She wraps her arm through mine and we follow everyone else towards the shafts. Lights flood the dark space, illuminating the many seats that circle a lone dark wall. Addie points to a shaft with my name and tells me to sit down. She disappears around the corner, probably going to her seat. The chair is the same one I sat in the other day. Once I’m seated, straps cover my chest down to my thighs, my chair swings around so I’m facing the wall, and I begin to ascend. I look through my glass enclosure and notice everyone else is moving skyward as well.
We come up through the floor to a thunderous applause and rise above the other rows. Our seats are locked into place and the straps removed. Displays descend from the ceiling in the center just as the host takes his position. He waves to an invisible crowd, as shouts and applause grow louder from the speakers next to my head.
“Thank you,” the man says, white teeth almost blinding from the spotlight that cascades down his face. “Children, this is so exciting. Today we will have our recruits battle for the first time. Those who survive will move on to regular game play with the rest of our contenders.” This time those around me clap and shout with joy. I don’t join in their reverie. “The Keepers have already selected who will be battling against each other, so watch the monitors in front of you for the line-up.”
My stomach tightens and I have an overwhelming urge to fling myself down the shaft underneath my seat. Names spin by on the display in front of me. The first name that stops is Garret’s, followed by a woman named Uli from the Rapid unit. Their seats descend, then rise empty a few minutes later. The next sequence of names appears: Brink and Tog, a player from the Dead Mark unit. They also disappear below the risers.
Four down, six to go. At least I won’t be going up against Brink.
Two more names erupt on the screen. My name flashes next, along with my opponent’s, a man named Pan from the Rapid unit. My seat lowers, stopping in the lift corridor, where Matron Kaniz is waiting for me. She gestures for me to follow her around to the other side of the shafts, through a heavy metal door, and down a small hallway till it ends. The wall in front of us slides open, revealing a large common room full of couches, monitors, a couple of iceboxes, several doors lining the far back wall, and the other contestants.
“See those cubicles,” Matron Kaniz says, pointing to an area off to my right. “Locate the one labeled Looper and your uniform will be waiting for you. Wait in here until your battle time is announced.” She closes the door after I’ve stepped across the threshold.
Everyone in the room looks confused. I go to the stall labeled “Looper”, close the curtain, and find my uniform neatly folded on a bench. I quickly change, wanting to be rid of the itchy sweater and horrid wig. The capris and tank top are more comfortable. The leather boots stop just above my knees, so my legs are completely covered. The jacket is a little stiff, so perhaps Matron Kaniz was correct in that it will make looping difficult. I find a hair tie in the pocket of my coat, so I put my hair into a ponytail. When I exit the room, I join the rest in the common room.
I’m the only woman that isn’t showing her midriff. The men have the same type of uniform as the women, except they have long pants, work-style boots, and long, short, or sleeveless shirts. I take a seat next to Brink. He doesn’t say anything when I sit down; it’s almost as if he’s shut himself off from the world. I nudge him, but he doesn’t respond.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” a young olive-skinned woman says, the entrance from the hallway closing behind her. “I’m Matron Violet from the Rapid unit. In just a few minutes you will be called to begin your battle sequences. Behind you are four doors, each one leading to a section of the battle floor. Your name will appear above the door you’re to go through. At the end of the hall your weapon will be waiting. Secure it to your uniform before you enter. Your battle will begin the moment you step onto the floor. As Hammond stated earlier, only one person from each sequence will be allowed to continue. Normally you’re given two hours to complete your battle or declare defeat. That will not happen in this case. The Keepers are determined to see if any of you are competent enough to compete in the upcoming event, so this is a do-or-die challenge. Good luck.”
She leaves through another door just as the monitors turn on and the signs above two of the doors flicker to life, displaying the names Garrett, and Uli. They approach the doors cautiously, but pass over the thresholds quickly when the doors open. We can see them making their way down the hallways on the monitors. Brink grabs my hand, squeezing it tightly. I wasn’t sure if he had realized I was there.
“This is not what I expected The Litarian Battles to be like,” he says, eyes focused on the screens before us. “Why does anyone volunteer for this? Life in Tarsus cannot be any worse than the Outer Limits, so why put yourself through this cruelty? They never showed anyone actually dying during the battles, so those of us who watched always thought they simply sent those who lost either home, or someplace else. I don’t want to die, Max.”
“At least you have some inkling as to what you’re
