Sometimes the town's darkest secrets are the most fun.

You're listening to what I'm saying, hun.

Come that side and leave the sun.

It's red rover time.

And the fun has just begun.

The massive line of people undulated for a quarter mile,

even through my sun-drenched eyes.

I could see the thousands of interlocked hands

that rippled like satin in the moonlight.

I placed my elbows on my knees, sucked in a few deep breaths.

Within moments my thundering heart slowed down a bit

and I could feel a second wave of energy rippling through my limbs.

The game was a marathon, not sprint.

I needed to conserve my energy if I wanted to win.

Behind me, I could hear the frantic howling of the bloodhounds.

Each beast had been given the specific scent of a participant

more haunting us down as fast as their empty stomachs allowed them.

The bloodhounds were forced to fast every Thursday.

Hunger intensifies their viciousness and increases the thrill

of the game.

I pushed the bloodhounds out of my mind and surveyed the line of bodies in front of me.

Breaking through that sea of fence-like arms was all that mattered.

...