"Oh, come on," I say. "This is simply an experiment. Is it not? At least that's what Thomas told me. It's not some crazy gladiator game. Plus we're on TV! That can't be legal."
Mathias and Thomas exchange looks. For some reason, I feel like they're hiding something from me.
"What is it?" I ask. "What else do I not know?"
"Well," says Thomas. "Where we come from, something is legal as long as a certain group of people says it is."
"Let me guess. None of us are a part of that group."
This cracks Mathias up. "If we were we wouldn't be in this mess!"
"No one asked you to come," Thomas says, his expression nonchalant.
Mathias turns red. "Did you not hear me? I came to deliver a warning. At my own expense! I could be lounging on a tropical paradise, but I'm not!"
"Then why are you here?"
"Because of Jill!"
I hold out my hand. "Stop, please stop. The warning has been delivered. What do we do then? How do we get out?"
"We can go back the way I came -"
Thomas guffaws. "My father is the producer of this show. No portal will be open twice."
This seems like a rude awakening to Mathias. "What do you mean?"
"This city is designed to be impermeable. The only way out is by beating the game."
"Rubbish. We'll just find another portal. You're just saying that because your dad made you believe it."
"Try finding another portal yourself. Just don't try to drag us into your foolish endeavors."
"How do you propose we beat this game? We don't even know what we're playing for."
Thomas has no reply.
I don't know how much more of this squabbling I can take. "Hey, how about we go inside and have some lunch, hm?"
Surprisingly, both boys agree.
"I just need a word with Thomas," says Mathias. "We'll be right behind you."
YOU ARE READING
Empty City
Science FictionA girl awakens in an empty city devoid of people or any semblance of life. She cannot remember her past, or why she is here. Then she meets a boy whom she so badly wants to trust - because there's no one else. But is he who he seems to be? Why is...
