The Divinity Game

4: Daredevil

Dannika was sure that the abandoned fairground set just outside of Regia's urban perimeter was haunted, but there they all were, looking like a bunch of ghost hunters minus the fancy gears.

"You sure this is the place, Lennox?" Opal said, face contorted with scepticism as she scanned the dilapidated theme park. She pressed the brakes of her family's vintage convertible, crunching the gravel below. "Doesn't actually scream 'Divinity Game' to me."

Lennox, who sat in the rear next to Dannika, fished out a paper thoroughly wrinkled from being stuffed inside his crossbody fanny pack throughout their two-hour ride. "Positive. Look at the address. Can't be the pigpen we passed just now."

A week ago, while the crew were filming in rural Ebonmouth, Lennox learned of a shady invitation from one of his equally dubious contacts on set. From what Dannika heard, he was a novelist with a couple of bestsellers under his belt. All psychological thrillers. Lennox told us the writer gave him the letter and told him to go where it says if they were interested in live-streaming the game. Lennox's biggest mistake was to share the news with the rest of the crew, and when their interest was piqued, nothing in the world could stop them.

A much younger man from the back-most seat hooked himself between Dannika and Lennox. "Maybe it is the pigpen," he joked, half-grinning. "The game is that we're all supposed to wrestle each other naked in the mud."

"Ew, Jayseph. Ew," commented Talia. Talia was their editor and therefore the backbone of the group, which was a funny way to describe her when she lacked a backbone herself. She may squabble over with Jayseph's antics, but Dannika noticed how she always agreed with him, or tried to show solidarity with whatever Jayseph says, even when they were contradicting.

Dannika tried to raise hand and said, "Umm, maybe we should turn back and see—"

"This place looks rad." Jayseph jumped out of the car and headed towards what remained of the funfair entrance.

"Wait for me!" Talia heaved her backpack, selfie stick and camera out of the car.

Opal didn't hide her disgust as she turned off the engine and exited the car to join Jayseph, her long black mane swinging with every step. The last member to be recruited, Opal joined simply because she was bored. Her family boasted generations of wealth with a wide net of connections. Rumour had it that some of those connections involved underground gangs. The criminal sort.

"I don't think this is a good idea, Lennox," Dannika said, fisting the hem of her pale yellow blouse. "What if it's a trap?"

Lennox dismissed her with a wave of his slender hand. "You always worry. Besides, why would anyone want to trap us?"

"We have broken a lot of laws."

"And we've been fine. Thanks to Opal, anyway. If we get hurt, we have you to help. Come on, you stick close to me."

The mirrorhouse was located at an abandoned theme park, ready to be demolished. At least, before whoever organised the game took over, as evident from the fallen sign with red ink saying 'Do not cross. Private property. Soon to be demolished'. There was the undulating line of a rollercoaster ride beam, a ferris wheel that had seen better days, and even some leftover prize toys.

Lennox cranked open the rusty gate and it fell off its hinges, landing with a loud squelch on the muddy ground.

"Cool. It's giving slasher film," said Jayseph.

"It's giving tetanus," countered Opal.

Regia's persistent gloomy weather could turn anything into a horror film, but Jayseph was right. The paint on many mascot statues around had long since chipped away, and all that was left of them were forlorn empty eyes and veneered smiles.