Endless

Chapter 7

"We have to wait for the others to finish, people. That's what we've always gone by. It's not going to change now. I know some of you might want to continue progressing however we are a team and we work together. That's why we always tackle the levels as a team - not an individual! That is what teamwork is all about." Will is on a rant. He had noticed that some team members were talking about the way the blue team runs things and Will got aggravated. So, here we are.

Slowly, I am becoming irritated listening to Will ramble on about collectivism. "Why? Because the individual is powerless over a group of people and that is how we are going to win this competition!" Will exclaims passionately. Suddenly, my bubble bursts.

I  jump forward and blurt out agitatedly, "How can you even think like this, Will?" Will jolts in shock and takes a small step back. I continue, "You're saying how working as a team is crucial but here we are wasting our time when most of the blue members are so far ahead and in the lead! And it's because they don't sit around and stall, they continue as individuals! They're all at different spots on the course which actually gives them more of a chance to win - because they have so many chances of beating us! Fifty, in fact! Fifty chances because they have fifty members! You know in the end the members are still wearing blue jerseys so one can win for their team!" I'm sputtering now, "That voice on the intercom at level one said only one can win for his or her team so it wouldn't matter if we got to the end as a team because only one of us can win anyway!" I spew my last few thoughts, "So why don't we all just go at our own pace and try to catch up to the blue members that are in the lead and take an actual shot at winning this?"

I am out of breath now and shaking of rage that has been built up forever. Will is taken aback but he quickly regains himself and argues, "This is a perfect example of what I was talking about! The individual is powerless against a group of people." Will takes a step forward. I straighten myself out and try to stand tall, bravely.

Will bellows, "You, Taya - one person - do not match to your other teammates who all contradict your viewpoint! You are the only person who believes your theory! I know because you would have had team members stand with you if they agreed with you but no one does. You are defenceless because the individual doesn't matter! The group does. And Taya, while we're at it, why would we have been separated into teams at level one if the method of survival was to go at your own pace as an individual?"

I cut Will off fiercely, "Why would the voice on the intercom say only one team member can win if we were supposed to go about the levels as a team?" I can tell Will feels violated. He huffs, "I've had enough of this. We have the following levels to complete as a team!" Will spins on his heel and marches off in a cloud of fury.

The rest of us feel obligated to assemble our order for completing level two hundred and twenty-three. I march into my spot and stand there irritated and exasperated. I lean over to my left and examine the level ahead. This challenge is different. We cannot attempt it one person at a time. It's a long, narrow lake with a small canoe sitting on top of the water. The lake occupies the ground in a basin. The rectangular tunnel gets dark in the middle but regains light at the end. A series of whispers break out. Will steps in front of our lineup and orders, "Here is what will go down. One person - me - will row half of the teammates to the other side then row back for the rest. While I am fetching the other teammates, the first half will wait patiently for me to return with everyone." Will looks right at me when he says this.

Brooklyn calls out, "Why can't we all just swim across all at once?" I am undecided if this is a good idea or not. Will makes the decision for us by shouting, "Unless you all want to die, I suggest not! I'm sure this water isn't safe, otherwise this level would be too easy!"

Will marches over to the edge of the lake and hollers, "Who wants to try this out?" A tall, rugged boy - Roy - steps forward daringly. He swiftly walks up to the edge of the lake and kneels down. He brushes the tips of his fingers on the surface of the shallow lake. Instantly, Roy yanks his hand back aggressively with a scream and begins shaking his hand forcefully. Will pesters, "What? What happened?"

Roy mutters gruffly, "It gave me an electric shock." A few teammates stifle their laughs at Roy's dramatic response to such a small occurrence. Roy groans and winces in pain. Will doesn't tend to Roy, instead Will calls out to his teammates, "See what I mean?" Will shoos Roy off and begins putting together two groups: the first group to be rowed across and the second group. I am placed in the first group along with Brooklyn and Grayson. I can almost tell that Will placed me in this group so I'll have to sit on the next base and wait for the others when there are a series of levels ahead that I could be completing. He wants it to bother me. Will is passive aggressive like that.

The time comes for the first group to be rowed across the lake. We all step onto the small canoe. I take a seat on the hard bench in front of Grayson, and Brooklyn plops down beside me. Will is at the head of the boat, rowing us slowly and steadily. He throws me a miffed glare and turns away before I can react.

I spit, "It's just such a stupid way of doing this." Grayson snaps his head toward me, not expecting me to blurt that out. Brooklyn replies exasperatedly, "Will's rules? Yeah, I know." My eyes widen, "Why didn't you back me up?" I question her. Brooklyn shrugs, "You were on a roll." I sigh and look away from her. Grayson defends himself, "I was about to jump in but Will called it off." I nod coldly in acceptance.

Brooklyn encourages me, "Both Grayson and I completely agree -" she lowers her voice to a whisper, "Will thinks he's the be-all end-all." Grayson adds, "Arrogant, much?" Brooklyn chuckles, "Narcissistic." I let off a light chuckle. Their agreements lift some weight off my struggling shoulders.

Suddenly a brilliant idea explodes inside me. I almost pounce at Grayson at Brooklyn, "Let's go ahead without them." Both of them look at me with shock sprawled across their faces. I continue with passion, "Yeah. We can leave tonight. All three of us - and maybe bring some supporters along. By daybreak, we'll be ahead of the blues." I begin fiercely rubbing my palms together. 

Grayson slowly shakes his head yes. He exclaims, still whispering, "That's genius. I know a few others who might want to join us." However, to my dismay, Brooklyn's face is twisted into a panicky, disapproving expression. She mumbles, "Are we sure we want to go through with this?"

Grayson and I answer in unison, "Yes." Brooklyn sighs quietly and wipes her face clean from her worries. "Okay." Although her answer hints with reluctance.