JACK OF HEARTS

The thought of stepping outside his decrepit seven story tenement sent a sharp pain through Jack’s chest. Today was the last day of the Merriweather Games. Being a final contestant- Jack knew what was at stake. The notion of finally leaving his room for good left him with mixed feelings. For eight years, Jack’s lifestyle had consisted of eating, sleeping, and defecating in a tube. A deplorable existence for a spry man in his 30s, but such was the state of affairs on the once great planet called Earth, and yet there had been some sense of security in knowing exactly what each day of his life would bring.

The first day of the games, Jack had no intention to join. Since society crumbled nearly one decade ago, Jack’s sole motivation had been to survive with minimal effort, not to risk it all for a shot at eternal life. Prior to The Great Collapse, Jack had been planning his wedding. But fate has a wicked hand. The events of June 11th, 2031, stripped Jack of much he held dear. His sweet Katherine, the woman who pushed him to step outside his comfort zone, was taken away, and Jack has never quite been the same.

Jack’s mother, Eleanor, was his only connection to survive that fateful day. As tsunamis buried most of the land on the planet, nuclear plants malfunctioned and turned the air into poison. Those who survived developed heart disease, but Jack and Eleanor were lucky enough to migrate to Chimborazo, to go under the care of the only company with the means to treat their ailments, the PSY Corporation. Life was grim, but they had one another.

Unable to physically be in the same tenement, Jack and Eleanor communicated daily through the PSY Corporation’s chat app. That is, until Eleanor passed on the night before this year’s games…

“You deserve so much more than this, Jack.” Eleanor said with a faint murmur as the light began to leave her eyes. “Instead of rotting here up to the end of your days,” she mumbled, “Go inspire the world. You’re a gifted individual, Jack, you always have been. Humanity needs you to heal. So, don’t be afraid, and don’t be complacent. Make… the… leap…”

It would be no easy feat walking down seven flights of stairs after years in a bed. Muscle atrophy had consumed what were once strong legs, and Jack nearly broke his neck just stepping out of his room.

“Easy there, cowboy!” said a young woman in her 20s as Jack fell into her arms. “If your plan is to win the Merriweather Games, you certainly don’t look to have done enough training beforehand.”

“Heh, you’re right about that.” replied Jack. “I guess you can say this was an impulse decision. I’m Jack, by the way. I take it you’ve been training for this year’s games for some time?”

“Your powers of deduction are quite impressive.” The woman said sarcastically, before switching her tone to one of deadly seriousness. “Getting out of my room is all I’ve thought about for years. But I never felt strong enough to actually win the games, that is until I saw Dawn become the first woman to win it all last year. I’m Katherine, by the way.”

Katherine… of all the names. Was this divine intervention? Jack thought to himself what a circumstance this was. If he was on the fence before about going through with his plan, now more than ever he knew there was no turning back.

Despite being competitors, Katherine showed some pity and helped the frail and unprepared Jack make his way to Merriweather Square just in time to enter his name into the pool.

“Citizen Jack!” screamed out The Orator, a robotic being in charge of coordinating the games. “Your physical inspection has informed me you don’t possess the amount of vitality PSY Corporation recommends for all participants. Are you sure you wish to play?”

“Come on,” retorted Jack, “the people need a good underdog to root for.”

“I am not sure how going under a dog will enable your success, but you have been warned.” The Orator expressed with an almost sinister tone before addressing the crowd of participants. “Citizens of Chimborazo, welcome to the 8th annual Merriweather Games! Before we begin today’s challenge, the PSY Corporation would like me to present to you this message from last year’s winner, Citizen Dawn.”

From a holographic projection in The Orator’s hand, the great Dawn appeared before the crowd with her first-place medal from last year’s games worn proudly around her neck. Resembling a heart-shaped locket, the Merriweather Medal was a symbol of the eternal life gained from winning the games. For, the grand prize each year is none other than a state-of-the-art metallic heart. Programmed with advanced computer systems, such a prize normally comes with a price tag of more than $1 billion and is able to sustain a human life for thousands of years, or so PSY Corporation claims.

“Today’s challenge will test your mental acuity. Consider it a warm-up for the more physically taxing challenges you will face in the coming days.” Citizen Dawn exclaimed. “The challenge is to come out on top in a high-stakes game of Poker. May the best Citizen win!”

“Oh, I am so winning this one.” Jack expressed in glee.

Having spent years playing virtual reality Poker before the world went to Hell, Jack was more poised than any other contestant to take home the win on day one. And he did just that. Landing a Flush of Hearts to knock out the final opponent, Jack left the first day of the games with a fancy new nickname- Jack of Hearts. But any confidence that filled his head was soon diminished on day two.

“Today’s challenge is the Tower Climb!” Dawn shouted from her hologram.

And just like that, Jack’s lead was diminished. In day two of the games, Katherine came out on top. Meanwhile, Jack managed to climb to the first checkpoint by using every ounce of strength in his body. Although he placed far from first, his achievement kept him in the games to fight another day.

Three more days of physically demanding challenges left Jack dead in last place with only one more challenge to go. Lying in his bed, Jack prepared mentally for the finale- the Walk of Terror. With this three-mile race serving as the final challenge each year, Jack was very familiar with what he was about to attempt. Little was known about what lived in the fog between the tenements and PSY Tower, but years of watching the games told Jack one thing- Almost all who entered the fog never came back.

There is no shame in forfeiting, Jack thought to himself, but then he remembered the words his mother had said. He had to see this through.

“Welcome to the Grand Finale!” exclaimed Dawn. “Today is the day. You all know the rules. Your current position dictates where you start in the race. Once the bell whistles, you must go through the fog. First person to enter the lobby of PSY Tower will be crowned the winner. Good luck.”

Starting half a mile behind the first-place player, Jack stumbled forward as the race commenced. Nearly eight minutes went by before Jack reached the fog, and what he heard during his approach made him nearly turn back…

SCREAMS! The terrifying calls of players in torment. What was this Hell? Was this evil worth enduring for the shot to heal his heart? Jack swallowed his concerns and went face first into the abyss.

A false sense of security filled Jack as he hobbled forward. He could see no dire scene. Just a blank void ahead. But after moving a couple hundred feet forward, Jack nearly had a heart attack!

Eyes, red eyes, glared in the distance with malicious intent. Another contestant, the timid Percy, appeared through the fog and the eyes emerged in pursuit, revealing a mechanical beast!

Possessing the shape of a wolf, the vile creature pounced with precision on the unsuspecting Percy, tearing into his flesh with a horrifying clamp of its jaw!

Having never seen such a sight, pure adrenaline filled Jack and, much to his own surprise, he grabbed a discarded spike of metal and threw it straight through the beast’s belly.

But that did not deter the hellhound from fulfilling its purpose. Dripping blue synthetic blood, the beast dragged Percy away, leaving Jack with the sudden realization this could be his last day on Earth. Despite the dread of it all, though, Jack felt a sense of peace. He was ready to meet his fate.

Whether it was a stroke of pure luck, or an act of clairvoyance, what Jack did next, he had no reason to do. Perhaps it was the fowl scent the blue blood emanated, perhaps it was his years of watching zombie apocalypse films. The world will never know, but something inside Jack told him to smear the blue blood on his body. He then walked straight ahead, and miraculously the beasts stayed at bay.

When Jack was a child, his favorite book was The Tortoise and the Hare. Jack had always identified with the slow-moving tortoise who had no rush to get ahead. And by random circumstance, Jack realized his destiny would soon be a fate not much unlike his childhood hero.

Two miles Jack walked, without any clues to the fate of his peers. With a tremendous sigh of relief, Jack exited the fog and looked up to see the grand sight of PSY Tower. He had made it, somehow. But was he the first one here? Jack took a few more steps forward, hoping to seal his victory. That’s when he heard a dire scream from none other than Katherine!

“Help me!” Katherine cried out in fear a few hundred feet behind Jack.

What a dilemma. Jack nearly had victory in his grasp. But not one to overlook a kindness, Jack did the unthinkable, and went back into the fog. There he saw Katherine, wrestling with a hound. That’s when, against his better judgement, Jack threw himself forward and entered the fight!

Jack grappled the beast, ripping it away from the struggling Katherine. Unable to hold the beast off long, Jack sustained a massive bite to the leg that ripped open his flesh. Screaming in pain, Jack prepared for the end. But that’s when Katherine came in to save the day!

Bashing in the beast’s face with a metal pipe, Katherine put an end to her violent tormentor, and watched as it collapsed into a pile on top of the terrified and mangled Jack.

“I can’t believe I actually ended up under a dog.” Jack said to try and laugh off the pain. “The Orator will get a kick out of this if we live to tell him.”

“I intend for both of us to live. Now, get up!” Katherine demanded as she held out a hand. The two then marched forward.

“Congratulations to our… winners!” Dawn exclaimed as she greeted Jack and Katherine in the lobby of PSY Tower. “This is the first year we’ve had two participants claim the top spot.”

“What the Hell was that out there? You know, you’ve got some nerve pitting us against those things. Who are you to put our lives in danger like that?” Jack angrily shouted.

‘We had to know you were worthy.” Dawn nonchalantly remarked. “Now, it’s time for you to claim your prize.”

From across the room, another Dawn and another Jack emerged, but they were… different.

“There is no hope for humanity any longer.” Dawn bolstered. “The age of the synthetic is here. You came here because you want to live forever. Well, I’m happy to let you know the genetic material of your fallen foes has made it possible for us to build a better you. Meet the new… Jack and Katherine.”