by G. Bailey
“So do I, and she deeply misses you,” he replies, and we both smile. “Professor Mune informed me that you entered the Blood Trials here at the prison and won. That must have been difficult for you.”
“Extremely,” I reply and the next words spill out my mouth before I can catch them. “Not because of the actual event but the deaths I caused and the one death I couldn’t stop.”
His head tilts to the side as he crosses his arms, leaning back. “Tell me about the death you couldn’t stop.”
“Her name was Abbie, and I trained her as part of my job here at the prison. I knew from the second I met her that she would die in the Blood Trials.” I look away, focusing on the plant. It reminds me of being back in the rainforest and all the screams. “Vina lied when she said I was brave. I wasn’t brave enough to tell Abbie she was weak and that she should pull out. I didn’t want to break her dreams,” I whisper, feeling tears in the corner of my eyes. “The truth is, Abbie reminded me of myself, like a much younger version of me. Except I could learn how to fight and protect myself with years of training, and she didn’t have that. She had one week.”
Gage crosses his legs, his light brown eyes fixed on me. “We all have to accept that we have no control over other people’s lives or actions. Abbie made the choice to sign up. Abbie decided what she wanted and most likely understood that death would be her ending as it will be for all of us. Some sooner than others. You cannot blame yourself for choices that were out of your control.”
“But what if I could’ve made them pick the better choice?”
He shakes his head slowly. “We still can’t control the outcome. Who’s to say that one wouldn’t have turned out worse in the end? Whatever happens to someone happens for a reason. It’s their path and journey, not ours.”
“I guess you’re right,” I say, nodding my head but it’s still not easy to accept. A tissue appears in front of me, and I look up to see Gage offering me it. I smile thankfully as I take it and clean my eyes. “I would like to come back but today I have to go back to my room and work on the headstone I’ve been making for Abbie and her brother. Once I’m done, I can move on from this.”
“Next time we should discuss the darkness in your eyes, Izora. Even though the collar stops your magic, it does not mean it isn’t building inside you. Dark emotions make Shadowborns more powerful, and when you are free, you don’t want to lose control. We have to find a way for you to come back.”
Now it’s my turn to shake my head. “I’m not a shadowborn anymore, and I never lied in court. I am a light fae, and my powers are more in control than they have ever felt. That has nothing to do with this collar and everything to with the fact I know in my soul I’m not evil. I did nothing wrong.”
I give a faint smile before I leave the room, and Luke wordlessly follows behind me.
I don’t need therapy… I just need to find the person I’m meant to be.
“Don’t do it.”
I briefly close my eyes, hating the pain I hear in Axel’s voice. “I need to. I have no choice anyway. You know yourself that once you sign up to the Blood Trials, there’s no backing out.”
He scrunches his face at me, the veins in his neck pulsing with unease. “This ain’t like the usual ones. It’s a duo which means two trials on one day. That’s twice the players and twice the usual amount of blood. You don’t wanna be part of that, Izora.”
I swallow my own unease and put on a brave face for him. Inmates are gathering outside the doors to the Blood Trials, and there’s at least forty of them. I’ve never seen so many players. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t afraid. But there’s no other solution. I need these rewards. I need to do this. Closing the distance between us, I cup the side of his face, but Axel grabs my wrist.
“Why do you need to, cutie?”
His voice is so unusually small that it kills me a little inside. Yet part of me still hesitates to tell the truth. I trust Axel more than any other inmate in this prison. Memphis has become a friend of mine, too, but Axel is the one who’s beginning to have my heart as well as my trust.
“It’s my mum,” I say, and Axel slowly lowers my hand but keeps hold of my wrist. “She’s been missing for a while now and I need help to find her. I need Gold’s help.”
“Gold…” He practically sneers the name. “We’ve told you not to trust him.”
“Who says I trust him? I’m merely abusing his power.”
That gets a little laugh from Axel. He slides his thumb over the back of my hand before letting me go, just as Luke appears at my side with a note.
“From Mune,” he grumbles, handing me a little scroll.
I unroll the parchment and read the note. My eyes widen with every word. My mother is safe! Scott has been able to contact her, and he’ll tell me all about it when I see him tomorrow. I can’t believe it. The relief is shattering and I clench the scroll in my hand, thankful she’s alive and safe. However, this now means I no longer need a reward. Well, that’s not entirely true. I can always do with rewards, and I can use this one to get closer to Gold. Despite being his neighbour, I rarely see him and that needs to change.
Besides, I can’t pull out of the Blood Trials without forfeiting my life.
And that will never happen.
I tuck the scroll into the back pocket of my jeans and look up at the guys. They’re both glaring venomously at each other, and I just catch the last of Axel’s sentence.
“…her blood on your hands.”
The doors open and the players hurry inside. I should probably go too if I want to get the best weapons.
“I’m going to be okay,” I tell the guys firmly. “Just have some faith in me and enjoy the show.”
Before they can argue, I pivot on my heel and make my way into the hall. I don’t want them to see that I’m also beginning to secretly doubt myself.
Can’t be weak, got to be strong.
I repeat the mantra while Warden Kyle gives his speech to the new players. As soon as he stops droning on, I slip into my locker room and assess the clothing to garner what the landscape will be. Going by the familiar catsuit and trainers, it’s the rainforest again. I’m actually a little relieved. It was easier to navigate than the arctic.
I’m dressed and equipped with my weapons in no time. I decided to go for a bow this time, since I’ve always been good at archery, along with my usual daggers and sword. Before I slide through the hole that drops me into the arena, I grab what looks like a bunch of small grenades and clip the belt above my daggers. No idea what they do, but hopefully they explode things.
The familiar mechanical voice returns, telling everyone what to do.
Grab your orb, slide down the hole after the countdown. May Selena be with you.
I just want to get in already.
“Three…two…one.”
I’m first to jump through and reach the other side, but I don’t land where I thought I would. Instead of a net catching my fall, my body plunges into a swamp that tries to suck me in. I thrust my arms out and kick my legs, clawing my way out from the wet dirt. The mud covers most of my body and hair. At least I won’t need to rub myself in it this time.
The sound of others landing in the swamp are quick to jolt me into motion. I haul my legs through the thick water and dart into the trees, just as a knife slices into the branch hanging by my head.
These trees are noticeably different from the ones in the other rainforest. They’re much taller and their canopies are thicker, barely letting in any slivers of sunlight. The trunks are wrapped in vines that crawl all the way down to the roots and spread out into the rotting vegetation below. This landscape is more jungle-like than anything.
I head further into the trees, prepared to fight for my life at any second. Monkeys swoosh through the trees around me, their movements sending an array of leaves fluttering to the ground while they hoot at each other. The exotic sounds of the jungle are almost relaxing. The fact that I’m currently being hunted like wild boar certainl
y puts a damper on the mood, but if I was back home listening to this, I’d be asleep in no time.
The scent of magic surges in the dense air, crackling through the leaves. I use it as a guide to track the way to where I think my next clue is. My suit is keeping my body cool for the most part, but the jungle itself is stiflingly warm and suffocating. Everywhere I go, leaves slap against my body in an effort to trap me.
When I can no longer detect the magic, I consider shifting into my wolf since her senses are stronger. But a scream not far causes me to pauses in my tracks.
“Give us the orb,” Tyler bellows, and the scream becomes a cry.
“You don’t need it. You don’t need it!”
“Just kill the kid and take it.”
The order comes from Coen, right before the boy’s cry turns into an ear-splitting shriek and then… silence.
A tendril of fear creeps into me. I don’t want to face the pack until I know what this challenge entails. I shift into a white raven and perch on a nearby branch, watching as Coen, Tyler, and the three other guys trudge through the vegetation. It’s the first time I don’t see them all decked out in orbs. Holding the one he just stole, Tyler pauses in a ray of sunlight to get a better look at the orb. It shrinks in the palm of his hand and transforms into a small crystal vial. It reminds me of the ones students wear at the academy, the ones that glow and binds to their magic.
“What the fuck am I to do with this?”
One of the guys peers over his shoulder. “Who knows. The orbs only turn into something you might need. Could need it now, at the end, or never. Just keep a hold of it.”
Now that’s interesting. The orbs aren’t to gain points here but to give us something we need. That also means we don’t necessarily need to kill other players to win. But I guess Coen and his pack will still want to claim every orb for their trophy collection.
One day, I’m going to kill them all for good. I’m almost tempted to shift back and shoot an arrow through Coen’s skull. But I need to bide my time. I wait until they leave before flying down. With the scent of magic scarcely detectable, I consider remaining in my bird-form and following the pack, but there are far too many predators here and unless I’m in the sky, I’m easy prey.
Certain that I’m alone, I return to my human form and continue my trek on foot. I’m careful to keep a safe distance from the pack. I figure they’re headed where everyone else is—to get the grand prize—and they’re more experienced at this than I am. I wouldn’t be surprised if they already know where to go.
I slap a mosquito from my neck. These damn things are everywhere! I’m careful about where I tread, making sure I step only in the guys’ footprints. Unfortunately, this means I need to take time to watch where I’m going, which slows up my process, and their scents and voices are beginning to fade.
The sweat gathering on my brow slides down my face. I wipe the droplets with the only part of my sleeve that isn’t covered in mud. As I move my arm away, a whoosh of cool air shoots past my ear. My feet root to the spot. A shimmering orange dart punctures a tree not six feet away. That’s not a good sign.
I duck down into the foliage and shrug the bow off my shoulder, swiftly knocking an arrow and taking aim. In the shadows of the trees across the clearing, an almost naked man emerges. His face is painted in white stripes and he has feathers and bones woven in his long, straggly hair. He’s definitely not a prison inmate. Maybe he’s part of the simulation? Either way, if it comes down to one of us dying, it’s going to be him.
Releasing the arrow, I watch it sail through the air towards his face.
The man catches it like it’s nothing.
He opens his mouth to reveal severely rotted, gapped teeth, and lets out a strange, slightly strangled sound that I think is supposed to be a laugh. Then he just snaps my arrow in half, dumps it to the ground, and lifts a small flute to his mouth.
Okay. Looks like I’ll have to fight face to face.
Or maybe I could just like my wolf eat him.
The latter is more tempting. I carefully stand from my crouched position to shift into my wolf. The branches falling and cracking behind the man diverts his attention. It’s just what I need. I smile, preparing to let my wolf take over. But then Axel appears out of nowhere and thrusts a sword through the man’s neck quicker than he can blow his little flute. He drops to his knees and vanishes into dust.
“You looked you needed help,” Axel says, a slow smile creeping onto his lips. “So here I am.”
I practically run over and throw myself Axel’s arms, demanding, “How in the name of Selena did you get in here?”
Axel hugs me, his big hand sliding down to the small of my back. Only then do I notice his tight black shirt and similar material trousers. Big ass swords hang on his back and the straps crisscross over his chest. “I wanted to make sure my cutie gets outta here alive. I pulled some strings. Bada bing, bada boom.”
I gawk at him. He’s literally risking his life…for me? Tears gather in my eyes. I don’t think anyone’s ever done something like this for me.
“I can’t believe it,” I whisper, pressing my face into his shirt.
Axel presses a kiss on the top of my head. “I know. It’s kinda romantic, the two of us here, in the middle of the jungle…” His hand slides further down and lands on my ass.
I push away from him, grinning. “For real, though, we’re being hunted like we’re tonight’s supper. If you’re here to help, we need to find the prize.” Gesturing to where I last saw the pack go, I say, “I was hunting Coen. Wherever they went, I’m sure the prize is there.”
He nods. “Then let’s go. But watch out for that.”
I follow his gaze to the monstrous snake slithering around a swooping branch overhead. Axel chuckles and steps around me, leading the way through the trees.
I carefully follow in his wake, mindful of the reptile as it makes its way to the other side. “You know, I’m glad I’m not scared of snakes or anything like that. This would be real inconvenient otherwise.”
“And are you scared of them, cutie?”
“Only the poisonous ones. And spiders. They creep me the fuck out. I think it’s the legs, the way they scuttle.”
He laughs, cutting through a barrier of leaves. “In that case, you better focus ahead instead of down.”
“That’s what I’ve been doing but now…you’ve made me…wanna…check…Oh, my sweet Zorya fuck!”
The entire ground is covered in insects and critters scuttling about. I’d bet my reward there’s a big motherfucker spider hiding somewhere, just waiting to pounce onto my face.
Selena, if you’re listening, please don’t throw any tarantulas my way. I need to win this game, not die from a heart attack.
My mood, however, has been considerably lightened since Axel’s arrival. It feels good to walk with him in an area that that isn’t quite the prison. This might be fake and all, with an air of impending doom looming over us, but it’s nice to spend time alone.
Plus, he’s a much better tracker than I am, pointing out things I never would have noticed. I wonder if he’s part fae. He doesn’t have the typical features of one, but then neither does Gold and I know he’s Draconian, who are descended from fae.
I fall into step with Axel, telling him, “Apparently the orbs aren’t to win points here but to give us something we need.”
He scoffs, cutting the leaves away with added force. “That’s normally how the duos go. It’s to encourage the players to fight each other from the get-go instead of running away or some shit. The more orbs, the more mini prizes you’ll get, which’ll get you to the end faster. Nasty as fuck incentive, if you ask me.”
“Yeah,” I agree, glancing at the ground. So far no monster creepy crawlies. “Have you ever competed in a duo?”
Axel freezes at the question, his arm still raised to chop down more foliage. “Once. I lost my best friend that day, Eli. He was Memphis’ partner. Nearly destroyed him.”
Sadness cl
ogs in my throat at the words. I can’t imagine how horrific that must have been for them both. Losing Abbie was hard enough for me. But to lose your best friend? Your soulmate?
“How long ago was that?” I ask in a whisper.
He resumes walking again, his shoulders bulking. “Four years ago.”
“You’ve been here that long? Why?”
I know this is a touchy subject for Axel, and I don’t really expect him to answer. I just hate the thought of him wasting away in here. He doesn’t deserve that. The more I think about it, the more I applaud him and Memphis starting a riot.
Axel bends over and picks a stone off the ground. I watch him throw it into the tree, hitting a bird that was perched on a branch. I gasp in shock, horrified, until the bird’s head rolls off and mechanical sparks shoot from the neck. So that’s how they record everything—through decoy animals?
“Look, there’s fresh tracks,” I say, receiving Axel’s hint loud and clear. It isn’t safe to talk about certain things here. “It looks like the pack shifted into a run. Maybe they found another kid to murder.”
“Or maybe they were chased by the natives that live here,” he counters, kneeling down to inspect them. “Ah, see. Bare footprints.”
“You’re a smart cookie, Axel. I’m glad you came to help me.”
We follow the tracks down a moss-covered sloop to a creek. There’s a spot of land on the other side and jagged rocks stained in blood, but it’s the middle that grabs our attention. Coen and five other wolves are ripping through natives like they are cattle. The natives are all circled around a glowing object. There must be at least one hundred of them protecting it, but the pack are quickly chewing their way through them.
“We should sneak behind them and let Coen be the distraction,” Axel murmurs. “Get your wolf to follow me.”
Only then does Axel shift into a black panther with thick, long teeth and gleaming blue eyes. I shift into my wolf after a flicker of hesitation and follow Axel through the trees to the back of the creek. His panther jumps down the rocks and my wolf mimics his moves until we reach the bottom. We both shift back and readjust our weapons when several of the natives notice us.