Chapter Eleven
1712 Words
“How exactly do you believe you bring reality?” the interviewer asked in surprise.
“I think a lot of the competitors aren’t taking this as seriously as I am. I know that people will die. I’m not going to believe otherwise. I’m going into this arena knowing that half of the competitors at least are going to be leaving in body bags. I’ve come to face the fact that I might be one of them.”
The interviewer nodded. “That’s definitely the truest statement I’ve heard in a while. Thank you, Miss Harrison, that’s all the questions we had.”
I dipped my head in response as I stood up. “You’re welcome.”
I walked back over to Andi and Milton who had been watching me with surprise. Andi’s eyes looked wild as she watched me approach.
“Are you crazy?” she asked. “You can’t answer a question like that!”
“Why not?”
“They’ll think you’re trying to cause trouble,” she said.
“How?” I asked. “I’m just being honest, Andi, relax.”
“I wouldn’t worry about it too much if I were you,” Milton said to Andi suddenly. “The point of the interviews is to judge each person for who they are before the arena. She was just being herself. It’s a good thing to get attention from the people that run this. If they like you, they might let you live longer in the arena just to make it more intense.”
Andy huffed. “What’s it any of your business?” she asked him as she crossed her arms over her chest.
I looked at Andi, wondering where her sudden anger had come from. Had she gotten envious when Milton mentioned the sponsors noticing me?
Milton shrugged. “It really isn’t, I was just trying to make you feel better.”
“Well, don’t.”
I looked at Milton. “Have you met any of the other competitors yet?” I asked trying to change the subject.
He nodded. “A few of them. I’m not liking the rumors that I’ve heard so far.”
“What have you heard?” I asked, part of me feeling as if I didn’t want to know.”
“There’s a lot of people that enter this competition. Some of them are cutthroat-literally. They’ll kill other competitors in the arena just to get ahead. See that big burly dude over there with the short black hair? I heard that that’s what he was planning.”
I glanced at the guy that he mentioned in horror as I asked, “What’s the point of killing each other?”
“I heard last year that the way out only became available after a few of the competitors died. I guess they figure if they kill some of their competition, then it’ll improve their odds,” Andi added.
I frowned. “Is that legal?”
“This whole competition isn’t legal,” Milton pointed out.
“So, what’s our plan for the arena?” I asked Andi.
“If I were you, I’d make it a goal to avoid the other competitors in the ring, especially the ones that you don’t know very well. You never know what thoughts are going through their heads,” Milton said, “especially if they get desperate.”
I nodded. “That’s a good idea.”
Andi frowned. “Not all of the other competitors are bad,” she said. “Some of them might be willing to help us if we’re nice enough.”
“Do you want to take that risk?” I asked.
She pursed her lips for a long moment before she glanced at Milton bitterly. “Yeah, I think I’ll give it a chance.”
“I don’t think it’s a good idea,” I said hesitantly.
“I’m sure things will be just fine,” Andi said, brushing me off as she crossed the room to the other group of competitors that were chatting away.
I watched her carefully, making sure that she stayed away from the guy that Milton had pointed out. I didn’t say a word as I watched her.
“You can’t be serious about entering with her as your partner,” Milton’s soft voice said from behind me suddenly.
I turned to look at him. “What other choice do I have?”
“Anything else is better than her. Does she ever listen to a word you say?” Milton asked.
I shook my head. “She thinks her looks will make everything go her way.”
“That’s foolish.”
“I’m not arguing with you,” I said with a heavy sigh, “but she’s my best friend. If I stay with her, it’s my best chance of protecting her.”
“Why are you worried about her when it should be you that you’re concerned with? Even with the warnings, she seems determined to try and find people that could kill you in the arena.”
“I don’t think that’s your place to say,” I replied bitterly, feeling oddly defensive of Andi even though I knew Milton was saying the truth.
“Do you really think she can protect you?”
He asked the one question that I had no real answer to. I stiffened as the tension filled me from head to toe. I glanced at her from across the room. Her appearance was what concerned her, it was what she assumed would keep her safe. She didn’t know how to fight, how to think quickly.
I had no way of knowing if I got into trouble in the arena if she would have the courage and wits to help me…or if she would only help herself as she was used to doing.
I knew that not only did my life hang on that gamble, but Krista’s did too. If I died in the arena either by my fault or Andi’s, I wouldn’t get the money she needed so desperately. Everything would’ve been for nothing.
“No,” I said honestly, looking him in the eyes. “What does it matter to you?”
“I want to be your partner,” he said.
I looked at him for a long moment, surprised by his words.
“Why?” I asked him. “After scorning Andi about trusting strangers, you’re about to do the same?”
“I’m not like you. I don’t have someone that I trust entering this thing with me. I’m alone. I see you standing out so much from the other people that are entering this thing. The way you answered the interview question made me sure that you would be the perfect partner, because you look at this competition for what it is- blood sport. You know that you could die, but you embrace it, and do what you need to. That’s commendable.”
“How do I know I can trust you?” I asked.
“Look at me. You can see my illness. I need someone I know that I can depend on. I won’t make it by myself.”
I looked at him for a long moment, carefully thinking of his words. A third person would definitely make the fight easier for us to manage.
“I guess it wouldn’t be so bad if you, me, and Andi were in a group. We could all watch out for each other.”
Milton smirked.
“What?” I asked him.
“I think you misunderstood me,” he said.
I tipped my head to one side questioningly.
“I want you as my partner. Not Andi,” he said.
I stared at him for a long minute. “You just want me to abandon her, just like that?”
He shrugged. “Look at her over there, making acquaintances with those other people. For all you know, she’s abandoning you.”
I frowned. “She wouldn’t do that.”
“You don’t know that for sure.”
I blinked and a frown appeared on my face as I glanced across the room to observe her once again. She had only been gone for less than ten minutes yet she was laughing and talking away with the group as if she had known them her entire life. I couldn’t imagine any of them –especially the guys- not wanting to be her partner.
“The look on your face tells me I’m right,” Milton said.
I sighed deeply, unsure of what to say. Of course he was right, but that fact put me in a terrible dilemma.
“All I’m saying is think about it,” he said. “The arena starts tomorrow. Let me know before we get in there what you think. I just hope you realize that I can do much more for you than she can.”
Without waiting for my response, he began to walk away. I watched him go through sad eyes. In my mind, I knew that Andi wouldn’t benefit me in the arena. She would drag me down and endanger my life. She had no real strengths to offer. I needed to survive. Period. A voice in the back of my head seemed to have decided that Milton was my best answer, but my mind was racked with guilt of abandoning my best friend.
My heart had never felt heavier.
- Writer
