Jeremiah Allcott
Jerry, no, it doesn't suit this look. I looked at my reflection, trying my hardest to pick a name to suit this cheap but surprisingly well tailored suit. Hmmmm, Jeremy, No, still not feeling it, ugh. I combed a hand through my short ginger hair, giving my usual look a slight roughness to it which, yeah, that looks good. I bent down picking up the cane from where it lay, the thick wood was the same dark black as the suit I wore and it seemed to complete the costume. Hmm, Jeremiah, yeah, that doesn't sound too bad actually, I ran a hand over the entirety of the cane, feeling the grooves with my fingers. I turned from the mirror, heading over to the jewelry box and opening it. Rings, watches and necklaces reflected the overhead light at me and the glinting appeal of the items within seemed human-like, as if each expensive piece was vying for attention. I glossed over the more expensive items, today wasn't a day where I was a millionaire, nor was I a lucky man who had just won some money. Today, I was Jeremiah Allcott, I run a small business that had just landed a successful contract and I am here to celebrate. But what type of small business? That question was bound to come up, how about acquisitions, I find curiosities for specific individuals and I had managed to succeed in a lucrative contract. I could even state that due to my contract, I couldn't divulge what I found and how much it netted me. It would make those listening intrigued about my work, which will make this all the more easier. I picked out a couple rings, placing them on my fingers. I looked down at my hands, Not again, I thought as I pulled off my wedding ring. That was over, I didn't need to wear it any longer. I breathed out and forced a smile, not too wide, don't show teeth, people in places like this don't like that, just enough to show confidence. As I walked into the corridor, various hotel staff and guests rushed by, a sense of utter panic laden on their faces. As they were confused, it was the perfect time to fish. Sure enough, they didn't notice my hands in their pockets, retrieving the first thing that my fingers touched. A few were duds, lipsticks, condoms, the odd coin or two, but I managed to pull a couple of phones free and a couple wallets. I removed the SIM cards and left the phone off, I then pocketed all cash from the wallets and as I moved down the corridor, I placed the SIM cards and wallets in the bins.
The usual sounds of greed and sorrow didn't greet me as I entered the casino, instead it was empty. I looked about, seeing a lone guard standing watch in case someone was here to take advantage of the empty casino.
"You can't come down here, place is closed," the guard said as he noticed me.
"Can I ask why, I have just seen the chaos upstairs, people running everywhere, but I don't know why ?" I replied and as I finished speaking, the guard's face seemed to pale.
"You didn't see?"
"Didn't see what?" I asked, but the guard simply fetched his phone from his pocket and brought up the local news. I read it and I scoffed in response, "that can't be real, you can't be expecting me to believe that are you?" But the guard's face told me everything, Shit, it was real.
"Very real sir, due to this occurrence my boss has deemed this place closed until the chaos outside has subsided." Suddenly all around us, monitors flared to life, the words The Maze was written on the screen in calligraphy. Then as the text faded, I stumbled backwards, dropping my cane. Henry? Why? Why was he on the screen? I lunged forwards, surprising both myself and the guard at my outburst.
"What game is this? Why is my son on that screen?" I shouted as I gripped the guard's collar tighter.
"Sir, sir, please calm down, I don't know what is going on any more than you." I looked into his eyes that had shown fear for the briefest of moments but then they changed into a different emotion. I dropped him as I recognised my mistake, I shouldn't care, Henry's actions were his alone to take, I taught him better than that. I breathed out and picked up my cane from the floor.
"I, I am sorry," I muttered, trying my hardest to sound convincing and the man smiled a sad little smile before he responded.
"Don't worry about it," he replied, his words genuine, "If I had seen my daughter on that screen, then I would have lashed out at someone too." A tear fell from his eyes and as he noticed the wet trail on his skin, he wiped them dry.
"Did you, lose, her then?" I asked in that tone that made me seem sympathetic. "Your daughter to that, thing, a few weeks ago," the guard nodded. "I, I am very sorry to hear that," I stepped towards him again. "I might not be that close to my son, but if I ever saw him in trouble, I would happily step in and take his place. I assume you would have done the same, if given the choice." Tears fell more freely now as the guard nodded, agreeing with me. "I would like to know, if you are ok with telling me about that night, it seems to me, that you haven't had a chance to speak to anyone about it, so if you would like, I am more than happy to stay here and listen to your story."
"I, I think I would like that," the guard said.
"And what is your name?"
"It's Jim."
"Jeremiah, but you can call me Jerry, is there a better place to talk where we can sit down?" The guard nodded and led me to a small lounge area at the bottom left corner of the room where he could still see the entrance. We sat in silence for a short time before Jim started talking. I tried my best to not to show my true feelings on my face, I needed to see how he felt, needed to see his emotions, how he worded himself as he spoke of that night his daughter died. I needed to see how to replicate and use that if- I stopped my train of thought, as I glanced past Jim and saw Henry sprinting down a hallway, a colossal figure behind him. I might need Jim's story sooner than later.
Lilly Sterling
I threw my arms around Harold, holding him tight, feeling his small frame within the cage of my embrace. Never again, I won't let go of him again. I felt tears pry themselves free as I remembered the panic, the dread. That feeling of rushing into his room and seeing him gone, only to see him on that screen. I looked up at God who rested in the heavens, at that moment, faith betrayed me. How dare you take my son! He hadn't done anything wrong, he's nine, the worst he's done was use a swear word that he didn't even know was rude. But on that night, my knees aching as I knelt in front of the TV, God had heard me. He had sent people to look after him, to protect him. As I felt Harold start to struggle, I whispered something that I had hoped was inaudible to him.
"Please, please let me hold you longer."
David Woodman
Charlotte and I laid by the pool, basking in the Spanish sun that caressed us from overhead. A month without worrying about Isaac or Felicity, a month to ourselves without the outside world interfering. It was bliss. A knock, more of a rhythmic banging sound, roused my wife. She tied the strings from her bikini as she sat up, looking at me. I shrugged.
"Let me go see who it is," I answered her raised eyebrow, "you just stay here sunbathing, if it's anything urgent, I will call you."
"Who could it be? Maybe it's Deborah and Stephen, the couple next door?"
"Perhaps, but let me go see who it is and what they want." I stepped inside, the sudden shift from warm air to stagnant cool air made me shiver involuntarily. The thumping of fist against wood didn't stop, but instead grew more frantic. I tiptoed to the door, my curiosity turning to uncertainty as I pressed my eye to the peephole. It was Stephen from next door, but his eyes were wide, he kept knocking and I opened the door.
"Thank god you are here." Stephen said, panting. "I don't suppose you have seen the news?" He let himself in, walking right by me.
"Stephen, what, what is going on?"
"Is Charlotte here?"
"She's outside, why? Stephen, calm down for two seconds and tell me what is going on."
"I, I may be wrong, but she needs to see this." He turned to me, "you both do."
"What do you me-"
"Charlotte! You need to come here!" Stephen shouted, stepping further into the villa, but I grabbed his arm.
"Calm down Stephen, tell me exactly what is going on!"
"I, do you have a TV?" I shook my head.
"Why does that-"
"You both need to come with me, you need to see." Charlotte rounded the corner then, a loose shirt covering her bikini. "Good, you're here. You need to come with me."
"We won't be going anywhere until you tell us what has got you so panicked."
"Your son, Isaac, I think he is in trouble." I heard Charlotte gasp and I released my grip on his arm.
"Why do you think that?" I asked, confusion in my voice.
"I, we, remember you two telling us of him, showing us a photo of him, my mind is fuzzy, but I'm sure it's him. Please! I need to show you this, I hope it's not true." I looked past him to my wife, she looked scared and I wasn't sure whether it was because she believed him or was scared of Stephen.
"Show me." I said after seeing her look.
"I will come too," Charlotte stated.
"No, if it is something serious, I will come get you."
"No, If there is even a slight possibility of Isaac being in danger then I need to see for myself." She was stubborn, a part of her that made me love her more.
"Fine, but Stephen, if this is some horrid prank, then I don't see how I will be able to stay friendly with you."
"I really hope it is a prank." The words were quiet and a part of me shuddered, they sounded defeated.
I held Charlotte as she wept, seeing the events on screen play out. Isaac looked to be fine for now, but what we saw was ghastly. Wolves ripping into flesh, people clawing at their own throats, one figure dying over and over again. I would have thought the screen was showing some sort of movie, but Isaac being there and the visceral nature of everything made me grip my crying wife harder. Isaac, please, come back to us safely, I thought to myself as a silent prayer.