Just a Game

My vest’s red effulgence played in the mirror across the hallway, the distorted nature of the reflection giving the illusion of another player coming towards me. I was running alone after losing my group. The artificial fog wafted over the floor, creating an uncanny depth to the concrete. My pallid hand, wrapped around the plastic handle of the blaster, began to feel sweaty as I moved further through the maze of hallways, the uncertainty of someone lurking around each corner keeping me on my toes. I paced ever further, my breaths slow and light. They’ve gotta be around here somewhere . . . .

Andrew Salcman, a ninth grader in the Bay Area, loves mountain bikes and everything related: trail building, repair, and riding the beautiful trails of California.