Endless

Chapter 14

Roy makes it onto the next base in the nick of time. My heart lurches as I watch Roy slip off the clock hand rolling onto the base white as a ghost from fear.

But we move past that because we have a new challenge ahead. Grayson is already halfway to the top of the tall ladder which leads up to the last flight of the obstacle course. Almost there.

I immediately begin level four-hundred and thirty. I latch onto the steps of the ladder and hoist myself up. I quickly climb up the first few steps but come to a slow once the steps become farther apart. I now carefully mount up higher following Grayson's lead.

As I progress I can sense Roy behind me - he's struggling. But I try to stay focused. I steady my breathing and try to continue rhythmically. Step, grab, step, grab.

I feel Roy wobbling below me again. A series of grunts escape his mouth as he attempts to continue and balance himself. Suddenly Roy shouts, "This one's broken!"

I whip around and look down, "What?!" But just as my response rolls off my lips the bar snaps. Grayson yells, "Roy!"

Roy's hands slip off the ladder and he falls through the air for a split second. He then lands smacking his back and head on the base below. My knuckles turn white as I watch Roy's eyes roll to back of his head and his eyelids slip shut. Grayson and I are frozen. Do we dismount and help him? Do we continue?

We are both clueless as we stare down at Roy's immobile body from our spots on the ladder. Suddenly after what felt like seventy-five years of staring, Roy's eyes slowly blink open. He mumbles something inaudible.

Grayson calls down, "What?"

Roy sucks in a painful breath through clenched teeth, "Go on without me." He pauses and takes a shallow breath, "Win for the reds." My mouth falls open and I look up to Grayson pleading him with my eyes to call the shot. Roy urges, "Go."

Grayson nods slowly, "Okay. We'll do it for you, man. For everyone." I bite my lip as I look down at Roy who's barely moving or breathing. It's my turn to suck in a breath. With that I then turn around and climb up the rest of the ladder as cautiously as I can.

***

Grayson and I make it to the top without injuries and we continue heartlessly. I mutter, "How has it come to this?"

Grayson responds, "Don't be in denial. It makes it worse."

"What?"

"Don't act like you don't know why we're here."

"I don't." My face morphs into a confused expression. I add, "You know?"

Grayson spits, "Obviously. Thought you were smart enough to figure it out too." He chuckles in attempt to lighten his rude comment.

I don't answer. I wait for him to tell me on his own.

Grayson vaguely says, "That month where every city was called in on different days to be tested. That's when they put in the chip that accesses human thoughts." He sighs, "The government doesn't like people to be different. They're forcing equality among people onto us all the time. When they were monitoring thoughts they saw that a few people's thoughts contradicted their beliefs. Hint - you and me and everyone else here. So they dumped us all here to be put through a series of deathly obstacles that they know no one will be able to complete. They're trying to kill us off without making it seem like a bad thing." He adds again, "Obviously."