Whispers in the Dark

Bear Trap

Eve looked to the trees surrounding the one she was perched atop of. They were all too far to jump toward. If she risked it, she could fall and be torn apart. Hyenas tend to start eating while the pray is alive, so that option was definitely the worst case scenario. The second worst case would be risking it, succeeding, but getting injured, then not finding the key anyway.

She could stay in her tree, where no hyena could reach, until the time ran out.

But what when it did? Would it mean she succeeded in surviving, and would be free to leave? Would it leave her trapped there forever? Was she supposed to find her own way out?

It was all-or-nothing, no matter which decision she made. She decided she would stay in the tree.

Buzzing.

Eve could hear buzzing.

She leaned to the side to get a look of the other side of the tree, and saw a hive attached to one of the branches.

Bingo.

Ripping off one of the smaller branches, she circled the tree carefully, the hyenas following her from the ground. Once she was close enough, she started leaning forward, ready to use the stick. It wasn't as easy as movie had made it out to be. The few bees - or wasps - Eve didn't know - that flew around, did not stay passive. They stung her every chance they got. Then her branch got all the way to the hive, and she slammed it out of the branch. The sticky substance keeping it in place broke, and the hive hit the jungle floor. The hyenas immediately started howling in pain, then took off running. Eve hurriedly climbed down the tree on the other side, getting stung some more as reward for her efforts, then ran as fast as the hyenas had.

She didn't bother looking for the key. If the challenge really was to both get the key, then find the exit, it was impossible. Instead, she just ran around, looking for any sign of a door. Nothing.

Finally, she ran out of the jungle, and found herself in front of a cave.

Caves are entrances, right? Sort of like doorways?

She had to risk it.

Eve slowly walked into the cave, which was surprisingly dark. She had never been in one before.

As expected, things weren't going her way. Once again, she heard footsteps.

She wasn't alone.

Without thinking twice, Eve turned and ran. She ran straight out of the cave, and a massive brown bear followed her. Its roar scared the girl just enough to look back, at which point she tripped over a rock, and fell. Her heart was beating fast. The bear kept coming at her, not slowing down in the least. This was it. This was how Eve would die. She'd always thought it would be done by a ghost, not a stupid bear. A big, fat, stupid bear that was now right in front of her. Standing back on its hind legs, the grizzly brought its paw down.

The biggest feeling in Eve's heart, aside from fear, was the lack of fulfillment. There were so many things she still wanted to do. She wanted to come to terms with her family's death. She wanted to help Luke find peace. She wanted to try chocolate-covered lobster just once. Now, she wouldn't get the chance. Light flashed before her eyes.

And then she was back at the amusement park.

"You survived," Los noted, still there. "Pity. Passed up another chance for eternal fun."

"Fun?" Eve gasped, still too shocked to stand. "You sick fuck. I almost died back there!"

"Almost," Los echoed. Eve then noticed he was wearing a fancy suit, and appeared to have aged a bit. He was at least twenty now - around her age. "But, you did win the reward!"

The reward? They key? Yes! She had done it!

Los helped her to her feet, then snapped his fingers. Eve's clothes were replaced by an elegant white dress. The red-haired boy - no, he was a young man now - gave her his elbow. "You've won a dinner date with yours truly."

Eve thought he was joking at first. She looked at his elbow, then at his face. He was smiling, but not in a mischievous manner this time.

Oh, hell no.

Eve turned around, ready to stomp off, but as she turned, she found herself in a fancy restaurant, her arm interlocked with Los' own.

"You're lucky; This is the best reward we offer here," the man informed her.

"I'd rather have the bear." Realizing he might take her up on the offer, she quickly backtracked. "W-Well, I guess I'll just have to get through it."

Los nodded. "Indeed." He lead her to a table, where two servings of chocolate-covered lobster waited for them.

Eve's mouth watered at the sight of them, but then she paused. Could Los read her mind?

"Perhaps," he told her as they took their seats on the opposite sides of the table.

"When people say "perhaps"," Eve started, putting a napkin across her lap, "it usually means they're full of shit."

Los smirked. "Perhaps."

If he did have the ability to read minds, then going against him should've been pointless. Kol should not have gotten his key. This spirit - if he really was one - could have made Kol face the things he fears the most, but he didn't. He did not make the tasks impossible, either. Didn't he realized that increased his odds of losing?

"It also decreases the amount of fun I'll have," the man told her, completely ignoring his food. "If there's no chance of losing, there's no reason to feel good about the victory. Well, anyhow, you didn't get a key. Let's see how one of your friends does." With a snap of his fingers, he created a window, through which they could see Martin. He was running after a black-haired young man. Eve already had a good idea of what was about to happen.

As Martin caught up with his target, the other man turned around, looking scared beyond reason.

"It really is you," the stranger said. "What are you doing here?"

Martin paled, a single word leaving his lips, "Oliver."