Chapter 4- the First Trial

Red light spilled over everyone and now Evan could get a better look. His eyes wandered down the line until they fell on Yuuri. Evan had to bite his tongue to keep from gasping like an idiot.

He looked just like Yuuri , Evan thought. His true love that had been murdered ten years ago.

Why?

Why did he have to look like him?

He couldn't let that distract him though. He shook himself and faced towards the........giant flaming obstacle course?

It was literally a giant flaming obstacle course.

"Welcome warriors. Your first trial is to make it to the end of this obstacle course. The last to make it will be eliminated." The familiar metallic woman's voice sounded from seemingly nowhere in particular.

"Oh ****. No way. I'm out." Yuzu's voice. He turned around to leave but Rin grabbed his wrist.

"What do you want? Let go of me!" He tried to wrench himself free but Rin held a firm grasp.

"You don't know what they'll do to you if you try to leave." He stopped struggling and considered this. "And don't worry, I'm not sure why you have so little faith in yourself but if I need to I will carry you the whole way, I won't let you get hurt." Rin squeezed Yuzu's hand reassuringly and Yuzu contemplated this.

"Fine. But you'll have to guide me, uh, this damn number was so close to my eyes that they're still blurry." Rin understood and smiled at him "of course!" The next thing he knew, Yuzu found himself lifted onto Rin's back. He really hoped he wouldn't have to regret this.

Evan kept a side-eye fixed on Yuuri while he waited for the huge count-down to, well, count down. Yuuri just stared at the course ahead, hi face did not betray a a single thought or emotion.

Then, a balding fat, old man approached Yuuri. The disgusting man placed a meaty hand on Yuuri's shoulder. Some old, old instinct stirred within Evan and in a matter of seconds, he had covered the distance between them and slapped the mans hand off of his shoulder. All three men were equally confused until the fat man shook himself and spoke up.

"Um, sorry, didn't know this was yours." He addressed Evan in a grimy voice like cold slime. "Shame, too, woulda' liked to 'ave a bit of fun with this one eh?" He winked at Evan and gave a choked laugh. Evan clenched his jaw to avoid punching this pig-man.

"The name's Ted." Ted stuck out his tongue to reveal a hideous, purple number "4". Gluttony. Why was he not surprised?

Evan said nothing. He grabbed Yuuri by the arm and dragged him away from Ted. "You should be more careful." Yuuri sighed at this, "and you should mind your own business." Evan then realised how impulsive he'd been and he went red. "Oh, um, I'm sorry. It's just you look like-" he caught himself and paused. "No one. Never mind." Yuuri's brow furrowed and he folded his arms. "No one? Come on you have to tell me now." Evan pushed past hi ignored his question. Yuuri's eyes followed him. Suddenly, Evan interested him more than normal people usually do.

10

It was nearly time.

9

Evan started to worry.

8

Not about himself, but about Yuuri. He scanned his physique and assessed that Yuuri probably couldn't do this.

5

But then, Evan could count on Ted to lose. Ted looked as if he had never even heard the words "physical activity" in his entire life.

2

1

Hyunbe was first to move and boy, was he fast. How old was he? Evan thought to himself. Nearly 40? He was certainly fit for his age. Evan bolted after him and Yuuri after him. To Evans surprise, he moved quickly and gracefully, easily taking a solid third. Evan spared a glance backwards to see the tattooed girl not far behind Yuuri but not close enough to overtake him easily. He could have easily taken first place if he hadn't been so distracted.

Evan came to a ladder and he couldn't see where it led but just as Hyunbe's feet disappeared from the top, he heard him curse loudly. He flew up the ladder with ease and instantly spotted Hyunbe who was hanging on for dear life in the midst of what Evan now deemed, "The Monkey-Bars of Death."

The name was appropriate. Accurate. Quite likely the single best way to describe the metal monstrosity before him. It was his turn to curse. Huge swinging metal rings about a metre apart above a dark pit he couldn't see the bottom of. He took a long, deep breath. He clasped the cold iron and swung.

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