Sorry this one came out a bit late!

And Ace, thanks for all that info. Really helpful. I promise to get all the details right in my next stories.


Alicia immediately whipped around when she heard the rustle and her knives went flying from her hand to the dense bushes. A shriek emanated from whatever poor creature had been struck down. Alicia clucked her tongue, clearly annoyed and disappointed. It's just a possum, its head lolled to the side, taking quick dying breaths. Though her food supply was getting low, Alicia decided to leave the rodent, for she thought eating them was way too disgusting. Squirrels and rabbits will do; possums are just.. No.

She continued her trek, fingers never losing their grip on her throwing knives. This other girl, her ticket to getting out of this place, she's one good hider. Though she never failed to scan her surroundings using her heightened sight, she had not once caught sight of Savannah. Not once.

Suddenly, a slot opened up underneath. Alicia jumped back in time to avoid falling into it. Slowly, a huge, spotlessly white box ascended up, stopping just in front of her. She sniffed at it suspiciously, and decided against opening the lid; for all she knew, there might be a mutt lying in wait for her. Then a voice boomed from the skies up ahead. The clear blue sky disappeared, replaced by Hazard's sneering face.

"Finalists! Listen up!" he called out. "Both of you have a huge white box placed in front of you. This box is one of 2 things, a blessing or a curse. 2 boxes, 2 different contents. One of the box holds countless weapons and supplies necessary for you to survive. Now the other box holds a 10 foot long serpent that Daedalus has personally created in that lab of his. Don't worry, the serpent won't kill you; I want you guys to kill each other, and having the snake kill you off kinda defeats that purpose. So no, it won't kill you, but not killing doesn't mean not hurting. The serpent will just chase you around until it has you in its jaws and it'll drag you to where the other tribute is. And then there you go, a bloody mess, while your contender gazes down at you, weapon in hand, fully replenished by her newly attained supplies. And that, my dears, will be the end of you."

Hazard took a deep breath, clearly out of breath after describing their death scenario in detail. "Now it's not a must for you to open that box. I'm just saying, I'll be draining all the rivers and pools in the jungle and stopping the rain. I might even get rid of all the animals. The temperature will greatly increase during the day and decrease during the night. Remember, exposure can kill just as easily as a knife, so those supplies would be a big help. Then again, maybe dehydration is better than getting dragged by a 10 foot long serpent in its jaws. The choice is yours to make, finalists. And if you choose to open it, then may the odds be ever in your favour."

"I swear, that quote is the bane of my existence," Alicia grumbled in her head.

With that, he signed off, the sky returning back to normal, as if his face had never been projected there before. The projection had shown Alicia just how small the arena had become; a measly one-third of its original size. Then why hadn't she caught sight of Savannah yet?

Whatever. She had bigger things to worry about.

She placed her hands tentatively on the top of the box, shivering a little when her skin made contact with the cool surface. Should she take the risk? Those supplies would be great, what with Hazard draining all the water and getting rid of all the animals.

Then again, that senile jerk-face had a point; it's better to die of dehydration than coming face to face with the serpent. She scolded herself immediately after she thought that. What was she thinking? She's a Career for goodness' sake. Careers are strong, confident, born to win; certainly not some cowardly pip-squeak afraid of a mutt. The words her father had once burned into her head back in her younger days resurfaced, throbbing in her head.

Harden up. You are a weakling if you're afraid. Always remember that the weak perishes, and the strong survives.

"I'll show you," she whispered, her voice steeled with determination. She was Alicia Carstairs, daughter of Alexander Carstairs the Great, and 'weak' is NOT in her dictionary.

With that, she bit the hilts of three of her knives, and gripped another three in her left hand. Just in case it really is a mutt. She took a deep breath, then swung the lid open.


Savannah didn't want anything to do with that box. She didn't even want to go near it; she put a distance of 5 metres between herself and the box. She was in two minds about opening it; those supplies would be great, but the serpent chewing on her part? Forget it. She was worried though. She had less than a litre of water left in her plastic bottle, and the nearest water hole is around 3 miles away. It'll take a long time to get there, and by then Hazard would've drained it anyway. There was also the problem of the arena getting reshaped. There's no telling what kind of changes Hazard had done to the place.

Maybe she should take her chances on the box.

Face wearing a mask of determination mixed with fear, Savannah crouched down and placed her ear on the side of the box, gulping nervously as she tried to make out a sound; an inhuman growl, the clacking of teeth, anything.

There was nothing. Either this box is soundproof or it's the supplies box. Or the serpent's being real quiet so it'll catch her off guard. Savannah ruffled her hair in frustration. She tried knocking the box softly on the side, but there was no response.

It's clear now that the only way to find out what's inside it is to open it. Savannah placed her right palm on the lid, her other hand gripping tight to the bow. "Alright, it's now or never."

Savannah swung the lid open so hard, it creaked on its hinges, threatening to break apart. Savannah jumped back a few steps, explosive arrows ready to fly if a serpent should come out. 5 seconds, 10 seconds passed. Nothing jumped out. Not even a flicker of shimmering scales or a pink, wet forked tongue.

Could it be?

Was she really this lucky?

Savannah took a step forward, trying to be as quiet as possible, arrows still strung to her bow. Another step, and another. When she was finally close enough, she tip-toed, and peered inside.

Rows upon rows of different types of arrows, knives of all shapes and sizes, water bottles filled to the brim and saltine crackers. Savannah blinked, trying to process this thought. The odds had been in her favour.

She had gotten the supplies.

She had actually gotten the supplies.

Savannah was so happy she squealed loudly before she realized where she was and clasped her mouth shut using her hand. If the supplies were with her, then that must mean the mutt was in the other box. She wondered what happened to poor Alicia. Had she opened it yet?

As if on cue, a thunderous inhuman roar was heard, along with the cracking sound of several tree trunks being snapped at once. This was followed by the unmistakable scream of a girl.

Alicia had let the beast loose. That means the serpent will eventually slither here, a wounded Alicia in its jaws. A wave of nausea crashed down upon her, but she fought it down. She had to be ready. Alicia was strong, one of the strongest Careers. She might well fight and kill off the serpent. All Savannah can do now is wait and replenish herself. And plan.

She had gotten this far. She wasn't planning on losing after all that.


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