The Mating Run by Leeka

Game

The forest stretches out endlessly, the trees standing tall and imposing.

I follow the map, its numbers and lines guiding me through the forest. The air is cool against my skin as I move with purpose, my footsteps soft against the earthy ground.

The map leads me deeper into the heart of the forest. I squint at the map, trying to decipher its cryptic instructions. The trees seem to close in around me, their branches interlocking like a maze.

As I navigate through the darkness, a clearing emerges before me. Moonlight spills through the gaps in the canopy, casting a silvery glow on the forest floor. The map directs me to a specific spot, and I feel a sense of anticipation.

I reach the designated location, and my eyes scan the surroundings. The numbers on the map point upward, towards a tall tree that towers above the others. I crane my neck, trying to see what the map is leading me to.

And there, high up in the branches, I spot it – a shack.

The tree stands like a sentinel, its trunk sturdy and unwavering. I wonder how I’ll reach the top, but the map insists this is where I need to be. The forest, once at place of mystery, now feels like a puzzle waiting to be solved.

I take a deep breath and begin to climb.

The bark is rough against my palms, but determination fuels my ascent. Each branch becomes a foothold, and I pull myself upward, higher and higher. The night. air grows cooler as I climb, the moon watching over me like a silent guardian.

The shack comes into view, nestled among the leaves and vines that act as nature’s camouflage. It’s decent–sized, blending seamlessly with the foliage. Tall leaves and long vines drape over it, concealing it from prying eyes.

O

1/7

08:32 Sat, 9 Mar N

Game

Game

88%

The forest stretches out endlessly, the trees standing tall and imposing.

I follow the map, its numbers and lines guiding me through the forest. The air is cool against my skin as I move with purpose, my footsteps soft against the earthy ground.

The map leads me deeper into the heart of the forest. I squint at the map, trying to decipher its cryptic instructions. The trees seem to close in around me, their branches interlocking like a maze.

As I navigate through the darkness, a clearing emerges before me. Moonlight spills through the gaps in the canopy, casting a silvery glow on the forest floor. The map directs me to a specific spot, and I feel a sense of anticipation.

I reach the designated location, and my eyes scan the surroundings. The numbers on the map point upward, towards a tall tree that towers above the others. I crane my neck, trying to see what the map is leading me to.

And there, high up in the branches, I spot it – a shack.

The tree stands like a sentinel, its trunk sturdy and unwavering. I wonder how I’ll reach the top, but the map insists this is where I need to be. The forest, once at place of mystery, now feels like a puzzle waiting to be solved.

I take a deep breath and begin to climb.

The bark is rough against my palms, but determination fuels my ascent. Each branch becomes a foothold, and I pull myself upward, higher and higher. The night air grows cooler as I climb, the moon watching over me like a silent guardian.

The shack comes into view, nestled among the leaves and vines that act as nature’s camouflage. It’s decent–sized, blending seamlessly with the foliage. Tall leaves and long vines drape over it, concealing it from prying eyes.

O

1/7

08:32 Sat, 9 Mar

Game:

If not for the map, I probably wouldn’t have noticed it.

88%

standing on a sturdy platform of intertwined limbs. The

cautiously, my senses on

a wooden door. I hesitate for a moment, my hand hovering over the doorknob. The night is silent around me, and a

think back to that first attempt at finding a hiding spot. The moment when I thought I could outsmart the game, evade the chaos of the Mating Run. If only Victor hadn’t ruined

of potential rather than confusion. I had found a secluded nook, a spot where the trees formed a natural barrier. It felt like a sanctuary, a brief respite from

with his twisted sense of

thinks everything’s a fucking

ruined shit for

I had remained hidden, tucked away in that quiet corner of the forest?

now, entwined with someone in the

ancient tradition?

things have unfolded differently?

the confusion, the chaos, the hurt?

know, and that uncertainty gnaws at me.

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9 Mar

Game

the

bitter taste in my mouth, a reminder that Victor took something from me night. He took away my right to choose, to decide my own fate in this twisted game he orchestrated. The

alternate paths

tightening in my chest. I hate that I don’t know. I hate that Victor, in his arrogance, decided to play puppet master with our lives. I close my eyes

open. The shack, unlike Ettie’s cabin, is different. It’s smaller, cozier, but it’s

air–conditioning.

swings open, I catch sight of him –

The shack seems to swallow me as my eyes widen in shock. He’s laughing at some joke, the sound echoing in the small space, while a swirl

stand there, frozen, my irritation bubbling beneath

his eyes

smirk that doesn’t sit well with me. The magazine drops to the floor, forgotten

plume of smoke. “What took you so long, sweetheart? I was

within me. I can’t even speak. My mouth opens but nothing comes out, my entire body is

tight. The frustration, the anger they churn

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581, 9

Garne

comfort of his little haven is too much to bear, I

intensity

grin on his face. The shack, a mockery of our struggles, feels suffocating. I glance around, trying to take in the audacity of it all. It’s not just comfort; it’s excess. The incap amount

Cans, fresh produce – things I haven’t seen in what feels like an eternity. The anger bubbles, threatening to spill over, as

a buffet.

with an expectant smile. “Impressive, right? I guess my father must have told some of the restaurant owners

than happy

trapped in my throat, suffocated by the intensity of my anger. I want to scream, to unleash the frustration that’s been building within me since the Mating Run began. But all that comes out is a stifled

around the shack. “Feel free to make yourself at home,

him a look, a silent plea for him to stop treating everything like a joke. But he’s too wrapped up in his amusement, too blind to see the storm that

within me.

continues, gesturing towards the electricity that powers the shack. “Oh! And look at this!

bad, huh? My father knew I’ll get bored almost immediately without any tv.

forward. The shack seems to close in on me, the absurdity of it all amplifying my frustration. I glance at the television – al luxury

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soda from the mini–fridge, still laughing. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost, Alina. Relax. It’s not

the illusion of comfort that Victor has created. But force myself

pantry. I made sure we won’t run out of supplies anytime soon. You know, Otta stay well–fed during

The food, the excess – it’s a slap in the face. I think. about the meager rations we scrounged for in the

arrogance.

it with a casual flourish. He flips throught channels on the