22: Day Two
Daniel wakes up, his legs burning as if they were on fire. He looks down. Both of them. Charred. From his knee to his toe.
Had someone tried to set him on fire?
Daniel looks around the room furiously as he stands up. Each step sends pain coursing through his body. He makes his way to the bathroom, the burns on the bottom of his feet feeling like he’s stepping on razor-blades.
He turns on the bath water, cold, and submerges his legs. He can’t help but cry out as the cool water runs over them.
There’s some shuffling in the room, and Rose pokes her head in. “Is everything—holy…”
She pushes herself the rest of the way in the room and kneels by the Runner sitting on the bathtub. “What happened?” She exclaims.
“I—don’t know,” Daniel gasps, the cold water running over his legs.
“How do you not—when did this happen?”
“I guess last night,” Daniel says, touching his calf and then regretting it as a new wave of pain goes through him.
“And you didn’t wake up?” She says, dumbfounded, and shakes her head quickly, standing up. “I’ll go get help. Don’t move.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it,” Daniel mutters, looking down at his legs. Who would have done this? No one in here, surely. It could possibly have cost them the Competitions and they would be executed. The only person that the Runner can think of is…
Blaise.
Daniel groans in frustration as he looks over his charred and blistered legs. His feet aren’t a natural color, and neither is anything above it up to his knee. He lets the hate for what Blaise has done fester inside of him while he waits.
A few minutes later, Rose is back with a doctor. How she got him to come in here without leaving the locked room, he doesn’t know. Doesn’t care. As long as he can race in three days, he’ll be fine.
The doctor cleans up the wounds and tells him to stay off his feet for a good amount of time and to keep his socks and shoes off so it can get ample amounts of air. The Runner is upset at this at first, but still decides to run on his feet anyway.
After the doctor leaves, he’s up on a treadmill, painfully, sluggishly moving along, and after just one minute, he has to sit down. It crushes him. He can’t train while he waits for the next Competition.
So instead he watches. He needs to find everyone’s weakness and then he needs to find their strengths. He will know what they are, and he will get into the Top Five in the next race. He knows he will. And he’ll do it without cheating. Just observing. Memorizing. Repeating information to himself.
Bitterness starts to creep into his heart, but he ignores it. He needs to focus. Now more than ever. Now he has an even slimmer chance of becoming an Elite. It’s make it or break it in two days, and he wants to make it. If he doesn’t he’ll have to kill Blaise. And if he doesn’t kill Blaise, the Unnamed will kill him without a second thought. He’ll be unnecessary for them to carry out their plans.
They want the Elites to fall. But Daniel has other plans for the Unnamed.
+ + +
So far, he has learned half of the people in the rooms weaknesses and strengths and their names. Now he just has to make sure that he remembers which face goes with which name.
Natilda is terrible at distance, and she has breathing problems. It’s amazing how she made it past the first day. Strange things sure do happen out on that track. But she’s really good at staying focused, which helps her get to where she needs to go.
In contrast to her, Jeremiah is really good at long-distance. He’s just really bad at finding a pace to stay at.
He could go on and on, but everyone is going to sleep. Another day gone by, and he’s only just touched a treadmill.
Daniel rests his head in his hands, his back against the wall and his feet out in front of him, the blisters seeming to mock him.
“Hey,” Jim says as he plops down next to Daniel. “Me and Rose are gonna watch out for you tonight, just in case.”
“You need your strength,” the Runner says acidly. “I can’t beat Blaise now.”
Jim shakes his head and laughs a bit. “I think you could beat that guy even if he chopped your legs clean off like he had threatened to do that day.”
Daniel shakes his head. “I have no chance.”
“Yeah you do,” Jim says. “That ointment or whatever the doctor gave you should heal it by then. At least that’s what Rose says.”
“Yeah, well Rose is also the one that held me at gunpoint, so,” Daniel says, resting his head against the wall behind him. “Her words don’t hold much water to me.”
Jim sighs and looks at Rose, who is starting to lay down on her own bed across the room. “Well, she means well. The Unnamed is everything to her,” he says quietly so no one else can hear. They sit there for a moment in silence as everyone else talks around them, either to themselves or to each other.
“Well, I have first shift,” Jim says, heaving himself off of the Runner’s bed. “Don’t roll onto the floor. I don’t feel like picking you back up.”
The Runner smiles slightly, but stops himself, remembering that Jim and Rose are a part the enemy to him, even if they don’t know it.
23: Day Three
Daniel wakes up to the sound of chattering. Everyone has food out and is eating. Some others sleep in, probably had a late night of workouts. That, or they just don’t care about the next race. They’re the ones that run to survive not to win.
Just as yesterday, there is a long table on the back wall, opposite of the one that leads to the bathroom, filled with breakfast foods. Daniel walks over to it, his feet feeling better and his stomach growling.
Rose comes up behind him and then beside him, slapping a few more eggs and another pancake onto her syrupy plate.
“We all got letters,” she says quietly. “Apparently they do that every year, its just no one really knows about it back in the Buildings.”
“Where are they?” Daniel asks, his feet starting to burn a bit from standing on them.
“At the end of the table,” she says, pointing with her free hand. “They each had our names on it.”
Daniel nods and decides to get it after he gets his food. Three pancakes and a steaming pile of eggs later, he walks over to the end of the table and sees the envelope with his name on it. He walks back over to the bed he had slept on, thankful he’s not on his feet anymore, and he scarfs down the food, not realizing how hungry he actually was. He hadn’t eaten very much yesterday because he felt bad asking someone to make him some food, so he sat and waited until he gathered enough courage to not cry out as he stepped on his feet.
He takes a moment after finishing the food, which tasted amazing, before he reaches down to pick up the envelope. He looks around to make sure he can open it.
Everyone else’s lie open beside them, some of them looking down at it to read its contents as they chew. Some hold the envelope up, studying it. All their names are in thick black marker, each name seeming to be in a different font.
He looks at his name. It’s in thin, red ink. The Runner takes the envelope between both hands and then runs a finger beneath the flap, the ripping sound setting his nerves on edge. There’s something different about his letter than everyone else’s. He can just feel it. Unless the government just decided not to pay attention to detail or they ran out of black ink, there’s something different about his letter.
He slips his fingers in the opening and pulls out the envelope’s contents. There are two notes inside.
Daniel looks around, just to make sure he’s supposed to have two papers. Everyone else seems to as well, so what’s so different about his envelope?
He looks down at the first letter. The writing is in black ink, but his name is in red. It’s from Mortimer the Elite Solver. He feels a knot rise up in his throat as he begins to read.
Daniel,
I have written and rewritten this letter many times over, trying to find the rig
ht words. Your life has just gotten a whole lot bigger if you are receiving this letter. This means you placed in the first race. Congratulations. I always knew you could do it. I hope you know that I am back in my mansion cheering you on. I think this year is the year I will try to watch all of the races. Of course, I would miss some of my other Servants, but I will tune in on them to check up with how they are doing in their own Competitions.
I want to let you know, to reassure you that what you are doing for the World is a noble deed. It is hard to keep secrets in a world where there are none and where everything you do is controlled and carefully calculated. Never be afraid to stand up for what is right, Runner. Do that and you will always be right. Maybe not to everyone else, but if you stay true to who you are and what you believe, then you can grow older and live your life without guilt and without fear.
If I lose on the final day of the Competitions, I want you to know that you did great. Saying that before hand sounds cliché and almost strange, but I do not have any doubts about you. I know you will be first place on the last day of Competitions, even if Blaise tries to cheat in any way. Honesty always makes it the farthest, or at least farther than a lie. But I must warn you, Blaise will do whatever it takes to win without killing you, and he is crafty and cunning. He is creative too, Runner, and you have best watch out for it. Surround yourself with people, with witnesses, just in case. He has never really liked you, Runner, not even when we were trying to decide on whom to send to infiltrate the Unnamed. He argued against you time and time again, afraid that the Unnamed would train you to be better than him. He should have known the only one making you better than him is you and I. You strengthen your character while I strengthen you physically.
And I must warn you, boy, that Blaise will be watching every move you make. No one else has beaten him in a practice race, and no one else is even close. He would not want to admit it, but you are a threat to him, the biggest one. Anything and everything you do will grind his nerves and you will be in the water with the sharks until you beat him and he retires.
If I do not see you again after the races, know that I was rooting for you the entire time, that I always have been, and that you are like a son to me and I love you. Stay true to you and Run. For your life. For your Name. I warn you, do not become an Unnamed, Runner, because you still can. They can still cast you out and you will actually become one. Be careful.
So just in case this is goodbye,
Mortimer the Elite Solver, Daniel’s Master
Daniel stares down at the paper, at the place that’s marked out, as well as the unfinished thought at the end of the paper. He died before he could finish the letter to Daniel. Below his Master’s name, there is another group of words.
Died. Could not finish letter. Checked by Blaise.
The Runner stares at the words, a new hatred entering into his heart. He feels like there is so much hate inside of him for so many people… but he can’t help it. These people are doing wrong inside the World and to other people.
Daniel wipes a tear away with the back of his hand, making sure no one sees him, especially Jim or Rose. If they did, they’d sniff out that he isn’t one of them. He’s supposed to not care about his Master, but he had felt as if the Elite had been a father to him.
He tucks the first letter back into the envelope, wondering what it is that had been said below the scribbles on the page. Obviously, it’s something Blaise didn’t like. He wonders if the Elite Solver was trying to warn him of something, like he knew something would happen to him.
The Runner looks at the next letter. It’s not near as long. It’s also from Blaise. The top part seems generic, worded like everyone gets that message. But the last part is in red ink, as if that’s what was personalized about the message.
Congratulations, Newly Named Runner, for placing in the First Race. I’m sure you’re ready for the next one, and I’m sure you’re starting to list the strengths and weaknesses of people who you believe are a threat. I sure have.
Get plenty of rest and make sure you stay limber for the race, and don’t be afraid to eat. You need your strength. I’ll see half of your group and hopefully you on the Last Race.
Good luck.
Especially for you, Daniel the Runner. I’ll see you on the track, should you still be able to breathe.
- Blaise the Elite Runner.
Daniel folds the paper, his heart beating fast. He’s got to run. He’s gone a full day without it. He has to. It’ll clear his mind and get his brain working, get his brain thinking.
He steps onto the treadmill, aware of all the eyes focused on him. He puts it on its lowest setting, his socked feet thumping on the track below him. He’s aware of the growing pain on the bottoms of his feet, but he tries to stick it out for as long as he can. The doctor will be back during lunch to reapply the ointment he had put on his legs yesterday.
He doesn’t go very fast, not fast at all. His muscles almost cry out in happiness from the feeling of running again. He’s been doing it his whole life. Skipping it for a day is a strange sensation to him, to his body.
By the time he’s sure his feet are bleeding, the doctor comes in and gives him a look that tells him to get off the treadmill and into his bed. He obeys, every eye in the room seeming to be watching him.
He sits down on the bed, the doctor asking him several questions. He answers each one truthfully, tucking the letters he had received beneath his pillow.
The ointment is cool as the man puts it on the Runner’s calves, and it stings a bit. Once he’s finished, he says goodbye and leaves the Newly Named to themselves. Jim grabs Daniel a lunch plate and sits next to him on the bed, smacking loudly as he eats his stuffed sandwich.
Daniel looks over at him. “Why are you being so nice to me?” He asks quietly. “I’m your competition.”
Jim gives him a strange look, a piece of green lettuce falling out of his mouth. “Because we’re on the same team.” He swallows his bite and leans in to talk quietly.
The Runner feels a pang of guilt as he looks down at his sandwich. Am I really doing the right thing? He wonders.
Daniel shakes his head. Of course he is.
The rest of the day consists of learning more names and more strengths and weaknesses, and memorizing them. Everyone beings to lay down, along with the Runner, his legs feeling so much better than yesterday.
Tomorrow is the last day. And then to the Second Race.
24: Day Four
The Runner wakes with a start. Something isn’t right.
He sits up in bed, hearing the lock on the door click. The door slowly opens.
Daniel lies back down, his eyes wide open, watching, waiting to see what will happen. A figure steps through the door, looking around in the dark for a moment. The Runner closes one eye, keeping the one sort of hidden from the figure by the pillow open to watch. Is this another one of Blaise’s henchmen? The one that had burned Daniel?
The figure walks over to Daniel’s bed, stopping just before it. The black hood pulled over his head hides most of his face, the Runner only able to see part of a smirk.
“No-good troublemaker,” the figure says quietly.
It’s not one of the henchmen.
It’s Blaise himself.
He lifts up a large object above his head, as if he was going to bring it down.
And then he does.
Daniel moves his feet fast enough, the weapon bouncing off the mattress and Blaise looking at the Runner in surprise. He had been expecting him to be asleep.
Daniel takes the moment and uses it to his advantage, jumping onto the man and pinning him to the ground. Blaise rolls over, throwing a punch that connects with the Runner’s jaw. He cries out, hearing someone wake up.
“What’s going on?” He hears.
“Jim!” The Runner calls. “Help! It’s Blaise!”
Immediately, he feels the weight of the man teetering as Jim attacks him to try and get him off. Dan
iel punches Blaise in the stomach, he hopes, it being the only thing he can reach. He hears a loud crack of knuckles to a jaw, and Blaise is thrown off of his torso.
The Runner stands up, a few more people awake now from the commotion.
“What do you want, Blaise?” Jim asks acidly as Blaise stands up, wiping at the side of his mouth.
Daniel hears Blaise chuckle. “Him dead.”
“Well that’s not going to happen. Not with me around.”
“Why? Because you’re his buddy? His friend?” Blaise spits. “Trust me, you wouldn’t be if you knew what I knew about him.”
“Leave, Blaise,” Daniel hears Rose say from behind him. “You’re outnumbered.”
Blaise laughs again. “The thing about being outnumbered, Rose,” he says, reaching in his pocket for something. “Is that I’m an Elite. I didn’t get to this position by being equally matched.”
He pulls something out from his pocket and it clicks. A gun.
The trigger is pulled.
Someone shoves Daniel out of the way.
A cry of pain as the bullet collides with a body.
Rose.
Blaise curses under his breath as he tucks the gun back into his pocket. “You’re lucky I only had one bullet, Daniel, or else everyone would be dead. All because of you.”
With one last smile, white teeth glowing in the darkness, he turns to walk out the door, locking it behind him.
Daniel kneels down to where Rose had fallen. He feels around until he touches her arm. She winces.
“I’m okay,” she says as Jim walks over and people start to whisper to each other. Some start to freak out, but Daniel ignores it. “He got my shoulder. I’ll be fine for the race.”
“Are you sure?” Jim asks her.
There’s a slight pause. The Runner can feel her nodding, but she probably thinks they can’t see her. “Yeah. Gosh, I hate that guy.”
Jim chuckles. “Don’t we all?”
“Why does this keep happening?” Daniel asks quietly.
“Because you’re a threat to him,” Jim says plainly. “And night time is the only time that the cameras aren’t rolling. So Blaise could get away with murder and say it was a suicide. Just how it works.”
After getting Rose back in bed and cleaned up, as well as removing the bullet, Jim and Daniel lay down for the rest of the time they’re supposed to be asleep. But Daniel can’t go back to sleep. Not after what happened.
How can a man be so paranoid about loss of power that he kills one of his own people?
+ + +
To the Runner’s relief, his legs are almost completely healed. His feet are even better, despite running on them for so long yesterday. He stretches. It makes his muscles feel good and loose, and he runs until lunchtime, where he scarfs down a sandwich in a corner, away from prying eyes and long, drawn-out questions from the Runners in the room. Jim tends to Rose, checking up on her often.
They would be good people if they weren’t involved with the Unnamed. How many people have they killed? How many laws have they broken? Daniel shakes his head.
Nothing else strange or peculiar happens for the rest of the day. They all eat the dinner that suddenly appears on the table and go to sleep. Once again, Jim and Rose take shifts watching out for the Runner as he slips into a deep sleep, praying tomorrow goes as planned.