All or Nothing

“Cole? Cole, wake up!” I just barely opened my eyes to see Lauren leaning above my bed. She has been my best friend ever since the eighth grade, and now we’re roommates. “What?” My throat felt like sandpaper; I could barely speak. She snatched my arm in an attempt to throw me off the bed. I didn’t budge. She grunted, “Oh, would you come on!” Reluctantly, I slowly started to sit upright. “Hurry up now, or you’ll be late.” Terribly confused, I slid back under my covers. She punched my arm in disbelief, “Cole! Get up, get up, get up!” I didn’t dare play around any longer, although I genuinely had no idea what was going on. “For what?” I implored crankily. She looked as if she’d just been shot.

“Are you actually being serious right now? Don’t mess around, this is big!” Now I was scared. What on earth is she talking about? Did I do something? I have never, and I mean never, been a part of anything big. “Okay. I’m sorry Lauren, but what are you talking about?” We stared at each other for a good minute before she went to my closet and threw a suit and tie in my face. “There, put it on,” I just needed to know what was happening. “Now. you have ten minutes to get ready, and I’ll be waiting in the car.” She squinted at me once more, and proceeded downstairs. What the hell.

I just decided to stop all this, and I put on the outfit she picked out for me. I went into the bathroom to fix my hair and brush my teeth. I slid on my dress shoes and was out the door. I quickly made it down the stairs where I opened the door and sat down in Lauren’s car. This had to be one of the comfiest, most beautiful cars I’ve ever seen. “So, do you want to tell me where we’re going?” I inquired. She sighed heavily. “Seriously Cole,” She seemed truly disappointed, but I had absolutely no idea. “Don’t you remember?” Her question had a dark, and mysterious mood to it. I tried everything in my power to remember something, anything at all. But I just couldn’t. So I just shook my head. She seemed excited about it, or it at least seemed important. The rest of the car ride was silent, on our way to… wherever we were going.

#

"Are you signing up for that?" Lauren asked me when she came back with the food. We had gone to the carnival, just to get out of the house. In front of me was a man handing out tickets to some sort of contest. There was a big banner above his stand that said 'Simple games, big prizes.' I was intrigued. I'd always been a bit skeptical with these types of things, but mostly because they were online ads. You never know what you can trust on the internet. "So, how exactly does this work?" I decided to ask. The man stared at me for a second, then pointed to the paper on the table. 'July 14th, Home of the Unknown, 1137 N Brentwood. Bring your tickets!' I looked at Lauren, who seemed into the idea of this. "Yeah, I don't know about this," I said, "it doesn't seem legit." She rolled her eyes and turned to me. "Oh, come on Cole," Putting her hands on my shoulders, she laughed, "We're at the annual carnival, why wouldn't it be legit?" Maybe she was right, so I just decided to take a ticket. "Okay it says you need to be there at noon tomorrow, so you better be ready." I nodded through a mouthful of cotton candy. "Yes, I got it, Lauren."

#

I checked the time to see that about an hour and a half had passed when I woke up. It's weird, I started getting small flashes of what I assumed to be yesterday. I don't know, yesterday I felt... different. Like I wasn't in control of my body. I mean, I was remembering bits and pieces of the day, but I can't remember things I should be able to. Like the people I had met up with later that night. Lauren probably thought I was on drugs, not even remembering getting the ticket. I was confused, but I have an understanding of what's happening now. We finally stopped somewhere, and wow, it was an enormous place. The outside was built of what looked to be steel. I was in awe, and so was Lauren from the look on her face. "The Home of the Unknown." I said as we pulled into the parking lot. She smiled at me, "You remember!" I rolled my eyes at her when she told me to get out and walk with her. I hesitated, but she looked so happy. I got out of the car and walked slowly toward the building. Unknown? What is this place? She stayed with me to sign in, but later we parted. “I love you. You’re going to do amazing!” She gave me a hug, and I felt a little nervous as I watched her walk away.

 I was asked to sit down, and I waited there for over forty-five minutes. I was getting really tired of this, and I almost walked out. Just short of a minute later, a spine-chilling voice spoke. Through the speakers I could hear him, “All contestants. Welcome, you have chosen to play in this year's All-or-Nothing tournament,” Suddenly, the door became blocked off with a metal barrier. What the hell is going on? Where am I? I could feel the panic in my chest as my hand started to tremble.

 “There will be a series of tasks depending on your team. If completed, you will move on to the next round. Unfortunately, if you fail to complete your task, you will be eliminated,” I stared at the speaker. It's okay, right? I'd say I'm pretty good at games. I always win against Lauren. But maybe that's just because she's really bad at them. “Now, please form a line at the left door to be dressed.” I stumbled, but followed as everyone lined up over at the door. When I was inside the door, I was instructed to lie down on a conveyor belt. A conveyor belt, for real? They changed me into a purple jumpsuit, and I slid off into a large, empty room. Everyone was sitting in a group on the floor.

 Once everyone was dressed in their jumpsuits, the voice appeared once again. “Now that you are changed, we may begin the tasks. Please follow your team leaders to the first location.” I noticed that there were four groups of people in different colored jumpsuits. There was purple, red, blue, and pink. The leaders all had a mask covering their face. I put my hands on the back of my neck in hopes of breathing a little clearer, when I felt something. It was a collar, but I guess no one knew what for. We entered a room with four different colored walkways. Everyone started talking quietly, wondering what it could be. “Please, line up in front of your colored path,” he demanded. “The first person in each row must walk across the entire length, so decide upon that at this time.” I was definitely not going first, that was for certain. A timer buzzed and we all froze. “Good. At the sound of the timer, the first contestant must walk across their path.” 

The leaders now uncovered every path. There was a sound of fear in voices around me. My jaw dropped in fear as well. The red and purple team had burning coals laid along the path. Pink and blue had broken glass. “Now,” the voice echoed through the room. “walk.” The first people in each color started stepping along their pathways. One girl started running, but she quickly halted and fell to her knees. I moved to get a better view of what was happening. She was gasping for air, her eyes were wide open. Everyone in line was terrified. Her collar seemed to pulsing at about six seconds apart. Tightening and relaxing, it lasted for about ten seconds. It was horrific, but she was alive. The eerie voice spoke, “I believe the instructions were to walk across your pathway, not run. Let this be a warning to you all.” Silently, they all continued. Half of our line had to complete this challenge. Six more players had gone across when one shrieked out in pain. “Stop! Stop! I can’t do this any longer. I will not take another step on this glass!” The whole room went silent again. Then she, too, fell to her knees while grabbing her collar. She started to choke and gasp for air. Only this time there was no pulsing. Just one go, where it kept getting tighter. Until… no more sound came out, and she fell in the bed of glass beneath her. She was carried away and put onto a cart.

This is madness! What am I doing here? Suddenly, a loud buzz sounded, and the new people began walking. I froze as I realized I was in the front of the line. I was petrified, and I couldn't move. Someone tapped on my shoulder and begged me to walk, but I couldn't. I tried to move my foot, but before I could take a step I was on my knees. I couldn't breathe. Everything had just gone black. The collar was released, and I gasped for as much air as possible. It didn't last long because two seconds later it was dark again. I collapsed onto the floor when it was all over, and I realized what I needed to do.

I scrambled to my feet and stepped onto the coals. Everyone but me was finished with this task. I looked around; their feet were red and burned, or cut and bleeding. They could barely walk. I stepped just a little faster, forcing myself not scream, until I was off the path and crawling back to the end of the line. “Well done for those of you who were able to complete this task. Don’t be afraid, there is only one more to go.” That voice kept ringing in my ears, it was terrifying. We were directed to the next room where there were four stools with a window above each one. I can’t believe I signed up for this. Each window was uncovered. There were armholes in each one, but it was unclear what was inside of them. I flinched at the sound of the robotic voice, and I realized I was at the front of the line. Again.

There was clear horror on my face, as I stepped up to sit on the stool. “Every box has one species inside of it. Keep still, and you might come out unharmed. Removing your arms from the box will result in elimination.” Everything about what that man just said was absolutely petrifying.

 It was only for a moment, though, before I was reluctantly placing my arms inside the openings. After a few short seconds, I felt tiny little legs crawling on every inch of my arms. I hollered out like a little weakling. I endured the feeling for a little while, but soon enough one of them sunk its fangs deep into my skin. I let out a painful cry as the pain spread all throughout my arm. For the rest of it all, I forced myself to stay completely still. I had to. We were almost done when a man yelled out in pain, “No! No! I can’t… Please,” He turned around to face the others. “So many, I can’t take it anymore.” He took his hands out of the box, when his collar started to get tighter. He choked. He gasped. His eyes bugged out. Then, there was nothing. He was dead.

A loud buzz told us it was time to move on. As I removed my arms from my box, I looked at them. I wanted to cry, but I couldn’t. My arms were covered in blood, punctured by the giant spiders that were inside that box. I wanted it to be over. I needed to see Lauren; before the tournament could've been the last time I’d ever see her again. I couldn’t let that happen. “Congratulations. You have made it through the two tasks. Unfortunately we cannot award all of you. So the final task is simple,” We walked into a spacious room. On the floor were about twenty circular platforms. “You must choose one platform to stand upon. Only one is the lucky winner. The others will result in elimination once stood upon.” This was terrible. This fate wasn’t a matter of patience anymore. It was a matter of luck. “Choose now.” the voice sounded out. My heart pounded fiercely inside my chest. I closed my eyes and imagined Lauren waiting in the lobby for me. I walked over toward the end, and I stood upon the second to last platform. There was text written on the side of it. ‘Only you decide your fate’ it said. As everyone finalized their decisions, the man’s voice could be heard ahead. “Is everyone ready? In a moment, all but one person will be eliminated. Good luck.” Tears poured down my cheeks. “three…" I don't want to die I thought. "two…" my hands were shaking uncontrollably. "one.” I closed my eyes, as everyone around me started struggling to breathe. And I was hyperventilating. I love you, Lauren. I thought. I love you so much. I expected everything to stop. I expected to stop feeling. But I didn’t. I caught my breath, stood up, and looked around me. Oh my God. I’m alive. I’m alive!

I made it. Should I have been feeling miserable for strangers I didn’t even know? I wasn’t sure. The voice spoke one final time, “Congratulations, Cole. You are the winner,” My collar opened around my neck, and it fell to the floor with a loud clatter. “you may follow your leader to get changed.” I couldn’t even believe what had just happened. I was put back into my original outfit, and was led into the lobby where I instantly searched around for Lauren. We locked eyes with each other. A sigh of relief let out of me, as I sprinted toward her. I practically tackled her to the ground as I hugged her with everything I had left in me. She laughed, “Cole, what is this?” I smiled at her. “Lauren, please let’s go home.” She questioned what had happened while she was gone. “Lauren. Please… just take us home.” She nodded as we walked outside. The fresh air felt so soothing. Finally, I could breathe properly. We sat down in the car. “Well?” She asked passionately. “Did you win?” I looked in her direction. I remembered all the blood-curdling screams I witnessed in those rooms. I felt terrible that they all went into that, but didn’t get to come out. I felt guilty, almost. At the same time, though, I was so beyond grateful. I was so happy to walk into the lobby for the second time, and see my best friend’s smiling face. “It wasn't what I thought it would be like,” I took a deep breath, “but, yeah, I won.”

Later that night, I made my way to the bank after Lauren and I went out to eat. I've obviously been spending more money than usual lately. I took a big stretch break once I stepped outside my car, and inserted my card into the machine's slot. When I looked at the numbers on the screen, I was absolutely bewildered by the amount of zeros. I had over six billion dollars in my bank account. How was this possible? Was this even real? I had to be dreaming. Then, I remembered. 'The final winner will take home a substantial amount of money...' No. That can't be. It's just not right. I was on the verge of tears at this point. We were cheated out. I wondered how they were able to bring innocent people into that, unaware of what they had just signed up for. It is unforgivable. It is appalling. It is tragic. I threw myself back onto my seat. Leaning my head against the steering wheel, I took a deep breath. I felt weak for crying, but I just couldn't help myself. I wiped my face, turned on my car, and started off. When I got back home, I decided to forget. Forget about it all...