Survival Of The Fittest

Chapter 3: The Past Comes Back

     Maroon woke up to the sound of her alarm clock, rubbing her eyes blearily and pulling off the covers. Slipping on her slippers, she walked into the living room, seeing her dad on the couch. In his hands was a piece of paper, which he held tightly, expression unreadable.

   "Morning, Dad— what do you have there?" She asked, walking towards him.

    Her dad met her eyes, anguish seen clearly through them, and showed her the paper he was reading. "Why?" He asked, sounding broken. "Why, Maroon?"

    "What do you mean?"

    "You know what I mean, Maroon!"

   With a glance at the paper, she realized exactly what paper her dad held in his hand. It wasn't any ordinary sheet, but the advertisement she had taken with her and applied for the night before.

   "Dad— I swear; it's not what it looks like," Maroon said desperately, trying to cover for her mistake.

     Her dad looked unamused, shaking his head. "Oh, really? You know what— get your sister. It's about time that you guys heard the story."

   Confused and a little intrigued, she dragged her sister Jayla out of bed and into the living room. The two sat down opposite their father, who watched them silently. Taking a breath, he said: "Okay, now that you girls are here, I'm going to tell you the truth." He paused for a moment, clearly grieved. "Maroon... Jayla... your mother— she didn't die in a car crash. She died in a survival competition called Alone, where there is only one survivor."

    Maroon widened her eyes in shock. Her mother also joined this game? A cold chill went down her spine. If her mother died, what would happen to her? What had she done?

     Her father continued on. "She did it because we had some real money struggles— like, really bad— and this money could change everything. It was 2010, so you were six at the time— too young to understand what was going on, so I lied."

  "How close was she to winning?" Maroon asked, pained.

   "Very close— let's leave it at that." Taking a deep breath, he scrubbed at his eyes and said, "we'll just have to hope that Maroon doesn't get picked."

   "But what if she does, Dad?" Jayla asked solemnly.

   "Then we'll have to hope that she wins."

   A somber silence fell onto the room as the three looked at each other. Maroon, feeling her dad's gaze onto her, fidgeted in her seat. Sensing her sister's uncomfort and wanting to break the silence, Jayla suggested, "let's lighten the mood. How about a game of Uno?"

     Her attempts were futile, as nobody responded, the room staying quiet after she spoke. It was finally broken when their dad said, "I'm going to take today and tomorrow off just in case they do come, so I can say goodbye."

    "Dad! I don't think she's going to get picked," said Jayla hopefully, a glimmer of optimism in her eyes. "You entered yesterday Maroon, so that means if they pick today or tomorrow, they're going to pick the first ones who entered to compete!"

    Their dad shook his head. "No, Jayla. I wish it was like that, but it's not. That's now how they pick their participants," their dad said.

   The apartment stayed quiet until around 12PM, when someone knocked on the door. Maroon was on her feet in an instant, knowing what that meant, but Jayla beat her to it.

     "I'll get it!" She yelped, hurrying to the door and opening it. To her surprise, she saw two people standing next to their door frame, taking up the entire space.

      One female, one male, both wearing all black and their faces covered with black glasses and face masks.

     "Good afternoon. We are from Alone, and Maroon has been picked to compete in the game," said one of them.

    Her dad shook his head in denial. "No— she couldn't be!"

    "She has been," countered the other, "and there is no turning back. She agreed to that last night. Which one of you two girls is Maroon?"

     Maroon raised her hand, feeling the weight of four stares on her.

     They nodded. "Maroon, you have ten minutes to pack. Clothes, food, anything that you may need. The only things you are not allowed to take with you are weapons and your phone."

     Maroon nodded in understanding and began to get her things, following these instructions obediently. Just before she headed up to her room to pack, her dad stopped her, whispering in her ear as he started to choke up. "Maroon— you don't have to go," he pleaded desperately. "I don't care if they say there's no turning back! I want you to be safe and alive. I lost your mother— I don't want to lose you, too."

     "Dad—" Feeling herself choke up suddenly as well, she gathered herself. With as much resolve as she could, she whispered back: "don't make this harder than it already is." Stepping past her dad, she went into her room and quickly packed some clothes, hygiene products, and other such things.

        Heading back to the group with a bag slung over her shoulder, the woman spoke to her, sympathy in her eyes. "Maroon, we'll give you some time to say your goodbyes. But remember: we have to leave soon." With that, the two stepped away from the door frame, heading towards a black bus parked outside their apartment.

     Jayla ran at Maroon with a big hug, unable to hold back her tears. "Maroon... don't go! Don't, please! You're my sister; my best friend! I love you too much— I don't want you to die!"

      Maroon clutched her sister tightly. "I love you too, Jayla, but I have to go. I can't stay here," she stated, a tear dripping down her cheek.

      As Jayla reluctantly let go, her dad then embraced her. He whispered into her ear once more.  "Maroon— come back, okay? I don't care how you do it, whether you have to run away to stay alive. Just come back to me."

      Maroon nodded, hugging her dad tightly. That was a promise she was more than willing to keep. "Yes, Dad— I'll try my best." Looking at the two of them, she said, "I'll miss you, and I love the both of you so, so much."

        With that final goodbye, she left, following the two strangers into the empty, black bus. She looked out at the window as the bus began to move, pulling her away from her everyday life and into something new. Every second was pulling her farther and farther away from home. Though her thoughts were preoccupied with her family, a new one came to her mind.

  How will I survive?