Page 93 of The Truths We Burn

Together, we make it to where the rest of the group has congregated, pooling around a small wooden stage where they sometimes perform aquatic-themed shows for little kids. Tonight, it is the starting point, where we’ll find out what we’re up against.

We stand near the back, and when the music dims and the sound of boots replaces it, we watch as four cloaked figures walk up onto the platform. They stand still, all of them facing the front, while one of them holds a torch in his right hand.

They peer down at us, waiting. Everyone settles their voices, the mass silencing. They’re all wearing gas masks, their identity shielded from us. My heart thumps inside my ears, the blood rushing quickly around my body.

“Welcome to the Gauntlet,” one of them speaks, his voice carrying. It’s not something loud or obnoxious; it’s opaque and threatening. It heeds an unspoken warning that while this may be fun, it won’t be easy.

Apprehension trickles into my bloodstream, my eyes looking around at both our opponents and teammates. Some of them are equipped with book bags that have who knows what inside, making me feel unprepared.

It’s that feeling of right before you head inside a haunted house—it sounds like a fun idea when you’re in the back of the line, but now that you’re next up, it seems a lot scarier.

One of the figures strikes a match, the hiss of the flame echoing, just before they light the end of the torch and hold it up in the air with purpose.

“As tradition goes, Ponderosa Springs selected the location, and now West Trinity must share the game they have selected,” he says.

Another one speaks this time. “This year’s game will be Capture the flag.”

“Let’s fucking go!”

“Hell yeah!”

Chants and shouts reverberate. The energy in the area is charged, electrifying like you’re holding on to a live wire. It passes through us all.

I look over at Briar and Lyra. “Simple enough, right?”

“Easy,” Briar reassures.

“The flags have already been hidden in your directed areas. You can play as a unit or separately, but the object is the same. Get the other team’s flag before they get yours. West Trinity will start in the north and Ponderosa Springs in the south. When you reach the starting place, a siren will let you know when the game has begun.”

Thirty-five acres of water rides surrounded by pines—all of it fair play. They could be anywhere.

It was a lot of space to cover. Almost too much.

“Anything goes. No rules. No regulations,” they state. “Winner takes all, and as always, try not to die.”

“Guys,” Lyra puffs, “I can’t breathe.” She holds her side, bending over a bit as she sucks in air deeply.

“Shh,” I whisper, a thin line of sweat stuck to my forehead, my chest aching from pulling in cold air.

We’re hidden behind a dunk tank, the booth shielding us from the front. We’re in their territory and have been for the last twenty minutes, with no luck in finding the flag. A sharp whistle pierces my ears as I watch another flare land a few feet in front of us.

My eyes are itchy from the smoke they let off—apparently, they’d brought an entire arsenal of things to prevent us from winning: smoke grenades, flares, booby traps of all kinds. I saw a guy get pepper sprayed.

I’m afraid because it’s apparent they will do anything to win. Even if it means causing harm.

My entire body hurts from running.

We’d stuck to the plan: lie low, stay out of sight. We aren’t strong enough or equipped with anything that could fend off our opponents. So we decided going for their flag was a better plan than finding ours and protecting it.

We’d maneuvered our way through the park, dodging West Trinity players.

“All the indoor rides are locked. There is no way it’s inside. It has to be up high somewhere,” Briar mutters, keeping her voice low.

“The only place that’s elevated in this area is the Drop Zone. It’s a little bit ahead of us, but everything else over here is low to the ground.”

“Let’s head that way, then. We need to hurry, I doubt Easton and his posse are going to be able to fend off West Trinity for much longer.”

I scan the area one more time before we break from cover, pacing slowly and trying not to make any noise. Screams and ominous sounds resonate in the distance. Every single creak or howl from the wind has me on edge.