Warmatch

11

In the next three tasks, the floating cameras and the buzzer that signified the end of the game grew to be my greatest friends. Shade couldn't kill me when the Icehearts were watching, or she'd be hated, and she couldn't kill me outside of a task, or she'd be eliminated. Even with those nearly omnipresent allies, I only escaped the bloodthirsty falcon's claws each time by a stroke of dumb luck. 

When it came time for the announcement of the ten finalists, the twelve remaining contestants gathered on the platform of a fancy, Lessaenite ship. Those of us who made it would be taken back to Earth. The unlucky two would be shot on the spot. 

"Welcome back! Tonight, as this year's Warmatch Interplanetale draws closer to its heated conclusion, we prepare to announce the names of our finalists!" All of us grew silent as Lasydra's voice streamed through the crude Aurascreen we had erected in the sand in front of us. 

"Our current tenth place finisher comes as a surprise to all of us," she sighed. "None of us expected her to survive the first task, let alone make the finals. In fact, she did nothing to get this far other than simply outlast her fellow contestants. Let's congratulate Cascadia Ervine, Team Valior!"

Toya pulled me into a tight hug as tears of joy streamed down my face. I made it! I had won myself a few more days of survival!

That was a lot to a warmatch contestant. 

"In ninth place, Caylan Carrah, Team Kandain! Not as surprising as Miss Ervine, but a surprise nonetheless." 

Caylan smiled, but instantly regretted it. I winced, looking away, as the scabs around his lips broke apart and began to ooze fresh blood. 

"In eighth place, we have Toya Pierce, Team Arystenn! So far, none of our finalists have killed anyone. But that's about to change." 

Toya beamed profusely. She had moved up a place since the semifinals- that was a good sign. So far, her chances of making it out alive were looking very promising. I ignored the rest of the announcements, happy with the fact that Toya and I, at least were safe. However, I couldn't help but listen to the very last name. 

"In first place, as expected, is the lovely Shade Alestra! She is leading the finalist below her by 124 points, the largest lead ever possessed by any warmatch contestant in history! She has also sliced through the record for the most kills in one match, coming out with an unbelievable 32 kills! I am so awed, I can barely talk!" Lasydra gaped. 

All eyes turned to Shade, who stood calmly with her arms by her side as if nothing had happened. Her expression remained just as sour as usual. She approached me with giant strides as the ship's ramp began to close, separating the finalists from the eliminated. 

"I broke three warmatch records already, and I'm on my way to my fourth" she hissed in my ear. "But I'm not happy. In fact, I'm ashamed. I'm ashamed that it's taking me so long to kill an untrained little girl from East Arabella."

"Why do you have to kill me?" I groaned. "With or without me, Lessaenes is crazy about you. You'll win a Mercy Ticket in no time after Team Arystenn wins. You're going to survive this match. I'm not."  

"You don't understand," she shook her head. "I don't just want to survive! I want to advance! Forget Raliyel Novisty, I'm going to be the Empire's new top Rhenan!"

"Oh, right," she chuckled, seeing my sour expression. "She's your cousin. Well, you might want to tell her not to watch the finals. I'm sure your gruesome death isn't something she'd like to see."