I wake up groggy, the sound of the woman's voice like rats gnawing on my eardrums.

She finishes her little spiel, but I know it won't stop until I get my ass downstairs to the living room.

It'll keep coming over all the radios in the house, over and over, until I get down there.

Zally, what the hell are you doing up there?'

Frederick's calls from downstairs.

I hate it when he calls me Sally.

My name is Sal, as in Salvatore.

"'I'm coming, Dix!'

I yell, using my shortened version of his name.

I know it's a stretch, Dix, from Fredericks.

But then again, no one ever accused me of

being a creative genius. Most of the time, I just call him Freddy, even though his first name is

Josh or something like that. As I put on the special shirt with the camera sewn into it,

the woman's voice starts up again. Welcome to Mr. Marshall, Carter, and Dark's most dangerous fighting exhibition and obstacle resort.

Please adjourn to the lounge for further instructions.

I know, I know, Christ, I grumble, putting my shoes on.

This will be my third and last turn for a while, provided I survive.

I make it downstairs just as the woman starts up again, but as I step into the old farmhouse

living room, she stops. Freddy and the new guy, Bouglossi, are sitting on the old-fashioned

floral print couch. Freddy has a stupid smile on his broad and craggy face. Bouglossi are sitting on the old-fashioned floral print couch. Freddy has a stupid smile on his broad and craggy face.

Bouglossi, a young guy with trimmed black hair and a professional air, looks scared.

He's never done this before. He should be scared.

...