Sacrifice Sanctuary

Chapter 3 On your mark

I feel like I had gotten 2 seconds of sleep before I heard the familiar voice of the keepers on the overhead. "Everyone up It's time for the first game to begin" "Guess it's about time.." I sighed, unlocking my door and heading to the bottom story of the building. 

Heading down the staircases I see 11 others doing the same walking down at different paces, no one running. I couldn't blame them I was a lot suspicious of this place still and I'm guessing a ton of other people thought that too. I look around to see the types of people who are here, 5 boys and 6 girls. Including me, that's 12 people. "12 people that don't have any clue what the heck we’re doing, " I scoffed getting to the last step. I stood in the almost middle of the room waiting for further instructions. People around started talking, but I couldn't really hear them there were a lot of conversations. 

There were 12 chairs in rows of 2 each assigned with different names written on the backs of them. "Sit down" one of the guards instructed, as he pointed to the chairs. I searched for my name, my spot was in the front row 3 down in the almost middle. I waited to see who was going to be placed next to me, a guy I recognized and a girl I did not. Rowan the kid I talked to when I woke up. Was to my right, and my left a blond girl with grey eyes, about 5'7, and regular weight. Her hair was a little past her shoulders and almost looked like it had been dyed a lighter blond and darker blond roots showing at the top of her head. 

The kid to my right spoke to others around him asking what we were sitting down for, but I didn't pay attention, Instead, I was zoned out thinking about nothing. Nothing except the people who used to be in my life are probably wondering where I am, and they might even miss me. My heart dropped at the thought I hadn't even thought of my former family, or if I even had family. All my years I've lived, my first steps, first words, seemed so irrelevant. Something so important felt so unimportant. It didn't feel like a part of me was missing, but more like I wished there was something to miss. I closed my eyes and thought for a moment. 

There was silence around the area, footsteps were heard, boots on the hard floor walking to the front of everyone. I wasn't wanting to open my eyes and stop daydreaming of what could've been. "Okay, I don't know why I keep trying to recall memories," I thought pitying myself "It's not like it's going to wor-" "Good morning everybody!" Mr.K exclaimed happily, breaking the quietness of the surroundings. He seemed too happy, too normal given the situation he and all of us were in. "I hope you enjoyed your night, I know many of you failed to get even a couple of hours of rest in. " Mr. K paused. "However the games must go on!" He stopped before he said anything else almost as if he wanted people to ask questions, but no one did it stayed silent. 

"This is how the next couple of days will go," Mr. K started up again, "Each morning whether you have gotten up and eaten, had sleep, gotten sick, etc. You will come downstairs and participate in one of the games selected by yours truly, " he pointed to himself and smiled a wicked, creepy smile. "Whoever wins the game will have the 'crown' as we like to call it, for a day. Basically meaning after dinner, you get to pick 2 other players to go down in the basement and play another game. There will be a certain amount of time for 1 of the people to win the challenge and if neither of the 2 players wins it will be randomly decided who wins. The winner will come back up and get to live another day, as for the other contestants, it will be their last." 

I felt my stomach drop and my eyes began to widen "Was this guy mad!? Killing a dozen of teenagers for.. fun! ?" I sat questioning myself on behalf of 'The Keeper' Scoping my surroundings once more, I saw countless people looking as if they'd seen a ghost. I couldn't blame them though my face was probably as pale as everyone else's after hearing that there were actually going to be people dying as we all stayed here. I felt terrified, angry, astonished, I'm not really sure what emotion, but it was a lot at once. 

The keeper opened his mouth to speak once more, "So who's ready for some challenges?" Almost as if it was rehearsed, the guards walked in sync towards us, telling us to get up and walk to a strange door. It was stone, and very large, reaching to what it looks like 10 feet tall. "Why the hell would they need a door that big?" I asked myself the stupid question. Walking with the group of 11 other people I wanted to say something to them, or just something to all of them, there was too much tension in the air. After walking to the side of the room in complete and utter residents we reached the compressed pebble entrance. 2 guards gripped the handles on each side of the door and yaked them open. 

Inside the opening was a stone path with obstacles leading to a much larger stone building. The Keeper walked into the room and stood in front of everyone. "So, this is the first game picked its called, 'Castle Climb', first you will have to jump across wooden platforms, then race to the top jumping left and right on stone scaffolding. Get it?" Was the last thing The Keeper said before we were all lined up in rows. "Oh also 1 more thing I almost forgot to say rules, No harming anyone, no sabotaging anyone, but you can push people to fall off. Also, no making the wood platforms shake to make people fall off, or you will be disqualified." with that, The Keeper turned around and left the room. 

I thought it was unfair for the 6 people in the back to have less of an advantage, but then again nothing in this place seemed fair, especially the punishments for losing. "Alright everyone they're will be a countdown in a little bit so be ready and start at go, " the intercom spoke. There was chatter from other contestants but also guards which was weird, I'd never heard them talk before. "Hey.... Hey!" "Huh," I said aloud turning to the noise, It was Rowan behind tapping me on the shoulder. "What? " I asked. "So I heard other people are forming alliances and trying to get on teams so they have a greater chance of actually surviving, so would you want to team up?" He responded. 

I thought for a moment, "Well he seems like he wouldn't betray me but then again I'm not sure if I can trust anyone in here.." "Um, maybe I'll think about it," I shrugged. "Okay great, I don't want to be alone" Rowan nervously laughed. "No problem," I said turning back around. Little time passed before the intercom static for a moment, then came to life. "On your mark!" people snapped their heads back in focus. "Get set," I narrowed my eyes, and I could feel the sweat drip down my face... "GO!"