The 9th Hour Games: Limbo

On a warm, sunny morning in Mid-July, Justin Newsom found himself filled with anticipation. He headed out that morning to Bella's Diner to meet his girlfriend, Melissa, ring in pocket and heart full of joy.

On a muggy, rainy evening in Mid-July, Justin Newsom found himself filled with regret. Sat in a phone booth, alcohol staining his breath and tears staining his eyes. He had stumbled into the box to try and dial his neighbor for a ride home, but the number alluded him, and he eventually put the phone on the receiver and made his way in the direction of his apartment.

When he reached the front stoop, he stopped as his foot collided with something on the steps, nearly tripping him. Righting himself on the doorframe, Justin grumbled curses underneath his breath and turned, eyes widening at a brown paper box on the step below.

He peered down at the package, noticing a piece of paper taped to the top, which read only his name in neat, curving letters. Taking the package in one hand, he wrenched open the front door and made way down the hall to 1B. After dropping his key a few times on the ugly green carpet below, Justin twisted it in the lock and pushed open the door, dropping his keys in the bowl and slamming it behind.

The brown box was settled onto his coffee table while Justin changed his clothes, grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge, and plopped down in front of the box, studying it carefully. No return address, not a single indication of its contents.

Could be a bomb. I should call the bomb squad!"

He shook his head, eyes rolling at the dramatic thought. Without a second thought, Justin tore into the package, pausing to take in the strange contents. A single black box with a red button in the center, a folded map, a thin silver rod about the size of his pinky, and a note.

Hello, traveler! Welcome to the 9th hour Games! My name is Pryn and I am your guide.

"What kind of name is Pryn?" Justin wondered aloud with a hiccup as he continued scanning his eyes along the page.

Not many are chosen for a chance at the Games, but congratulations! You've been given a ticket to play, young chap! Along with this note, you will find all of the tools you are permitted to use in the Games. A map, to help you find your way, the button you will need to press after each completed mission, and a pocket-sized rod that turns into any weapon you can think of and may need!

The Rules are simple. The map shows 9 individual territories. You must travel to each of these territories and compete in the Challenge its Master has set up. Each Challenge ends when you acquire that Master's gemstone. The Games are finished when you acquire all 9 gemstones. If you do this within 9 hours, you win! Fail, and a nightmare of a fate shall you face.

Your games will begin at the strike of Midnight. You have just enough time to look over the map, plan your route, and prepare yourself for the Games. Good luck, and may you find success in your quest, young friend!"

-Pryn Amana, assistant to the 9th hour Master of Games.

"What kind of sick joke-?" Justin grumbled as he unfolded the map. It appeared almost as an island chain of 9 territories. Limbo, Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Anger, Heresy, Violence, Fraud, Treachery.

That sounds familiar...

Pushing the thought from his mind and letting his curiosity take over, Justin set the map beside him and picked up the rod. Any weapon you can think of or may need...

Justin screamed as the blade of a sword went flying past his head, avoiding his ear. He looked the weapon up and down, his reflection in the shiny blade following him.

He remembered the final words of the note. "...Just enough time to look over the map, plan your route, and prepare yourself for the games.

Justin took the map up again and looked over the many pathways, waterways, and terrains of this strange new place.

After nearly an hour, a buzzer sounded in the living room, leaving Justin jumping off the couch and scrambling to his feet.

Let the 9th hours Games commence.

Justin opened eyes that he hadn't realized were closed, and found himself in what he could only describe as a wasteland, but with pristine white skies. He stood alone, with his tools in his pockets. A voice boomed through the air, calling out to him.

"Welcome, challenger, to the first Circle. Welcome to Limbo. Your first Challenge begins..."

A buzzer sounded, and Justin sprang uncertainly into action, surging forward through the choppy territory.

A single, resounding laugh, menacing and deep, chilled him to the bone. "...now."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Circle 1: Limbo

Justin seemingly walked for miles, until he reached a cast-iron gate with a simple wooden sign, "You have reached Limbo. Welcome!" Finding no other person in sight, he pushed open the gate and walked down a path. Faint noise finally bombarded his eardrums and he took it as a sign to walk in that direction, so he weened left off the path onto another way and continued forward.

"Why, hello there! Might I ask a question?"

The voice had called out from behind, and when Justin turned to discover a sagely man with a snow-white beard wrapped in white, it stunned him into silence. He blinked as the man repeated the inquiry, and could only manage a nod.

"Ah, Brilliant! Would you like to meet God, my good man?"

Justin once more found himself taken aback by not only the words the man spoke, but the indifferent nature in which they were spoken, as if he asked people such a rare question on a regular basis.

"God...As in the God? Guy who supposedly made...everything? He's here?" he wondered.

The man laughed. "Oh, no, he's not here at all! But would you like to see him?"

Justin thought about it, honestly, he just wanted to get past the man and continue on. He remembered the time limit that had been given to him, and didn't feel like wasting it.

"I...don't really care. It's not like I need to talk to him. I'll be on my way, thanks."

He cried out as the man appeared in front of him while he turned around. "Congratulations. You've passed the first Challenge. A rather simple one, I like to say. Those higher-ups never listen to me about making Limbo less boring. But, enough of that! Here you are, my boy!" A hand outstretched in Justin's direction revealed a single, black gem cut into a diamond shape.

"I...What? How? That was supposed to be a Challenge?!" Justin scoffed.

The man frowned, momentarily retracting his hand, to Justin's shock. "Mock us not, boy. Yes, Limbo is not close to a tough Challenge, but the others that await you are far more intense! Take note of the lessons to be learned when playing this game. You will need them at the conclusion in order to best the games!"

"Lesson?! What lesson was in that? None of this makes any sort of sense! I don't even know where I am besides "Limbo".

A buzzer sounded off in the distance, and the old man turned with a glint in his eye. "One hour passes. Think of the lessons, focus on your Challenges. Your other Game Masters will not be as friendly as I. Good luck, Challenger."

He vanished into a rippling haze, and Justin stood alone, a black diamond in hand and a raging headache. He thought of home-his couch, watching his favorite tv show, his favorite bar he'd occupied only hours before.

He thought of her.

Meanwhile, another life away at home, his phone buzzed frantically, and a television left turned on and abandoned had switched to breaking news.

A raging fire at Max's Tavern on Elk street...a young man in hospital fighting for his life as he ran back inside in order to search for the missing bartender, who made it out alive and well.