Surviving a Real Life Horror Story

Chapter One

Calling all Daredevils! The newspaper article in front of me read.

I looked up at my friend Andi. She was beaming under her starched blonde hair. All I could do was stare at her. She always had the weirdest ideas, the strangest schemes. They usually didn’t end well. She was my best friend but I had to admit that “smart” wasn’t a good word for her. She was, after all, openly ditsy.

“This is what you called me over for?” I asked.

“Read the whole thing before you ask any questions, Rexi,” she urged.

Rexi was her nickname for me. My name was Alexis, always shortened to Lexi. Andi always said I was grouchy and reminded her of a dinosaur; hence the nickname Rexi.

“All right, don’t get your panties in a bunch,” I teased.

She stuck her tongue out at me as my eyes dropped to the paper in front of me.

It’s that time of the year once again, folks. Time for our annual competition, Surviving a Real Life Horror Movie. Note: this is a dangerous competition, but the grand prize is generous and enormous.

For details email us at surviving@yahoo.com

I looked back at Andi. “What’s it about?”

“It’s a little bit complicated. So, I’m gonna give you the good news first,” she said.

“Aren’t you supposed to give me the bad news first so the good will cheer me up?”

“In this case…no,” she replied. “Anyways, the good news is that everyone that wins gets a million dollars!”

“A m-million dollars” I asked, suddenly finding myself unable to speak. This had to be some kind of joke.

“Yep, a million in cold hard cash,” Andi said.

I looked at her critically. “You’re pulling my leg aren’t you? You’d have to give your arm for a competition to win a prize like that!”

Andi breathed in through her teeth. “Actually there’s a chance you might have to give up more than that.”

“What do you mean?” I asked her.

“Remember the ‘bad news’ I promised? Here it is. People from five different counties will enter two people each,” Andi began.

“And?” I urged, feeling as if she was stalling.

“The competitors are put in an arena. It’s secluded from anyone and anything. Basically, the competitors have to find a way out of the arena before they get killed,” she said quickly.

“Whoa, wait. Killed?” I asked. “Are you crazy!?”

“I heard more than half made it out last year,” Andi offered as if her words were comforting.

“Is there proof? A video on YouTube or something?” I asked.

She shook her head. “The arena is secluded. The only camera that’s there is the one hooked to the producer’s computer to let them see the competition as it happens.”

“I don’t feel good about it,” I replied honestly. “How do you know anyone survived last year? Have you actually talked to any of them? Think about it, five million dollars is a lot for them to hand out. How do you know that even if they made it out of the arena they didn’t get shot in the head by the producers?” I asked.

She looked thoughtful. “I guess I don’t know for sure, but it’s in the newspaper. It must be legit.”

“I noticed they left out the gory details,” I said sardonically, questioning her intelligence again.

Andi shrugged. “It’s a well-known competition.”

To the families that lost people to it, I thought, but I didn’t say anything.

“Think what you will, Rexi,” Andi said. “I think this is a pretty good idea.”

“A mental institute is a better one.”

Andi smiled but it fell as her tone turned to seriousness. “I’ve already decided to enter.”

“You’re crazy!” I said instantly.

“Call me what you will, but I want that money,” she said.

“So, I have a right to call you stupid?” I asked.

She shrugged. “If that’s what you think.”

“It is,” I said. “This is probably on the same wavelength as contemplating suicide. You can’t do this.”

“I can and I will. I’m sure you’ll come around to the idea eventually,” she said confidently. “We can enter together.”

“I’m sure I won’t,” I replied. “And I’m thinking –hoping at least- that you’ll change your mind.”

“Don’t you have to pick up Krista?” Andi asked sounding upset.

I knew she probably wanted me to enter with her (which was why she urged the two from each county), but I wanted more than anything for her to just drop the whole idea.

I glanced at the clock behind me. “Yeah, I’ll see you later. We need to have another talk about this.”

I rushed out the door without grabbing my coat off of Andi’s couch. My actions were focused on my sister, but my mind on Andi’s words. I wondered why the money had more value in her eyes than her own life. Why would anyone enter a competition that held the possibility of them not surviving to see the end?

I knew the answer; greed.