Sick and twisted game

Freya had no idea how stupid she looked right now. She had one goal in mind and that was getting this stupid rooster.

With a speed like lightning, she grabbed the rooster and before it could even cry out its beak was squeezed shut and Freya tip-toed out of this situation. Before she could turn to where Rose was she suddenly saw Isabella staring at her with a malicious grin.

When Freya glanced down she saw that in Isabella's hand was a rock. Isabella threw the rock at the roosters behind Freya causing a commotion.

The roosters crowed in anger with their wings flapping violently raising dust. Freya acted fast. She pulled the flags wrapped around the rooster with one whoosh before tossing the chicken at Isabella.

Isabella let out a scream as the claws of the chicken approached her face. She raised her arm in a defensive posture before running away.

Freya had already dodged into the passageway leading in the direction Rose was headed.

Behind her was at least half of the angry flock running after her. When she reached the place Rose was she grabbed her arm and yelled, "Run!"

Rose's body froze for a moment her eyes glued on the angry flock chasing after Freya. She was so terrified that she swore she would never eat chicken again.

Freya pulled her along and led her through several twists and turns before losing them. The two of them stood with their backs pressed on the wall panting heavily. "Are they gone?" asked Rose in a whisper as she struggled to catch her breath.

Freya peeked at the passageway and only saw the tail of the last rooster before it disappeared around the corner. She nodded her head and Rose heaved a sigh of relief as her body slowly slid down into a crouching position.

She pinched the collar of her dress and moved her hand back and forth to fan herself. Freya bent down with her hands resting on her knees while cursing Roan half to death. How was this even part of the selection process?

From what she read competitions in crocheting or dancing were preferred not this ridiculous maze with crazy roosters and who knows what else. It was all Roan's doing. He deliberately designed this competition for his own amusement. How boring could one's life have to be to come up with such a sick and twisted game to select a wife?

Freya took out the green flag and gave it to Rose. "Here. Hold on to this," she said and Rose stretched out her hand to take it only for her fingers to tremble when she heard blood-curdling screams like someone was being beaten to death.

A wave of excitement spread in the crowd and crown prince Roan leaned back in his seat. The corners of his hooded eyes rose into a slight arc as a glimmer of unknown light flashed in his pupils which was incredibly terrifying. He rubbed the ring on his forefinger with his thumb his intense gaze fixed on Freya in the maze. Everything she did fell into his sight leaving him with complex emotions.

Freya had no idea that she was being watched closely. They could be estimated to have collected ten green flags so far without any hindrances except a few roosters here and there.

This however didn't last long. As the saying goes 'enemies often meet along a narrow road', Freya bumped into Isabella and several other girls as soon as they turned the corner.

Isabella whose hair had been messed up by the rooster earlier was seething in anger her chest heaving deeply. She turned her head slightly and spoke to the girl next to her in a tyrannical voice, "Deal with her and as discussed all the flags on her person are yours."

The young woman who had come from a poor village and desperately needed money and a connection with the Martin family name didn't hesitate to offend Freya.

She glanced at another girl signaling her and the two rushed forward. Freya pushed Rose back while saying, "Run," and Rose immediately fled the scene without looking back.

Freya was quite unforgiving. These young women unlike the nobles who sat all day sipping tea in their posh gardens were strong as they helped their families with manual labour every day. This meant they wouldn't be as easy to deal with.

The first girl raised her hand to slap Freya but her wrist was suddenly caught mid-flight and her body slammed to the ground with a loud thud. Freya felt a sharp pain as her ponytail was pulled by the second girl. She reached over and grabbed the woman's arm before pulling her forward and slamming her to the ground her back slamming hard on a wooden box.

The smile on Isabella's face suddenly stiffened seeing how much she had underestimated Freya. The girls curled up on the ground in pain unable to get up. The force Freya had used just now was enough to make them give up on attacking her again. What was the use of money if they were dead? It simply wasn't worth it.

Freya took a step forward intending to teach this spoiled young miss a lesson when the wooden box cracked loudly and a mischief of rats suddenly came out of there running towards them.

Freya: "..."

Isabella: "..."

Freya glanced up in crown prince Roan's direction while screaming internally. She wasn't afraid of rats but a mischief of them was enough to give her goosebumps.

The screams coming from the maze were music to the crowd's ears. Roars of laughter and cheers ripped through the air almost shaking the colosseum at its foundation.

Freya ran aimlessly and before she knew it she was all alone with no soul in sight. As she slowed her steps a figure flashed out of nowhere and tackled her onto the ground.

Freya hadn't recovered yet from the shock but she instantly knew that this had nothing to do with the competition. This person harboured malicious intentions and wanted to harm her. She grabbed the person's thin wrist intending to swing the person off her body when she saw their other hand pulling out a suspicious-looking bottle.

She immediately struck the woman's hand but her reaction was a little slower as some of the contents touched her cheek.

Hissing in pain Freya shoved the woman off her body and as the woman crawled away she kicked her hard. For a person who was around medical powders and elixirs all her life, Freya reacted quickly. She wiped away the powder on her face as she staggered up to her feet.

The woman hadn't completed her task yet so she rose to her feet and with a sinister gaze she lunged forward but her chest was ruthlessly kicked and she fell backwards onto the muddy ground.

In the stands, a tall man stepped forward and whispered something to crown prince Roan. He raised his hand letting him know to stand down as his adam's apple rolled.