Bonus Game Crowning

I woke up, but my eyes remained shut. All around me teemed the telltale sounds of life, and not just any life – tropical life, rainforest life, even. I had never experienced it myself, but it existed enough in the cultural osmosis that I knew what it sounded like. Probably had a popup book as a child where parrots screamed at me or something.

Fittingly, the air around my face sat heavy, and soon I could feel my clothes sticking to my body. I wore a simple gray t-shirt and faded jeans, having done the bare minimum to dress before going out. Though, it was midway through the fall season, last I checked.

And I did not live in the Amazon.

Eyes flicking open, the sight I was greeted by fit my expectation. Lying dead center in a small clearing, I was surrounded by thick tropical vegetation – tall trees with long, thick leaves towered overhead, accompanied by shorter, but no less thick brush and other foliage. I could see maybe five feet out from the clearing before my sight was consumed by the jungle.

As I sat up, I pinched myself sharply on the arm.

”How cliché. ”

The voice – deep and masculine – came from somewhere out in the vegetation, but, somehow, I couldn place from where.

”Im being called cliché by a mysterious voice from nowhere, seconds after I wake up in a strange place, ” I retorted, getting to my feet. ”Pot, meet kettle. ”

”Snark first, questions later? ” the voice replied with clear irritation. ”You certainly have your priorities straight. ”

”Excuse me for going off script. ” I cleared my throat and struck an exaggerated pose. ”W-Where am I? Who are you? Whats going on?! ”

”You… ” the voice began, straining to keep its composure at my mockery, ”…have been selected as a Participant. ”

”A participant? ” I repeated, giving up the bit for the time being. ”In what? ”

”A bonus game, of sorts. ”