Challenger

The waves crashed on the rocky beach.  This site will never get old.  Persephone leaned back on the catch wall, staring into the distance.  The fierce waters had always existed, but the Golgothic tyrannical rule had not always been.  A Challenger would be picked for the famous ten impossible challenges each year.  This was a free, relaxing day as if the water had been retreating from the catch wall.  She just has to sit through the ceremony.  Persephone Oleander was Alagacian, and they had the most winners of all the challengers that entered the arena.  Even the most wins in challenges were her friend and coworker Oedious Leonis. He had passed eight out of the ten by a small margin.

Yet, the night before the Challenger was announced, it was always charged with anticipation for those who stood to represent their nation. It was a time to enjoy the sunset and breathe after a long day at her father's machine shop. The catch wall was set up to keep the sea from dragging anything back, but it was not always successful.   The wire wall was set up with rocks and other deterrents as the high wave seasons brought destruction.  It is also a place to train instead of the training center set up by Golgotha.  It was too dark to go into the old capital building shambled after the takeover.  Yet it was an excellent place for climbing and exploration in this impoverished place. 

"Hey, it is getting late, and your father will be anxious for you to go home," Oedious stated as he climbed the wall.

"It's just to blow off some steam after all the challengers are picked tomorrow, and I have a bad feeling we Oleanders will not be so lucky," Persephone replied, her voice tinged with worry.

"Look, Minosoke will have to be crazy to choose someone from your family after what happened to your uncle," Oedious replied, his tone more reassuring than his words. 

"That does not mean he will not eventually try to destroy another Oleander," stated Persephone.

"Tomorrow, they will go on the televisions and say, you can free your nation as long as you can pass all ten challenges, you can go home if you can pass at least seven to nine, you will be our slave if you pass six or under challenges and you can die in the pursuit or just tap out for a loss," Oedious pronounced, explaining the high-stakes nature of the challenges and the societal implications they carry.

"Then you can bring hope to the nation and be the hero of the Golgothic assembly of nations," Persephone replied in her more resounding voice.

"Which was the most difficult of those challenges anyway?"  Persephone questioned Oedious.

"As long as the leaders of challenges do not make unnecessary difficulties by adding issues to the challenge, causing injury or death," Oedious replied.

"The oven looks the trickiest, avoiding getting crushed or baked alive in that awful tunnel," Persephone commented.

"The wire crossing was difficult since there are never enough materials to make a safe crossing mechanism," Oedious remarked.

"The wrecking balls flying everywhere and still getting to the open door without getting spiked," Persephone replied.

"The strangest one is the giant Golgothic engine. I went underneath and across the grated bars. Still, I heard noises in the Engine maze itself," Oedious replied, his voice carrying a hint of fear, referring to the mysterious and dangerous nature of the Golgothic engine.

"I heard that they think someone is in there to hunt you down, but that could be just flushing the Challenger out by using the engine, and we are the only nation that still uses it," remarked Persephone.

"The rolling stone can be very tricky to get to shelter fast since no one has been able to jump it yet," Oedious replied.

"I know that tank has never been breached despite its age, and to break free instead of climbing out would be a need for a new challenge," Persephone stated.

"Do not even think of messing with the challenges, and they will make you pay with failure or your life," remarked Oedious.

"It is getting late, and tomorrow, we will be choosing the official Challenger to try the ten challenges," Persephone stated. 

Both climbed down the wall to head home. So many families have been honored in other nations.  The once-rich architecture lay in disarray, with many structures ready to fall over.  The golden age was over with an impoverished class that only hoped that one Challenger would win all ten challenges.  Both walked to their homes in the smallest of towns but once ruled the entire nation from the Alagacian Capital Building that used to stand for freedom.   Oedious ensured she was returned home before heading to his small shack in the hills.  The dark night brought out the great light of the stars.  As Persephone fell asleep in the room with her sister, Penelope, her mind filled with fear and anticipation.

The pouring rain ran into the morning, and the seas had risen.  It was already another day with the same speech.  So many were the right age, including Persephone and a few of her siblings.  Yet the shop still needed to be kept.

 Persephone's father, Gorghan, just stared as he explained, "It is against the fates of the Minosokes to have any of you as the Challenger after your Uncle Gargus." The weight of their family's history hung in the air, casting a solemn shadow over the family.

This brought a wave of relief to her, as she knew that being called Challenger would not happen.  The weather was already a bad omen.  Yet, this weather was typical for this time of year. The seas were always angry even when the times were good for Alagacia.  The work was not going to finish itself. The family would lose everything without the machine shop.  Yet, the chance was present.  Persephone could only go to work with her father since she was sixteen.  She could rework the Golgothic engine and even be better than her brothers.  The simpler engines were also an expertise to the Oleanders.  The glory days had them with some wealth, but the fall under the assembly took all that away. With the weight of the Challenger's burden lifted, she could focus on her work and its potential for her future.

The work had to be done in the morning since the picking of the one who was to be sent as the Alagacian Challenger in this year's games.  The many machines that needed to be fixed were much more critical to the family than sending the one that never seemed to win all the way.  Oedious was also late since he slept in but came in after getting Persephone back home.  The work was buzzing as all the older children and Oedious fixed the many machines of their small town.   It was not so somber as Oedious had already done his duty and came short.  The day would be cut short by the alarm over the buzzing of engines and finding their problems. Golgotha required the meeting in the town square, and all must attend as a publicity stunt to gain more viewership.  Yet the work was what mattered, as Persephone could only feel doom being out in the rain this year.   A sunny day had always been better for that event.  They even fixed the more complicated Golgothic Engines with extra chambers for more power. This was popular at one time until a simpler engine came into existence. Even though Oedious was not that talented, he chose this field instead of his father's fishing business.  The hours ticked by as the whole family was not ready to go to the ceremony.   Even leaving early to dress in the best clothes, they had to show off even at this dreary event.  Persephone was unhappy to attend, but she was of age and could be sent.  Her brothers just usually sat in the back and joked as if there was never a choice of them going.   

Heading home to change was not a highlight since the whole population, including her mother's family, seemed to sit on the opposite side of them.  The Thesalahercas were prouder and barely acknowledged them as their cousins. Olivia, Persephone's mother, let her wear one of her dresses this year instead of the jumpers in years past. She was becoming a woman now with her slender figure and long dark brown hair.  All the others dressed up, lining up with all eight children and parents ready for their raincoats.  They walked along the rubble streets as all the other families joined in the chance to free their nation for self-rule in the guise of challenges. The benches were filled but could fall apart at any moment. The old city hall lay in disarray but was the only appropriate backdrop for the region.  The other small towns also came and sat in the once vibrant place of wealth.   The area saw the screens and temporary stage with its banners of blue and teal, the traditional colors of Alagacia.  The rain came down and dampened the area. Yet, all had to sit and listen to the propaganda of Golgotha as if they were promising overlords after Adrian Minosoke declared all under his control, winning all the challenges and making his one rule. It was another year for the head leader, Andreas Antoni, in his nice suit under a covering this year.  His smirk showed he could not be toppled and let anything happen to the people.  

Light blared from the screens as the many nations were filmed. The Challenger Games were remembered for keeping peace and giving opportunities for freedom to those strong enough to succeed, like Adrian Minosoke himself. The first message was always the same and went as usual, as it was an excellent opportunity to be at such an event.

The screen entered as Adrian Minosoke, with his gaunt face and piercing blue eyes, entered to read such a message.  

Welcome to the annual 25th Challenger Games for a Challenger from each nation in the assembly to compete in the ten challenges. Each one is dangerous, but then it would not be a challenge.  The first challenge will be escaping the tank filling with water before drowning.  The second challenge will be grabbing the strings through the spider web without pulling the wrong one.  The third challenge will be crossing the falling stepping stones.  The fourth challenge will be crossing the stone field to the other side. The fifth challenge will be surviving the mace wrecking balls to get through the assigned door.  The sixth challenge will be climbing the ladders fast enough not to fall down the pit.  The seventh challenge will be crossing the chasm with the materials provided across the wire without falling down the chasm.  The eighth challenge will be to outrun the rolling stone going down a narrow opening by ducking before it crushes you. The ninth challenge will be to survive the oven without being crushed, baked alive, and sliced by the bladed pendulums.

The tenth challenge will be to either go through the giant labyrinth of the Golgothic Engine or the grated bars underneath it.  Best of luck to all the challengers; success may be on your side. Let us remind you that you can free your nation if you pass all ten challenges of receiving the crown.  You can go home if you pass seven to nine of them, known as challenger survivors. If you can pass six or fewer challenges, you are known as a challenger slave.   You can also die in this grand pursuit or just tap out of one for the loss of a challenge.  Then, you can bring hope to your nation and be the hero of the Golgothic assembly of nations. 

"Now it is time to announce the chosen youth to bring hope to this great nation," Antoni announced proudly. 

Antoni announced, "This year, Persephone Oleander will be the Challenger going to the Challenger's Arena to represent the nation of Alagacia. "

The crowd was silent and cold in the rain, but the eyes could feel on Persephone.  She was never supposed to be chosen.  There was nowhere to go since they were surrounded by Golgothic soldiers and traitor Alagacian ones.   The silence in the crowd did not help as they headed to her bench. She gently stood up and headed to the stage without an escort. The redness in Oedious's face was pure shock, along with her father, who was ready to grab his daughter and run.  It was the walk of shame, but Antoni could just show his toothy grin.  Antoni raised her hand up in the air. 

"She has the skills and ferocity to get through the challenges; let us congratulate her on her new conquest in the Challenger's Arena," Antoni stated.  

The crowd stood in solidarity with heads held high as in every year's ceremony.  The crowd whistled the national song, wishing luck to the newest Challenger.  All others left as the family was to wish the Challenger off to the games.  It was so shocking that even Oedious came to give some advice.  All showed solemn faces to see Persephone leave.

"You might not be as fast or strong, but you are smart enough to find the way around the challenges," Oedious stated first.

"Just keep your head up and do not risk too much out there, even if you must tap out for that loss," Gorghan told his daughter.

"Just come home alive even if you do not succeed," Olivia continued.

"Do not mess with any of the challenges, including breaking the tank; they can make your tasks impossible to pass. I have seen too many killed by Adrian and his cohorts do this too many times," stated Oedious.  Persephone could hug her family and keep her emotions in check. She was now the Challenger, and to survive was another story.  Impulses to run ran through her veins, but the soldiers were sure that the personal car to Golgotha would be made.   Keep in step was the only step from passing out from the news, and thinking out challenges that were made to be deadly was not welcoming at all.  The rain was as bad as she thought.  Her family had to go, and now being all alone was worse.  Her limp body could only go so fast to the vehicle.   It was much nicer than all the small cars in town, yet it felt cold.  Fate could be hopeful, but she could still die like her uncle.   The small place would fade as even seeing the large city of Gotha was not fathomable.  A blank world with a blank future was left, only to go through the pit to get there.  Persephone Oleander just sat in the car, numb and full of anger.