Game of Life

Chapter 22

The beast paused its movements in the center of the arena, pacing around and screaming like the spiders in Pikmin, the elements encasing its legs marking up the ground with every shift of its body. I took an involuntary step backwards as I took in the sight.

Why, why, why ,why ,why? I hate spiders. It waited in the center of the arena, most likely awaiting some sort of signal to attack before it began the show. I could hear Darren and Adrian swearing under their breath behind me and I was sightly glad that I wasn't the only one terrified of it.

I took the time allotted to look it over for any weak points, I couldn't see its legs behind the glowing energy but figured the joints would be a good mark, along with the weakness to whatever element each leg held. Turning my attention to the rest of its body I desperately prayed that Severin didn't make it some sort of Hydra based creature that would regrow its legs after we cut them off. They probably will, but I still hoped.

Its body was bulging, almost like it was pregnant, oh please don't let it be pregnant, and I saw several dimly glowing spots on its back. Tales of Hydras flashed through my mind again and I shuddered. Not fire but perhaps a sword through the marks would halt any growth, if that happens at all. At least we would have some kind of plan to focus on and take our minds from the fear.

I relayed my thoughts to the others and met a few nodding heads. It seemed some of us weren't quite as terrified of the creatures and had kept relatively calm.

"What is taking so bloody long?" I grumbled, not really eager to stand there staring at it any longer.

"I figured I'd give you a few minutes to admire my creations before we started the final round," Severin purred, appearing a few steps in front of us, this time without the horse.

"That..really wasn't necessary."

He frowned slightly but shrugged. "So eager to say goodbye then? After this you all go home."

"No strings attached?" I questioned, seeing if he intended to keep his word.

"No strings attached," he repeated then paused, a slow grin forming on his face. "Provided you survive of course."

"And you'll leave us be? You won't decide to play another game with us? We can just return to our lives without having to look over our shoulders for demo- Horsemen," I corrected myself, "That want to play games?"

He nodded once. "I will personally see to it that none of those at Rosswell High are ever bothered by myself nor my brethren for at any time nor for any reason provided that the game is completed successfully." He stated it like he was writing a contract and I half expected one to appear for us to sign in blood.

"Very well." I swallowed thickly, not looking forward to the battle to come but also desperate to be done with it all.

"Do I get one last hug before we say goodbye?" Severin asked, walking forward with spread arms, an ear to ear smile on his face.

"Come on, Calla, one hug won't kill you," he pressed at my hesitation.

"One hug. One," I muttered and took an unwilling step forward to meet him. He purred loudly in my ear, sounding eerily like a cat as he wrapped his fleshy arms around my back.

"Good luck my dear, I'm rooting for you," he whispered before, thankfully, releasing me without some other sort of surpise.

He walked over to his pet and it lowered its massive head to brush against his outstretched hand almost like it was bowing. "Just so you know," Severin called out, not taking his eyes off his beast. "The bite from this pet of mine will kill you just as surely as any element. Although it will be slow and painful and uncureable unless you beat it, then I will heal you. Oh that reminds me!" He finally turned back to us. "You do not get to keep the elements when, or if, you leave but I will heal any injuries sustained during the entirety of the game and you will all be placed in your beds, thinking of this as little more than a dream."

He glanced around the arena as if he were assessing it then nodded to himself. "I wish you luck little ones, I really do hope that at least some of you survive, although I highly doubt that outcome." Flashing his teeth in one last grin he slowly faded away. "Goodbye my friends! It has truly been a pleasure playing with you."

As the last shred of him disappeared, a horn rang out overhead, loud and demanding. Finally signalled to attack the beast let out a ear splitting scream and slammed its feet into the ground.