Race begins

With a new map that vaguely showed the whereabouts of different tasks the two began to discuss where to start. Walking through the park Quin spotted an ice cream stand. Naturally, he decided to buy one: "Since the rides are included I think we should start with them. Start at the park and work our way out."

"Does that mean we'll be going on rides all day?"

"Don't worry, we can take breaks if you start to feel sick."

"Me?" Issac scoffed: "I'm not the one eating his way through the park."

"Well I won't get sick."

"Well neither am I."

Quin: "Well then I guess we're in agreement."

Issac rolled his eyes: "Whatever. You throw up on me and I might kill you instinctively."

Quin tilted his head: "Seems like a bit of an overreaction but fine."

The ice cream vendor who overheard as he scooped their ice cream spoke up: "Will you two be participating in the treasure hunt this year?"

Quin happily started a new conversation with someone less moody. He smiled and responded: "Yes we are. And we're hoping to win the big prize."

The vendor was pleased with his enthusiasm: "I see. It's good to set your sights high. Or are you just that confident?"

Quin nodded: "Just hoping for the best and working to achieve it. It's more fun with a clear goal."

The vendor nodded in return: "That's very true. Well then I'll wish the two of you good luck." He handed the ice cream over: "It might be more difficult than you think."

Quin took the ice cream: "I'm planning on it."

"Although as a park worker I should let you know."

Quin got to work on his dessert: "What is it?"

The vendor's expression grew somewhat pensive as he spoke: "It's about the state of things in recent years. We try to tell all the new participants as a warning."

"That doesn't sound good."

"Oh it's not too bad. We've just had a few troubles in the last few years."

"That's too bad. We won't back out or anything so feel free to fill us in."

"Well then bear with me a moment." The vendor went on to explain the park and town's trouble in the last few years.

Short form. A few years back a couple of teens started messing around at the task sights. It was simple kid stuff but after a while they realized that they actually had a shot at winning the prize. After that more troublemakers began to cause problems near the sights. With their own groups taking over the leaderboard positions less participants had a chance at earning prizes.

A lot of the bigger tasks and rules had been kept for many years and not many were willing to change them. Since it was the town's own youth they figured they could handle it appropriately. Then the next year came and even more problems came with it. Many of the task areas have been left deserted and unreachable because of those kids.

The only reason the game is still held is because not all participants play for prizes. The closer to the middle of town a task is the less troublemakers there are to mess with participants. Those who join can still have fun but the chances of winning the prizes goes down every year. Since they haven't actually done anything that breaks the rules and they haven't lost the game completely the town can't just not give them the prizes.

However if this keeps up come five years down the line the game might really be shut down. It's a troubling but internal problem that the town has been devising ways to deal with.

They don't go telling the outsider participants to scare them away. They just give advance notice of the situation so no more unneeded fights break out. Instead certain parts of the map are marked as a no go area for such participants. The town has created other tasks closer to the park. But since the unplayable games are worth so many points this tactic only barely gives newcomers a chance.

"I see." Quin nodded in understanding: "So it's better to stay away from troublemakers."

Vendor: "There are plenty of points to be earned closer to this area."

Quin: "But if I want to make it to a good spot on the leaderboard I'd be creating a conflict."

The vendor seemed a little worried about them losing their enthusiasm. He did his best to alleviate the situation: "It's possible that you might not run into too much trouble. It's not like they attack anyone who gets near. They're just really good at blocking the way to the tasks." The vendor explained: "Plenty of participants got hung up on the bigger games and spent too much time trying to get by them. It's fun to have some unique characters adding more adversity to the trials. But it's just gotten to be so much during the last few years."

Quin: "I do like some difficulty."

Vendor: "Anyway it's up to you. You won't find any help from the game masters in those areas. They've changed the missions so they can be done however the participants see fit. You're free to play as you want. I just urge you to not get too hung up on a blocked task."

Quin nodded: "I got it. Thanks for the info. I honestly might have caused a few problems without it. Now I can play without worries."

"Well thank you for deciding to continue playing."

"Of course." Quin thought that the vendor still looked a little worried. So he tried to relieve his nerves: "You'll see. I'll get loads of points."

The vendor, met with Quins resilient enthusiasm, smiled in return: "I'm looking forward to it."

_______

Issac and Quin continued through the park.

Quin: "You were quite quiet back there."

"I don't really care. I'm just keeping you in sight."

Quin: "Well I think you should have some fun while you're at it."

"Whatever."

Quin: "Okay let's start with riding every park ride then move on to the games. They gave us a camera so I'm assuming we have to get some evidence of each completed task."

Issac: "Weren't you listening at all?"

"I'm going to be honest." Quin shook his head: "Not even a little."

"So you'll listen to the ice cream vendor but zone out during the rules."

"Yeah that's right. Wow you know me so well already."

"Shut up and listen. Throughout the town and park are marked attractions. To complete the task you might need to explore an attraction, ride specific rides or win a specific challenge. You get points for each task which the game masters can award you.

For unmanned attractions we use the camera to get proof. We show the photos to the GMs and they log our points for the month. Our place on the leaderboard will be shown during the last week. We can try to move up from there during the last few days. All points are logged and the final winners are released on the last day."

Quin: "How many days are left?"

"The game started three days ago. It's a thirty day period."

"So today plus twenty-seven days left."

"Something like that."

Quin checked the map: "So we should get all the rides done this week. And the games and attractions after that. Then we'll find all the hidden tasks and finally end with the troubled tasks."

"Excuse me?"

Quin: "What, is that not a good schedule? We can move it around if we get tired or caught up in something."

"No that's not it. Do you plan on doing the 'troubled' tasks?"

"No." Quin handed Issac the map: "We plan on doing the troubled tasks."

"You're joking. You were listening to that guy right?"

Quin nodded: "I was and he said that it wasn't impossible."

"I thought you didn't care about reaching the top spot."

"True but how can I test my ability if I don't try?"

"There's nothing to test."

"They're stopping people from trying the tasks. Thus making themselves a part of the tasks."

"So you want to see if you can get past them?"

"I know I can get past them. What I want is to see how many points I can get this month despite the obstacles."

"That's annoying."

"Well you could always stop following me."

Issac glared at him: "Don't get smart."

"I'm just kidding." Quin patted his shoulder: "It'd actually be nice to get some help. This'll be a team effort."

Issac brushed his hand away: "Who said I'd help you?"

Quin gestured to his necklace: "You're the one with the handheld doctor."

"What?"

"I told you already. I have some amazing bad luck. Clumsy isn't even enough to describe me. And since you're following me you might get caught up in it. If I fail a task and you try it alone you might fail too. It's better to go in as a team so that you can help when things inevitably go wrong."

Issac found his explanation even more annoying: "I want to say you're overreacting but after this morning I might have to rethink for my own safety."

"Exactly." Winning the disagreement, Quins enthusiasm grew: "Now then we have about 15 rides to get through so let's go!"

Issac sighed as Quin started running towards the rides: "Something tells me that this is going to get loud."

Issac was right. It did get loud. Quins screaming was louder than any man woman or child around them. Whether from joy or fright he was always freaking out about something. At some point Issac even tried to sit away from him. Those around him however made it blatantly obvious that Quin was his problem. No matter what ride Issac was left sitting directly next to Quin.

That night Issac had a headache that felt like a concussion and after finishing his dinner went to bed without a word. Quin was still full of energy and decided to go eat a late night snack. He assumed that despite Issacs words he really did get sick after so many rides. Not wanting him to get too mad he left Issac to sleep and found a nearby restaurant. He kept in mind what Issac said about leaving without him and made sure to eat someplace in view of the inn.

______

Quin ordered his usual mountain of food and got to eating. He made marks on the map and worked through their next day activities. Finishing his meal he put away his stuff only to find a crowd of customers and staff watching him.

Quin knew that he ate a little more than the normal person but he's never got a response this big: "What?"

"It's .. that's amazing!"

"Huh?"

"Are you by chance participating in the game this year?"

Quin turned towards the waiter: "I certainly am."

"Well then congratulations dear customer! You have just completed this night restaurant's hidden task!"

"I did?"

"You did!" Another staff member spoke up: "This restaurant's task is a food competition. To win you have to beat the record of the last person to win. These records are kept hidden so your only option is to eat until you're full!"

Quin nodded mindlessly: "Oh a hidden task indeed."

The manager spoke up: "And you've just accomplished that task times two! One of our winners just so happened to be an avid competitive food eater. Ever since then only food challenge winners have ever completed this challenge."

A customer spoke up: " Exactly! So watching you eat all that and beat the record like it was nothing. Well it was surprising to say the least."

"Oh I see." The crowd's goofy smiles brought one to Quins face as well: "Well I'm as shocked as you are."

The manager laughed: "Well anyway. The points for this task are higher than the other food related ones because of the rise in difficulty each win. If you have your camera on you then we can log your points right now."

"Yeah I have it."

"Alright then." The waiter went behind the counter and returned with a winners plaque: "Here you are. Just hold this and we'll take the picture. What's your name?"

"It's Quin."

The manager opened the registration list: "Quin Shields and Issac?"

Quin gave thumbs up: "That's us."

"Well then you have been awarded fifteen points."

"Thank you very much."

The timer beeped as all the staff and customers piled in behind Quin. It was an exciting win with many happy witnesses to provide proof. The camera snapped a photo filled with smiling faces surrounding a slightly confused but willing to roll with it Quin. The manager also took his own photo and placed it up on the wall of winners.

Quin said his goodbyes and placed his photo in his bag. The crowd cheered for him as he happily skipped back to the inn. In his room he got ready for bed and quickly fell to sleep.

_______