Survivor Planet Series 2-Book Box Set by Juliet Cardin

And may Tanit watch over you.” The screen went blank and the spider-robot crept away.
    â€œWho’s Tanit?” I asked, figuring it was perhaps a god or goddess of Calixtus.
    He gave me another ‘you’re a dolt’ look, and didn’t bother to respond to my question. All his attention now seemed focused intently on the tournament. He appeared drawn as tight as a bowstring, his hands holding the metal scythe in a death grip. My sweeping glance took in the other contestants. The alien-warriors all stood alert and eager.
    â€œGet ready,” Ayres said. His weapon fit nicely onto his back in a harness-like contraption he strapped on, leaving his hands free. He reached out and laced his fingers through mine, then bent down and shifted his stance as though about to start a race.
    â€œOh, shit.”
    The loud horn sounded once more and everyone took off. Ayres moved so fast he practically dragged me behind him. Instead of slowing down he swept me up over his shoulder in one fluid motion. My head jostled against his back beside his weapon, which he wore diagonally across his other shoulder. At least I had no worries of the sharp blades cutting into me. Lifting my head I saw that along with Ayres and I, one other couple had also darted off and continued to barrel toward the sanctuary of the jungle. The other two couples had stopped soon after take-off. Now they appeared to be battling. From my precarious position I saw flashing white and red lights that looked to be coming from the aliens’ weapons. I could hear screaming too, growing fainter and fainter with every stride Ayres took. I was glad to see Oro and Lissa were the other couple that had run off like we had. A glimpse of bouncing black curls over Oro’s back confirmed it. I guess Lissa’s alien thought she ran too slow as well.
    Ayres didn’t slow down until we reached the jungle. Even then he dodged, leaped, and ducked the many obstacles he encountered while still maintaining a swift jog. Finally he slowed enough to swing me to my feet. He kept hold of my hand and tugged me along, keeping to his pace. I knew this was mainly a race to the finish line. Ayres had said we’d be here for a week and I hoped he didn’t plan on running the entire time.
    A few minutes later he finally slowed right down and then stopped. I noticed he’d barely broken a sweat and his breath was steady. I was puffing like a locomotive and had to lean against a tree for support. Ayres began grabbing at vines and fastening the ends together.
    â€œWhat’re you doing?”
    â€œSlowing down the others,” he answered. “We must all keep to the same route. Not the same trails exactly, but the way is laid out. They will be close.” He cocked his head and listened. “We must hurry.”
    He’d fashioned the vines into a crude rope across the trail we were on. The ends still hung high from the treetops. It was clear anyone coming this way would see the barrier and simply go under or over it. Ayres pulled the scythe off his back and aimed it up high at one end of the vine. I jumped when a dart of green light flashed out of the end of it and hit a heavy limb dead center leaving a black scorch mark. I’d seen marks like that before—on the cottage door. The limb cracked and fell slightly but remained where it was.
    â€œCome,” he said. I realized that if anyone touched the vine even slightly, the branch would swing down in a deadly arc and land right in the pathway—and into anyone unfortunate enough to be standing there. I suppose I should have been impressed, but I shivered and felt slightly sick instead. The reality of the game had set in. Here we were going to have to do things—uncomfortable things—and make life and death decisions. It was clear Ayres played to win, and if anyone got in his way he would fight and possibly kill. I didn’t relish the idea. The cruel Ayres of my Episodes was but a