Rebel Rousing 10: The Chamber Games (Vol. 1)

[Johnny Rebel]

Rebel Rousing #10
The Chamber Games

“It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is most adaptable to change.”
Charles Darwin

“I can’t do this.”

“Yes, I can.”

“I can’t do this.”

“Yes, I can.”

I repeat the pattern over and over again as I pick the petals off the flower and lean up against a bolder to catch my breath. I’ve been on the run for the past twenty-four hours and I can’t imagine I can keep this pace. There is only one thing keeping me alive at this point:

Glory.

I need to win.

I am going to win.

I was made to win.

“You have only a few chances at entering these games and walking out alive,” I said audibly, despite the appearance of being alone. “I know they are all coming after me. I have to survive! I can’t let them win; not after everything they have done to me.”

It was almost six months ago that I entered the arena to take on the likes of Kurt Noble, C.J. Gates and Blade. It was six months ago, that I failed, but for some reasons the Game Makers decided that they’d allow me to live. It was a decision that I know wasn’t taken lightly and caused a meltdown in the surrounding districts. It was a second lease on life but I’d be forced to leave everything I knew behind; and swim in the uncharted waters of Asylum.

It’s been weeks since I’ve entered the arena and the people at the Capitol are getting restless with the lack of bloodshed. They have decided to reboot the games, with hopes that putting us all in the same general vicinity might encourage us to bludgeon one another to death and put an end to the game.

The Capitol’s national anthem blares over the speakers, and is followed by a quick announcement.

“Good morning, afternoon, evening, Chamber participants! In exactly twelve hours, we will be rebooting the games. When you hear the sound of the cannon, you will have thirty seconds to make it back to your chamber, where you’ll be transported to a new arena; one that we think will be a little more to your liking! This will be the only announcement today.”

-
-
-

“Here we are,” I said to no one in particular.

Who knew how long we’d be expected to stand inside these chambers, which were cramped, and barely had enough room to crouch down. I was at a severe disadvantage compared to the others…I had spent the majority of my time inside the games learning the landscape, which the Game Makers called, Overdrive.

There were six of us left.

There were two tributes remaining from District 12. The sickly-looking girl, who was a master at Ariel assault, and her pal, Bailey, I believe his name was, and he wasn’t particularly good at anything. I knew of the girl, only through legend, because she had participated in the games before, and won, convincingly. The harsh conditions of the Chambers had forced them to form a partnership but it was one of convenience. I had watched her in the games before, and I knew she was just conniving enough to carry him on her back until she no longer had need for him and was slowing him down. She’d wait until he fell asleep and then drive a spear right through his heart.

In the third chamber was a boy from District 8, Atken. He had scored highly in the training rounds and was a dark horse to win the entire thing; however, I’m not sure what skill he’s hiding that allowed him to carry such a high mark. The Capitol loves an underdog, and if that’s the case, his sponsors are probably providing him with gift after gift. He was being carried through the competition; but surely, his luck would run out soon.

I didn’t know much about the representative from District 4. It was a first for the Chamber Games; Borderland fell ill during the training phase, and succumbed to some rare disease, opening a slot the prestigious games. Saint doesn’t look like a career tribute, I’m not sure if he volunteered, or he was volunteered, either way, he’s dangerous.

Finally, there is Callahan; from District 1 who is inches away from me, locked away in his pod, smirking off in the distance. Perhaps the most affluent of the tributes, and has spent the majority of his time receiving parachute after parachute…he’s no doubt been provided everything that he could have needed throughout the competition. It wouldn’t surprise me if something happened to the girl from District 12, that Bailey would be wagging his tail at Callahan’s side. He had the ornate ability to talk his way through any situation and I knew that he’d be dangerous. He’d cause the field to work together and then pull the wool over their eyes, picking them off, one-by-one. He was a threat and I couldn’t allow myself to fall under his spell.

And here I was.

I am a rebel, and always have been. They figured the only way they could keep me under control was by locking me in this prison and pray that I didn’t come home like their lives depended on it! I tried to play by the rules and where did it get me? Absolutely nowhere. People who break the rules almost always come out on top. I am sick and tired of sitting back and watching those types be crowned the victors and use me as nothing more than a step-ladder to get what they’re after. They don’t know what I’m capable of, and they don’t know that I have a plan.

It didn’t matter who stands in my way…I’ll remove them as I’ve done every other obstacle since the Chamber Games were declared.

“Good morning, Tributes!” The recorded voice interrupted my thoughts. “Welcome to your new home!” The arena transformed instantly; the sun going down and the bright blue sky replaced with white, puffy clouds, and it began snowing, to the point where you couldn’t see five feet in front of you. The pods disappeared from sight and all of the sudden, I didn’t feel as confident as I did a few seconds ago. “I trust that you’ll enjoy your new surroundings. In thirty seconds, your pods will open, and the Chamber Games will commence. We have provided each of you with a pack that you may, or may not, believe to be important and vital to the Games. It’s up to you if you wish to retrieve the bag. Good luck, and may the odds be ever in your favor!”

“Great!”

The reality was that it would be heavily guarded and I’d really have to use my wits to get ahead. I’m positive that the center of the arena would be guarded not only by the tributes from District 12…but landmines would certainly surround it. I didn’t need an advantage; I’d simply use my experience to my advantage.

The countdown begins and I can feel the adrenaline beginning to take over. It doesn’t take long to realize they are piping in the reaction from the crowd gathered in the center square of the Capitol because I can hear a crowd counting down with the numbers twinkling in the sky.

5
.
.
4
.
.
I wrap my backpack tightly across my shoulder blades and prepare to launch in the unknown.

3
.
.
2
.
.
1!

The glass holding in place is removed and I take off running. I’m not sure where I’m headed because I can’t see but I’m deathly afraid that I’m going to run face first in to the knife of one of the career tributes. “That would be my luck after all,” I said audibly, but confidant that nobody can hear me. I could be inches from the middle of the arena or I could be seconds away from falling off a ledge.

-
-
-

There isn’t any use in trying to build a fire to stay warm. It’s so cold that the moment you stop moving, you’d have a hard time getting started up again. Perhaps that’s what the Game Makers wanted out of us to make things more interesting for those watching on the outside. I’m walking slowly, careful to not walk in a pattern, in case someone is following my steps.

My mind wanders to the other challengers in the game. I’m guessing at this point, Bailey and Sally are cuddled somewhere, hoping that somebody doesn’t walk in on their mini-vacation. Callahan certainly has enough money and knows the right people to get every need that could arise during the Games shipped in to his hands from the Capitol. Saint would be resourceful, and if I wasn’t careful, would probably be right underneath my nose, and prepared to attack.

That left one person: Atken.

I didn’t particularly hate Atken and didn’t understand how anybody could; but for my own safety, I had to convince myself that he was the scum of the Earth. I kept repeating to myself, “Atken cannot defeat you!” and after awhile, I started to believe it.

Atken was really only a placeholder for my spot at the top of the list. He was like the replacement peacekeepers until the real peacekeepers were able to get back on the job. The reality was that APW had been kind to Atken and he was currently in the midst of one of the greatest runs in the history of the company, and I couldn’t let him survive past the Games. He was thrust in to the arena without much training and he’s done the best he can. However, like every replacement, they will eventually get caught up in the game and make a move that they can’t bounce back from. He’ll blow the spot, blame everyone but himself, and then he’ll disappear in an effort to save face.

You can imagine the surprise on my face as I glance over to my left and off in the distance is Atken, by himself dancing, and playing with a microphone.

“What in the world is that fool doing with a microphone?” I asked myself.

I sat back and watched him for a few moments before plotting out my attack. “It’s a shame,” I said to myself, “He’s kind of like the Autistic kid…the only thing he’s good at is running his mouth behind that microphone and now he’s going to end up dead because someone put him in these games,” I shook my head again, “And he doesn’t belong.”

“Atken!” I screamed out, hoping that he’d see me, and run right towards my trap. Unfortunately, my assumptions were correct, and he was dumb enough to spin around in circles while trying to determine where the sound of my voice came from. After a few moments, he dropped down to the ground, unable to stand due to the dizziness.

“He’s kidding,” I thought to myself, “Nobody can be that dumb…to spin themselves to death, can they?”

I charged towards him, running in circles, hoping to keep his brain in a fog. When I believe I’ve succeeded, I roll him over with my foot, and hold it across his throat.

“Your luck has run out. Your antics have become stale and the rest of the world is sick and tired of watching your little temper-tantrums. You’re nothing more than the twelve year old that’s run and tattled on everybody else around them despite being the one to instigate all of the issues. Your complaints have finally fallen on deaf ears and unfortunately for you, I’ve been nominated to shut you up for good! Over the past few weeks, you have come across as nothing more than a teenage girl who didn’t get their lot of My Little Pony dolls for Christmas. You have developed a reputation simply by standing behind that microphone and offering up opinions about those in the business…and we have had enough. The only reason you are even here is because you didn’t get your way and you weren’t handed a World Heavyweight Championship match, and the world watched as you threw yourself on the ground and Reginald got tired of your whining and placed you in the Games.”

Atken started to struggle, and I clamped down tighter.

“You were satisfied simply being here,” I mumbled, “But your time is up. It’s time to let those who, you know, actually have a chance to win this thing. You’re at the bottom of the pile and you’ll simply be remembered as the beginning of the most legendary run that the Games!”

And with that, I put the finishing touches on Atken, and drive my foot down on his throat and crushing his ability to breath.

After a few minutes of fight, I watch as the last breath leaves his lips, and the cannon fires, signifying that a tribute is no longer among the living. It wasn’t something I ever saw myself doing; but it’s what I had to do to survive. The harsh conditions of the Chamber demanded I step up to the challenge.

I picked up Atken’s microphone, and tucked it away in my bag, as a reminder of what I must to do.

“One down, four to go,” I said.

TO BE CONTINUED….