Competition: On the Run

You've been kidnapped!

Freezing water splashes over your face, jolting you awake. You blink away the sleep from your eyes, and find yourself in a small room, gagged and tied to a metal chair that is, in turn, bolted to the floor. Your equipment is missing. There's a light hanging from the ceiling, shining down onto you. In front of you, a man sits in a chair that looks to be far more comfortable than yours, and he is flanked by two burly trandoshans.

"Hello," the man says, leaning forward into the light. You recognize him - who wouldn't? He's the leader of a massive, galaxy-wide crime syndicate. "You've been causing my men some trouble recently. However, I am in a good mood today, so I am willing to offer you a deal."

He leans back in his chair and puts his feet up on the table. "I will let you go, forgiven and forgotten, if... you can escape my men. I'll give you twenty-four hours' head start. Your equipment will be returned to you; it's just outside. You're gonna have to stay out of my clutches for one month. If you can, you go free. But, my men will be shooting to kill. On the other hand, if you refuse this generous offer, you rot in my brig for the rest of your life."

He motions to a guard, who cuts off your gag so you can answer. "So, what's it gonna be? Do you think you can escape my men?"

Rules:

• Entries will be judged using the Fiction Grading Rubric 3.0
• Use of AI is strictly forbidden.
• Entries must be a minimum of 500 words long
• Word, PDF, or the text box are preferred for submission format

Good luck, and may the Force be with you.

-Credits not words,
Haro Zylrun, Ad Vizsla