The Death Circus

Chapter 3.

I awoke to the distant smell of smoke. That's a good start. I can't believe this actually happened. Poor Scarlett, she's probably panicking right now. I look around the room, trying to observe everything that can possibly help me. There's one window but it's not like I can fit through it. I get up, instantly stumbling. There's pain in my body, I don't know what happened or where it came from. I turn around to observe everything behind me, and it turns out there is literally a door. It doesn't sent seem to have any locks, so maybe that's good. I walk around the room, trying to find anything that could help, I really don't wanna walk through the door. On the far side of the room there's a desk with a piece of paper on it. I stumble towards it, nearly falling several times. I pick up the paper and it reads, "Dear player..." Player? What the fuck is going on. "You have been one of the, may I say, lucky few to be chosen this year. When you walk through that door, the games begin. You and your partner, who is on the other side of that door, may work together to escape the circuses darker side. However, the other team may intervene and possibly attack you. It is a fight to the death, only one team escapes. Im sure you and your teammate will be thrilled to work together, I've noticed you two have a past. Good luck, and may the games begin." What the actual hell. This is sick, and who is my team mate? I really don't wanna find out.  Apparently we have a past, but how do they even know that? There's only a few people I have a bad past with, so that gives me at least a little hint. Wait...Seth was there. I have a bad past with him. It's probably him, I didn't see any of his friends around at the circus. I guess I found my partner without even walking through the door. I'm gonna die, how fortunate. Seth will probably willingly let me die. I might as well walk through that damn door. But first I'm going to look around again and see if there's anything, ANYTHING, that can get me out of here without facing Seth. After I scan the whole room again, I realize there's nothing. Absolutely nothing. I walk towards the door and hesitantly put my hand on the door knob. This won't be that bad, right? Seth wants to live, he can't live without me living. So he won't willingly kill me. I think. I push the door open and peek my head inside. I was right. There he is. Did he not hear me? He's looking down at something, I really thought he would have heard me. I think he's reading something, he looks nervous. Him being nervous is never good. He takes his hand and runs it through his silky yet fluffy black hair. The only thing good about him is his hair. And his eyes, his eyes are decent. They're brown, not an ugly one, however. A dark yet regal brown. He finally turns and faces me, and for once he looks happy to see me. "You're my partner?" He looks at me and asks. Is he serious? "Yes dork, I'm your stupid partner. Can we just go ahead and get out of here? I really don't wanna be stuck here, not with you." I answer in return, with a kinda of snarky tone. He cocks his head and smiles at me, walking towards me. Why is he coming towards me? I dislike this. He bends down to my height and stares me dead in the eyes. What's his problem? He hates me and then all the sudden he's acting like this. Maybe he just really wants to get out of here. "I think you need to lose your attitude, sweetheart. You really don't wanna try it with me today." He answers in return before slightly shoving me and standing back up. What a dick. "I read the note. We go through that door, and I guess we go through trials. That's just my guess. When I read it it seemed like we go through different tunnels and mazes and work together to get out. How bout' we make a deal, huh? Let's just not talk to each other. And don't look at me funny. I think then we will get out of here faster." I nod at him, ready to get this over with. "But first, of course, we have to find the stupid key in here. And the note said I had to wait for you, so, let's get looking. You can check the places lower to the ground since you're kind of short, you know? I'll check higher like on the elves because obviously I'm taller. I roll my eyes at him. I'm not that short. I'm 5'5, which is actually pretty tall. It's not my fault he's taller. I honestly don't know how tall he is but he's way taller than me, and I don't like it. I check under the desks, in drawers, and in the vents but nothing. I see him checking the top shelves and little enclosed corners of the walls where things could be slid into. Nothing. I bend down and open one lash bent, and there it is. A silver, slightly rusted key with a pigeons blood ruby in the middle of it. "Seth!" I call out. "I found it, now come on. I want this over with, I can't stand looking at your ugly self." He's not that ugly, but I like the way he looks at me when I say he is. He walks over to me and snatched the key. How mean. We both practically run to the door, and insert the key. The lock twists with a click, and the door glides open easily. We look at each other and non, and walk into the first trial.