Makes the Dream Work

"Well guess we have a bit. Also what was the orb?" I asked as I checked the door hoping it might not actually be locked.

"Something that glowed when Noah and I got near it." Kyle replied. "I think it might have been some kind of reward for killing the sharks. Or who knows maybe that was the actual goal of the challenge, to not kill and find orbs."

"Yeah, I don't think so, she's still here." I frowned at the locked door and looked at the corner of the room where Lilly was nonchalantly sitting and watching us.

Five hours stuck in a room with a locked door and three others, one of whom might try to kill us. Sounds fun!

I took a seat on the ground opposite of Lilly and closed my eyes. I might as well try to get at least a little rest, plus I don't think Lilly is going to try to kill me while Noah and Kyle are here. Two I don't plan to actually fall asleep, my hearing is good so if she moves I'll be notified.

I opened one eye just to check then closed it again. Yep she had what I'd refer to as 'loud' clothing on. Slick fabric that rustles if moved. It's very hard to move quietly in that kind of thing. I should know, I avoid it like the plague.

Noah and Kyle remained standing for a bit then sat near me. They were chatting quietly for a bit then just sitting in silence. The timer continued to tick downward.

What would this next part be, was there even a point to guessing? The dirt pile surprised me, and no part of me was expecting shark infested waters to be second either. Who knows how long the cat was going to 'test' us before picking a person to pair with, or maybe I should just call it enslave?

The thought was a bit funny, here we all are trying to impress a cat so that it will choose to enslave us over the rest. Then what? We fight their battle and hope not to die, what had he called it? FightFest? And if somehow the one team wins, then what? They go on their merry way and leave our space rock for good?

I snorted slightly, yeah right, I don't trust one hair on that flea ball.

Then there was that other team that has disappeared at the start. They wanted to destroy the planet, and leave us in pieces instead of peace. Oh and who loves playing games where they don't know the rules? What a joke. We are all going to die aren't we.

Prepare time remaining 15m: Instructions will now be given

I opened my eyes to look over at it again. Instructions huh? Will they be as detailed and nice as the previous ones? Should we even remotely trust them?

Beside me Noah and Kyle also looked skeptical. Across the room Lilly was ignoring the scathing looks from Noah and Kyle, funny how killing a teammate will lead to that.

Instructions:

Reach new heights, Teamwork is key

Noah nearly choked and Kyle stiffened, both looked over at Lilly.

Teamwork? This should be interesting. Make a group of people kill each other then work together? Yeah, I have no idea what these cats are trying to accomplish here. Plus, Hello! Dumb cats! Those so called instructions are literally the worst at explaining anything!

I looked at Lilly and thought it over. Self serving, but it's not like she was a psycho murderer, she didn't try to kill us until given instructions to kill. I wouldn't be able to trust her a hair, but I could still work with her within reason. But would Kyle? I glanced at him and sighed, no way, he was the definition of morally upstanding.

"Hey let me see your phone again." I held out my hand toward Kyle and he passed it over.

I scrolled around the system and found myself, or rather our specific devices blocked off. Interesting the cats had someone good with technology, or maybe they all were. Maybe we were all considered technology impaired. Yeah, from now on I'll have to play by their rules, just great. I should have brought more of my stuff rather than just my phone.

So that led to one more question, exactly how much teamwork was needed for this next thing, if any. If the cats tried to do last man standing next, I think I'll crash their network grid and claw my way out of here. That should still be possible. Then I'll just skin them alive and be done with it. I'd love some nice furry mittens.

Prepare time warning! 30seconds

I rose to my feet. Probably not the best idea to be sitting for whatever they had planned next. Those fur mittens are sounding really nice right now.

"You good?" Kyle was looking at me strangely.

"What is it Winters?" I grumbled.

"Nothing, you've just been muttering under your breath, different colorful words about the cats, for the last five hours." Kyle replied. "So I just wanted to make sure your throat wasn't getting sore."

I rose to my feet and didn't grace him with an answer.

I took a step toward the door as the lock clicked open and it slid away from the wall.

I don't know what I was expecting but it was a dark room with a glowing circle in the center. These cats and the darkness, like seriously, not everyone hunts at night!

I walked into the room and examined the glowing circle. It looked simple enough, just a glowing ring. What does a glowing ring have to do with teamwork?

Lilly walked to the other side of the circle and Noah and Kyle were along the walls.

Carefully I stepped over the glowing rim and into the circle. The lights flickered then dimmed for a second before glowing much brighter.

I waited a moment expecting something else to happen but nothing did. Well that was anticlimactic.

I was about to step out and join Noah and Kyle with looking at the walls when Lilly also stepped into the circle and the light grew even brighter. Was it that simple? Everyone has to stand in the same circle? No way that was far too easy, more like, that would trigger the actual start.

"Hey you two come here." I called to Noah and Kyle who seemed interested in the door we came in through. "Anything interesting?"

Kyle shook his head. "Whole place seems waterproof but that's it, not sure why it's sealed so tightly, maybe the shark cavern was leaking?"

"Well come join us, seems everyone has to be in this circle." I shifted myself over the line and back in again to illustrate the point.

The circle dimmed and grew brighter again.

Kyle stepped in and Noah jumped over the glowing lights. Then the actual lights turned on. I flinched as the place was drowned in lights and looked up. The room was, not exactly a room, but more of a tower with lights all around the walls going up and up, at least two hundred feet maybe more.

It was kind of hard to tell the distance from here. But that wasn't even the weird part, about ten feet above us and all the area past that, was filled with what could best be described as murderous playground equipment.

Monkey bars with barbed wire wrapped around them were all over. Then there were slides with knives sticking out, and something weird and spinney that was just a saw blade with extra handles, what the what the what? Many other, creations filled the air of the tower. They were either bolted, cemented or strung up to the walls. If I was still five I'd probably be drooling in excitement.

Then another set of "instructions" floated in front of us.

Instructions: I believe your species calls this something like 'the floor is lava' game.