Amanda sample

The Entity took away pain. This seemed simple to think of- If anyone had to writhe in pain when they had a block of wood dropped on their head, it would be a waste of time. The seconds already wasted would only grow, and those undergoing her Game would escape without *truly* being tested. Most of those like her only felt what they were supposed to feel, and that was a blessing.

However, the Entity, in all of the benevolence the world could offer, allowed Amanda pain at her discretion. She wasn't bending over and stabbing herself in the gut during a Game, so there was no harm in allowing the knife to burn when it touched her own flesh. It was mostly self serving: Amanda didn't need to be dragged away if she failed, because she would punish herself. She knew when she failed. She knew when she needed to atone.

Deep cuts reduce stress and awaken the senses. John, dear John, didn't understand. He hated it when she bled herself, when she let the flames lick her body. She contemplated it that night as she watched the blood spill down her arm. John thought that she deserved a second chance. He didn't want her to be cruel. If somebody earned mercy then they truly earned it. She never liked going against him, not *really*, but even she could admit that his efforts were somewhat misguided. Some people didn't deserve second chances. She repeated this to herself as the blade dug a little deeper. If she continued to fail- where would she be?

She had to resolve herself. Amanda took a breath and set the blade aside, feeling invigorated. She let them escape. She let them *all* escape, because she wasn't thinking clearly. And that was fine. She just had to remember the purpose of her Game, to remember that she would punish those that wasted their freedom so frivolously. She almost smiled as she reached towards the bandages she kept in the same box as her knife. Those survivors, the ones that ran, had their second chance. They wouldn't get a third.

She wouldn't fail again.