It was a question of now versus then. Bo groaned, why were decisions always so complicated? The stewardess, who now stood three seats away from him, asked everybody wether they wanted a salad or chicken. He needed an answer lest he make a fool out of himself.

His work had forced him onto the plane. Apparently they needed him in Japan. Apparently it could not wait despite the strange new hurricanes which had arose, and the storms that raged across the world. They told him it was a code red scenario and that he’d be debriefed once he’d arrived. Bo was certain that meant the company's stock had dropped one or two percent, and that they wanted him to fire other employees.

The call came around three in the night, and by four he was on the plane. His stomach growled as he hadn’t eaten anything instead putting all of time into putting on his business suit. And that, he had done poorly, almost certain that at least three buttons were done wrong, and his pants were worn backwards. He could handle that though, he’d eat something, go to sleep, and deal with it later.

In past flights, he’d eaten chicken, and whilst it was certainly more tasty than the salad, it would mess with his stomach. Logically he should pick the salad, that’s at least what the brain decided but his tongue wouldn’t give up the fight. He was hungry, and he needed something without the taste and consistency of paper.

“Sir,” the stewardess said. “Sir hello?”

“Oh my apologies,” Bo said, straightening up in his chair and trying to force a smile onto his face. Due to his tiredness only one side of his face managed to bend upwards. Decide damn you.

“It’s alright sir, would you like to have chicken or salad?”

That’s when it struck.

It wasn’t clear to Bo what was first, the flash of light or the loud explosion that boomed from the left wing, shaking the seats. Almost simultaneously three babies began crying and shrieking. Only then was it clear how loud the storm outside had gotten. Bo could barely hear anything over the thunders and ripplings booms.

He was dizzy at first, only noticing the small carriage of food sliding past him. Adrenaline surged into his mind, and he grabbed himself steady on the seats around him as he looked out of the window. The engine was burning.

A cracking voice spoke on the speaker. “It’s your captain here. We are experiencing some turbulence. It’s nothing to be worried about. Please keep calm and remain in your seats.”

Bo recognized the voice. It was the voice employes used seconds before firing you or the voice mothers used when they wanted to calm their children after some sort of permanent mistake. And right now it was clear to Bo what the voice said.

Absolute disaster.

The plane shook, a rapid jerk up and down, sending his head right into the ceiling. He fell down dizzy, his sight bending in different directions. Bo knew they were above water right now. With how rough the seas had gotten, there was no way they’d be able to get help in time. He was going to die.

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Bo, who was laying down on the floor, resigned to his fate. Whilst everybody else cried and screamed, he found a strange type of calm. It wasn’t necessarily peace, but almost resignation with a heavy dose of regret floating around his gut.

What had his life become? He didn’t have a wife or a family of his own. The last time he spoke to his siblings was at his parents funeral. And that talk was short. His visit there had been more of a formality than anything emotional.

Friends. Bo chuckled. What were friends again? The only people in his life were those involved in business and work. There was no deep or genuine relationship there, nobody to talk to about anything other than money.

In his next life it wouldn’t be like that. He’d build a family, people who would cry at his death.

That would be his priority and goal.

Then another boom came. It came from the right side of the plane, and Bo was sure the plane’s engines had completely been taken out. The plane had managed to stay upright but now it was quickly spiraling downwards.

In that moment, when everyone’s hearts beat at their fastest, and prayers were being thrown left and right, and the plane was diving through the sky, folders and suitcases flying through the air, smoke billowing, Bo didn’t notice much. His sight focused on the little green symbol that portrayed a seatbelt being locked.

And then everything froze.

Bo wasn’t sure what was happening. The noise had all but disappeared, vanishing in an instant. There was no movement anymore. He couldn’t move his body, but the plane was also still, stuck in air it seemed.

Ding! Ding! Ding! Guess whose mana density reached a sufficient stage? Surprise, it’s you vile creatures.

Useless fodder- Wait what? Do we really have to be politically correct on this show? Oh come on, it’s literally about killing. Our audience literally come here to see blood.

No, no I don’t want to lose my job. Okay I’ll tone it down.

Children and Elderly have been removed. They have been murdered. Ouch! That hurts, okay, I get it, I’m just trying to have a little bit of fun with them. They haven’t actually been killed. They’ve been put into a stasis of sorts, and if you manage to clear the maze, they get their life back.

Now then let me tell you a little bit about the maze. It’s your worst nightmare come to life.

I’m just joking.

You strange creatures will start the furthest away from the center of Earth, from now on, the maze. To win you have to kill and murder and lose your empathy---reach the center which of course will be difficult as many different challenges stand in your way.

This is of course a show broadcast around the world, and it is kept running because of our faithful batreon support. I would like to say something to those who watch this show and do not support the platform. I will find you and ki- It’s fine really. Enjoy!

Commencing absolute despair- ahem I meant, the maze.