Intertwined

by Cooper Eaton

  "Why me? Why do I have the sight? What do you mean, give in to it?" I was reeling with questions, but the window of opportunity was closing!

  “All will be revealed in time. For now, let the sight guide you, it will show you the way. If you focus, you will gain the power to truly become yourself.” The man finished and swirled his hands.

  Suddenly the colors that seemed to have frozen, shielding us from the world, began to once again whip around in a crazed tornado! The man took a few steps back, and the colors cracked releasing him from the curved storm I was now enveloped in!

  "Until we meet again." And with that, the colors closed like a bizarre curtain.

  The greens, blues, and reds melded together until I could no longer see any individual color. Everything around me seemed to melt as the colors swirled faster, and faster and faster!

  And them BOOM! The colors vaporized. The storm that had almost overtaken me was gone as though it had never even existed.

  The door I had entered through opened, “Ahh!” I screamed!

  “Mr. Rose, this visit is over. If you will please follow me I’ll show you back to your room.” The guard instructed choosing to ignore my scream. ¶I scanned the room that was now lit with a small amount of light from the hallway, but the man was nowhere to be seen! He had vanished along with his colors! There was no one in the room with me! Was that entire experience a hallucination? Am I losing my mind or do I really have what he called the sight?

  Chapter 14: Fight, Fight, Fight

  It was a dark and dreary morning with sleet raining against the window. Back home it would have meant there would be little to do outside, but as a tester our lives wouldn’t be affected by the weather. Today was another deciding game, and thanks to our encounter with the group of men after our last mission, our team would be forced to compete for the second time.

  Breakfast was cut short by the call for all testers who would be in the deciding game to go to the simulation room early.

  “Testers from group’s, Margaret, Jackson, and William please come forward and head to the group simulation room.

  “Good luck today guys.” Chris offered as both Jack and I stood and headed for what might be our demise.

  “Thanks.” I managed.

  No one was happy. Today had no happy ending. Either my team of Jack’s would be going home, so this was going to be our last sim together.

  “I can’t believe it, this isn’t fare.” had been the general consensus at breakfast.

  Now that we were walking neither of us talked, instead focusing on what lied ahead. As we approached the group sim room, I finally breached the silence. "Good luck today. I can't believe it has to be this way."

  “I know, this is going to suck. Best of luck.”

  And with that, we entered the simulation room, gathered in our groups and laid down for the start of the sim. My team was starkly quiet as we all explored our varying fears of losing.

  Zoom! I was once again in the tunnel of lights heading towards the game that would decide my fate.

  Boom! I was rocked as I slammed into my sim body. The room I was in was the same one we’d been dropped in before my jousting experience. Hopefully, this goes well. I hope wherever Jack is he isn’t as nervous as me.

  Mrs. Nasdin immediately began talking. "Alright, today three teams will be in the deciding game instead of one. What you may not know however is that today's match is a girls only. So, either Rachel or Jessica is going to have to compete. You can talk amongst yourselves for a few minutes but make the decisions quickly." Mrs. Nasdin finished speaking and turned around to give us privacy.

  The four of us turned inwardly, awkwardly waiting for one another to speak. Finally, Rasben broke the silence. “I think it should be Jessica.”

  “I think it should be Rachel.” Jessica fired back.

  Rachel didn't seem to have an opinion, so they all turned to look at me. "What do you think William?"

  “I know you're gonna hate me, but I also think it should be you, Jessica. No offense Rachel, but Jessica is more athletic and stands a better chance of winning."

  Jessica definitely wasn't thrilled with my decision, but she took it well. "Fine, I'll do it, But you all owe me if I get us through this.”

  “Alright, have you made your decision?” Mrs. Nasdin asked already knowing our answer. “Good, then you three can follow Walter,” She pointed to a young boy waiting by the exit, “while I instruct Jessica.” ¶The three of us turned to go, but I couldn’t leave. I had to give her something, she looked scared, I don’t know what it was, but something inside me felt the need to comfort her.

  I walked closer to her. “You can do this. You just gotta believe. I know you can win, no matter what happens." I finished feeling awkward and turned to leave.

  “What no goodbye kiss?” She asked from behind me. I turned and even though I knew she was kidding I stepped back and took her in my arms.

  Our embrace was tight, and we stayed in each other's arms for a few moments. Our cheeks rubbed as I nestled my head in her hair. It felt good to feel her pressed up against me. I felt her body tremble slightly with an inward fear for what was to come. I wish this didn’t have to happen. More than anything, I just want Jessica to be okay. Wait, why am I thinking this? I don’t know, but I do know that this girl means something to me, I need to stop pushing her away.

  "Everything is going to be okay," I whispered in her ear. "I believe in you." I squeezed her tightly.

  “Thank you.” She whispered back with a slight quiver.

  And with that, we separated. "You're gonna ring their bell miss Bell.” I said hearing how stupid I sounded only once my words had come out.

  “Haha." She laughed quietly. "Thanks, Will."

  "Your welcome." And with that, I left as Mrs. Nasdin began her instruction.

  I followed the long tunnel out into the arena where a different boy, dressed in old-timey clothes, similar to my own current apparel, was waiting. "Please follow me, sir."

  I obeyed, and he led me to a small odd booth for testers with teammates participating in the event.

  “Right in there sir.”

  “Thank you.”

  The booth had no glass due to the old world in which we were surrounded, but the fact that there was a booth at all was pretty cool. It was just a small wooden box, but the concept was ahead of its time. Inside waited all the members from the teams participating.

  Jack walked over barely able to contain the anger that had been building over the fact that one of us was going home, or possibly both due to the three groups participating.

  "I can't believe that this is it, it seemed like the test would go on forever. Sorry, you guys got your object stolen from you, that's rotten luck."

  "I still can't believe it happened. It isn't fair. Neither of us deserves to be here, and yet we both might be going home."

  “Dong, dong, dong!” Came the pounding of metal from below signaling the beginning of the match.

  "Hello, ladies and gentlemen. Today we have a special treat, and we are excited to share it with you!" The same small announcer boomed from below. "Without further adieu, let us proceed with our main event!” He paused waiting for the roar of the crowd to die down enough to be heard. “Today, you all have the privilege of seeing a woman's cage match! This event is one of our most gruesome, so I advise all of you to prepare for blood!” He waited again as the crowd rocked the stadium with excitement.

  “Whoooo! Kill, kill, kill!”

  “It is time to introduce the fighters!” He pointed to the tunnel on the left. “Coming out of the challenger’s tunnel is Jessica the Brave!” He paused and pointed at the larger tunnel opposite Jessica’s. “Coming on from the right tunnel is Margaret the Ferocious and Agatha the bull!”

  “Whooo!” The crowd roared in surprise at the sight of Agatha!

  She truly was a bull! She had to weigh at least 300 pounds! She stood over 6 ft and had quite a girth! I’
d only seen her a few times, but now she looked larger than before! Jessica’s odds didn’t look good.

  The announcer continued, “The rules of the cage match are simple! Try to stay alive!”

  “Haha!” The crowd roared with laughter.

  After chuckling the announcer continued. “The winner is either the last girl standing, or the one who escapes the cage, any questions?” He asked the girls.

  Jessica looked absolutely terrified! I felt terrible. Why did I recommend her for this? How could I have been so awful?

  "The bloodier, the better!" The announcer's voice tore me from my thoughts.

  The entire crowd was going crazy now! “Blood, blood, blood!” People outside the booth were screaming at the top of their lungs!

  “Fighters please get to your positions!”

  All three of the girls entered the cage, and each went to a corner.

  The prospect of Jessica winning by escaping would have been nice, but despite the small area of the cage it had to be at least 20 yards tall! If she tries to climb, it’ll be suicide. What is she going to do? The tops of the cage bars were honed to a razor point so if one were to get to the top, if they made any wrong moves instant death would follow!

  “Fighters ready? Begin!”

  All three girls came to the center dirt-floored cage as if to shake, but it was a trap! Agatha grabbed Jessica and threw her to the ground. Margaret, the girl from Jack's team, punched Agatha squarely in the face, but nothing seemed to happen! Agatha looked as though she'd absorbed the punch as if Margaret had just given here a friendly hug!

  Margaret looked on stunned as Agatha returned the shot with a supersonic slam! Her fist seemed to go through Margaret's face and into the air behind her head!

  Margaret's feets left the ground, and she was airborne! She flew across the cage and slid into a wall of bars! She didn't move. Her body looked lifeless; it looked as though she were dead.

  Agatha turned from her victim with a look of joy spreading across her face! She laughed viciously and charged Jessica who'd only just stood and witnessed Agatha's bone-crushing abilities.

  “Wham!” Agatha ran right into Jessica looking like a rhinoceros.

  Jessica landed heavily and didn’t look like she was getting up! “Come on Jess!” I screamed. “You can do this!”

  She stirred from whatever pained fog she'd been taken hold by standing slowly. Agatha turned like a waking giant and charged Jessica at full speed! The entire stadium seemed to shake with each of Agatha's earthshaking steps! The crowd sensed blood, and everyone stilled as the distance was quickly closed!

  But then Jessica flipped the script! She dodged out of Agatha’s deadly path and sticking out one leg and tripping her!

  Agatha crashed to the ground and slid a couple of feet burying her face in the dirt. The audience gave a collective gasp! “Ohhh!”

  Agatha tried to find her feat, but Jessica ran over to her and began to rain down punches! She was giving it everything she had! She might do it! Her punches, although numerous, barely seemed to phase Agatha! Slowly Agatha rose to her feat making the clear height difference apparent.

  “Wack!” Agatha landed a huge backhand that sent Jessica reeling! I tried to keep myself from yelling but I couldn’t. “RUN!” I shrieked. She's going to die; she has to run!

  Jess fell to the ground, unmoving! It was over! The announcer raised his makeshift megaphone, to call it, but then Margaret got up from the place where everyone assumed she’d been lying dead.

  As she stood she let loose a mighty, “Roar!” and charged.

  The fight was back on, and it was going to be a fight between the giants.

  Margaret wasn't too shabby in the weight department. She had to weigh at least 200 pounds, which was still a 100 short of Agatha but she had at least 75 pounds on Jess. The two hefty girls began to duke it out with monstrous blows! Both were screaming and yelling obscenities at each other, but my attention was still focused on Jessica. Her body seemed void of life, but then I saw it!

  Just a flicker, a twitch, but she’d moved! She’s alive! She raised her head and looked over at the other girls still engrossed in battle.

  Jess rose from the dirt slowly, painfully, and began making her way to the wall of the cage! NO! NO! She couldn’t be thinking what I thought she was thinking! That would be certain death! But as if she wanted to spite me she began to climb!

  She moved slowly at first but gradually gained speed! Hand over hand she moved and the crowd, who finally tore their attention from the fist fight saw her, and gasped! “Ohhh!”

  Everyone in and out of the box was flipping out! “Can you believe it?” “What is she doing?” “That’s suicide!”

  I couldn’t believe it myself! I felt myself urging her on in spite of the fear coursing through me! “You got this! You can do it!” I screamed looking like a total idiot.

  She reached the top! But paused as if unsure of what to do! She felt one of the spikes and immediately pulled her hand away as if she’d been stung by a bee! She moved to the very top and lifted one leg over but immediately pulled it back with a loud “Rip!”

  Come on Jess; you got this! As if she heard me she tried again! This time, she put her weight on her handholds simultaneously swinging her legs over the top and briefly letting go of the cage entirely! Her body swung up and over the top!

  But she was falling! Oh no! This was it! I was going to see her fall to hear death! But then, like the climber she was, she reached out and grabbed onto the bars! As if her hands were made of glue she stuck to the bars and held! She made it! She’s over!

  Quickly and efficiently she lowered herself foothold by foothold. When her feat hit the dirt the announcer's voice reached us again from the megaphone type cone he used as an amplifier.

  "And the winner is…" He took a second to figure out what her name was and then screamed, "Jessica, Jessica the Brave! Winner by the climb, an impossible feat, is Jessica the Brave. We applaud you for your bravery, Jessica, what a show!" He encouraged the stunned crowd. The announcer continued, but I wasn't listening! I flew down the stairs three, four, five at a time! All I could think about was her! Something clicked inside, and I realized that despite my memory loss I still had feelings for her. I had to be there for her; I had too!

  I sprinted across the sand and towards where Jessica stood hunched over! She saw me about halfway, and a huge smile broke out across her face.

  When we met, I picked her up and swung her around! I had her; everything was going to be okay! I felt so free at that moment; I never wanted it to end! I set her back down and squeezed tightly! "You were great out there," I whispered.

  "Thanks." She whispered back. "What's with enthusiasm?"

  “I’ve never been more scared for anyone in my life, simulation or not. I just wanted to let you know how I feel about you.”

  “And that is?”

  "Deeply," I whispered softly in her ear.

  I pulled back and our eyes locked! I felt myself slipping back in for a kiss, but then Rasben and Rachel ran up and ruined it.

  “Great job out there Jessica!” Rasben said sounding embarrassed as he realized what was happening. “Yeah, great job!” Rachel echoed a she arrived.

  Jess opened up one arm signaling the other two to get in on the group hug. They quickly obliged and the next thing I knew I was in a hug of four. It felt right that everyone should be a part of this moment.

  “Are you okay?” Rachel asked.

  “I’m okay, but-”

  “The two of them continued to talk, but my attention was drawn to Jack walking out of the arena!

  “Jack wait up!” I called running after him.

  This is it for him! He’s out of the test, and it’s partially my fault. I wish things were different.

  “Hey Jack, wait up!”

  He slowed and turned back to me. “Hey William, congrats.”

  “I wanted to talk to you before you left.”

&n
bsp; “About?” ¶“I just wanted to let you know you’ve been a great friend and I’m really sorry to see you leave.”

  “Are you gonna tell me about the bodies in the room so that I can prepare." He replied without bothering with pleasantries.

  “I honestly don’t know what your talking about. I already told you at breakfast that the reason I can't remember is because I hit my head. I don't know why I would have said that but I was probably playing a joke, you're going to be fine."

  "I wish you'd tell me what you know; I thought our friendship was more important to you than what ASTA could offer. I guess not."

  He was very angered by my unwillingness to talk, so he turned and began to stomp off.

  “Jack, I’m gonna miss you!” I called to him.

  He turned, and something seemed to change in his expression. "I'll miss you too Will. If you ever figure out what's happening, I would appreciate your help." He walked towards me and gave me a brief hug. "I hope we see each other again."

  "I bet it'll be sooner than we think," I said trying to sound uplifting.

  "I hope it will; I hope it will." He echoed to himself as he walked away.

  Once he was out of sight, I turned and walked back in the directions of my group. However, the whole way over I couldn't get his last words out of my head. "I thought our friendship was more important than what ASTA could offer."

  I did value his friendship, but he sounded insane. There’s no way what he’s saying can be true. He seems truthful, but he has to be lying, doesn’t he? He did look genuinely scared, what if I’m wrong, should I have listened to him? Are bad things really coming? I really hope his last words doubting our friendship don’t haunt me.

  But somewhere inside me, I knew they would.

  Chapter 15: Journey

  I couldn't sleep. That entire night I tossed and turned. I couldn’t get Jack’s last look out of my mind. What should I do?

  Finally, around 2 a.m. I couldn’t take it anymore. I rolled out of bed, placed my bare feet on the cold wooden floor, stood and snuck out into the hallway.