Chosen

Chosen

By Aneya V.

“Are you participating, or just in to observe?” Clarke questioned, kicking her eleventh pebble off the trail and into the grass. “Wait, I forgot. You both are in to play because you guys are eighteen now! I am so glad that my birthday isn’t for another two weeks.”

Bella shivered, so John glared at Clarke. “Bella is actually anxious for the event this year. Making her even more nervous won’t make her as happy as you are,” he told her, causing Clarke to wince.

“Sorry, Bell,” Clarke said, frowning. She walked over to her best friend and draped an arm around Bella’s shoulder, walking with her so that John was to the side this time. “I’m sure you won’t get picked anyway. Last year, there were a lot of girls who were chosen. Maybe if they have a lot of girls again this year, they’ll take the female cards out. This way, you’ll have a greater chance of safety this year.”

“But Ryan practically owns the event this year, so he’s running the drawing announcements. Even if he reads the card and it’s not my name, he’ll say my name so I could participate. Ryan hates all of us, so John, he can go after you, too,” Bella reminded him, her frustration so strong that kicked another rock, and the rock flew so far that they couldn’t even see where it went.

“Hey, calm down. He can’t go after us because there are new cameras and projectors so we’re able to see whose names are drawn. Last year, people had trouble with the old drawer because he kept picking cards and saying names that weren’t written on them. This year, it’ll be fair,” John said as they made their way through the two trees and were welcomed into the beautiful event. He turned to his friends, walking backward as he said, “And hey, Ryan’s also eighteen. His birthday was back in May, remember? So if he and I get picked, I’ll get him for you when the game has started.”

“Thanks, J,” Bella said, smiling. John shrugged as if it was nothing, extending out his hand to her. They did their usual handshake, then headed off to the event. They waited until everyone arrived, then the announcements came.

“Good day,” a voice came through the speakers, gaining everyone’s attention. There stood Ryan Blakely, son of Jason Blakely. Jason Blakely had been the man who ran the event, as did his ancestors before him. “I’m glad to see your faces for a new year of our annual Maze Runner. Yes, that is a movie and book from years ago but we decided to just stick with it,” he added on, and the citizens laughed.

“We are a little short on time, due to some delay with the maze preparation, so we’ll have to skip my speech and head over to the drawing. But for those who are new and do not know what this event is about, Maze Runner is a competition. We draw names of citizens of Ontario over the age of eighteen. Ten people are chosen, and each will be assigned a different district to represent. They are then transported to the maze, and when the timer ends, the game has started. Weapons, food, and water are hidden in the maze. Tributes will go head to head, fighting to the death. This game will be taking place for however long it takes until there’s one last tribute standing. We, as spectators, will be watching them through these screens. Those who have money may bid for the tribute that they want to win. The winner’s district will be awarded the cash provided by my father, Jason Blakely, as well as all of the money that has been bidding for the contestants throughout the games. I hope that gives you a well understanding,” Ryan said, smiling.

“As always, males first,” he added, lifting the microphone off its stand and taking it with him to the glass containers. He slid his hand into the box, mixing around the pieces of paper inside. Then after a bit, he pulled a name out of the box.

“Kahai Andrews, age nineteen, representing the masonry district this year. Give it up for Kahai,” Ryan said into his mic, and a section of white-clothed people began clapping. A black-haired, blue-eyed boy walked out of his row and into the open space, making his way to the stage. He stood beside Ryan, where all tributes were supposed to go. After four male tributes were chosen, Ryan lifted the last slip of paper out of the container.

“John Murphy,” he said, smirking, raising up the slip of paper to show everyone, “Age eighteen, representing our technology district this year.”

Bella’s heart dropped at the bottom of her chest, so did Clarke’s. But John stood there with a smile. John walked up to the stage with pride, making sure to bump into Ryan when he walked past. In shock, Bella couldn’t even process what happened. She didn’t even hear anything else because she didn’t want John, her best friend, to go. She thought it was all fun and games after all seventeen years of just watching the event, until it really happened. Bella forgot what real life was when she experienced it herself, even though it technically wasn’t her in the situation. She felt as though it affected her life, too, because of how close she and John were. Bella was heartbroken, and she could tell Clarke was, too, when she gasped beside her.

Bella turned to Clarke, “What?”

With a frown, Clarke managed to choke out, “You were picked.”

Again, in shock, Bella this time couldn’t even bring herself to move forward. Two men who worked for Ryan’s family had to walk up to her, grip her arms, and pull her out of the crowds. They shoved her forward, and that was when Bella slowly made her way to the stage. Ryan, standing on top of it, had a smirk on his face that he never wanted to wipe off.

“Again, folks, Bella Huntsman,” Ryan said, “Age eighteen, representing our lumber district.”

A group of citizens dressed in beige-colored clothing clapped as Bella arrived on top of the stage. She glared at Ryan, making her way over to John, who sighed.

TiMe SKiP...

After the event, when it was just up to two tributes, John and Bella stared at each other for what seemed like days. They couldn’t bring themselves to hurt each other after all these years as best friends.

“It has been five days in the maze. So much has happened, and it's all up to the final two: you, Bella, and you, John. Just one more movement left until the games are done. Just one… Think about your families. What would they want you to do?” Ryan’s voice through the speaker came.

That was when a knife was thrown, and the games were finally over.