Nirmala watched as a two-headed vulture eviscerated Contestant Two. The guy's guts unspooled around him, inviting other vultures to venture forth. The crowd ringing the crater's rim cheered as they watched them play tug-o-war with his intestines. Nirmala dropped to her knees, retching.

 

"Get up," said Grim. She watched carnies beating vultures away to collect the corpse. Grim grabbed her hand and they ran.

 

* * *

 

Nuke Crater Amusement Park was one of many reconfigured detonation craters pockmarking America. Nirmala and her mom had long avoided these areas. Their meager earnings catching birds had kept the need at bay until now.

 

"Don't do this. We can manage," said Nirmala's mother for the hundredth time.

 

"We need food." Nirmala laced up her father's boots, two sizes too big but her last keepsake of his. She stuffed them with rags.

 

"How’ll you survive?"

 

"I’m a hunter." Nirmala slid a dagger into a sheath at her waist.

 

"Sure, but songbirds don’t fight back," said her mother, stroking Nirmala's dark hair. They hugged.

 

Seventeen years of malnourishment may have stunted her growth, but it had taken a greater toll on her mother. Crater carnies offered a bounty of canned goods for a simple fee: your flesh if you die.

 

* * *

 

Contestants were corralled within a shipping container at the bottom of a crater thirty feet deep and a mile wide.

 

"Listen up, lunkheads! Crowds are watching. Give 'em a show. Try to hide, we'll kill you. Prize in the container at the other end." The Cratermaster brandished his rebar cane. A droopy gray beard took the edge off his hungry stare.

 

Nirmala glanced around at her container-mates, aged ten to thirty-something. There were four others, each dark and sinewy like human jerky. All wore burlap tunics with painted numbers.

 

"I'm Nirmala. What's everyone's name?"

 

"Who cares?" asked Contestant Three, his mouth set in grim determination. He was about fifteen, though his bald, scarred features made him appear older.

 

"Okay, 'Grim'. Have it your way." Nirmala looked at the others, but they avoided her, except for Grim, who eyed her curiously. She'd been so isolated she'd forgotten how to make friends. Even temporary ones.

 

They'd been handed a food pellet on entry. Nirmala nibbled at it dubiously.

 

"Caffeinated protein," said Grim, swallowing it whole. The others followed his lead.

 

Nirmala barely heard the gong. She felt hands pushing her into the sunlight. Disoriented, she followed the person ahead of her. Shadows crossed over her head. Vultures!

 

Low, guttural hisses surrounded them. Nirmala screamed as one landed before her. No mere carrion feeders, these mutants demanded fresh meat, as did their owners.

 

Nirmala pulled out her blade. Jabbing its head startled the vulture into flight. She ran on.

 

"Nice work, Blades. You got a dagger for me?" asked Grim, suddenly beside her.

 

A vulture soared over them. It latched onto the back of Contestant Two. The kid never stood a chance against razor-sharp talons. Nirmala was on her knees retching when Grim pulled her up.

 

"Follow me." Grim blew a small whistle, sending the vultures airborne. Together, they ran towards the lake. Its yellow-green waters reflected sunlight.

 

"Let's go around," said Nirmala.

 

"Fire ants."

 

Before Nirmala could respond, mutant insects swarmed Contestant Five. Carnies in hazmats torched the ants off him as he squirmed. They dragged a smoldering corpse away. The smell of burnt flesh brought tears to her eyes. Grim pushed her forward.

 

Contestant Four joined them at the shore of the crater's lake. Sickly waters stank of rotten eggs, keeping the vultures at bay. Dark cylinders bobbed in the waves.

 

"Log or gator? Either one’s a risk," said Grim. He leaped onto a log, which sank slightly under his weight. Four followed after, his steps splashing acidic water, which sizzled on contact.

 

Sweat soaked her tunic. Her heart thrummed like a sparrow in her chest. Nirmala forced her eyes open before taking her first jump. Soon, she joined them on a floating platform. The water writhed with gators.

 

"Got kids to feed," said Four, grabbing Grim. Nirmala drew her dagger and stabbed Four’s hand. He let go. Grim jumped Four, pummeling him with his bare hands.

 

"Go!"

 

Nirmala landed on a log. Her boots grazed the jaws of a nearby gator. She bounded log-gater-log until touching shallow waters at the shore. She kicked off her boots as the acid burned through their thick soles. She wiped her feet in ashy soil trying not to remember her father’s warm leathery hand on her cheek. Turning back, she watched Grim and Four wrestle, then fall off.

 

"Nooooo!"

 

Four's face peeled off like a mask. He screamed, his exposed facial muscles and tendons straining. Carnies fished him out with a great hook before gators could devour him. She couldn't find Grim.

 

She ran from the shore toward the container and heard the audience's cheers. Almost there! She heard footsteps behind her. Grim?

 

She felt arms grab her legs, taking her down.

 

Grim was above her. Sprays of acid water burned holes in her tunic. She turned to see that most of his coveralls had melted off. His body's thick layer of scars had protected him. Nirmala heard the audience calling for blood, saw carnies and vultures circling closer.

 

Nirmala fingered the dagger at her waist and imagined sliding it between his ribs. But Grim got off her and helped her stand. The crowd booed.

 

"Run! Climb out! There's no prize," said Grim. "You become their dinner."

 

The container erupted with carnies holding nets.

 

"You're one of them!" said Nirmala. The whistle, his protected skin.

 

The Cratermaster bellowed obscenities as Nirmala sprinted to the crater wall. She scaled it with Grim in close pursuit. Nirmala swung her body over the rim and watched as Grim struggled.

 

"Help me," begged Grim.

 

"Why should I?" Nirmala pulled out her dagger. Grim's eyes widened.

 

"I've no friends here any more." He threw her his whistle. “We can help each other.”

 

Nirmala had seen the scared child in his scarred body. She pulled him up. Together, they outran the carnies' cries toward home.