1 Chapter One

Ten seekers sealed off the room. At least ten, it's dark in here so there could easily be more. I hold my breath and shift my weight.

'How could I be so stupid? Getting cornered was a rookie mistake. '

Flinging an empty can to the other side of the room, I make a break for the door.

'Please only be ten.' My eyes dart around.

The moon shines through the broken doorway, confirming there were only ten. The corner of my mouth creeps up.

'Almost there! I'm going to make it!'

"Ouf—!"

Loose concrete catches my foot sending me crashing onto the floor. The loud banging of garbage and metal alert 'them' of my location. I curse and scramble towards the doorway.

'Stupid!'

A high pitch screechs reach my ears as I charge desperately into the night. They wont be far behind me.

'Dont let them touch you Sayer, just dont let them touch you.'

Fear clogs the back of my throat making hard to breathe. I'm running on pure adrenaline.

'If I fall now—no, i can't!'

I pump my legs faster at the thought of what will happen if I'm caught. To panicked and blinded by tears, the ground falls out from beneath my feet and I tumble down a steep cliff.

The moon spins above me. My skin tears on rocks as I drop. I splash into freezing cold water and my mouth opens on instinct. Gasping for air. I reach for the surface, but the strong current keeps me under.

'Is this it?'

A sharp rock cracks the back of my head leaving me to be swallowed by darkness.

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A loud siren pulls me from oblivion.

I groan and reach for my phone in my pocket.

I toss it away from me as the projection begins.

"Good morning contestants." The bright and cheery face of a woman appears. "Last night was an eventful night. Many of you had stumbled upon the seekers. The Acendants are very pleased and congratulate those of you who are left."

I glare up at her from my position on the dirt. There aren't enough words in the world to describe the seething hatred that burned within me.

The woman continues, "Remember the only way to leave the game is to beat the game. Good day."

"What a useless update. Can't they just leave us alone?" I seeth punching the earth. Where are you guys?

My hand hesitates and flops to my side. I need to keep going. Blaine and Lance are out there all alone. Because of me.

Hot tears threaten to spill from my eyes as I bite back the crushing weight of dispare.

'No one has ever beaten the game,' I grab my phone. 'Your only hope is to survive as long as possible.'

I glare at the phone.

"But we're getting out of here. Me and my brothers will be the first to beat your stupid little game." I sneer at the screen. It flickers back.

Always watching and always a pain in my ass. I real back my arm and hurl the phone as far as I can down river. I smile as the satisfying 'punk' of the water reaches my ears.

It's pointless to think the phone can be destroyed so easily. It always appears back in my pocket good as new. Another annoying feature of this "game" everyones in.

Phones ruled our lives way before before The Game. Now no one can live without them.

I smash the icon of the app. This app is what runs the game. I check my current condition. Not good, my ribs aren't broken, but they are fractured. This is gonna be a pain.

I prop myself up on a tree. Only now do I realise how bad my body hurts. The app wasnt kidding when it said "pain levels high".

Sucking in a breath, I lift my shirt to see massive bruising on my ribs. I push on the bruise. Hissing I close my eyes.

'I need to find a place to hide. I'm to exposed on the river bank and am in no condition to run deal with anyone.'

Using the tree for support I inch my way to my feet.

'Never again.' Going into town was a stupid decision, especially at night. Rushing head first into things are going to get you killed Sayer. But what wont in this place?

Clutching my ribs I put my phone back in my pocket and start to stumble through the forest. Maybe there's and abandoned house around here or even a shack would be ok at this point.

Panting, I stop and lean against a tree. This is going to take forever. My phone vibrates in my pocket. I pause and look down at my pocket.

'Its never done that.'

Pulling it out again I see OBLIVION has a notification.

"What in the—?"

I click to open it.

-Two Miles North-

What? Is? Are these directions? What's two miles north?

I stare at the phone for a while. It vibrates again as another message appears.

-Better hurry, seekers close-

I curse under my breath whipping my head around scanning for seekers.

I'd have to be dumber than I thought to accept help from this devil phone.

Ignoring the instructions I start heading south.

"Take that you ego centric pricks!"

I jam the phone back into my pocket and break a branch off a tree using it as a staff to help me walk.

A loud scream comes from the area in front of me.

Seekers. I quickly turn back around. Half running and half stumbling through the forest.

They told the truth about the seekers, but it doesn't mean I trust them.

I'll go east instead of north, just to be safe.

'PING'

Not now stupid phone!

'PING'

"Shut up! You're going to lead them to me!" I harshly whisper.

'ping' At least its softer. Gritting my teeth I hide behind a tree and lean against it.

Pulling out my phone I read the new notifications.

-I said North-

-Your left-

-Two miles north or the siren goes off-

My hand starts to shake as I clench my teeth.

I hate Ascendants. Cornering me with your 'dogs' just to get your way. Like being stuck here wasn't hell already.

I start to hobble again, this time North. Helpless, completely helpless against them. How am I supposed to get us all out of here if I cant even make the decision of what direction I walk in?

One things for certain. I'm pissed off and hungry.

The only reason I even went into town was to try and find food. Those damn seekers picked up my tracks and pinned me inside a shop with one exit. Didn't even get a can of beans.

I slowly continue forward stopping periodically when my breathing gets to ragged and the pain in my ribs is too much. Each step increases my hunger as well. Luckily, I remembered to gather water from that river I almost drowned in.

You can survive three weeks with little to no food, but only three days with no water.

I pause. Plump red berries dangle from the branches of a tree not too far from me. My stomach growls. Trying one shouldn't be too dangerous right? It's a small amount, I can handle it. Probably.

I pluck one gently from the tree being careful to avoid the sharp flat leaves. Slowly bringing it to my lips. Is the risk worth a single berry?

I need to find my brothers and get them out of this hellscape. It's my fault they're in here I can handle a few days of hunger. Who knows what they've gone through.

The day this all began flashes in my mind.

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