5 Chapter 3: The 3 Gates

The Reapers gaze lingered upon them all, the moment of truth at hand.

"On my mark, your movement will be unsealed, and the gates will emerge for the contest to start. On 3, 2, 1… Begin!"

As the Reaper had said, the gates began to emerge from the shifting grounds. A gate of blue to signify magic, a gateway of green to signify the Warrior, and a gateway of red to signify the knight.

As Zane lurched forward suddenly unfrozen, he was surprised to find an iron-wrought shiv in his hands. He noticed, based on the apprehensive looks of everyone else around him, that every single soul within the arena also were armed with shivs.

With all the participants armed, the Reaper took the opportunity to fly away, taking one last minute for a slight bow before leaving the arena. The flying being headed straight towards the orange sphere above head before disappearing entirely from sight.

With the departure of the Reaper, all the participants who had been locked in place suddenly had their independence and had no idea of how to react. Many of the souls looked around in confusion, unsure of how to proceed or what to do, even though it had just been explained. But just as many understood and realized the meaning of the game they were playing, and Reapers words and pushed their way through the crowd at knifepoint, heading to their gates of preference.

For Zane, he quickly realized what a weak position he was in. Being in the middle of the arena, he wasn't close to any of the 3 gates. The nearest gate to him, which was still on the other side of the massive crowd, was the gate of the arcane. Zane might not know anything about his prior life, but he did know that he had 0 desire to be a wizard, cleric, or some kind of Spellsword. The path of the Warrior didn't hold any appeal for him either.

All around him, the crowds began to surge. Moving like panicked animals as bodies pressed against body, each soul desperately trying to push through the crowd. No one wanted to be one of the left behind. Zane counted himself in that group and pushed along with the rest of them.

Pushed until nearby, Zane saw a young boy get pushed to the ground as the others carelessly tramped over him. Every one was so concerned with themselves that no one stopped for a second to help the kid. Zane didn't bother to count, but every single soul that ran past was unconcerned and unaware of the damage they were causing. All but one. I can't just let the kid die. Zane chided himself with a groan of fake self-pity.

With a surge of energy, Zane ran forward towards the kid, and away from the gates. Something in his mind snapped as he ran towards the boy, even as the strength of the crowd surged against him. The closer to the kid he got, the worse the struggle became until he reached the kid.

Zane was aware of the danger to himself as he avoided strikes to his knees and elbows, mostly accidentally, and some on purpose. In one fluid motion, Zane picked up the boy from the ground, announcing himself "Hey, I'm Zane, don't panic, I'm getting you out of here." The kid tiredly nodded in appreciation as Zane carried him to a small clearing in the crowd closer to the center of the arena near the stage where he had started. Well, piss, it doesn't matter if I saved this kid or not if none of us are getting through a gate on time.".

It wasn't all a loss, though. Zane realized he had moved somewhat closer to the shield gate. The path of the knight seemed a good fit for Zane and matched the values he wasn't sure up until that moment he possessed. Maybe I was a good guy? Zane thought in musing about his past life. That would make me a decent guy right? Wanting to help somebody. At least I know I know I wasn't a monster.

"Hey kid," Zane said, looking at the kid he had saved before he started moving towards the shield gate. "You better get moving if you don't want to be left behind. I'd wait for you, but I don't want to get left behind either, but you're more than welcome to follow behind me as I try to clear a path. If you don't follow me, good luck. I hope to see you on the next floor."

Zane waited for only a second to see if the kid would respond to the offer, but the kid didn't say anything. His eyes had grown sullen and downcast. A far-away detached look on the kids face. He's gone. This place has already taken him. With a sigh, Zane began to run towards the Knight gate, an edge of panic to his movement as he realized over half of everyone that had started with him had already passed through a gate.

Zane tried to force his way through. Knocking over the timid and lingering souls that had not yet come on ahead. He was anxious to get through a gate. It had only been minutes, yet hundreds had already passed through. As he weaved through the crowd, Zane was able to slip through a small group of souls who were trying to negotiate between each other who should go first and what their team composition might look like on the next floor. I don't have time for this. Zane pushed through them and kept running. When he got closer to the gate, maybe 10 to 15 meters away from the gates, the portal still open and shining with energy.

So close to his goal, it was with surprise when Zane felt a hand on his back, pulling him on the shoulder and spinning him around. Dizzy from the rapid motion, Zane found himself face-to-face with a younger woman. She had an angry expression on an otherwise pale and freckled face. With a thin frame and wild hair

At first, Zane thought her sickly and frail, right up until the moment her fist connected with his jaw sending him sprawling across the field the force of the blow stunning and disorientated him. As he fell, Zane dropped the shiv, and the knife went flying. Zane didn't see where it landed and wasn't able to retrieve it. Just my luck. Zane told himself in misery, but his problems didn't end there, as many of the other souls saw an opportunity to surge forward, most running over his body on their way to the gate.

"The Shield Gate is Closed" A nearby voice rang out, drowning out the disappointed and desperate disgust of those who had been right at the gate. As Zane looked up at the speaker, he sure aa he did that his ribs had been broken. The taste of blood was heavy in his mouth. Zane recognized the speaker, it was the same woman who had sent him sprawling to the ground.

Slowly, Zane pulled himself up, the crowd around him dispursing, running in panic towards the remaining two gates. Zane turned around and started heading towards the arcane gate. It hadn't been his first pick, but he realized he had made a mistake of trying for the knight gate. He should have just gone towards the safer, closer pick.

I'm not going to make it. Zane thought with panic as people easily streamed passed him. His leg had gone lame and it was dragging in the arena grass. Fear traveling down his spine as Zane realized he wasn't going to make it in time. He would be left behind. His soul was doomed. His fears were realized as another voice called out that the arcane gate had just closed. Zane didn't even need to look to know everyone who remained was making a mad dash for the final gate.

Everyone but the kid he had saved earlier and the woman who had sent him sprawling. The kid seemed to have regained some of his senses, and they all locked eyes in understanding as the kid threw Zane a shiv he had found. The woman spoke up, voices what they were all thinking. "We aren't going to make it to the last gate. We have got a better chance if we all team up, agreed?"

Zane agreed. As did the kid. "I'm Zane." He said, introducing himself. An awkward pause came up between them as each admitted they didn't remember their names. "Alright, well, if the meantime, you can be Tiffany, and you can be Alan."

From across the arena, a chorus of angry screams could be heard as an anguished voice lamented in agony"The last gate is down."