The Game

Chapter 4

There is only seconds left till the door opens which leaves me squished in the middle of a crowd of people waiting to escape from this building. The last ten minutes was a frantic rush with everyone grabbing their bags and preparing food. There was minimal time to think about the implication of this task and the risk created, but now that I am just standing here the doubt rushes into me; the worry that I am going to go out in the second stage just because I'm not lucky enough.

The door swings open and there's no turning back; I just have to accept that this is the task as I can't do anything about it. We move down the path as a group and surprisingly no one runs off to see the fate that awaits us. I guess that everyone wants to delay the moment where everything relies on luck.

The pathway is surrounded by blooming flowers creating a sea of colour and fragrances which is a nice contrast with the grey walls that made up the maze. Walking on my tip toes I can see over my fellow competitors' heads and I notice that we are nearing a junction. The walls may be made up of hedges, but the section ahead doesn't have any more appeal than the maze did.

"So what's the game plan Pipes?" Josh asks as he appears from behind me.

"Pipes?" I enquire, "Is Piper really too long for you to say?"

"I was trying it out, but if it annoys you I'm keeping it."

"Thanks," I reply sarcastically.

"Are we going to stick together or split up?" Freya asks from beside Josh which is probably what he meant by his first question.

Josh says "Split up," at the same time as Jake says, "Stick together," and then they both look at me to make the final decision.

"Since I'm the brains of the operation, I think you should just sacrifice yourself so I can survive this," I joke, "As you can't even make a simple decision without me."

"So funny," Josh replies, "But seriously I think we should split up as then at least at every junction one of us will make it through."

"We need to stick together," Jake argues, "Because then we will all finish together and that could be at the first junction if we're lucky."

"But we could all loose together because if we're the last four one of us will have to go," Josh replies.

"I agree with Jake," Freya adds, "As we need to complete it as a team."

"I was thinking along the same lines as Josh," I say, "Because this way at every junction at least one of us will make it."

"Piper," Jake jokes putting his arm around me, "You really should be on my side, it's only fair. Plus don't you want to do it as a team?"

"Yes, but..." I start before I am rudely interrupted by Josh.

"Are you two together?"

"Yeah," I reply, "Aren't you and Freya?"

"Yeah, but..."

"Everyone, it's time to make your decision," a boy shouts from by the junction, "We've been discussing for too long and just need to pick. It's luck. A plan won't make a difference."

"We'll go right," Josh says taking Freya's hand.

"And we'll go left," I say stepping into Jake.

"See you on the other side," Josh says.

"If you make it," I joke back before going over to the left junction.

"Are you sure with this plan?" Jake asks me, "It's not too late to change."

I turn and look at him, "Trust me Jake, I know what I'm doing."

He sighs and I know that he's given in, "As long as we all make it out, I'm fine with it."