Endless

Chapter 15

I am leading with confidence as I now approach level four-hundred and fifty four.

Six levels.

Six levels left.

I immediately begin. I jump onto the first square which begins to move side to side. I let out a quick yelp of surprise but calm myself in order to keep my balance.

I hop from one square to the other, careful of where I'm stepping - one wrong move and I drop off the side. I'm completing the level smoothly until I hear shouts from behind me.

I don't have to turn around to know that the remaining blues are behind me. I remember passing them shortly ago but they've come back stronger than ever.

My heart starts to thump as I try to quicken my steps but am forced to keep my slow pace as the moving squares begin to increase in speed. I breath comes out rushed and shaky. You're fine. I try to calm myself. And ... done. Thank god. Next level.

I race up to the next level as I feel the blues gaining on me. I come to a full halt when I see what lies in front of me. A tall, flashy red wall with assists that are too far apart for me to reach. My breathing stops as I hear the blues stepping off the level behind me.

Without thinking it through, I launch myself over to the edge of the wall and forcefully swing myself to the other side - completely skipping the entire level - with a scream of exhilaration.

My adrenaline pumps me through the remaining levels. When I reach level five-hundred, excitement and fear rush over me mixing my emotions into a knot in my stomach.

I barely have time to evaluate what's ahead of me before two blues' feet rhythmically slap the ground behind me. I freeze for a split second before running forward and throwing myself forward onto the large trampoline that is level five hundred.

As I come to realize, the trampoline is packed with springs underneath. My frail body is sent flipping into the air accompanied by my screams of instant fear. I am bounced up so high that I can see for miles. I can see the whole obstacle course below me that looks like a colourful game board and - disturbingly - a few dead bodies slumped on the ground of a few levels.

My tiny body feels like a speck in this universe. I feel weightless and free. Almost as if I could float. I notice that I'm flapping my arms aggressively to try to gain control but quickly relax myself and tell myself that this is one of those situations where you don't need control. You just need to appreciate the moment as it's been given to you.

Although my observations happened over the course of a few seconds, I feel like I have been up here forever until I finally bounce back down. My knees smack down along with my hands slamming into the trampoline tarp which sends me tumbling and bouncing forward.

I turn around when I hear a deep yell. I watch in horror as one of the two remaining blues is bounced right off the edge of the trampoline. He is sent plummeting head first with his hands out beside him trying to grab the air and his legs getting twisted in the gushing wind fighting him.

My heart aches for the poor boy. I bite my lip as I notice the last blue is bouncing toward me. I scramble to my feet and dart forward with the blue almost stepping on my heels. My breath has stopped completely as the clear tube comes into view at the other side of the base.

My legs are running without my brain telling them to. In fact, my mind is completely clear. I have only one goal: making it to the tube. The blue suddenly increases her speed and begins to pass me. I chase after her with everything inside me.

We're neck in neck, each of us getting ahead for a few seconds and then getting bypassed by the other. We're nearing the tube. I sneak a glance toward the blue with bubbling rage.

My blood rushes to the tips of my fingers as I power through the last meter. A moment later, I have jumped into the glass tube without the blue. The gush of wicked wind erupts from the top, sending me dropping down the tube, sputtering and trying to catch my breath.

Through all the chaos and overwhelming events I can't help but smile as I mutter, "I won."