LaF Round 1: Part 1

"So this is pretty crazy, huh?"

Tully loped along beside Mae as they made their way down one of the hotel's dark, barren corridors. A set of bronze keys hung from Mae's mouth, clinking noisily against each other. Mae looked up at Tully silently, brows knotting together.

"Oh, uh…right. I forgot that you couldn't…" Tully trailed off, looking away guiltily. Mae shook her head, knowing the look that churned in Tully's eyes. She did not blame Tully for anything. It was her fault that she had lost her voice in the first place. Mae blamed herself for getting them into this ridiculous mess. It was that crooked, curled smile that caused this. Mae vowed to herself that she would have her revenge…and that she would regain her voice.

"Ah Mae, is this our room?" Tully halted in front of one of the doors, labeled Room 213. Mae checked the keys and confirmed it as their room. The door was unhinged, ajar just a few inches. Tully walked into the unlit room, brushing past the broken door.

So much for the keys, thought Mae as she followed suit.

"Is there a light switch somewhere?" Tully murmured as he wandered around, fumbling in the dark for a switch. Mae set the keys down and was about to help him look, but she heard something moving in the back of the room.

"Don't worry, I've got it." A voice said, and a lamp suddenly illuminated the small room. A familiar figure sat beside the night stand. Tully growled and Mae backed away.

"You! You're the Thief who took Mae's voice!" Tully barked.

The Thylacine smirked. "That was indeed me, dog."

"So…" Tully looked flustered as he searched for the correct words. "Give it back!"

"You just want me to give it to you? I'm afraid that's not how it's going to work," said the Thief as he advanced towards Tully, hollow eyes shining dully. "You see, I have brought you here for the exact purpose of regaining your stolen item. However, you must play a little game before you get it back."

Mae stepped forward and opened her mouth as if to say something. She closed it a second later and looked down, grinding her teeth.

"Oh please little girl, you're not the only one who has had something special taken from them. Besides, the game is quite simple." The Thief gave a toothy grin, smile curling up the sides of his face. "It just requires a bit of sweat and blood."

"Fine!" said Tully loudly, shoving his face into the other canine's. "Whatever it takes! I'll do it for her!"

Mae looked at up at Tully for a moment. The Thylacine passed his eyes over the pair, eyes narrowed. "Very well. You two have been assigned an opponent. You have seen the other competitors around, correct? Your opponent is among them. To get your voice back, you must take the room keys of your opponents."

Mae straightened up. This would be easy, she thought. But there must be something more to this…

"Your opponent is a bat creature. You'll probably be the ones to spot him first." the Thief giggled to himself. "That's all I'm telling you for now. Look for one of my messengers if you're really lost. Do enjoy yourselves, and remember to keep your keys safe. The competition starts now."

"Wait – " Tully moved to confront the Thylacine, but in a flash he was scurrying out the door in the form of a mouse. Tully called after him, but to no avail. Mae walked over to where she had dropped the keys, and took them up in her jaws once again.

As the Thief slipped into a small hole in the corridor wall, he began to rethink one of his decisions. Perhaps he had stolen the wrong thing.