Grid Seekers (Grid Seekers Book One)

by Logan Byrne

  “Chet is in the other room warming up. We’ll draw you out in pairs, you and your partner, and will take you into a room down the hall where he’s hosting the interviews. They don’t have any set amount of time for you, each interview will go as long as both Chet and his producers think it should before you’re escorted off, a segment is shown, and another group will be taken in for their turn. To keep you entertained, this screen here will broadcast the interviews and segments live so you can keep up to date. We’ll start shortly,” Christian said, before leaving the room, Tatiana following.

  We waited for a few minutes before the screen turned on, showing Chet Gargan sitting in front of us, looking directly at the camera, as he flashed his pearly whites and incredibly creepy smile, the broadcast now live. They hadn’t come to get any of us yet, but I knew it was coming soon. It had to.

  “Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, I hope you’re all excited for what we have for you today. As you all know, we do this every year the day before the competition begins. You all have seen the competitors during my last live interview when they first arrived, but do any of you really know the competitors? Unless you happen to be a friend or family member back home, you don’t, and I’m here today just like I am every year to bring them in, interview them, and let you see the people who sacrificed themselves so that you don’t have to partake in such a grueling competition,” Chet said, trying to convey some kind of emotion to the viewing public.

  I could tell he wasn’t genuine. His gold tuxedo shimmered under the studio lights as his microphone, shiny gold to match, was sitting directly under his mouth. His hair, now sporting a purple streak inside of a white one, was a ridiculous accentuation of his personality. As I watched, Tatiana came in, telling the people at the end of the row that it was their turn and to follow her. They were from Austin. Both of them quickly got up and were whisked out of the room as we all watched the screen to see when they would show up.

  “Well, folks, our first guests of the day are here and ready to talk to you! Please welcome, from Austin, Nigel Yancey and Jessica Berman!” Chet said, smiling as they walked in, sat down, and nervously looked at him.

  Nigel and Jessica were a strange pair. Nigel was in his early forties and I thought Jessica was around my age. I had seen them a couple times through training; both of them were skilled, but only mid-range. I didn’t know how many cards they had earned, but I knew it wasn’t as many as Liam and myself.

  “Welcome, you two. First, let me ask what you both do,” Chet said, leaning in closer, an interested look on his face.

  “I’m a student,” Jessica said.

  “I work in a body shop fixing all types of different vehicles,” Nigel said.

  Neither of them looked or sounded too thrilled, though I couldn’t tell if it was from nerves or just a general disinterest in being there with Chet. I knew I wasn’t looking forward to sitting down across from him, especially after the way my interview went on my first day here.

  “Fascinating. One thing we like to do here is to tell your stories. I know you‘re a student and a mechanic, but who are you really? What makes you tick?” Chet asked.

  “Well, I have a wife and son at home, Jeremiah, and I guess I’m playing for them. I’m just hoping Jessica and I can get lucky and go home. I miss my family,” Nigel said.

  “That’s touching, Nigel,” Chet said, extending his hand and placing it on Nigel’s shoulder. “You must be fighting tooth and nail to get back to them. But doesn’t it concern you that there are eleven other teams trying to do the same? Your chances of seeing your family for the next three years are very, very slim.”

  I looked in disbelief at Nigel shifting in his seat, his face turning a light shade of red; he was very obviously uncomfortable with the question. I knew Chet wanted answers out of people, but to bring his family into it like that was a little uncalled for.

  “I don’t have that type of mindset. All I can do is train, fight to stay alive and in the competition, and work hard to make sure I go home to my family as soon as possible,” Nigel said, showing a bit of restraint.

  “And what about you?” Chet asked, turning his attention to Jessica as he obviously saw that Nigel wasn’t going to back down and give in emotionally.

  “I just have my family back home, my mother and father, and my two sisters,” Jessica said, wiping her palms on her pants.

  “What are their names? Can you tell me a bit about them?” Chet asked, once again looking interested.

  “My father’s name is Carl, my mother Sharla, and my sisters are Briana and Kaylin,” Jessica said.

  “Do you love them, miss them?” Chet asked.

  “Yeah,” Jessica said, before letting out a short, nervous laugh. “I think about them all the time. I don’t know what I’d do if I lost this competition. Luckily I have a great partner in Nigel, and we’ve been training very hard to be the best we can possibly be. I guess at the end of the day all you can do is have some hope.”

  I caught Chet glance past Jessica, nod very slightly, and look back at Nigel and Jessica, neither of whom seemed to notice.

  “Well, we all wish you the best of luck and are rooting for you both. I truly hope you can get back to your families,” Chet said, with a sincere tone. “For the rest of you at home, stay tuned, as we’ll have another group here after this segment!”

  The screen cut to a segment about the competition, a little history on it, and Jessica and Nigel were brought back into the holding area. They sat down in their original seats, looking a little relieved to have the entire thing done and over with. I knew Liam and I would fare well inside, since neither of us would be easily duped by Chet’s antics, but I still wondered what he’d bring up. Did he know anything about us, or did he only know what we told him? He did ask about Jessica and Nigel’s families, not just bringing up names and taking them completely off guard. Maybe we could get by easier if we just gave him the smallest amount of information possible.

  Five minutes later the next group, one from Seattle, was taken in and Chet did the same old tired routine, asking about their families, their homes, and what it was like to be here. They gave good answers, though I feared they were too good, as they only had positive things to say about the experience training here. We weren’t living in bad conditions or slaving away, but it wasn’t exactly paradise either. They had to have had some kind of bad idea or experience they could’ve talked about.

  Chet kept both of them a lot longer, twice the amount of time as Jessica and Nigel, likely only because these two fed him the lines he wanted, eating out of the palm of his hand. After all, why get rid of two guests who make you look even better than you try to make yourself look? I wouldn’t get rid of them unless they were taken away from me, if I were Chet.

  After twenty minutes of pleasantries and back and forth banter, Chet once again did his nodding trick, before sending the competitors off and pausing for another segment, this one picking up right where the first one left off.

  Groups went one after the other, my stomach filling with a flutter of nervous butterflies each time Tatiana came in requesting a new group of competitors. Liam and I waited patiently as the pool of groups dwindled down considerably. I didn’t want to go last; anything else would be fine. Finally, Tatiana came in again. There was only us and another group left, but of course she picked them.

  I looked at Liam, and he looked back at me, both of us giving the other a look like we knew what the other was thinking. We were last, and it was our worst nightmare.

  •••

  Chet sent the group in front of us back rather quickly and began showing the final segment. They came back in, sweating a little, before sitting down and taking a deep breath. I wiped my clammy palms against my pants, feeling the heat of my hands against my thighs, trying to calm myself down, telling myself that this wasn’t a big deal and that every other group had gone through it just fine. We were fine.

  Tatiana came back in minutes later, requesting us. We got up, me in fro
nt, and followed her out into the hallway, where we were led down to another room and allowed in.

  The room and the set were dark, and I saw bright, warm lights shining down on three chairs, Chet on the left, taking a drink of water from a bottle that looked almost like crystal. He looked at us, the producer telling him something, before he handed his bottle off to someone and smiled, looking back at the camera.

  “Okay, folks, the final set of competitors are here, and let me tell you, you aren’t going to want to change the channel or leave the room. Please welcome to the set, Alexia Meyers and Liam Jacobson from New…York…City!” Chet said.

  Liam and I walked in and I sat closest to Chet, the makeup-coated wrinkles on his forehead and cheeks very distinct when I was this close to him. He smiled, took in a breath of air, and began.

  “Welcome, you two. I’ve been waiting for both of you specifically. I remember the first day here, talking to you, Alexia, and just remembering how great you were. I just couldn’t wait to interview you again,” Chet said.

  “Oh, well, thank you, Chet. Glad to be here,” I said, lying through my teeth.

  “And you, Liam, the mighty stud as they call you, her partner, the person she relies on,” Chet said.

  Liam glanced at Chet with a quick look of confusion, likely at the stud comment, and I could tell he was easily taken off guard.

  “Thank you for your words, Chet,” Liam said, clearing his throat. “Yes, I’m the one she can rely on here. I also rely heavily on her, though.”

  “What do you two rely on each other for, exactly?” Chet asked, looking at Liam.

  “Well, I mean, we’re partners, we’re both in it for the same reason. We train together, go over strategy, and just spend time together. It’s important to have a good foundation,” Liam said.

  “You heard it straight from the horse’s mouth, people. We have a couple of lovebirds here just waiting to get into the competition,” Chet said, smiling, as he looked straight at the camera.

  “Well, no,” Liam said, before Chet interrupted him again.

  “Tell me, Alexia, it must be hard being here without your family. My staff tells me you have a mother and sister at home. How are they holding up with all of this?” Chet asked, turning his attention to me.

  I looked at him a little suspiciously, alarms going off in my head. He hadn’t brought up anything specific about another person’s family or life unless they had told him about it, and this time, with me, he brought it up like he had some kind of information on me. Maybe I was just going crazy or something. I must’ve told him that when he interviewed me the first time.

  “Yes, Chet, I have my mother and sister and they’re both home cheering me on. I was lucky enough to talk to them recently, actually we all got to talk to our families, and it was really nice to see their faces and hear their voices. I felt very lucky to get that opportunity,” I said.

  “How would you like to hear their voices again?” Chet asked, smirking.

  “What?” I muttered.

  “We’re patching in live on the line Kate and Saraia Meyers, Alexia’s mother and sister!” Chet exclaimed.

  “Mom?” I asked softly.

  “Hi baby, how are you?” my mother asked.

  I felt shockwaves through my body, my eyes welling up, as I didn’t think I’d hear her voice again for who knew how long.

  “I miss you!” Saraia said, my hand going to my mouth before Liam put his hand on my back, rubbing it consolingly.

  “I miss you too,” I said.

  “Are you okay? Is everything going okay?” my mother asked.

  “Yes, mom, everything is good. How about there?” I asked, unable to even form a complete thought.

  “We’re good here, still getting by, but we miss you. I wish you were here, baby. Saraia and I know you’re going to win this, though, you have to. You and your partner Liam are the best ones there, I know it. I just know it,” my mother said.

  “I’m trying, mom. I promise I’m trying my hardest,” I said, sniffling.

  “Your partner is cute,” Saraia said, making me laugh.

  I looked at Liam, his cheeks a little red, a smile on his face, which, in turn, made me smile.

  “He’s something else,” I replied.

  “Well, folks, I’m afraid that’s all the time we have,” Chet said.

  “No, please, I need more time,” I said, looking at Chet.

  “I love you,” my mother said.

  “I love you more!” Saraia quipped.

  “I love you both so much. I’ll see you soon,” I said.

  “And we’re cut off,” Chet said.

  I looked at him, feeling more disdain for him than I had ever felt for anybody else in my entire life. He did this on purpose, wanting to cut me off, make me cry and show emotion on national television just so that they could keep their stupid ratings high, not even worrying about the feelings of the poor, faceless girl from New York.

  I wouldn’t let them, though. I wouldn’t let them forget me or my face or my name. They might think they could toy with me, but I was going to show them all. I was going to win this, and use my wish for something better than an apartment in the sky or a cushy job. I was going to make sure of it.

  “Well, I’m afraid that’s all the time we have for today, folks. Be sure to keep watching for a special sneak peek of the arena our competitors will be using, but for now, myself, Alexia, and Liam, the lovebirds, bid you adieu,” Chet said, smiling, before the red light above the camera turned off.

  Chet got up, not even giving us a second thought, as he must’ve thought this was over.

  “You’re a coward,” I said.

  Chet stopped in his tracks and slowly turned around to face me, a smile on his face, like he was proud of what he did.

  “Don’t take it personally, kid. This is show business,” Chet said.

  “It’s not show business to me. It’s my life. I didn’t sign up for your show business,” I said, as the rest of the room fell quiet.

  “You signed up for show business when you decided to log in to WorldNet, Alexia. Now buck up and grow a spine, because this competition is going to eat you up and spit you out if you don’t,” Chet said.

  Chet turned around before fading away in the darkness, and Tatiana quickly came and took us back to the holding room.

  Hours had passed since the first group went on, and with my eyes feeling a bit puffy, my nose running a little, Liam and I walked into the room. Everyone was staring at me like I was some kind of a spectacle. I didn’t make eye contact. Liam and I walked to our corner of the room, him making sure I was safe and sitting against the wall as he acted like a human barrier, shielding me from all of the prying eyes.

  “Well done, everyone,” Christian said a few minutes later, as he reappeared in front of us like a ghost. “We were very happy with your interviews, they all did wonders. I know some of you were nervous, but we all thank you very deeply from the bottom of our hearts for trying your best and answering the questions that Chet had for you. Because we’re done for now, we’re going to take you to lunch, so I hope you all brought your appetites!”

  Christian rounded us up and we went out single-file, me in the very back where I wanted to be, as two guards followed behind me. I walked, my arms crossed and close to my chest, as I looked at the back of Liam’s shirt, not even paying attention to where I was going but hoping my legs would lead me there. This wasn’t okay.

  •••

  I heard a knock on my bedroom door later that night, just before I was about to take my makeup off and get ready for bed. I walked out of the bathroom, pressed the open button, and the door slid into the wall. Liam was standing there, his right hand against the trim.

  “You still okay?” he asked.

  “Yeah, I think so. I’m trying not to think about it. I don’t want it to be on my mind at all. I only want to focus on the competition tomorrow,” I said.

  “How are you doing with that? In twelve hours we’ll be entering
the grid, ready to face a cast of hungry enemies who are all searching for the same thing we are,” Liam said.

  “It’s daunting, but I guess I’ve been preparing for it this entire time, or trying to, at least. It’s weird, though, knowing after tonight we won’t really get to sleep…or will we?” I asked.

  “I’m not sure. I guess I’ve never really thought about that. We’re going to be plugged in for who knows how long,” Liam said.

  “One year I saw on television, on one of those segments, that they have an IV in our arms to transport fluids and everything so we’re safe. Not sure how I feel about that,” I said, smiling.

  “Yeah, it’ll be weird,” Liam said, looking down.

  There was a bit of awkwardness, some tension, but not in a bad way. It was one of those times where we didn’t know what to say, but both kind of felt like we had to say something, even if it sounded a little stupid.

  “Well…” I said.

  “I know I don’t say it a lot and everything, but thank you,” Liam said, looking back up at me.

  “For what?” I asked.

  “Everything. You’re the best partner I could’ve asked for, and well, I just want you to know I have your back and I’m here for you. It isn’t you or me in there…it’s us, a team,” he said.

  “Yeah…it is,” I said, smiling.

  I felt my stomach flip-flop a little, a small, yet noticeable smile on his face, before he tapped his fingers against the wall.

  “Well, I should probably get ready for bed. We have a long day tomorrow and I want to at least try to get some rest,” Liam said.

  “Yeah, me too. I was just about to get ready, actually,” I said.

  “Well…goodnight,” he said.

  “Goodnight,” I replied.

  Liam leaned in, his arms open. I walked into them, my arms going around him, the left side of my face against his chest. I smiled for the entirety of our hug. It ended within seconds, and he walked away to his room next door. I closed my door, ready to get to bed and be well rested for tomorrow.