Page 91 of Galaxy Games Four-Book Box Set (Galaxy Games)

91

It Couldn’t Be Easier

S adie

I wake in a soft bed covered by furred limbs. If I try hard, I can forget for a second that The Game isn’t over. For just a moment, I can imagine we’ve won and are lounging in bed with all the time in the world to express our love for each other.

I can’t sustain my daydream for long, though. For one, my nethers are screaming in pain from the pounding they took last night—all night long. Second, well, we both know today will be another contest. Since we’re down to six contestants, it’s obvious this will be our last competition and, quite possibly, our last day alive.

“Anubis?” I pause, hoping he’ll talk to me now that the controller is out from under his skin.

He gives a swift woof. Damn.

“I’d hoped…” I say.

He responds with a resigned shrug.

When I try to sit up, he grips my shoulder and eases me back to bed. He’s right, no klaxons are blaring. We’ve got a moment.

He shutters his eyes and kisses me. They’re soft, swift kisses that cover my face. In direct contrast with his desperate, feral consummations last night, these are declarations of love, not lust.

“I love you, too, Anubis.”

He pulls the sheet down and inspects me. When I look at my abdomen, all my wounds have healed.

“You have a magical tongue,” I say in all seriousness, then quip, “in more ways than one.” I waggle my eyebrows. God, that tongue knows just how to please. He proved that last night many, many times. Along with proving he has other magical body parts.

The klaxons sound and a robotic voice announces, “Five minutes. Be at the flagpole in five minutes.”

Anubis steals one last kiss, then we leap out of bed and pull on the clean clothes they’d provided last night.

We know the drill, so we’re at the flagpole with seconds to spare, just like the other two pairs.

Zedd’s not here. The floating hologram screens are playing highlights from yesterday, so after I hitch my backpack higher on my back, I finally introduce myself and Anubis.

“Erwann and Zrini,” the muscular green male says as he points to himself, then his partner, as he bashfully dips his head.

“He’s Ryo. I’m Shah,” says the female Halckon. They’re the same species as Zedd. Maybe every one of that species is good-looking. These two both are.

“This is awful and awkward,” I say. “We’ve been pitted against each other in such a heinous way.”

All six of us nod.

“One pair will win today. I…” Can I manage to say what I’m thinking? I force myself to. “We all need do what we must. I… will hold no hard feelings.” Phew. That was tough.

Erwann puts his hand out, palm down, between us all. His partner, Zrini, lays her palm on the back of his hand. Ryo and Shah do the same. I’m next, then Anubis lays his gargantuan hand on mine, dwarfing the entire stack.

“I could swear you got bigger,” Ryo says.

Although I’ve got no response to that, I don’t need to answer. Zedd’s strident voice cuts through the solemn moment.

“I hope you all aren’t conspiring against the network, trying to cheat the viewers out of a spectacular finish.” She scowls. “As I’m sure you guessed, today is the last contest.”

“You’re live, Miss Zedd,” her assistant Kartom says.

“Welcome, welcome all. I hope you’ve been watching all the action these last few days. Our couples did their best to entertain you All. Night. Long.” She gives a lascivious look straight into the camera. “It’s not too late to purchase the Passion Package upgrade. A one-time purchase will give you a lifetime of viewing pleasure.”

The cameras pan to us. They’re only showing us from the neck up. Possibly because we’ve still got our hands in a stack between us.

“Sadly,” Zedd says, “all good things must come to an end. Today will be our final contest. I’ve got a wonderful surprise for you all.”

Anubis may be the one with the long fangs, but her smile is more feral and devoid of emotion.

“I guess we’ll have to change the name of this program when it goes out into syndication because we’re NOT going to narrow it to one winning couple.”

Did I hear her correctly? All of us don’t have to die? Warm relief flows through me with such force I cover my mouth with a trembling hand.

“Any couple who makes it to the final flagpole before sundown at…” She checks the computer pad she’s holding in her hands. “At 8:00 will be freed, given a parcel of land, and a stipend.”

She smiles at the camera, then it seems she’s looking directly at us. If I hadn’t been studying her over the past few days, I’d never pick up her cues, but she’s stifling a look of pure glee when she says, “Yes females and males, any one of these people, single or paired, who returns to the flagpole by the time the last sun sets will receive their papers of manumission. In fact, I’m on my way there now to personally congratulate all winners and give them their documents and credits.”

Her smile widens as she says, “I guess you’re all wondering what today’s contest holds in store. Frankly, it couldn’t be easier.”

The fake applause soundtrack goes wild as my heart sinks. The other contestants aren’t stupid. We all picked up on the unspoken message.

None of us are going to make it out alive.