The Games

The Maze of Death

DING, DING, DING, DING

What is that sound? I swiped my hand around, feeling for my alarm clock, but all I felt was wet dirt under my fingers. My eyes shot open.

Shit.

I sat up, heart pounding, and looked around. A forest surrounded me, tall walls looming in the distance. Panic began to set in as I stood up and made my way to the entrance of the walls. It was a maze.

"Attention all players! Welcome to the third game: The Maze. All players must find their teammates and fight their way out. Good luck!" Nick's voice echoed through the air, followed by sinister laughter.

Without hesitation, I ran into the maze. It was riddled with traps-step on the wrong tile and spikes shot out of the walls, move too slowly and swinging axes came from above.

"IZZY! MAX! ATTICUS!" I shouted as I sprinted through the winding passages. No sign of them yet, but I could hear the distant screams of other players-some begging for mercy, others fighting for their lives. Luckily, I hadn't encountered anyone yet.

"KENNEDY!" Atticus's voice boomed from somewhere deeper in the maze.

"ACE! ACE, I'M HERE!" I yelled back, my feet pounding the dirt.

"RUN TO THE SOUND OF MY VOICE! I'LL FIND YOU!"

I followed the sound of his voice, my heart racing, until I rounded a corner and collided with someone. Instinctively, I dropped into a fighting stance, but when I looked up, I breathed a sigh of relief.

"Atticus," I whispered, letting out a shaky breath.

He grabbed my face, his hands gently checking for injuries. I had a few cuts, but nothing major. As he checked me, I scanned him over. Just a few scrapes on his arms, but otherwise, he looked okay.

"I'm good. Let's find the others," I said, stepping out of his grasp. We both started calling out for Izzy and Max.

"KENNEDY, HELP ME, PLEASE!" Izzy's scream pierced the air.

I locked eyes with Atticus before taking off toward her voice. "IZZY! I'M COMING!" I shouted, my heart hammering in my chest. Her voice grew louder, filled with terror, but then... silence.

"IZZY! IZZY, PLEASE SPEAK TO ME!" I begged, panic clawing at my throat. Atticus's footsteps pounded behind me, but I barely registered them. I needed to find her. I had promised.

When I rounded the next corner, I saw a blonde figure lying on the ground, blood pooling around her. My heart dropped.

"No... please no." I fell to my knees, tears welling up in my eyes.

Atticus stopped beside me, his face grim. "Is it her?" he asked quietly.

I shook my head in disbelief. It couldn't be.

With shaking hands, I turned the body over. Relief washed over me. It wasn't Izzy. But where was she?

A sound from behind us made us both turn. Izzy stood there, covered in blood but alive.

"Izzy!" I rushed over, pulling her into a tight hug. She hugged me back just as fiercely. "I was so worried. Are you okay?"

"Define okay," she joked, her voice shaky but alive.

Before I could respond, we heard another voice. "BRING IT ON, YOU SHRIMP-DICK CLOWNS!"

Max.

Atticus burst out laughing. "What? That's funny!" he said, still chuckling as we sprinted toward the sound.

We found Max locked in battle with a team of boys. He'd taken out two, but the other two had him pinned down. One of them was reaching for a dagger.

"A dagger? Really?" Max taunted. "Fight me like a man! I'll even tie one hand behind my back to make it fair!"

The guy didn't listen, but before he could strike, Atticus charged, knocking him off Max and delivering a series of brutal punches.

"It's about time! I thought y'all forgot about me," Max said, faking a heart attack as Izzy giggled.

With the final two opponents knocked out, applause filled the air. "Well, well, well... look what we have here-the little warrior and her 'team,'" Brady sneered, as he and his goons-Seth, Nate, and Gabe-circled us.

This fight was inevitable.

"If it isn't scaredy and his cats," I taunted, smirking. "Aren't you tired of getting your ass handed to you by a girl?"

Brady's face twisted in anger, and the fight began. Fists flew, bodies collided. Seth went after Max, Nate after Atticus, while Brady just stood back, watching. Gabe advanced on Izzy, who still looked shaken, so I stepped in, landing a punch to his jaw.

"You bitch!" he screamed, swinging wildly at me. His attacks were sloppy, and it wasn't long before I swept his legs out from under him, knocking him out cold.

"Look out, Kennedy!" Izzy shouted. Brady kicked me from behind, sending me stumbling forward, but I caught myself and spun to face him.

"Looks like it's just you and me again, little warrior," he taunted, walking forward.

Max and Atticus grabbed him from behind, holding him back.

"You stupid bitch," Brady spat, struggling. "You think this is over? The announcer has paid plenty more to take you and your team out."

I stared him down, unfazed. "Let them come."

Brady's face twisted into a smirk. "Don't you want to hear what I know about the rebel group?"

I hesitated. "Speak."

He told us about a rebel group forming outside the walls, preparing to start a war. But I couldn't trust him.

"You'll pay for this," Brady snarled as Max punched him out.

"Guys, I think I see the way out!" Izzy called.

We ran after her, reaching a massive door. Together, we pushed it open, falling through the other side.

"AND HERE WE HAVE IT! THE THIRD TEAM TO MAKE IT OUT OF THE MAZE! GIVE IT UP FOR THE BLACK TEAM!" Nick's voice echoed through the arena, the crowd roaring.

I glanced up, glaring at Nick. He smirked at me, and I flipped him off, which only made the crowd wilder.

I couldn't wait to sleep in my bed.