The Change: Episode one by Angela White Page B

found out, but
it was painful, designed to put the remaining contestants on even
footing. Aware of what was coming, I winced at that thought and
headed for The Block.
     
    2
    “ Are you worried about your
cousin?”
    This was my first interview since Angelica’s
kidnapping, and I played it like I needed to. I dangled bait.
    “ No. She wasn’t really
taken. It was a misunderstanding.”
    The bald reporter I’d recently humiliated
gaped at me and I chose not to push, just this one time. I needed
this interview heard. “She headed home and forgot to tell us. We
just found out.”
    I saw her beady eyes narrow and knew
instantly what had happened, who had targeted me. I had assumed it
was one of the contestants.
    I flashed my Games grin. “So, I’m all set
for tonight. Are you?”
    There was a double meaning
she took to heart, and I nodded, not caring that we were on open
air with the world and more importantly, the Network, listening.
“I’ll wipe out your whole family, and I’ll do it quicker
than they will.”
    I stood up, eyes flickering pink, and she
flinched back out of her chair. When she turned to run, I let my
Changeling out.
    I snatched her around the throat, spinning
her around, and I jerked her up close to my face as the guards
began to flood the studio. “I’ll come for you. The Network couldn’t
care less about your life… but I do!”
    I shoved her to the floor, took a step back
as they drew their guns. “If she’s not returned, unharmed, before
the match, there won’t be anywhere you can hide. I’ll track you
into the Borderlands and beyond.”
    I left with those words, hoping it had been
enough. I hadn’t realized the reporters could be paid for their
involvement, too, but I suspected this was personal. I’d been
heartless to them, and they’d retaliated by taking something they
thought I held dear. If they’d been smarter, it might have worked,
but they’d sent out one of those I’d already conquered. Reading her
was easy.
    I stopped at the door, still ignoring the
guards, and looked toward the cameras. “Are ya ready yet?”
    The roar in response was deafening.
     
    3
    The contestants entered through a separate
area, but I could hear the crowd waiting on the other side of the
door. The Tunnels of Time were three caves set side by side. Lined
with sharp stones and shards of glass, it was a race to see who
could endure the pain to come out of the other end first. I stepped
through the door thinking again how grateful I was for the training
I’d done with Baker.
    The cameras swung to show
my entrance, and I saw the other contestants were already at their
starting gates. Good . Waiting for me might hurt them, make them reckless. These
tunnels weren’t the fast dash the announcer had implied. They were
half a mile long, pitch black, and littered with surprises that the
former contestants weren’t allowed to talk about. Some always did
though, and I was as ready for the bolts of fire and winged
blood-suckers as I could be.
    “ Please remove your
weapons and shoes before entering.”
    The run was also done barehanded and
barefooted. I grinned for the cameras as I pushed mine off and
heard the crowd roar in response.
    “ The first contestant to
emerge from the Tunnels of Time will have a guaranteed slot in
tonight’s match. The other contender will be chosen by Network
decision. Everyone ready?”
    The mob of people watching
must be huge, I thought, stepping into the
center square where a small bar held me back from the dark, cave
entrance. The cheering and jeering was echoing back through the
arena and even rolling up through the tunnels.
    I’d never watched an episode of this game,
but I’d trained for it just the same. Walking on hot coals had made
me almost numb to the touch and burnt the bottoms of my feet until
I had a layer of scar tissue to pad me. I’d had a lot of years to
torture myself before I was allowed to be here.
    “ Ready… Go!”
    I shot into the tunnel ahead and