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Chapter 52
~Katrina~
"Let the games begin," the king's voice echoed across the arena. I heard him from a distance as I hurried down the hallway. We would've been seated already if not for the delay with my new hairstyle.
As I walked past a group of guards, they stared at me like they had seen a ghost. For a moment, I wondered if the pixie curls had been a mistake.
Marissa said I looked more beautiful than ever, but of course she would say that. She loved me, and she always found a way to make me feel special, even when I didn't believe it myself.
We finally arrived at the arena. The stage looked nothing like it did yesterday. It was clear they had worked all through the night.
The maze had changed. The first section was just sand, smooth and quiet. But the second one… it was filled with sharp rocks, wooden spikes, and hidden traps that could hurt—or even kill—the participants. My chest tightened. This wasn't just for fun anymore.
