Second; The Maze Game

Taken from their mundane lives and forced together in this week's training. The two trainees found themselves waking up with red lines on the insides of both sets of forearms and no memory of how or why they or the other was...wherever it was that it was they were. At their feet was a host of items that implied their goal. First was a simple matchbox containing 120 matches, noted by the large bold 120 plastered on the cover. Six water bottles were organized around the matchbox in semi circle fashion away from the male and female waking participants. Behind these items rested a backpack which contained enough room in the front pouch for both the matchbox (with matches) and all six water bottles if the two should choose to put those inside. In the main and only other pouch of the backpack was a squishy, slightly stinky, cold, box which contained a total of 10 pounds worth of pound steaks, with ice lining the box in a crude effort to keep them fresh, which so far was working.

To the right of the backpack, on the cement floor which seemed to exist all around them shaping the walls and the ground and even the ceiling with unknown thickness. The item right of the backpack was a map seeming to detail the area they were in, nothing existed on the back but the front had a map-like image (shown below) with some small text stating "You are here" identifying a room with one opening in the center of the map. Near the opening from the central room, drawing the eye, was another word simply marked "pit" in a strange color of ink. Finally in the bottom right corner was a bold and capitalized word, END. The combined five words making up the entirety of the text on the map.

Looking further and beyond to that one opening one would find a large opening in the ground, stretching approximately fifteen meters almost to a solid cement wall, leaving a small, half meter wide, ledge against the back wall. To the left of the pit, and observably the only way further into the maze, was the beginning of the unknown. It could not be seen due to the straight angle of the wall and the distance that the pit stretched into the room our two heroes (maybe) made it impossible to see any farther without already being at least halfway into the pit. The Pit itself was not that notable, it was a tired cliche to try and look down into the pit, as one would find nothing but the infinite darkness, almost hungry for someone to fall into it's great pitch maw.

This was what one would take in at first glance, and upon slightly further inspection one would find a wooden frame in the form of a short bow, leaning against the wall. Below it was a quiver which would be found to contain twenty wooden arrows, each of a standard make with some kind of stone used to make the tip and a fletching of feathers near an incredibly basic nock. Resting on top of the quiver was a combat knife contained within a green sheath, which was equipped with a belt attachment. Likely for the simple leather belt placed in front of the leather quiver.

The last things about the room was that there seemed to be no way that these two came in from, unless they had been taken into the maze itself. The lighting was handled by torches hanging in metal baskets which were attached to the concrete. Two per wall on each wall at a height of three meters, which was consequently approximately one meter below the height of their ceiling. The two in the room were wearing simple and identical garb, male and female though the two were. The uniform they shared was a T-shirt of grey and pants of the same color, with cloth wrappings to serve as shoes against the cold cement floor.

Spoiler:

It was not the normal way to wake up, in any manner at all. For one, the moment he woke up, his mind was at full functioning status. That implied, for once, he had eight hours of sleep, at least. Further, he was wearing clothes, and he could swear he had never seen them before. Even more bizarre, there was a female near him. Even that, however, paled in comparison to the fact that he was not in his home, not in a hotel, but in a stone room. However strange that was, part of him had already accepted that he had been kidnapped. Not the worst thing to have happened to him, considering he was uninjured and healthy for the most part. His eyes scanned the area as he pushed himself into a standing position. Weapons, a bag with a map on it, which implied he was in a maze, and several basic items. Either he was kidnapped by Jigsaw, or someone wanted them to survive.

Stretching his muscles, which were just a bit stiff, like anyone's would be when they woke up, he wondered what this woman was doing with him. He could imagine many, many people who would throw him into a maze just to screw with him, but to go to such lengths, there were only a few who hated him that much without wanting him outright dead. Adding to that, the woman who was with him... he was curious, he had to admit, as to their connection, whatever it was. Hopefully it wasnt random, because that would possibly be horrible. Especially if she did not speak English. At the very least, however, he knew how people thought well enough to use body language as communication.

He stood at an average height of 5'9", with medium length brown hair, far too curly to hang down in his eyes. His blue eyes scanned the area, noting the pit, which brought a frown to his face. What kind of cliche... Oh well. He should probably use a match to check out the actual distance between the surface and the bottom, especially since it may lead to a sewer or some other way out. Anything so blatant would either be used as a trap, a distraction, or an easy way out that no one would notice because how unlikely it was. Unlikely or not, it would be worth a single match to find out.

Reaching his hand to the back of his head, he scratched his head and sighed. This situation was annoying. Hopefully this was a normal maze, but the weaponry which had been presented to them made it painfully obvious it would not be. Glancing back at the map, he stared with confusion. He laughed lightly as he glanced at it. Someone had put "PIT" on the map, amazingly. Hopefully that would mean it was the only pit they would come across. That was not even mentioning the dead END. If they wanted out of this maze, which he was beginning to suspect was more deadly than a simple maze with a pit, they would have to work together. He sighed, lowering to a knee to place the map, water, and matches in the backpack. It would probably be best not to, but they had little choice, with the simplistic clothing they were wearing. The bandages on the feet were also curious, but he had heard that some people were just not comfortable with bare feet, but it was also suspicious. It might simply be his overactive mind again, but it was worth noting.

After he heaved the backpack on his back, noting it was rather light compared to his old high school bag, he moved to the knife, placing it on the floor, and placed the quiver on his back, to the side of the backpack, the perfect spot for his right arm to reach. He held the bow in his left hand, knowing he was a much better shot with that hand holding the bow. Memories from a day when his friends took him to have fun, which ended up with him learning of his moderate, in his own opinion, skill with a bow. He couldnt pin a fly to a wall without killing it, no, but he could at least hit a moving target, usually. It was hardly worth noting that the bow was a simple style, not one of the advanced hunting bows he had seen so often. He tested the strength of the string before glancing up at the woman, wondering what she would say or do. The knife was for her, as he was rather useless unless it was a full length sword, preferably a katana or claymore. He could probably use it, sure, but not to the same efficiency as his swords. He missed that old claymore...

The coldness of the cement would be the wake up call for the woman,as the hard flooring sent chills down her spine. Goosebumps covering her body as it begun to shiver,her eyes had not open yet as her knees will be brought to her chest as she entered the fetal position just to keep the little warmth she did have,which was her body heat at the moment. Her black hair covering her face perfecting almost as if she was wearing a mask,it was do to how she was laying at the time.  The woman’s eyes will start to open but slowly,her vision wasn’t straight it felt like her head will burst as the pain in her head only throbbed with constant pain. Her body slowly shifting as she stretched her legs out as she would sit up,her hair falling over her face still as she began to breathe a fog leaving her mouth. This showed just how cold it was in this place,along with the ice cold floor they were on.

Her breath was heavy as she continued to exhale and inhale,her chest moving up and down with her breathing motion. Her eyes barely opened as things still seem like they were out of place,she will attempt to get up but her right leg was off balance,which made her fall back down. This was due to the cold cement floor making her leg fall asleep. Landing on her hands and knees she will try again words not leaving her,just heavy breathing would be all you heard,her heart pumping through her chest as she attempted to get up once more. As she pushed herself up slowly,her body stumbled just a bit her barely covered feet planted on the cement floor. Her eyes fully open as she moved the pieces of hair from her face,this showed her eyes was a bit wide as she noticed her surroundings.

Questions rushing through her head as she looked at the darkness,maybe it was finally her time to die that’s right,this was all a bad dream right?  Her eyes looked around as she notices another person a male,who was he she didn’t know...nor care he was the only living thing in her sights, She noticed a few things about the male as he was strapped with a backpack and a bow. She begun to walk towards him as her foot will accidently hit the sheath knife. This making her eyes looked down noticing it. Her body bending at the waist as she grabbed the knife keeping it in hand.”E..Excuse me? Can you please tell me where i am?”she said looking around,the diming darkness was making her skin crawl.

She stood there her knees almost hitting each other due to how she was standing her eyes aimlessly wandering around the weird place they woke up in. It was her with a male,maybe she drunk to much. That might explain the throbbing headache she had at the moment,maybe he was some guy she picked up at her clubbings yeah that was bad…..her free hand not holding the knife will hold her throbbing head. Her eyes looking at the walls in front of them,she wasn’t use to this place….nor have she seen anything like this….what was god punishing her for now?

The torches flickered around the cement room as the two humans began to gain their senses. Each responding differently to their new environment. The map, the pack, the supplies, the weapons, what did it all mean? That question seemed to be most pressing thing on both their minds. Nothing changed in the room about them as they explored it. But such was common with the participants of the Maze Game.

The match that dropped into the pit fell deep, it's light first a stark contrast to the concrete of everything around. It grew smaller and less significant until it was only a wink before finally disappearing soundlessly many seconds later. It was soon followed by the first sound that came to be in this room, which was an accidental scraping between foot and sheath, followed by the woman's words.The Maze remained silent, and as eternally patient as a giant construction of concrete would be imagined.

The pit was indeed just a pit... he hoped. For all he knew, by dropping the match into it, he had set in motion events which would summon Baal, Mehrunes Dagon, and Skorm, all just to make this maze more difficult. It was amusing, but not exactly productive. He had heard the female wake up, much less lucid than he was apparently. Whatever the reason, she was just as confused as he had been. As she bent down to get the knife, He grinned, but he had more important things to worry about. Like surviving this maze which he had a feeling would have at least one hellbeast of some kind. In any case, he had to wonder what the connection between this woman and himself was. Were they just victims of the same maniac? Possibly, and highly likely. In any case, he had little doubt they would have to work together.

The bow had been an obvious choice for him, with his reaction time and general speed, which was at the very least, decent. That, and his headache did not bother him too much, having spent far too many nights with one to be bothered. He should probably explain what he knew to the woman. "I honestly have no idea. I woke up, same as you. Location? No idea. Purpose? Not a clue. What I do know... We are in a maze, that pit is cliche as hell, and we have a map, which helps us. The maze is easy to solve, but that tells me we arent going to be alone in here. As such, each time we turn a corner, Ill have an arrow ready. Keep that knife up as well, and I hope you can use it well..." He sighed, knowing the stress was starting to effect him. Marvelous. "Anyway, the first turn is right there." He gestured towards the solid pathway between the pit and wall. "Lets go, I dont know about you, but I dont feel like staying here."

Noting that she was colder than him made the man confused, before he realized working out in the cold had probably given him a tolerance to the cold. However, he knew they would have to warm up eventually, which explained the matches, though they would have to use it for the meat as well. He dropped the bag off his back, holding it in his hand instead, not trusting the straps so close to the pit. With his back against the wall, He slowly moved around the pit, and into the first corridor.

Her feet kept pressed against the cold cement floor as she noticed quite a few things as her mind was starting to come to finally. The panic was obviously still there as her breath was heavy,her heart pounding in her chest as she inhale and exhaled. A breath cloud happening each time she exhaled,it just kept showing how cold it was. What was this game? why did it have to involve her? she never hurt anyone or even try to,well not on purpose anyway. As she stood there the small torches that lit the start of this game was a bit of a nuisance as the woman paid attention. If the torches wasn’t so high up they could of used them to light the way and make a lot of things happen which fire on their side,she looked towards the bottomless pit as she sighs this was becoming more and more confusing she really didn’t understand it at all.

She will snap out of her analysis as she listened to the man who finally decided to speak up for once,at least she wasn’t crazy and this man actually was hear. Will be strange for him to be her imaginary friend or something that dealt with her psychosis of a mind. She listened to him as he didn’t understand much at all either so that wasn’t much help to begin with. She heard him mention about the knife and also the maze. She had skills with most bladed objects it was her thing when it came down to it. Though she perfered a katana or some type of sword rather than this small thing.”Yeah...I already can’t stand this place the sooner we get out of here the sooner we can return to our normal lives”she said as she saw the exit.

She followed him as she looked towards the pit and back up,her back being pressed against the cold wall as she moved along the side. This time refusing to look down as she followed the male,she really needed to stick close to him if she wanted to see her daughter again. She had to get through this for her sake….she will enter the first corridor behind the male having the knife in hand.

First was the cold steely breath of the maze, then the unforgiving thickness and inescapbility of the concrete, around the corner was the friend of both cold and the inescapable, darkness. No torches were lighting the empty blackness that the two came upon on the other side of the pit. Grunts could be heard from the expanding dark before them, the occasional loud thud, or scream of pain echoed from what lay beyond with many more subtle noises that were masked and unable to heard either due to distance, natural distortion, or simply being overpowered by other noises.

A strong gust of cool air would pass each of them as they actually rounded the turn to face the darkness before them. Post-shimmy they would find the ground to be solid under their feet, though only for another fifty or so feet was the concrete ground even visible, though it was probably safe to assume that at least for now the ground continued to exist out in the darkness. For now the two were uninterrupted. Beginning the journey into the maze game and making their first large decisions about doing so.

He let a breath out, not having known he was holding it in. They would have to find a way to brighten this place up, but first they had to move forward. Perhaps this was the only dark hallway. Though what sick fucker would make the entry hallway dark then the next one bright? It was beyond cruel, but since it had not happened yet, he felt hope that it wouldnt. Prepare for the worst, hope for the best... It was part of what he had been forced to learn. The only place to go was forward, with lessons from the past helping guide the future. Hopefully this would remain true, even if he did take some time to integrate things into his natural life.

The man sighed, hoping that rumor about everyone having echolocation was true. Otherwise, they were in quite a pickle, or they would have to use the matches for light, food, AND heat. None of his ideas were perfect, and they were too risky to do, let alone with a partner. He never had been one for teamwork, but in this instance he had little choice, and the company was certainly appreciated. "Normal lives..." Yes, such a normal and boring life. He was unsuited for such a mundane existence. In some ways, this maze was a perfect vacation for him from that boring and dull life. No family, very few friends, no reason to keep going except what little hope he had for the future. It was a dark truth, but he knew many who were in similar circumstances. He wanted glory, he wanted power, but most of all, he wanted something worth living for. Something that was exciting and adventurous. This maze was exactly that to him. "perhaps." A large part of him wanted to jump in that pit regardless of if it were safe or not. "Perhaps this maze is exactly what the doctor ordered." He mused aloud.

"Anyway, keep close, and dont worry about the darkness too much, just be prepared for any of those sounds to come close to us." He had little doubt they would, eventually. That, or the two would come towards one of them. "For now, let us assume that nothing in here is friendly except each other, no matter what." It was a reaction to his mental prediction that the two would gain a third, who would no doubt betray them to get out of the maze. To be perfectly honest, he had no doubts that such an event would take place. If it did, he hoped whoever they ran into at least had something that would help them, making the energy wasted on killing them worth it. "Since we are stuck with each other" He chuckled slightly. "I prefer to be called Kuro." A nickname for the most part, but he loved it too much to really care.

Pacing himself to walk forward, away from the pit and room, carefully letting his eyes adjust to the darkness, he focused on what he heard each time his foot touched the solid ground, hoping to advanced the process of learning Echolocation by at least a little. It helped that he was often up at night, in pitch black rooms, always trying to move around and find things without the light. "We cant stay here too long, if my math is right, it should take about two to three days to fully get through this hellhole." Ah, math. The only thing that did not change on its own. Something solid, undeniable that he could always predict and control. He had always aced math classes in school, though for the most part his guess on two to three days was simply an estimation, considering the map appeared accurate and sized correctly, which meant that they had quite a ways to go, he had seen at least sixty spaces equal to that of the width of the hallway, which was... quite a lot. Especially considering they would be walking, which should cover each square in about fifteen seconds at the very least, less if they ran. However, running would also take more energy and leave them tired and unprepared for whatever horrors were running around this maze they had been forced into. Of course the time he had taken into account was also adding time to prepare meals and rest, as well as fight anything that decided to make trouble for the two. It would likely take much less time, unless something ridiculous happened.