A Duel in the Sky?

“In and out,” Wendy mumbled as she walked briskly into Walmart. “Just get in and get out.”

Usually Wendy liked not to rush herself when grocery shopping, but time was running out. She had promised to make her friend lasagna tonight only to realize ten minutes ago that her roommate took the can opener with her when she left. And Wendy brought the canned sauce. Luckily, she had a feeling that this might have been the case so she checked for it before she actually started the lasagna. But lasagna took a long time to cook and it was her first time making it.

And Wendy was definitely not the fastest cook so she needed all the time she could get.

So with steadfast determination to not get distracted, Wendy headed straight for the kitchen appliance section. When she reached it, Wendy slowed down her pace, her eyes peeled for a can opener. One that wasn’t too expensive but not too cheap either, since it would just break on her sooner rather than later. The perfect middle ground.

Then she saw it. A nice-looking one, from a brand that she liked, and it was only four dollars. And to seemingly add to her luck, it was the last one. Perfect.

Wendy smiled as she grabbed it.

Only for that smile to disappear when she saw another hand grab it at the same time as she did.

Wendy turned her head to see a man, about the same age as her, staring at her with wide eyes.

“Uh oh,” he said meekly.

Less than a second later, both of them had been transported onto a light pink platform in the middle of an empty, blue space.

And no, according to others’ past experiences, it wasn’t the sky. Maybe.

“Welcome!” cried a deep, disembodied voice. “Thank you for being contestants for today’s fiftieth and fifth game!”

More light pink platforms lined in two rows appeared, all varying in size but none of them connected to each other. When Wendy squinted her eyes, she could see a platform with a white flag at the very end of them.

It was mid-afternoon and this was only the fiftieth-and-fifth time this happened? Well, that was better than before. From what Wendy read anyway.

A couple of months ago, after a couple of customers disappeared after fighting over a Kit-Kat bar, the eye-witnesses started freaking out. Only for the two missing people to return after a few minutes, and one of them to declare proudly that they were the winner. The other one started to explain that they got transported to a place where they had to play ‘live-action’ Mario to win the Kit-Kat bar.

If it wasn’t for the cameras and for other similar cases happening right after that, everyone would have dismissed them as crazy. As for why this started in the first place, apparently a doomsday fanatic wished on a star that this would happen to anyone who fought over a grocery item. Even if they just happened to grab the item at the same time.

Of course, the doomsday fanatic could have been lying but there was no evidence to prove him wrong so...who knew.

But thankfully, no one has died yet in these...competitions so people have generally accepted this to be another harmless part of life. Though some would argue that it was very annoying.

On the upside, retail employees are actually looking forward to Black Friday now.

“The can opener is by the flag,” the disembodied voice continued. “The first one there, or the last one standing, wins and gets to take the item home. On my mark…”

Knowing from others’ experiences that there was no way out of this, Wendy quickly got in front of one of the rows, or tracks, of platforms and got ready to run. The man silently did the same.

“Three, two…”

She could do this. Wendy used to play Super Mario Bros all the time. And she needed that can opener.

“One…”

Oh, who was she kidding. Wendy couldn’t even jump a hurdle in high school, let alone-

“Go!”

Despite her fear and trepidation, Wendy raced forward and braced herself for the first jump. The first platform looked like two blocks stuck together, much like in the game. It was only two feet away.

She could do this, she could do this, she-

Her feet pushed off against the edge and after a breath-stopping moment where Wendy had to close her eyes, her feet landed on something hard.

Wendy opened her eyes to see the first platform beneath her feet.

She made it!

“Woo-hoo!” Wendy cried in exhilaration as she couldn’t help but jump in place in joyful success.

Then the platform flashed brightly beneath her.

Wendy tried to move but it was too late. The platform disappeared beneath her feet and after a terrifying moment of falling, Wendy was back in Walmart.

...Seriously Wendy? Seriously?

Then the man suddenly reappeared, with the can opener in his hands.

“Congratulations,” Wendy said resignedly as she began to turn away, hoping that she could find a similarly-priced can opener somewhere else.

Only for the man to lightly touch her arm and all but shoved the can opener in her face. When Wendy turned to look at him, confused, the man looked very sheepish.

“I...I meant to grab the potato peeler.”