Changeling Winds: Episode Two (The Bachelor Battles Book 2) by Angela White

players prowled the halls. I'd planted a seed and it was growing.
    “For the start of this round, the Network will pick the exhibition for the remaining contestants. A reminder, these elimination challenges are no longer non-lethal. At least one of our contestants will not be with us when this is over. The top two finishers will feature in tonight’s final elimination match.”
      “And our challengers will have to… climb the Network Wall of Death!”
    “Please report to The Block.”
     
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    “The wall of death is a fifty foot granite cliff with deadly traps, and no dividers between the contestants! This should be just wonderful!”
    I studied the wall as we waited for the announcer to finish, picking out areas to hit and spots to avoid. I’d only seen a few of the Games, and The Wall wasn’t among them. I’d heard of it, of course, and I’d seen the billboards as I entered New Network City, but staring up at that unflinching challenge was enough to kick in my survival sense. Deeply anchored in the floor, it looked as if part of a mountain had been set down into the complex. I couldn’t even see the top from where I stood.
      “Our four challengers are allowed full contact in their race to be the first to reach the top. In order to make it harder, there are weapons hidden in the crags and ledges. How many will make it to the top? Will this episode end right here, folks? It’s happened before!”
    The gate slid open and I moved along the fenced aisle to the starting line without responding to any of my opponent’s glowers. I was in the center right of the four lanes, but I already planned to take the far left and zigzag my way up. High above us, camera crews waited patiently to capture every drop of blood, every swing of a weapon.
    “Are ya ready? Then go!”
    To everyone’s surprise, I stayed still as the other three made a mad dash for the wall. They clawed at each other, drawing blood before the first foot of fifty was reached. I waited until all of them were scaling the cliff.
    “What is that clever little Pruett doing now?” the reporter wondered as I finally moved forward.
    I had an advantage over the others in only one way, but it would be enough to earn me second place - first, if I’d chosen the right dangerous path, but either would do. I wasn’t fighting for a mate now, but my family honor. It was a stronger drive than even the Change.
    With that in mind, I lunged up the wall, grabbing the ledge the others had avoided because of the height. I grunted at the sharp stone under my fingers, the unforgiving feel of the rock.
    I hefted myself up, feet catching a small crag to push from and then lunged again, springing up four feet to snatch a wild hold on the edge of a weapon.
    The claw hammer snagged the stone and caught my weight… held. I hung there long enough to secure a foothold and then I started climbing, using the claw edge with lunging swipes that would either move me up large spaces or kill me with the fall. Hungry edges tried to grab me, already tacky with blood from this week’s episode. The stone sliced into my wrist… my arm... my leg.
    The other three were closely bunched above me, set to get to the top first, but the fighting was about to slow them down. I kept moving up.
    Chelsea reached a knife and immediately threw it at the Changeling athlete directly below her. The blade sank into the weight-lifter’s throat and she clutched at the hilt, falling.
    The crowd roared its drunken approval all around us, those rafter-like seats giving them a birds-eye view of our fight.
    The other player left starred regularly in the Network commercials, and in her free-time, liked to climb mountains. I followed Chelsea’s lead. My hammer slammed into the back of the actress’s head with a dull thud and she let go, fell.
    Now, the noise was deafening. Chelsea and I moved toward each other, blue lights streaming, the bloodlust flowing… .
    I ducked her wild leg kick and punched out, hitting