Running Through

Venni:

I like the way it feels to run. I like the way my legs hurt as I push myself to go faster and faster and forever. Until eventually, my lungs and heart can’t take it anymore. The ash from the fires that our tyrant king seeps into my lungs, forcing me into a huge coughing fit. I was fine until the wars started. I try to decrease my speed, slowing to a stop.

There is a rushing river nearby that I stop at so I can have small sips of water. I splash myself with the crystal clear current, trying to get the ash and sweat off my face and sigh. Fives won’t catch me this time. I’ll beat him. This time for sure.

Vestio:

I let out a laugh as I glance behind me. There I see Seven, sprinting as fast as he can. He catapults himself over tree roots and fallen branches. A huge smile widens across my face when I see his look of fury and desperation.

He’s trying to beat me.

Hah.

“You’re so funny!” I call out behind me. “You really think you can beat me this time?” Seven growls in frustration which only makes me chuckle. I slow my run to a jog then I stop completely. While I wait for him to close the distance, I look around at the ashy and smokey woods. I brace my hands on my knees, catching my breath. Seven catches up and does the same, but he sounds more winded than I am. “So,” I start. “How about I give you a head start? A full three minutes would do.”

“No. Seven minutes.” He huffs and pants. I shake my head.

“No, no. Seven is your name. How about…Five?” I stick out my hand for him to take. He stares at it and bites his lip. “Come on, Venni. I’ll count slowly,” I added. After a few minutes, he takes my hand and we shake for the five minute rule. When we’ve finally caught our breath, Seven salutes me and then takes off running into the smoke as I start to count.

One minute: I close my eyes and take a deep breath.

Two minutes: I focus my mind, imagining Seven running

through the trees.

Three minutes: I open my ears to all the sounds of the giant

forest and breathe in deeply.

Four minutes: I make myself consciously aware of my body,

making sure I remember every feature of my skin and

hair, down to every mole and freckle and atom.

Five minutes: I exhale sharply and force my body to dissipate.

I push my…mist as fast as it can go and decide to appear a

few feet behind Seven.

Venni:

What the fuck? I think as I peer back at the path behind me. Vestio is right behind me, and gaining. “How in the bloody fuck are you that fast?!” I yell at him. All I hear is him laughing as he speeds past me.

“Slow-poke, Seven!” he calls in a singsong voice. I growl and push myself faster and faster. My legs burn and my heart beats harder and harder as I slowly, but surely, gain on Fives. I feel pride and laughter rise in my throat, but I don’t dare make a noise in case that tells him how close I am to him. If I wanted to, I could reach out and touch his shoulder. I am running faster than I ever have before and I feel great.

But not for long.

A slithering feeling wraps around my left ankle, then tightens. I trip and fall, busting my face on the muddy ground. I taste coppery blood as my vision darkens slightly. “Fives, wait!” I call out but he just speeds ahead and doesn’t hear me call to him. I shift and twist my body around to see what tripped me.

A root. A simple tiny burnt root is wrapped around my ankle tightly. I yell in frustration and slam my fist into the squishy ground. I can already feel the rain and mud seeping into my trousers. Leaning forward, I reach into my left boot and withdraw my knife to cut away at the root. I saw through it, regretting that I am using my only knife for something so stupid.

The root snaps and I get up as fast as I can, not realizing the pain that my right arm is in. I stumble through the woods, trying to run, but my ankle won’t allow it. “FIVES! Vestio, can you hear me?!” I need to get out of this wood. I don’t even care if I don’t win the competition anymore, I just need to get medical attention. As the adrenaline fades, the pain makes me crumble to the dirty forest floor. A laugh pierces through the silence. “Vestio, please come back. I need your help!” I call to him using his real name, scooting to lean against a scorched tree, wishing for Fives to come back for me.

Like he always used to do.

Vestio:

The horizon glows pink as I near the town. If I sprint once more, I can make it and finish in first, which will win me the grand prize. A new life, a clean slate.

I take a deep breath and push myself faster. All I have to do is touch the town square and then, I’ll be good.

The town square is a sculpture of a reaper, clad in dark flowy robes, scythe leaning on their right shoulder. In their outstretched left hand, they hold a lantern. If I can reach it and blow out the light, then I would’ve won.

As I reach the reaper, I grasp their hand and blow out the light, then collapse on the dusty ground. That shadow-stalk spell was hard and drained me quite a bit. The running never hurts anymore. A tall woman approaches me and pulls me to a standing position. I know she can see the maroon and gold of my mana swirling in my eyes, but she doesn’t say anything.

“Fives?” She asks, voice cool and calm. I nod. “You have won the tournament. JehsBet welcomes you as its new lord.” She smiles grimly and hands me a card. “Your previous identity as Vestio or Fives is removed and forgotten. You now answer to Evandelire.”

I nod, taking the card from her gloved hands. It’s shiny and looks expensive. Apparently, I am now Lord Evandelire of New Hon-Atep. I smile and tuck the card in a fold of my clothes.

“Thank you.” I bow.

I look back to the tree line of the Kingsett Wood, smirking as a few other competitors burst forth. When a small girl sees that I have them all beat, she falls to the ground in tears. One man just shakes his head and walks off.

“May I ask where Venni or Seven is? You and him tended to emerge pretty close together.”

“He couldn’t keep up. Like always.” I say bitterly. “Also, I don’t know either of those names.” The woman nods.

Seven used to be able to keep up. And this tournament never used to be so brutal on both of us. This is the first time either of us have won. Because back then, when the sky wasn’t filled with ash and us young men weren’t called to fight wars for a king we never wanted, this tournament was fun. It was never used as a passage to a new life.

Before the wars, we all lived a good life. We all lived well. But then the first fire broke out, and all the food burned. And we had to starve, serve, and kill for a king we never loved.

I didn’t want to starve.

I didn’t want to die.

So I ran. And ran and ran and ran and ran and ran. So Seven started to run. But in the end, there could only be one victor. And Venni just wasn’t fast enough, no matter how hard he tried.