I search around and watch as the people gather in their groups. This seems like a hell for the charismatic to rule. The largest group seems to be have leader “Keep calm” they say. The it nonetheless apparent that their group is lead by a single ginger man and that their are exactly twenty five of them. I tried to sneak into the maze early but I was blocked by one of their group and no someone I don’t know seem to have rallied against me in defiance of them blocking the door and yet all the man behind me has said is who are you to dare say I cannot to which the ginger says “keep calm we need to sought out the situation before we make any rash judgment that may affect the group as a hole”

‘Keep calm, Keep calm it is like that is all this guy know. Before a man doubted and tried to peak over the wall stealthy only to have his head explode. I don’t know how magic works so I should assume that they don’t need to see me in order to destroy my head so I have decided to follow the rules less I be ‘ elected to check if the mages are still their’ as a blood man with long tattoos on his arm suggested. It was clear what he wanted and yet the people throw themselves at this idea although only 2 hours had passed since the last man died and know their are around 70 here in the courtyard other than the stupid man who thoroughly believed he could be sneaky so long as he did try to go over and the old man who despite the medical personals attempts still couldn’t have his leg fixed the rest ran inside. That includes any other children.

I guess they were smart enough to tell that after the crippled they send the child. The tattoo man has been staring at me intently since a while ago but I am pretending not to notice he clearly wants me to check over the wall. I want to get inside the maze because if what Roayan said was true then there's food in theirs. But there's nowhere near enough for other and I don’t have the confidence I can take it away from someone. So what are my options here.

die. Get enough food for a month and hide it away. Take it away from someone else. Enter a group and be at their mercy. Die

Options one and five aren't really one I can choose but there is a one in four chance that I will die before I turn 15 in two months time. My chances of survival are greatly improved if I can make it into the maze while I can still gain an advantage for being first and grab some stuff. I step away from the group and make my way to the edge but before I can make it their the tall and lean tattooed man grabs my shoulder and harshly pulls me to face him he leans in close and “ Hey you wanna join my team.” Of course I don’t want to join your team you pedo. I try to walk away but he hold me their forcefully and wipers in my ear “ Come on. Come on. All you have to do is take their mettle pole to that ginger guys maze guard and I will stab him in the throat, then we run into the maze hey it's a good deal.”

He throw a big grin on and continues.

“The people here are all recently selected slaves and those who actually have combat experience are probably waiting inside for someone to spring their trap. You really think you can survive on your own. If you think about it is more the merrier I guess”

I look at the tattooed man and think. He is right I have little hope of surviving on my own without doing something. But joining a group “ Who else is in your team. mr tattoo”

The man looks confused then he says “ Of course it's just you and me kid. Oh and the name is Lock”

I agree and we make out way over to the edge of the courtyard where Lock gives me a woden branch and then he reaches into his mouth. Confused I watch him only to have him cover my eyes with his over hand. I hear a choking and gagging noise and when he removes his hand from my eyes a thin lines of blood is pouring from between his teeth and flowing down his mouth onto his front he is also holding a bloody shiv made of flint and glass. It’s clearly has no handle and blood is also leaking from his fingers. He is not smiling anymore but is rubbing his fingers across his across his teeth. It only manage to greatly spread the blood around his mouth.

We made our way back to the group my heart beating and my mind stopped thinking now that I was here I was being to doubt this. Ok no stay calm and stick to my plan.

Being small I was struggling to break past the crowd however Lock place his hand on my shoulder and lead me through the crowd. Most got out of his way but not mine. I passed hidden from the eyes of others but Lock didn’t and soon the maze door guard step forward and I stepped to the side. I see the entrance but I don’t have the confidence to out run anyone so I wait a bit and bide my time while making my way closer towards the door and I can see people giving Lock a strange look and then I see a chance the guard turns away from me so I take the branch and slam it into the side of his knee. I hear a crack before I see a bend form and he falls forward but before he's other knee can touch the ground Locks shive has slit the throat of the ginger and has been placed into the neck of the other guy.

I start running down into the maze and soon I feel something grip my collar and I turn to see that someone was hiding behind the door. Fear grips me as I feel that this might be the end and I might be stopped here but his grip goes lose as he fall forward and Lock sprints past us. He turn to me and says “ Thanks friend now run like the wind girl”

I run as faster than I ever thought I could but I turn to see the behind me their is a total of 6 bodys on the ground. It looks like the leader of each group has fallen. Their is a choice before me and two possibilities in which direction we go and Lock turn to me and ask “ Together?” And he points to the path on the right and then he points to the left and says “ On your own.” He doesn't look back as he makes his way down the right path.

I do hesitate. I don’t trust this man but he seems strong. I try to follow him down the right path but he is long out of sight due to my hesitation. There is no bend in the path and soon no lights as I begin to run down a darkened path. Soon I find myself unable to hear the sound of my breathing or foot steps. Then I run into … a wall and once more I have a choice to make. It looks like I won’t be working with Lock.