Under a Bleeding Chime

Tonight is the night many will risk their lives to retrieve a small, heart shaped locket. A minuscule thing that holds so much power, too much power. Taking place once every two years, the game is anything but fair.

“Seven…”

Standing here, I wait for the timer to reach its end and a familiar eerie chime to ring through the air. The only difference being I am on the side of the fence where players stand. I am no longer a part of the crowd.

"Six…"

People ruled by thoughts of greed and undeniable power with the occasional person just hoping for a chance at a better life. A life where the poor don’t grow poorer and the rich don’t grow richer, a place where everyone is equally cared for. But no. Not once has someone used the powerful heart shaped locket for anything other than their own gain. Tales of the lockets’ corruption bleed through the cracks of stories meant to block an undeniable truth. Touch the locket and you’ll be cursed with an irreversible madness. My only hope is that somehow I can withstand it. Naive? Maybe.

"Five…"

A few years after the fall of a corrupt government a new one arose. A man, Vittorio declared himself worthy and with the help of his trusted ones he created a new world rule. Some naming him a king and worshiping him as some kind of savior, while others whisper tales of his cruel intentions. He proposed a new world made up of six clans; none to be given as much power as he, and a game; played within a magical forest. Find the correct locket, the one who holds it at sundown on the next evening will be named the winner.

The only rules being;

1. Stay within the boundaries of the forest. If you step foot outside the boundaries, regardless of circumstance, you are automatically exiled from the games.

2. No outside contraband permitted. Clothes and shoes will be provided.

Of course there are no safety measures taken, no medical resources provided and absolutely nobody will be coming to your aid. It’s a game of madness and survival with a single prize that everyone wants. Your life is at risk if you choose to play.

"Four…"

My mind runs in circles as I try to stay calm but it’s useless and I let an expression of fear slip through my otherwise blank facade. ‘I’m lucky to be here’ I try to remind myself though I feel anything but lucky.

Only three-hundred people are chosen to partake in this game. How they are chosen, no one knows. Some forfeit as soon as possible, some not until a little later on but most get taken out by a series of tests the chosen have to take in the weeks leading up to the game. Nobody ever remembers the tests they go through seeing as Vittorios’ loyal ones pull the memories from our minds. They leave anyone who asks questions with the same cryptic phrase, “it would spoil the game.” I think it’s rigged. They somehow end up with a final fifty people being the only true participants, me being one of them and we are allotted the title of ‘The Certain Ones.’

"Three…"

"LETS HECKING GO!" I turn my head to see a boy laughing and shouting with a group of four others, they seem to be around my age, obnoxiously they let out whoops and hollers at their friends exclamation. But they’re not the only ones. The crowd does the same, a chain reaction. I realize then that most of the participants look around my age, some look a few years older but all of us look relatively young. ‘It’s a pattern..’ I think.

"Two…"

I let my eyes linger for a little longer, 'how idiotic.' Suddenly, as if he can read my thoughts, deep amber eyes meet mine and I freeze. We hold eye contact neither of us wanting to submit to another until finally, he drops his gaze down and I watch as one side of his mouth raises creating a small smirk then he mouths,

'One.' Chimes ring through the air and chaos unfolds before my eyes. It is then that I realize, I just put a target on my own back. Then I’m off.

Running, fast. In fact, I run so fast I make it to the outskirts of the magical forest in no time. But, the Universe is not on my side today as I trip over some tree roots smacking so hard into the ground my vision goes black and,

I wake up.

On the ground, next to my bed with the sound of a shrill alarm blaring in my head.

“Jeez” I mutter. Pushing myself up, black dots dance in my vision from the suddenness of too much movement. Coupled with the still blaring alarm it’s definitely not my favorite wake-up call.

The shrillness of the alarm reminds me of what day it is, Resumption Day. I have to go retrieve my mail, just as everyone else, the difference being it's mandatory today. Everyone will be going to the post-box within their respective clans. Choosing to wait until later as a way to avoid the masses of people, I can’t help it as my thoughts drift back to the dream I had been having last night. The magical forest, the boy and his friends, the crippling fear, the sound of the seconds ticking by, even the shrill eerie alarm. It felt so real. These thoughts are what propel me forward, there's no way I can wait all day.

I’m ready and out of the house in no time. Starting my walking journey I make it to my destination in under an hour. With a cloudy mind I take the final steps toward the small post-box. Surprisingly, it’s not busy. Two people stand before me waiting for their own letters. Letters that will tell them if they have been rejected or chosen. The lady that’s instructed to care for this post-box stands at the counter, she makes quick work of handing out the letters and I’m given mine in no time. With oddly familiar feelings I open the letter only to have it read;

You have been chosen.