tasks

Two - First Task

To say that the group was confused and scared would be an understatement. "What do you mean we haven't completed the tasks? What tasks?" Ivana asked, wanting to know how she could get out of here. The man smiled "Well I'm glad you asked," he laughed before continuing, "this park, was made 30 years ago, but the plan has been created before the park was. When it opened, everyone loved it, but it didn't last long." The group listened intensely, waiting for the man to continue "It got boring for those who attended because we couldn't add more rides and entertainment to keep them wanting to come here. Money was tight so we went for the next best thing." The group was confused, wondering what it was. "We made a deal, with the government," he stopped, what he was saying to see if the group was still listening, which they were, so he continued "if a group of people can successfully complete a set of tasks, more rides and different entertainments will be added. We agreed, but the public didn't. So they shut the park down." Bailey spoke up "What is the set of tasks?" she asked, receiving a smirk from the man "there is a maze; each checkpoint has different tasks you need to complete. The tasks cannot be named unless you go into the maze. If you don't go into the maze then you end up joining the pile of bodies in the room behind me." The man finished explaining, and the group were horrified. They knew what to do though, they'd go into the maze and complete the tasks and then go home. "We'll do it." Ivana volunteered. The group hesitantly nodded along, knowing it's the right thing. The man grinned, and directed them to the maze entrance. "Once you're in, you can't come out unless you complete the tasks. If you don't want to do it, come out now and I'll add you to the pile in the back." The group shook their heads and walked into the maze, causing the man to smile. "Good luck. I hope to see you at the end." The doors closed behind him, and the group were left in the maze to complete the tasks.

"Okay, let's go we can do this" Ashton tried to pep-talk with the group, but they just wanted to go home. Ashton sighed, "Guys I know you want to go home, but this is the only way how okay?" the group nodded and they started to walk further into the maze. They were at a T junction and had the choice between left and right. "Which way do we go?" Paislee asked, clutching onto Luke's hand for dear life. The group decided to go left, and they arrived at a checkpoint. In the middle of the room, there was a box, with a piece of paper on top of it. "What does it say?" Luke asked, Michael rolled his eyes "Jesus Luke we don't know fucking hell." Luke sighed and went over to the box reading the paper. "You have made it to the first checkpoint. In this box are 2 saws. 2 of you must cut of one of your fingers and place them in the tubes on the wall to your left. The fingers will open the door and you can make your way to the next checkpoint." Luke shakily read aloud. He dropped the paper and went to run back the way they came, only to find that they were trapped in. "Shit!" he exclaimed. The group were scared. None of them were willing to cut off one of their fingers, but none of them wanted to stay trapped in a room and die. Ashton came up with a plan and asked the group "Okay, does anyone have matches?" Ivana nodded and pulled a pack out of her pocket, handing them to Ashton. He emptied them out into his hands and lit 2 then blew them out. Ashton shuffled them in his hands, so no one knew which matches were burnt. He put his hand filled with matches out and the group formed a circle around him. "Whichever 2 pull the burnt matches will have to complete the task, and be eliminated from completing another one, okay?" the group agreed, this was the only way they could decide who completes the task fairly. Ivana went first, pulling out an un-burnt match. She sighed in relief. Next was Michael, he also pulled out an un-burnt match and pulled Ivana into his arms. The couple hugged and stepped out of the circle, knowing that they were safe from this task. Calum pulled one next. He closed his eyes refusing to see what it was, whether it was burnt or not. He opened his eyes to find that it was burnt, meaning he'd have to sacrifice one of his fingers. He felt nauseous and snapped the match, walking towards the box waiting to see who else had to join him with this wicked task. Bailey ran up to Calum and hugged him after pulling out and un-burnt match. She cried into his neck, telling him that she will always love him no matter what and that he'll be okay. Natalia pulled out the second burnt match, meaning that she too will have to cut off a finger. Ashton hugged her tightly, while everyone tried to deal with the fact that 2 of their bestfriends will have to cut off a finger. "Let's just get this over with, I don't even want to do this" Natalia said as she sniffled from where she was crying into Ashton's arms and walked over to Calum. He had already opened the box and held a saw in each hand. He handed one to Natalia, which she hesitantly took. Calum put a hand on her shoulder to try and comfort her slightly, to which she gave him a small smile in return. The remainder of the group stood behind and turned away once they heard the piercing screams coming from 2 of their bestfriends as they began to saw one of their fingers to help them escape this horrific maze.

20 minutes later, both Calum and Natalia have lost one of their fingers. Natalia chose her left pinky, as its the smallest and she's right handed so it wouldn't affect her everyday life. Calum did the same so that he could still learn to play bass and guitar. Tears fell from both of their eyes, and they looked so drained. Ashton had already ripped his t-shirt into strips so that he could wrap Natalia's and Calum's fingers to stop the bleeding. Natalia looked as though she was about to pass out, and Calum nearly did. The doors ahead of them opened, revealing another passage so that the group could continue to finish the maze. Again they were at a T junction. "What way now?" Natalia asked quietly, her voice raspy and quiet from the screaming she had previously done. Ashton poked his head down towards the left, seeing no light, and then to the right, seeing the corner slightly illuminated. "Right." Ashton bluntly decided. The group walked down the right corridor and began their search for the next task.

Another 10 minutes passed and the group finally made it to the next room. Inside, there was a set of scales and a small note attached to it. Michael walked up and read the note to himself, before reading it out to the group. He cleared his throat and read out the note "You have reached the second checkpoint. This task requires 3 people. On the left side of the scale, the container is filled with 6 pints of water, and the right side is empty. 3 people must put more than 6 pints of blood into the right scale in order to open the door." Michael finished reading the note and looked towards the group, who were all in deep thought. "How are we going to decide this fairly? We left the matches behind." Bailey pointed out. Ivana spoke up, "I don't mind doing it, I mean its only bleeding for a bit, right?" the group nodded and thought amongst themselves. "I'll do it" Michael piped in "Yeah, me too" Ashton volunteered as well. The 3 volunteers when to the table in the right side of the room and picked up a knife each. They walked back towards the scales, waiting nervously to see who would be going first.