“Two roads diverged in a wood and I – I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.”

  Robert Frost, American Poet

  Bethany rested her head on Elias’ shoulder as he carried her over to Harmony and Brandon, their laughter piercing the anxious silence that had taken over the clearing. She felt the weight of her exhaustion press down upon her, driving her towards slumber, but she had no time for that. Sleep was the last thing she needed right now.

  Standing beside the stairwell, Chief Benton spoke with Delorus, his charismatic smile belying the tension that grew between their teams with each passing moment. Delorus continually glanced up the stairwell, anxious to leave Omoikane’s maze but reluctant to leave behind the new friends she’d made.

  Emily and Rocky spoke in hushed whispers across the clearing. Along with Bethany, they were anxiously awaiting an appearance by Omoikane, though Bethany didn’t know what they’d tell the others when he did appear. They’d kept the riddle secret, but that secret might be revealed at any moment.

  “Elias, can we head home yet?” Harmony said, waiting for Brandon’s shield to reform so she could hurl her next rock at him. “You promised us ice cream.”

  “And I want your spaghetti for supper again,” added Brandon, impatiently clutching his own rock. “Or lunch… or breakfast? I don’t know what time it is. It feels like we’ve been here for, like, a whole month or something.”

  “It’s only been a day, Brandon,” Elias chuckled. “It just feels like an eternity because you had to hang around with us boring adults. It should be lunch time. And after everything we just went through, a big plate of spaghetti with a scoop of chocolate ice cream on top sounds mighty fine.”

  “Eww! Gross,” Harmony giggled. “That’s not what we meant.”

  “How’d you know it’s lunch time?” Bethany said softly, leaning into his back.

  “Farmer powers,” he bragged.

  “Of course,” Bethany said, failing to suppress another yawn. “What’d you grow?”

  “This year? Canola and barley, mostly. A quarter section of flax since Aunt Audrey bought the equipment for it last year. And our small herd of bison,” he answered, as he held out his hand and winked at Harmony.

  Harmony smiled and handed him her rock. Brandon’s shield reformed with a brief electric sizzle, and Elias hurled the rock. It struck Brandon’s chest, and Brandon fell backwards with a delighted laugh, his shield popped. “The shield is a useful talent, Brandon, but next time, try catching the rock with your telekinesis before it hits your shield. It takes a minute to recharge your shield, and that’s a long time in the middle of a fight. You want to keep your shield up as long as possible for when you really need it.”

  “Will you take us out with you to hunt monsters tomorrow?” Brandon asked, climbing back to his feet and brushing the dirt off his pants.

  “Yes,” answered Bethany and Elias together, and the kids looked at each other excitedly.

  Bethany tapped Elias’ shoulder and pointed towards Rocky and Emily. “Over there, please.”

  “What am I, your horse?” laughed Elias in protest.

  “Giddy up, farmer boy,” Bethany teased softly, and Elias playfully trotted over to her friends.

  “Nice to see you’re feeling better,” Emily said with a conspiratorial grin as Elias set Bethany down beside them. “Was that Rocky’s healing magic… or something else magical?”

  Emily raised an eyebrow towards Elias, and Elias gave her a sly smile.

  “Wouldn’t you like to know?” Elias said mischievously as he left them alone and headed back to the kids.

  “Damn, if I didn’t have Rocky, you’d have some competition, girl,” Emily said, biting her lip dramatically. “I love me a little bit of flirt in a man.”

  Bethany blushed.

  “Note to self,” Rocky mumbled. “Start flirting more with girlfriend and eliminate Elias as rival.”

  “Also love me a bit of jealousy,” Emily said with laugh, as she rested her head on Rocky’s lap.

  Her eyes flickered over to the police chief and her voice dropped to a whisper. “Does he know about the riddle?”

  “Definitely,” Rocky whispered back as he stroked Emily’s hair. The goofy grin was still plastered on his face, but it was just for show. He glanced at the firearm on Benton’s belt. “And he must suspect we know about it too. We’re playing a game right now – waiting to see who makes the first move.”

  This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

  “But it should’ve happened by now, right?” Bethany surmised. “Did we get something wrong?”

  “Omoikane is definitely a knowledge god,” Emily replied with certainty. “And Thoth said the knowledge gods give out the riddles. It should be here.”

  Rocky grunted his agreement. “It’s not terribly great entertainment for the gods to just watch a bunch of players waiting around a completed Arena. We must have missed something. Something back in the maze.”

  Suddenly, the leather-bound book in her backpack felt very, very heavy.

  “We should go,” Bethany whispered urgently.

  “Bethany, what…” Rocky started, until he saw Bethany’s eyes flicker to her pack. He mouthed a silent ‘ooh’ and got to his feet.

  “Elias, we’re heading out. Bethany’s well enough to travel now,” Rocky announced, louder than he needed to. Benton raised his head calmly, but Bethany caught the slight smile that appeared at the corner of his mouth.

  The police chief is definitely the figure atop police headquarters in my dream. He’s dangerous – more dangerous than we yet realize. The sooner we get everyone out of here, the better.

  “Elias, Bethany needs her horsey,” Emily yelled as she helped Bethany to her feet. She gave Bethany a playful wink as Elias wandered over, kids in tow, and lifted Bethany onto his back.

  “You’re going to owe me one after this, pretty girl,” Elias said playfully. “A tasty carrot or sugar cube will do.”

  “Oh, there should be sugar involved, but not that kind,” Emily teased. “After all, one good ride deserves another.”

  Bethany buried her face into Elias’ back as she blushed so hard that she missed Elias’ stammering response. Emily’s laughter rang out across the courtyard as they headed to the spiraled staircase into the sky.

  “Delorus, we’re headed out,” Rocky announced as they approached. “What will you do, now that you have your first talent?”

  “As much as I’d like to join you, I’m needed back to Headquarters,” Delorus replied. “You six don’t need my protection. But there are thousands of people sheltered behind our walls that do. Thanks to you, I’m better able to do that now.”

  Her fingers traced along the firearm on her belt, already loaded with her first spectral bullets.

  Bethany felt a tinge of disappointment.

  She was the first person I met in Regina. It would have been a kind of poetry to have her join us at the refinery. But she’s not the type of person to abandon her duty to others. And that makes her all the more special.

  “If we find any Arenas in your area, we’ll pop by for your help,” Rocky promised.

  “If there is an Arena near us, you’ll come speak to me first,” Benton ordered, an expectation in his words. “We’re all in this together, right?”

  “Umm… right,” Rocky replied as he began to head up the stairs. Emily and the kids, after their own goodbyes to Delorus, followed along behind him.

  “Bethany,” Delorus started as Elias reached the stairs. The police officer reached out and pressed a gentle hand to Bethany’s shoulder. “You’ve grown so much from the runaway girl I first saw in the park. You had the spark of bravery – I could feel it even then – and that spark has grown into an entire fire. You’re strong. Never forget it. You and your friends… you’re going to be okay, as long as you stay vigilant.”

  “I… we will. Thanks Delorus, for everything,” Bethany said in an exhausted whisper. “Please, be careful. And… you know where to find us if you need help.”

  “I do. We’ll see each other again, my dear. Count on it,” Delorus finished, taking a reluctant step back. “With luck, I’ll be stronger the next time we meet. Maybe I’ll be able to give you a run for your money.”

  As Elias began to climb the stairs, carrying Bethany on his back, Bethany caught a glimpse of the apprehension in Delorus’ eyes.

  She’s anxious. She knows her Chief can’t be trusted, but she’s too loyal to everyone sheltering at their headquarters to just abandon them. Please, Delorus, watch your back. He’s not what he seems.

  *                    *                     *

  Bethany managed to cram another two granola bars into her before she finally let the exhaustion back in. The smell of Elias’s sweat and the slight, rhythmic rocking as he carried her made her feel… something… in a way she had never experienced before.

  Her old life had been one of simple survival – so much like her new one yet in such a different way – and neither life seemed like it would ever have room for a growing crush. It felt so foreign to her.

  Survival… I’ve been so focused on survival for so long. Surviving my father. Surviving the God Contest. I almost died today. Maybe it’s time I started to think about something more than survival. Otherwise, what’s the point of living? Emily… she took a chance with Rocky. She set aside her fears and anxieties and finally kissed the boy and look how happy she is now. I want that too. I want something to live for.

  “Hey,” Bethany whispered weakly in Elias’ ear, before she lost her sudden bravery. “Do you want to go on a date with me?”

  Elias didn’t slow his climb. He just turned his head so he could meet her gaze, and casually answered “Sure, I’d like that.”

  Bethany nuzzled her face into Elias’ back and smiled. “Yay,” she whispered, and, with that, finally fell asleep to the soft rumbles of Elias’ quiet laughter.

  *                    *                     *

  Chief Benton remained in the Arena until the stars above began to dim and an empty hollowness filled the air. Delorus had ascended an hour ago, shortly after the others. He’d encouraged her to leave, on the faint hope that the riddle would appear to him in their absence.

  But no riddle came forth from Omoikane, yet he knew there should be one. The God Anahit, who had gifted him his first knowledge stroll, had made it clear. It is the knowledge gods who are tasked with providing the riddles to players. It was they who gifted the keys to victory.

  “I know there was a riddle within this maze,” he whispered into the emptiness. “I must have missed it. Or perhaps another claimed it. The young woman. The one who survived by the skin of her teeth. That seems the most likely possibility.”

  Chief Benton sighed.

  “So much for the easy way. Thankfully, this contest has a knack for giving its players what they need at just the right time.”

  Benton clenched his hand and activated his new ‘Missing Person’ talent. A semi-transparent map of Regina materialized in front of him.

  “Bethany Fox,” he spoke, having learned the young woman’s name from Officer Shepherd. Shepherd was quite impressed with the woman.

  That would be a problem.

  A blinking red dot appeared on the map, centered over the office at the Regina Refinery.

  “There you are,” Benton smiled. “Ms. Fox, You have something that I need. And Ms. Hilton, and her own new talent, will get it for me. One way or the other.”

  Benton closed the map and began to climb the stairs out of the arena, whistling a cheerful tune.

  “See you soon, Ms. Fox.”