Sensory Overload

By Jordan Foster

“Welcome to Extreme Maze Fest!” the announcer’s voice blared over the arena speakers. The crowd roared as the platform I stood on descended. “Eight felons, one deadly maze…”

I tuned out the announcer’s voice as best I could. The rules for the maze that plagued the annual fall festival never changed: escape or die trying. Escaping meant my criminal record would be cleared, but it hardly mattered; nobody had ever escaped.

The organizers sorted us into two categories: Runners and Sensors. Entertainment and dead weight. Everyone knew the Sensors didn’t stand a chance, not with the metal visors blindfolding them. The whole “sensing the way out with vibrations” felt like a cruel joke, so I was glad I was a Runner.

I couldn’t help but notice a brown-haired Sensor standing alone. He was much too young to be here.

You’ve got to help him.

No. Teaming up with a Sensor would only slow me down.

He’s just a kid.

I sighed.

I headed in his direction. “The name’s Banks. You look like you could use help.”

The boy shook his head. “I’m Sawyer, and I’ll be fine. I know the way out.”

So naïve. “The traps will get you. You can’t see them.”

“I know where they are,” Sawyer said. “I can get out on my own no problem, but you… Good luck.”

A grimace washed over his smug face. His hands flew to the metal blindfold. Poor kid. Did the vibrations hurt? I glanced at the rest of the Sensors. They didn’t seem nearly as affected by their visors. Why was Sawyer different?

Just then, the platform slammed into the heart of the maze.

“Five minutes are on the clock,” the announcer boomed. “And they’re off!”

A buzzer pierced the air. The other Runners and Sensors sprang into action, but Sawyer only moaned.

I squeezed Sawyer’s hand. “Seems like you need help after all. Where do we go?”

He pointed forward. “F-Fine. Th-This way.”

I helped him shuffle in the direction he’d indicated. We did not have time for this.

“Are the vibrations going to get stronger?” What had I gotten myself into? I looked up at the huge, red timer hovering over the maze. We’d already killed thirty seconds.

“Y-Yes, but I can handle them.” Sawyer gritted his teeth. “Ten paces and then we stop before triggering the sedative darts.”

“The visor tells you all that?” I carefully matched his ten paces. When we halted, I stuck my foot out gently, then jerked it back as darts crossed our path. Yikes.

“Uh, no. I’ve memorized the shortest way out of the maze.”

How did he have access to the maze’s plans? I yanked a dart out of the wall. “Then why do we need it if the visor’s just going to hurt you?”

“No time. Run and don’t stop for a good thirty seconds,” Sawyer said.

I hoisted him onto my back, and he cried out in surprise. Oddly enough, he didn’t weigh more than the last set of drones I’d stolen—the robbery that had landed me here.

I raced down the path, forcing myself not to look at the metal floor plates steadily falling into the deep abyss behind me.

“Stop!” Sawyer said.

I slammed dead in my tracks. Is he nuts?

Then, the floor in front of me dropped just as the last bit behind me did. Great, chasms in front and behind, sheer metal walls on either side. That was a bit too close.

“What now?” I lowered Sawyer to the ground.

He exhaled sharply. “Can you get this thing off me?”

I inserted the tip of the dart I’d snagged into a small crack and forced the visor open like any other safe I’d cracked.

He let out a long breath before looking upward. “Give me a boost. I’ll help you up.”

“You can’t pull me up.” I glanced around nervously. “You’ll leave me.”

There was no way out of this. The walls were too tall to hoist myself on top and then drag him up after me. He couldn’t give me a boost. Seconds passed.

“I won’t.” Sawyer’s hazel eyes bored into mine. “Trust me.”

“All right…” I cupped my hands and pushed him upward on top of the wall. “Okay, now pull me up.”

“I’ll be right back.” Sawyer dashed off along the walls instead of helping me. “I’ve got to destroy the maze.”

“With me in it?” How did he even plan to do that? I jumped. The tips of my fingers grazed the wall, a good foot below the top. “Ugh!”

A talented hacker could access the maze’s plans. Especially one that targeted government files. No wonder he was in here so young. Who knew what secrets he’d uncovered.

I sat on the ledge and sighed. Only thirty seconds remained, yet there was still no sign of Sawyer. He was probably long gone by now. I rested my head on my knees.

A strange whirring noise snapped me out of my self-pity. The floor rose into place again. How was that possible?

A sharp whistle shot through the air. I glanced up and found Sawyer running along the top of the wall. “Banks! I disabled the traps. Let’s go!”

A smile surfaced on my lips without my consent. Sawyer extended his hand, and I grabbed it. He pulled me on top of the wall with him. I glanced at the hovering clock. Fifteen seconds.

Sawyer and I darted for the exit as it steadily grinded shut and dropped outside the door just as it sealed. I clapped Sawyer on the back, laughing amid the stunned spectators. He choked, eyes widening.

“For the first time ever, we have two escapees.” The announcer sounded baffled. The iron gate in front of us squeaked open, revealing streets covered in autumnal leaves and stalls adorned with gourds to celebrate the fall festival.

I smiled slightly at Sawyer. “Need a job? I could really use a hacker.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jordan Foster is a young writer with a love for the Lord and random facts about His world. She seeks to bring glory to the Lord through her words. When she’s not writing, you can find her watching nerdy YouTube videos, spending time with friends and family, playing her clarinet, and with any luck, baking her famous cookies.