Page 32 of Run of Ruin

“This is a race to the finish line!” Annalese continued brightly. “The first person to re-enter Praxis city limits will win the trial.”

I felt Ezra’s leg press harder against mine. Almost like a promise.

“And to accommodate the double participants, and to show Praxis’ honor and integrity…” I had to force my scoff to remain silent. “The top thirteen competitors will be awarded rations based on placement.” That meant that the remaining seven would receive absolutely nothing.

Nothing.

Just days of pain and surviving the elements, and the possibility of returning with nothing to show for it. My heart pounded like a drumbeat in my chest.

And that wasifthey returned at all.

Who knew what waited out there?

The land surrounding Praxis was a stretch of dense, unforgiving forest known only asthe Wilds. When resources dwindled and the wars erupted, that territory devolved into lawless chaos. And when Praxis rose to power, they didn’t bother reclaiming it. They didn’t try to tame it. They just… let it fester. Let it grow wild and ruthless.

Now, miles upon miles of that overgrown wasteland stood between Praxis and the nearest Collective, like a natural shield, or a deliberate wall.

And I knew almost nothing about what lived within it.

Only that it was unwelcoming.

Uninhabitable.

And dangerous as hell.

I could only hope the pack they strapped to my back held some sort of tools or equipment I might be able to use.

“Now, to explain the rules, here’s General Sharpe,” Annalese’s voice rang out.

A heavy pair of boots echoed down the center aisle of the plane. Each step closer sent a spike of tension through me.

“You each have a body camera strapped to your chest,” the General’s voice was deep, sharp-edged, and unyielding. “It’s been charged to last one week of continuous recording.”

My stomach dropped. A week? They expected this might take aweek?

“You are permitted to turn it off for up to four hours a day,” he continued. “But the other twenty must be recorded. Is that understood?”

A few scattered grumbles answered him.

“I said, is that understood?”

This time, we all responded in unison. “Yes, sir.”

“You will begin the trial alone, but you are allowed to work in teams if you choose.”

A harsh exhale left me. Alone. I’d be starting this alone. Maybe Ezra would find me, but even if he did, I’d only slow him down. And I couldn’t ask him to do that. Not if it meant costing Canyon a chance at rations. At survival.

“Any survival tactics you deem necessary,” the General added, his tone turning even colder, “are considered legal and acceptable.”

The air around us seemed to drop ten degrees.

Anytactics.

We didn’t need him to spell it out. He meant violence. He meant bloodshed.

It wasn’t unheard of, some of the most desperate trials in past years had ended with Challengers dead by one another’s hands. Especially when the prize was something critical.

I could only hope that, since this trial was simple transportation, no one would be willing to go that far.

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