Chapter 104: A Lose-Lose Situation

Forest’s POV

Staring at the ground, I contemplated about what I should do next. I didn’t know which choice was better. Hunter had already made up his mind… I doubt he even thought it through that much. Nonetheless, every action someone makes… no matter how small, will impact our current and future circumstances.

By going with Scar, there are a few certainties. Scar possesses supernatural powers… we’ve already seen how he can use them just a few minutes ago, and there is no benefit for him to lie about having a fight with Zeris. That’s why he didn’t bring it up earlier; he had no reason to. Two people have already decided to go with him, making it a group of three. The insufferable Delta… and Hunter. And while intellectually, they aren’t as perceptive or clever as Code or Ember, they carry something else that makes up for their lack of smarts… passion.

However, trusting Scar feels like a death wish. If I joined them, what if he just killed me and everybody else before we even got to the maze? He wouldn’t have any problems doing so, and from my point of view, there are no downsides for him to do such a thing.

Furthermore, Scar claimed he doesn’t kill somebody unless he feels obligated. Who yields such obligations? Scar? If so… if Scar feels compelled to get rid of us because he sees us as dead weight… what can we do to stop him? Nothing. Perhaps he’s more moral than I’m giving him credit for, but I believe I’m more than entitled to have my suspicions.

Damn it… once again, Scar is enforcing a reckless plan and only giving us a little time to think. If we don’t make up our minds by then, we could also be signing our names to a death warrant just by abstaining. If I stay behind and Scar is being truthful that these campgrounds will be a walking minefield going forward… we would just be waiting for Zeris to kill us, possibly as early as tonight.

And then there’s Code, who wants to stay here and, I assume, take more time to create a more coherent plan… the far more logical approach. While the two are both sharp-witted in their own rights… in a situation like this, Scar brings strength while Code brings reason. The thing is… similar to Scar, I don’t trust Code as far as I could throw him. He was acting all tough just a few minutes ago, and then a new dog came into town, and Code’s been real quiet since. Not a fault of his… if I were in his shoes, I would've backed down too.

But still, that raises the question of whether he can stay level-headed if Zeris or Ace were to show up. Also, the countdown is another unpacked mystery. Is it a bomb? Is it just a harmless timer? We have yet to learn. All we do know... is that once the timer reads zero, ‘only one’ will be left, whatever that means.

What’s holding me back from choosing the most, though… is that daunting maze. The maze I had lost my closest friend in not too long ago. It’s obvious why Hunter joined, but those lingering responsibilities he feels indebted toward don’t apply to me. Of course, I miss Falc, but I’m not about to throw my life away on a whim and say it’s for his sake, no way.

Falc knows me, and he’d understand if I can’t go back yet. I know he would. Scar will be able to protect himself, but I doubt he can simultaneously aid everybody else when boulders are breathing down their necks while arrows are being shot at 'em every five seconds.

Would Scar see everyone as a burden by that point? He might just let ‘em all die to such causes so he doesn’t have to get his hands dirtied. While it was subtle, he did mention something similar to what Cliff said… that only one can remain. And while he is presently acting like he is offering a ticket to surefire safety and success at escape... just how long will it take before the numbers in that group start to dwindle? A week? A few days? One day? A few hours? A few minutes? No matter how you face it, it’s a ticking time bomb, just like the one here at camp…

There is no right option here!

“I won’t go… I’m staying here too,” says a raspy female voice, and I look up to see Faith alongside Code, not providing any further reason behind why she said what she said.

“Thanks…” whispers Code and Faith shyly nods.

“Very well,” Scar replies, his hardened gaze fixed on the three undecided people.

“As for myself,” starts Ember, an uneasy expression on her face. “I’ll be staying here too.”

It’s three to three now! Damn, and of all people to say that... it was Ember! Damn…

Scar’s frown droops even more, “That’s too bad. Your hearing would’ve been quite helpful.”

“If that’s all you see me as… I'd rather take my chances with Code,” says Ember, joining Code and Faith.

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Glancing over at Sky, I quickly recognize that she is lost in thought. Only the two of us are left now, and with the numbers evenly split… who we choose to go with now is even more crucial. It’s a lose-lose situation, but at this point… it’s best just to select the option where my odds of survival are higher.

Yes, that’s what I’ll go off of. That’s how I should’ve always thought of it! Going with the group that will offer me a better chance at living. No matter how you look at it, both groups will eventually have to enter the maze, right? So then... what’s the correct choice?

Without saying a word, my legs began to move. I didn’t command them to, but they seemed to make my mind up for me. Or perhaps my mind was already made up beforehand. Who knows. Now, standing to Hunter’s right, I have already started to dread my decision while Hunter pats me on the back.

This is the safer option. If Scar truly believes he can take down Zeris… then this is the right choice. It has to be. Nobody in Code’s group could fend off Zeris or Ace, nobody. Over here, we at least have Scar. There’s also Delta, who would probably throw her own life away if it meant killing Ace… she can be a sacrificial pawn that could serve my escape or prolong my life.

As for Hunter, he feels accountable for what happened to Falc... and also feels indebted to me. If I'm desperate and need a last-ditch option, I can also puppeteer his actions to whatever I need. Last but not least, it's evident that Scar is the one I need to be the most careful of. I can’t get a read on him, nor do I want to attempt to, but if he’s preoccupied with other matters… I could maybe even stab him in the back.

I can do this, I’ve survived the maze once before, and I know what to keep an eye on. I won’t be able to help the others, but that’s okay, ideal even. This topic keeps being discussed, but if only one of us can survive these trials, it must be me. I can't imagine myself killing somebody, but if push comes to shove...

Call me cruel if you want, but Scar has made it clear that every man and woman are for themselves now. While you still have to trust those around you somewhat, you must also be willing to sleep with one eye open and be on your guard for potential blindsides or betrayals.

Hearing my own thoughts, I nearly chuckle to myself.

So, this is the kind of person these trials have made me become…

Zoned out and ignorant of what was transpiring around me, I didn't even notice that Sky had also made her choice... and she chose Code. She had spoken words at some point that strung together into sentences, but they were inaudible to me when she did. Scar didn’t seem to care much, and that was that.

Two groups of four, that’s how it shaped out. Scar didn’t seem to mind. In fact, he even looked a little bit happier now that it was a smaller group than he probably anticipated. I can’t blame him. If I were in his position, I’d want the group to be low enough in numbers to where communication and travel are efficient. He isn’t aware that Delta complained about distance and walking the other day. Still, knowing Scar, he could probably keep Delta happy by ensuring she’s well-fed while exploiting her emotions by constantly reminding her about Ace. Once again, if I was in his shoes and faced with that problem, that’s what I would do. Maybe the two of us aren't all that different.

From an outside perspective, our group consists of four people, but there is a clear division between loyalties. Hunter and I trust each other as friends, brothers even… and would put each other first before Scar or Delta. And while their relationship isn’t exactly one of friendship, Scar and Delta’s goals are similar, and they would look to help one another before they even think about Hunter or me.

That’s not a problem, though. This is all going off the basis that we will run into trouble, and we definitely will. Still, Hunter and I can handle ourselves just fine when that happens. Delta will be the one struggling, and that’ll keep Scar preoccupied.

The two teams of four started their own conversations almost immediately. Ours began with Scar turning toward me, his eyes and scar back to their usual color, and saying, “Ember mentioned that you and Hunter entered the maze. I need you to fill me in on everything, and don’t you dare leave anything out.”

“I’m an open book. I never planned to withhold anything. Not telling you or Delta something crucial could lead to my own death. I’m not that stupid,” I reply, my heart rate much calmer than when I spoke to Scar earlier.

“Glad to hear that…” says Scar, lifting his eyebrows and tipping his head down. “Well, go on. We don’t have all day.”

“Not so fast,” I utter, surprised that I had actually said what I was thinking out loud. “First off, we need to get rid of the body. It’s unsettling to talk so casually next to a corpse. Second-”

Suddenly, the silver light returned to Scar’s face, and he disappeared, as did Cliff’s body. After about ten seconds, he reappeared, seated in the same spot.

“Wha- what did you just do?” asks Hunter, flipping his head between looking at Scar and the pool of blood behind us.

“I got rid of the body. What else, Forest?”

Glancing back over my shoulder, I was once again stunned at the display of power that Scar had shown us and the other group. I looked over at them; they were all staggered and staring back in our direction. Maybe Scar wanted them to regret not choosing him, or perhaps that was meant to showcase itself as a legitimate threat to not only Code’s group but everyone here, sending a message that the gap of strength between him and us is beyond what we can understand.

Considering this and almost at a loss for words, I resume, “Second, we need to know the full extent of your abilities. If we can formulate a strategy around them, I'd advocate that we’ll have far less trouble.”

Scar ponders momentarily, “Sure thing, but you talk first.”

While I wanted the opposite, I knew I wasn’t in any position to say anything now. So, I didn’t push my luck and sat down, as did Delta and Hunter. The discussion between the four of us kicked off, each person sharing their knowledge and bringing their experiences to the table.

64:28:41… 40… 39…