it already was, kept typing. Clearly catching the drift, he turned away from her.

    "Well, I will let you be." the man called and started to walk away, mumbling something that she couldn't hear. Ignoring what just happened, she moved her mouse over the web page, reading over the job description.

      "This doesn't seem that hard. I'm a good swimmer and teaching how to swim doesn't seem that bad." She muttered.

       With a click, Maroon started to type once again. She had prepared a resume a few months before, but even she could tell that it wasn't that good. One of the library employees announced that the library would be closing in half an hour. She would have to work fast. Maroon clicked over to her resume. Her fingers flew across the keyboard. Just as the library was about to close, she sent her resume to the company. Sighing, she closed the tab and turned off the computer, happy that she was done for the day.

     "The only thing I don't like is that they won't let you apply for any other jobs until you've been given or denied the job." Maroon mumbled as she started to leave the library. Hopping onto her bright pink bike, Maroon started pedaling away from the library and onto the sidewalk. Still distracted by her time at the library, she didn't notice the huge puddle her bike was driving towards until the front wheel bounced into it, water sprayed all over the sidewalk. Maroon screamed as cold water splashed all over her jeans and dripped down the bike. She took off her grey hoodie and tried to soak the water off her jeans before she kept moving her bike to her family's apartment. About a block from her apartment, she leaned against a wall, breathing heavily. Her feet ached. She turned her head to look closer at a parking sign when she saw a poster that was pinned to the sign. Her curiosity got the better of her and she walked over to the sign. It was a picture of a person with their back turned to her in a dark room holding a shining silver dagger and a red rose. It read,

      "Low on money? Craving a fight? Want to test your skills? Welcome to Alone. Only one can survive for the prize of 10,000,00 dollars." Maroon turned her head slightly, checking for anyone watching. Strangely, there was no sound of any kind. This money could change everything for me and my family, but am I that desperate? She thought. Like, only one can survive to get the money. With a moment of silence and a sigh, Maroon ripped the poster of the post and said aloud,

 "I guess I am that desperate....Let's hope I survive."

      The rest of the trip to her apartment passed in a blur. When she got home, all she could think of was the poster. Dinner seemed to drag for years. Finally, she was able to escape into her room. Locking the door, Maroon reached into her pocket for the poster and unfolded it. Under the pitch for the tournament, there's a phone number. Pulling her phone out of her pocket, she dialed the number. A perky voice answers the phone after the first ring.

      "Hello. This is the entry call service of the survival game, Alone. Would you like to enter to be chosen?" Maroon took a shaky breath and nodded.

    "Yes, I would like to enter."

   "Okay, then. Full name, please?"

  "Maroon Kary Geen." She could faintly hear typing from over the phone and the voice said,

  "Address please?"

  "983 Merubah Street"

  "Okay there seem to be Series Apartments at that address. Do you live there and, if so, what is the apartment number?"

 "Yes, Apartment 110." More typing from the other side could be heard before the person said,

"Okay...what is your age?"

"18." She said, sitting on her bed and running her finger along her quilt.

"My last question is are you willing to risk your life for the cash prize of 10,000,000 dollars?" The voice said and Maroon stated,

"Yes, I am." The perky voice suddenly turned stern.

  "Are you sure? Because, if you are chosen, there's no turning back." Maroon stayed quiet for a moment, thinking hard, before speaking into the phone.

"Yes, I'm aware of the danger." The voice's stern tone turned perky again at the speed of light.

         "Alright, then! If you are chosen, someone should come to your place of residence between tomorrow and the day after that. If no one comes, then you were not chosen to compete in Alone. Goodbye." There was a small click as the person on the other line clicked off. Maroon plugged the phone into the charger and shoved the poster in a drawer. All she wanted to do was lay down and sleep forever. As she slipped under her covers, a new thought came to her mind.

   What was next?