The Recall Trials
Chapter 97: Wolves In The Arena

Chapter 97: Wolves In The Arena

That’s when I heard it.

Footsteps.

Behind me.

I turned. It was George. He held something glowing in his palm. One of the artifacts.

"It was in the roots of a dead tree," he whispered. "Took me nine hours."

I nodded.

"Congratulations contestant 027."

We were survivors.

But only four people had found theirs so far.

Four... out of almost thirty left.

By nightfall, only six contestants had returned.

George.

A quiet girl named Eliah.

Freckles girl.

A guy that was all bruised and scratched up, but clutching a jagged artifact like it was his heart.

Someone I barely remembered.

And Zaara.

I wasn’t one of them.

Neither was Nomi. Nor Dinesh. Nor Theo. Nor Carter.

The speaker blared into the sky again:

"Nightfall has begun. You have 36 hours remaining.

Those who return without an artifact... will not return at all."

I sat in the dark, my back against a rock.

My eyes searched the shadows for answers.

Jojo’s voice echoed in my memory.

"Keep going."

I gritted my teeth. My body wanted to collapse.

But my soul was still burning.

In the middle of the night, something snapped me awake.

Branches cracked nearby.

I blinked into the gloom, and my heart stopped.

"Carter?!"

He stumbled out of the trees, his face streaked with dirt and blood. His jumpsuit was shredded across one arm, crimson soaking the fabric.

"Carter....oh my god!" I lunged forward, grabbing him as he nearly collapsed.

Tears spilled down his cheeks as he choked out, "Vince... I’m sorry... I couldn’t... I couldn’t find it..."

Blood dripped from his fingers.

I tried to steady him, my own voice shaking. "Hey. Hey, it’s okay. We’ll keep looking. We’ll find it. You’re not out yet."

But Carter’s eyes were glassy.

"I’m so tired, Vincent... so fucking tired..."

He broke down sobbing, clinging to me like a drowning man.

"Carter, look at me."

He lifted his head. His eyes were red, the same hollow look I’d seen on so many faces before they broke.

"You can’t give up," I said firmly. "Not after everything. Not after Jojo. And not with your daughter waiting for you. You think Zaara or Jojo would want you to quit? They’d slap the shit out of you right now."

He gave a wet, shaky laugh, though it died almost as quickly as it appeared.

"I know, I know... I just... I’m so tired. I’m scared. I keep thinking about Jojo’s bed being empty. And if I die... my little girl grows up alone."

"Then don’t die," I snapped. "We’re going to get out of this. You’re going to see your daughter again. And you’re going to tell her about Jojo, and how we fought like hell to make it home. Don’t let them win, Carter. Don’t you dare give them that."

He nodded silently, wiping his eyes.

"Okay," he whispered. "Okay... I’ll try."

We finally decided to get some rest. I didn’t even realize when sleep claimed me, until the crackle of the speakers jolted me awake.

"Good morning, contestants," boomed the Voice overhead.

My eyes flew open in panic. Damn it...it was already morning. How had I overslept?

By now, others would have woken up early to snatch the remaining artifacts.

I quickly nudged Carter awake.

"There are seven artifacts left," the Voice continued. "Failure to secure one will result in elimination. The game ends in twenty-four hours. The VVIPs have placed their bets on who will emerge victorious...

...Let the best players win."

My stomach churned. Around the room, contestants exchanged wary glances.

Just seven remaining?

Nomi , was braiding her damp hair beside me. She glanced up as a scream echoed from the other side.

I jumped to my feet.

Two masked guards came striding in, dragging two limp bodies by the arms. Blood streaked the floor behind them in sticky lines.

"Contestants 080 and 054 have been eliminated," the Voice announced coldly.

Carter staggered backward, pressing a hand to his mouth.

"Oh my..." nomi gasped. "Vincent... people are killing each other because of this game."

"I can’t believe it. They’ve actually done it... they’ve turned us into wolves."

Carter gestured.

"We’re hunting each other. For some metal tokens! People are stealing artifacts and killing to survive!"

Someone else shouted:

"They stole my artifact while I was asleep! You bastards!"

Another contestant shoved him.

"We’re not all murderers, man—"

"Then explain the dead bodies on the floor!"

Carter yelled suddenly:

"I want to report this to the voice. This is insane. They can’t just let people slaughter each other!"

He looked up, eyes blazing, toward the hidden speakers.

"HEY! You hear me?! People are killing each other in here! This wasn’t the deal!"

The Voice answered:

There are no rules.

Let the best player win.

A low murmur grew louder.

"No rules? What does that mean?!"

"It means they’re letting us wipe each other out, that’s what it fucking means!" someone yelled.

"So we’re just... free to murder each other for scraps now?"

"They’re turning us into animals," Nomi whispered beside me.

I felt my own heart pounding in my throat. The guards dragged the bodies away, leaving streaks of drying red behind them.

I turned to Carter, grabbing his arm.

"Listen to me. No matter what happens, we stick together. You, me, Nomi. We keep our heads, we don’t kill unless we absolutely have to. We can’t become what they want us to be."

He blinked, still trembling.

"But Vincent... what if it’s them or us?"

I hesitated.

"...Then we fight. But only if we have no choice."

Around us, the contestants argued, shouting, some crying.. Trust was evaporating.

Nomi touched my arm lightly.

"Vincent... I’m scared."

"So am I," I said. "But we’re not alone."

Let’s keep searching," Carter urged. "We still have a chance to find the remaining artifacts. But time’s no longer on our side."

With that, we began trudging back across the barren land, no food, no water, no shelter...only endless trees and the weight of our regrets.