I have to be strong.
I leap to my feet as a sudden mechanical hiss fills the cell. The door slides open and a sleek robotic drone enters, hovering in the air. Its metallic body gleams menacingly in the dim light.
“Mia Reyes,” it states in a monotone voice. “You have been selected as a prize for the new season of Loop Run.”
“What?” I exclaim, my heart dropping into my stomach. “So there’s a new season…? Does that mean Natalie survived? Did she escape?”
The drone continues, disregarding my questions. “Preparations will begin shortly. Please stand by.”
My hands ball into fists at my sides as I demand, “Tell me what happened to Natalie!”
But the drone simply continues its diagnostic tasks, beeping occasionally as it scans my vitals. It moves around me methodically, as if I’m nothing more than an object to be assessed.
“Please, just tell me she made it out,” I plead, my voice cracking. “I need to know there’s a way out of here.”
The drone finishes its scans and hovers back, its unblinking camera lens fixed on me. “All vitals normal,” it reports in that same emotionless tone. “Subject is fit for participation.” The drone then floats off, the cell door shutting with a final, damning thud, leaving me alone once more.
I slam my fists against the metal, a scream of frustration escaping my throat.
I’ll never get any answers, will I? I’ll never know why I have to go through this awful trial.
A strange noise draws my attention and I turn to see the cell door slide open again.
A bizarre figure enters, stepping into the light.
I recognize him then. It’s the host of this godforsaken game show.
Half of his body isn’t his own, his arms and legs made up of mechanical parts that whir and click with each movement. But it’s his face that I find most unsettling. His head is that of a beaked beast, with expressive feathered eyebrows and a charming yet eerie grin. He’s like no creature I’ve ever seen before.
And he only ever refers to himself as “the Host,” like he was made for this role and nothing else.
“Well, hello there!” the Host says, his voice booming with enthusiasm as he saunters into the cell, metal claws clacking against the floor. “Mia Reyes, our newest little prize. You’ve been chosen for the role of a lifetime!” He spreads his mismatched arms wide.
I back away until I hit the wall. “Chosen?” I echo. “For what?”
“Why, Loop Run, of course! The universe’s greatest reality show!” The Host gestures grandly around the cell as if presenting a lavish stage.
I don’t care about any of this. I just need to know one thing. “What happened to Natalie and Chloe? Did they make it out?”
The Host waves a dismissive hand. “Oh, don’t you worry about them. They’re old news! This season is all about you.”
He leans in close, his eyes gleaming with wicked delight. I turn my face away from his hot, metallic breath.
“Trust me, female, you’re in for the ride of your life,” the Host purrs. “Last season, the warriors cooperated far too much, but this season’s got a twist that’ll ensure they’ll be at each other’s throats for you. That’s all I will say, however. I wouldn’t want to spoil the big reveal…”
He pulls back with a manic chuckle, leaving me reeling. My mind races with questions, but I’m too stunned to voice them.
The Host finally backs away and heads for the door. “The opening ceremony will begin soon enough. Just behave and do as the drones tell you, and with any luck, you’ll be on your way to the finish line and back home. It really is that simple.”
“Somehow I doubt that,” I mumble, only for him to ignore my comment as he exits with a flourish. The cell door slams shut behind him, leaving me alone once more with only my racing thoughts and mounting dread for company.
So the warriors cooperated last time…
Maybe that bodes well for Natalie, and I’m glad for her if it did.
But the Host seems confident that this season’s twist will keep that from happening again.
He seems certain that the remaining warriors will be fighting tooth and claw for me.
Just great.
I groan and bury my head into my hands, trying not to imagine just how beastly the Aquarian warlord can get.
But judging by his size, and the memory of his predatory stare…
I don’t think my odds are looking too good.
Chapter 2
Krakenos
The cryosleep chamber door hisses open, awakening me from my slumber. A chill seeps into my bones as I sit up and look around.
How long has it been since they froze me? Weeks? Months? Time has become a nebulous concept in this artificial prison…
As I step out of the chamber, my body unfurls to its full height, towering over the equipment around me. My webbed feet make no sound against the frigid metal floor, a stark contrast to the warm waters and sands of my home world. The recycled air assaults my gills, tasting of chemicals and confinement. It makes my chest ache for the crisp, salty breeze of Mythos’s oceans.
