The Great Game (2019)

10

It's a maze. Tall hedges burst with overgrown stalks and vines. The box of green is the size of an entire football field and I feel myself going cold just looking at it.

In the short span of ten minutes, Death had the place looking redecorated and refurnished. The area she has isolated is a circular stadium that surrounds the maze and the area is packed with spectators and colours, alike. Banners of each contestant hang from the ceiling, draping down with the ends creating an upside down 'V'. The rich fabric flutters and sways to the wind's laughter. Shining, bold fonts imprinted in gold along the banners mock the sun's slanted rays and I find myself curling and uncurling my fingers into fists, trying to drive the fear away.

Kent stands beside me, a whole head taller than I am. He peers at the maze, squinting beyond the green horizons.

"See anything?" I mutter.

He shakes his head.

All around us, people are screaming our names. They're chanting for their favourite contestant, they swinging signs with our signature animal stamped on them. I see a dragon, a hummingbird, and many more. But I don't see a single water phoenix.

"Contestants, are you all ready?" Death materialises out of nowhere. There's a mixed response of reluctant sighs and excited cheers and I can feel Death's gaze crossing the line of us and lingering on me a second longer than the rest.

"Very well. Each of you will be escorted to your station entrance while I address the crowd. Please ensure that you can catch what I'm saying as it may be of assistance during your time inside." There's something dark and sinister that registers on Death's face as she speaks. I find myself being dragged off by a uniformed worker and the nine of us part ways.

"Everyone, welcome to the beginning of our very first game!" Death's cry prompts an ocean of whooping and laughter but they all ring in my ears too harshly. The grass crunch softly below my feet as I pass more dense bushes and thick hedges.

"The participants will soon be entering the maze. For those of you who think it's just a maze, think again. Not only must the contestants reach the centre of the maze first to be given an advantage over the others later, they will also be facing their deepest, darkest fears throughout their journey." Screams of joy surface from the crowd and I roll my eyes at the clear exaggeration. There's no way the maze can contain anything more than a few overgrown bushes looking for a nice trim.

"Participants!" Death calls out to us and my stroll comes to a jerking halt.

"Aren't any of you worried that you're going in... weaponless?" Her words send a sucker punch to my chest but I force myself to keep walking, to follow the worker.

"Cameras are stationed at various positions of the course and there will be film crews flying overhead to guarantee you don't miss any of the action!" Death returns to addressing the spectators and the worker directing me stops short before an opening to the maze. The crowd seems miles away now and their voices grow distant, almost muted. Death must be screaming into a microphone because she's the only thing I can hear.

I squint in all directions but I can't find Kent or the other eight. The worker whom I followed has disappeared and there's only the sound of my frantically beating heart. I lick my lips and try to ease my tense muscles. There's nothing to be scared off, it's just vegetation. Right?

"Participants, you may enter the maze on my count." Death almost sounds like she's next to me. I close my eyes and pretend that she is even though I know it's just my active imagination. I pretend that she's laughing softly against my ear, reciting the numbers to the tapping of my heart.

"Three."

A ticklish breath, grazing against my earlobe.

"Two."