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The words faded to black before a paradise-esque scene replaced the darkness of the screen- a brown-skinned man dressed in a sapphire suit with seafoam-colored sequence sprinkled along the bottom held up a long wooden cane that curved at the top to look like a snake's head. Glimmering red gemstones made up its eyes.
“Welcome to The Game Called Survival! I’m your favorite host, Melody Madrid, and I’d like to introduce you to our contestants for this year!”
His voice was emphasized and suave- the classic game show host voice.
He tapped a finger on the top of his snake cane before continuing with a click of his tongue, “As well as to remind you that each of them have legally signed their lives away for a chance to win the offered 25 million US dollar prize being offered up to each of our future winners! Or winner depending on how ruthless our contestants are!” He gave a wink, before his face contorted into that of faux despair, “Now, you may have heard rumors that our show’s a sham and that our contestants here don’t really die. But this year we have some fame in our midst to prove those theories false once in for all!”
He moved around lot, arms flailing as he talked and his face cartoonishly expressive.
It was almost unsettling in a sense, like a doll who’s eyes follow you through the room it resides.
Uncanny.
“Our first contestant is one of such fame! She’s a fire-y gal from New York, and may know her as the daughter of fashion icon and designer, Diva Trapp!” He cleared his throat to emphasize, sweeping an arm to the side as the camera panned out to his left to reveal the pink-clad woman with a sly grin.
“Proudly introducing, Cindy Trapp!”
She waved and flashed a glowing smile, blowing a kiss at the camera before strutting back off-screen.
“She plans to use the prize money to build her own beauty business to compliment her mother’s already flourishing fashion industry! But don’t think looks are all she cares about, oh no! She’s also been a trainer to the youth of her city for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and self defense classes!“ The camera’s picture flashed back to Melody and his creepily joyous grin as he announced the next contestant.
“Our second contestant is a bus driver from Florida, who is- and I say this with all due admiration- built like the vehicle itself! Introducing the former champion boxer, Buggs Collins!”
The camera panned over to reveal him, a confident smile, a wave, he walks off, and then back to Melody.
And it went on and on like that.
“Twins this time! Lilith and Billy Hepburn from Kansas! A pair that worked in the police force for the last 6 years, where they plan to return once the year is over! They plan to use the money to pay for their aunt’s hospital bills! She's lucky to have such brave souls, risking their lives for her- Isn't that right, ladies and gentlemen?”
“Ooou- famed inventor of one of the most effective prosthetic companies out there and an athletic icon, Montgomery Hebert from Louisiana! He plans to use the money to boost his research! You may also know that he currently has on a pair of prosthetics he made himself! After loosing mobility below both of his knees, he managed to create entirely new ones for himself after just months in a wheelchair and now is the co-owner of a business known as SparksCo!”
“A professor and doctor from Mississippi, Dr. Jerome Prince! He plans to use the money to boost his research! After the tragic loss of his father, he turned to medicine and has been working in the medical field for the last 10 years straight out of high school! I don't know about you, but I'd be a little scared of someone who knows every location of any vain or weak spot to send someone to eternal sleep- wouldn't you be?”
“Next up is a spirited young man who likes to travel the globe, Kidd Morgan from Nebraska! He plans to use the money in order to fund more travels! From the volcanoes of Hawaii to the war of 52, he's seen it all and is eager to get as close to danger as legalities will let him! A fear seeker I see!”
“The famed chef himself, Nathan Decker! He wants to improve his restaurant chain, Nugget of Gold, if he wins! Don't let his profession make you think any less of him though, he's also been champion of our last year's special event, 'Island 100', where- if i remember correctly- he managed to survive a solid 100 days on the neighboring island to this one over the 25 other contestants featured on the show! Good luck once more, Decker! You'll need it.”
“Champion cross-country competitor and runner, Oswald Kelly from Arkansas! He plans to use the money in order to pay for his niece’s surgery and chemotherapy! Can we get an 'aww' for such a kind gesture, folks!”
“She's the sweetheart we all know and love! I'm proud to introduce, entrepreneur and well-known celebrity on ClockTock for her various singing videos, Alice Moore from Ireland! She plans to use the money to buy her parents a house!”
“Professor and doctor who plans to boost his research with the prize money, Dr. Dex Danner from California! give him a hand folks, and I must say- he must be hiding a large brain behind such a forehead of such impressive height! All due respect of course, everything's fun and games here!” He gave a wink at the camera before it turned to reveal Danner.
Melody’s face contorted to that of pity as he read off the teleprompter behind the camera before him, “Oh, dear… that’s a little depres- ahem , I mean- introducing a construction worker from Nebraska, Rick Colbern! He... doesn't plan to win."
“Ahem- next up is a contestant determined to win, teacher and boxer from Kansas, Madison Cooper! She plans to use the money to build an animal shelter in her little town and use the rest to pay for her student loans!"
“A real treat of two contestants- known far and wide for their company’s amazing technical advances over the years of their management at the AppleSoft corporation, Felix and Theodore Huxley from New York! They plan to spread word of their product even further with the money!"
“However, don't underestimate our next contestant! She may just seem like your average teacher from Denmark, but shes a three-time state champion tennis player, Jennifer Applegate from Connecticut! She plans to use the prize money for an early retirement and to pay off her house and car!”
“And now we have an entrepreneur and tattoo artist from Maryland, Ross Patterson! He plans to open his own proper tattoo shop and give his girlfriend, Lady, her dream wedding- now isn’t that sweet, folks?”
“Thank you for your service and I wish you luck, police officer and former military man, Stevie Bonafis from Denmark! He wants to use the money to build a library in his hometown to fulfill the dream of his late wife, Matilda Bonafis.”
“You know the drill by now folks, so i'd like to introduce the young inventor from Mexico, Carla Mendez! She plans to use the money to pay off her parents house, get into college, and send her sister to her dream school! I hope you make your sister proud, so I'm cheering you on!”
“An internet influencer known far and wide, you know her, you love her! Introducing the one and only CactusCat herself, Sylvia Beck from Nebraska! She plans to use the money and publicity from this little competition to widen her reach to all over the world!"
“Strange how many teachers we've gotten so far, but we welcome the lot of you with open arms! A substitute teacher from Montana who plans to use the money to pay for his sister’s medical debt and his own as well, Tyler Cross! Give this generous soul a round of applause, folks!” He clapped emphasizingly as the camera turned to the acne riddled young man.
“Moving on, current arcade worker and former police officer, Ron Morrison from Nevada! He plans to use the money to afford to take his family on their dream trip once and for all!”
“Wow, what a risky bunch we have this year! Our next contestants are a mother-daughter duo who hope to use the money to fund their research in technological advances! Meet Penny and Beatrice Finch from Michigan!”
He did a double take on his script, a smile breaking across his face.
“Wow times two! Do I spy another Finch, folks? Sister of Beatrice and aunt of Penny Finch’s, Margaret Finch! She’s an inventor from Michigan that plans to use the money to retire early. And… uh- I don’t think I can read that on national television-” He said hesitantly, A laugh bubbling from his throat as he grinned widely. "And she sure has the spunk to go with it!"
He cleared his throat, “Hah, getting back on track- A janitor from Alabama that claims that it’s ‘Better to go out with a bang than a buzz!'… Whatever that’s supposed to mean, Lawrence Alross! And he plans to use the- oh. Huh, he doesn’t plan to win either. Huh.” He looked as confused as he felt, but only shrugged after a second.
“Our final contestant of the year- janitor and boxer from Nebraska that plans to use the money to keep the beloved school he works at from shutting down for good, Bob Cubic! A real good soul we have here! Let's hope that it doesn't get in the way of his ambition!”
“Well, folks- on that note, our contestants will stay in a quality hotel for 5 days before they are cast out to Survival Island for the next up to a month! I truly wish each and everyone the luck they'll need to survive this challenge of honest life or death!" Melody held out his snake cane so the camera got a clear shot of its ruby eyes gleaming in the light, “And do make sure to tune in each morning to find out who, if anyone, has died!” He took a bow, sweeping the arm that wasn't tucked against his abdomen up into the air dramatically.
The camera showed each of the contestants on their own once more, their names glowing white at the bottom corner of the screen, and finally panned out to show them all standing together in a loose line. They all waved as the camera went by, the line ending in Lily and Billy smiling and waving confidently.
Then the image slowly turned black as the program ended, fading into credits and the end logo before turning to some show about catching big fish.
I almost feel bad for them.
But they did this to themselves.
They entered a game about survival, knowing what losing means- all of them looking as if they had the confidence of a fox in a chicken coop.
A shame really.
Maybe if they didn’t have such confidence then they wouldn’t be risking their lives.
But I suppose there isn’t anything I can do about it.
They’ve signed their lives away.
Now all I can do is watch.