Chapter Four
860 Words
When I got to Andi’s house, I knocked hard on her door. She didn’t answer but I kept knocking anyways. The thought of Krista’s blank face was my motivation.
“Andi!” I called out.
Finally she answered the door. “Hey, Rexi. What’re you doing here?”
“I want to talk,” I said as I pushed past her into her house.
“About?” she asked as she closed the door.
“That contest you were telling me about earlier,” I said.
Her eyes lit up instantly as she plopped down on the couch. “I knew you would come around!”
“It’s not my idea,” I said.
“Then why change your mind?” she asked confused as she picked up a small container of blue nail polish.
“Krista’s sick,” I said glumly.
Andi’s eyes widened. “I’m so sorry!”
I shook my head. “It’s not your fault.”
She frowned as she carefully put a dab of blue nail polish on one of her nails. “I know, but I’m still sorry.”
“Never mind it,” I said. “Tell me more about it.”
She shook her head. “I already told you most of it.”
“Tell me all of it,” I insisted.
Her frown deepened. “Okay, well. Basically this contest is hosted by millionaires that like to watch blood sport for amusement. They put the contestants in an arena that’s secluded from everyone and everything but their cameras. They can’t call for help, or have access to any type of cell phone. They’re allowed to work together in pairs, but no more than that.”
“What do they work to figure out?” I asked curiously.
“I’m worried about telling you the specifics,” she said blowing on her freshly polished nails.
I frowned. “I need to know this things if I have any hopes of winning this!”
“Winning? You haven’t even signed up yet!” she said.
“How do I sign up?” I asked.
“You go to their headquarters.” Andi shrugged.
“Have you done it yet?” I asked.
She shook her head. “I was going to in the morning.”
“I’ll tag along,” I said.
She nodded and began to polish the nails on her other hand. I watched her for a moment curiously.
“Why are you dressing up?” I asked.
She shrugged. “I gotta look my best.”
“Has it really not occurred to you that you’re signing up for a contest that you might not walk away from?” I asked.
“I know I’ll walk away from it,” she replied, looking up at me through eyes caked with too much eye shadow.
I shook my head. “How can you be so confident?”
“I’m beautiful.” She scoffed. “They won’t want to kill me.”
I bit my lip to hold back my remark. In my head I realized that she wasn’t taking this seriously. She didn’t believe that her decision held mortal consequences. She thought of the world in a light that was unrealistic. If she saw the contest the way that I did she’d be worried.
I thought of what she said. The players were allowed to help each other. I knew that her and I would stick together once we were in the arena. That didn’t mean well for me. She obviously thought lightly of the situation, I’d have to protect her where there were no rules.
“Didn’t you say that they were real serial killers?” I asked her finally.
She smiled. “Yeah, so?”
“So they want your blood! They don’t care what you look like!” I tried to insist.
She shook her head. “You’ll see. In the arena I’ll help you out a lot.”
I didn’t know if her comment was meant to sting or make me worry. It managed to do both.
“I don’t think you’re taking this seriously,” I warned.
She was silent as she admired her freshly dried nails. “Rexi, I think you’re being overly serious! I realize your sister is ill and everything but you need to lighten up!”
I scowled at her. She was still worried solely about her appearance. Her life (and mine) didn’t matter to her.
“One of us has to be serious,” I said.
“It doesn’t have to be me,” she replied.
I sighed feeling a twinge in my gut. My future didn’t look good when I had to rely on her for survival.
- Writer
