I don’t know how in the blink of an eye my throat got so dry and how extremely difficult it has become to sit still and not fidget. The entire room has become so quiet. If I closed my eyes and didn’t know where I was, I would think that I was alone.
“The first phase of the Savage Run will be held in the Nation of Normark,” President Volkov announces. The spectators burst into applause—the rest of the participants from Culmination and myself also clapping dutifully—but I sense that some of the enthusiasm displayed by the other participants is more to drown out their fears than from any real excitement. Three women and one man enter the stage carrying Normark’s flag—a green flag with a white and blue cross through it. They eventually make it to their seats and sit down.
President Volkov continues. “Normark, as you all know, has never been part of any republic or united order. They could be labeled loners.” He laughs, and the gathering joins in. “As an independent nation, they have done very well, and we salute their leaders for holding to the traditions of the old world. Normark is, in short, famous for its beautiful soaring mountains and gorging fjords, and it is in this dramatic environment that you will begin your journey to freedom. In the first round of phase one, you will run a marathon—twenty-six point two miles—across a landmine-speckled field. In the second round of phase one, you will swim ten miles in e-conda infested waters—a genetically altered anaconda that is capable of generating one thousand volts of electricity.”
I’ve never been a good swimmer, or a fan of any type of water predator, but President Volkov continues to talk before my mind comes up with all the scenarios in which I’ll drown.
“Last, but not least, in the third round of the first phase, you will climb Devil’s Cliff, and complete phase one by jumping into the fjord two hundred feet below. For those of you who don’t know, Devil’s Cliff is the deadliest cliff known to man.”
I look over at Arthor, wondering how he feels about jumping off the cliff. Arthor’s face is composed—ashen—making me think there’s a storm brewing inside.
“Is it even possible to survive a two hundred foot fall?” I whisper. No one answers.
“The second phase will be held in the Republic of South Newland,” President Volkov announces. Two men and two women step onto the stage, parading around with smiles on their faces, waving the Republic of South Newland’s flag in the air. Finally, they make their way to their seats and smile, nodding to the leaders of Normark.
“The Republic of South Newland has a plethora of caves and waters.” President Volkov greets each of the leaders with a handshake, his smile coming across as a forced grin. After they sit down, he continues speaking. “During the first round of phase two, you will find yourselves balancing across floating disks, high above Black Valley. During the second round, you will literally be elevated to new heights, and during the third round, you will encounter a surprise obstacle course. Finally, the third and last phase will be held in…” he waits for the crowd to grow anxious. “Do you want to know?”
“Is he seriously asking us that?” Arthor whispers. I stymie a despairing laugh by clasping my hand over my mouth. I’m so nervous that my hands feel like icicles and they’re trembling.
“I can’t hear you. Do you want to know?” We cheer, though we are far from enthusiastic.
“The O-Region. And the Eastern Republic will be benefitting this program.” Murmurings go through the crowd while the final four leaders—all men—parade the stage with the Eastern Republic flag waving above their heads. Like me, many of the Laborers in Newland still consider the super nation traitors because they didn’t send help when the rogue Unifer army usurped our country. I don’t understand why the Eastern Republic didn’t stop the rogue Unifers, but my father says it was because the rogue army had grown so big that the Eastern Republic was just glad to be rid of the threat of attack.
“The Outer Region?” Arthor says, his mouth dropping open.
Eastern Republic scientists were commissioned to recreate extinct beasts like the saber-toothed tiger and some of the more fearsome dinosaurs. When that succeeded, it was rumored that the scientists had also begun to create new creatures based on old mythologies, like dragons and sea monsters.
After President Volkov greets the four men, he continues. “During this part of the event, you will cross Magma Island, find your way through the Caves of Choice, and finally encounter Savage Jungle, where the most vicious beasts—not known to the average man—live.”
Johnny must have seen my worried expression because he leans over and says, “Don’t worry; you won’t make it that far.”
“Don’t worry, neither will you,” Arthor says without looking at him.
Johnny scoffs, but sits back in his seat.
“Now, let me talk about prizes. Participants who complete the Savage Run in its entirety, and score high enough in the appropriate areas, will be granted Class-1 Master citizenship. But the top three fastest will receive extra perks. The third fastest participant will receive one million Newkos.”
The gathering gasps. One million Newkos is enough money to maintain a very comfortable lifestyle for many years.
President Volkov continues. “The second fastest participant will receive five million Newkos.”
I feel the energy build in the room.
“And the fastest participant, the ultimate Savage of all, will receive ten million Newkos.” He pauses, letting it all sink in.
“And now, for our very special guest. A jewel so rare he stands out like a solitary star on a black night. A boy braver than any other here—a dreamer in his own right. A young man who possesses all the Savage Run was founded upon—the courage to have faith even when all the odds are against him. Please welcome to the stage, Joseph Wood.”
It takes me a moment to grasp that President Volkov invited me to join him on the stage; I’m not quite used to responding to my new name. I look over at Nicholas, who looks just as surprised as I probably do, and then I catch a quick glimpse of Johnny—whose face has turned beet red.
“Don’t be afraid, young man,” President Volkov says. “I heard how horrible the press has been toward you and I wanted to reward your valor publicly, among the bravest. While they may see you as foolish, I see you as a young man destined for great things.” He reaches his palm toward me.
Somehow I manage to stand up and Mai takes my arm and escorts me to the stage. If only my knees would stop knocking and I could breathe I might be able to make a good first impression. He could have my head if he wanted to so I had better figure a way to keep my wits about me.
Once up the stairs, I join President Volkov at the stand. From this distance, I see all the wrinkles that line his face—the grooves of an angry man.
“What a handsome fellow.” He takes my hand and raises it up with his, high into the air. About a third of the audience cheers, so my guess is that many of them aren’t very glad that I’m here. Or they feel so sorry for me that they can’t muster the strength to cheer for such a sad scene. By the time President Volkov lowers my hand, all the energy has been sucked out of the room, but it doesn’t deter President Volkov at all. He doesn’t seem to be a man who cares what others think.
President Volkov wishes me good luck and tells me to go sit back down again. On the way down the steps, I trip, almost landing on my face. Now everyone will think I’m a klutz, which I’m not usually, of course, just when thousands of people are watching me.
The ceremony continues and each of the representatives of the hosting countries take the stand for a few minutes, speaking of how privileged they are to be part of something so grand. Even though the countries backing the Savage Run don’t subscribe to our hierarchical society, they seem happy enough to support it. And of course they can when they’re receiving oil in exchange.
O. J. takes over from there. He says that phase one is not about how fast one completes the obstacles. If you survive it, you move onto phase two. If you quit, you’re sent back home and if you die, well, no need explaining that.
“But it gets harder,” O. J. says. “To move on beyond phase two, participants must be in the fastest fifty percent. The slowest fifty percent will be sent packing. Everyone who completes the third phase and qualifies according to Master standards will be granted Class-1 Master citizenship.” Of course he doesn’t mention what those qualifications are, and I have a feeling I will never know. He continues, “No one is allowed to kill or harm anyone.”
Strange. During the highlights, they showed several participants who did exactly that.
“Once the first phase is completed, the survivors will be brought back to Trollheim, the capital of Normark, for a benefit gala to raise funds for the survivors of the Savage Run.” Then he goes over the penalties. “Participants who veer off any course will be disqualified and participants who start ahead of the clock will receive the severest of penalties. Other warning signs and prompts will be given along the way.”
Does this mean they’ll be imprisoned? Killed? I sure don’t want to find out.
“I wish you all the very best, my friends, and may your strength last you all the way to the end, and may honor and might be with you every step, every stroke, and every decision,” O. J. says. “Now the time has come for the first obstacle course to begin. Registrars, remind your participants about the shortcuts. Participants say farewell to your registrars and exit through these doors.” O. J. points behind him to the right of the stage to the gigantic steel double door. “Registrars, please wait until your participants leave, and then proceed to exit through the doors you came in.” The Savage Run anthem blares through the speakers again.
“You ready?” Arthor asks me.
“No,” I say. And I’m not—not even close, but I still stand up. Mai comes over to me.
“Did Nicholas tell you?” she asks, her eyes demanding.
“Yes.”
“Good. I’ll see you on the other side.” She turns away from me, but not before I notice how she closes her eyes and exhales.
Nicholas finishes saying farewell to the others, and then he approaches me.
“Remember what I told you,” he says. “Just look for the shortcuts and safe zones; they’re everywhere. But if you don’t find them, just keep moving. Not all rounds have short cuts or safe zones.” He turns to the rest of the participants from Culmination. “For the last jump, make sure you jump feet first, no interlocking of the fingers, close your eyes and plug your nose.” He hugs me like he did Arthor before me, patting me on the back and whispers in my ear, “When you get back, maybe we’ll see about that dancing.”
Suddenly my ears feel hot and I find myself not wanting to let go. I don’t understand why. Maybe it’s because he’s been kind to me or maybe it’s because I’ve started to feel safe around him. And safety is what I need right now since I feel like that little chickadee, fallen out of my nest, waiting for the end. Waiting for the predator.
Except…there’s no one who will come and save me. I’m completely and utterly alone in this. If I am to survive, I have to save myself. I have to trust my every instinct.
Yet, unlike the bird, I have the ability to get up and run. And I’m the one charging toward the predator, hunting it down, challenging it to do its worst