Prompt requested by MCSMLove
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Just a little longer.

It's what Jesse's been telling herself at the end of every single day, when it starts feeling like she wouldn't make it the last stretch. When her body physically starts feeling so tired, she becomes afraid of collapsing at any second.

Every day she came to that point, Jesse would began telling herself that it was almost over. That she made it every other day, and would make it again. That soon she'd be able to lay down and rest.

Trying her hardest not to think about the fact that the next day she would start again. Push herself to her limits again, fight to keep her tired body going until the day finally loomed to an end.

It would never end, it was an endless cycle that was going to be repeating itself over and over again for the rest of eternity. And whenever Jesse thought about the fact that this was her life, she could feel herself moving one step closer to just giving up.

Just a little longer.

It was the only thought that kept her going.

It's almost over.

The lies she told herself was the one reason she was still alive.

Just keep holding on.

Jesse reached up, wiping sweat from her forehead. She let out slow breath, trying to calm the rapid beating of her heart. No matter how fit she has gotten over the months, she was still overexerted every day. It was just too much for her.

Ignoring the heavy aching in her back, Jesse lifted up the heavy iron pickaxe again, slamming it down on the rock. Watching as the scarlet stones splintered off, small clouds of red dust rising into the air.

Ignoring the heavy throbs in her muscles, Jesse raised her pickaxe again and slammed it down on the netherrack a second time. Reaching down, she took the piece of quartz with her hand and wiggled it out of its spot, before tossing it into her bag.

Jesse rested with her hands on her knees for a few seconds, breathing out slowly. The hot air stung her dry throat, making her long for just a sip of water.

"Pick up the pace." A voice ordered, followed by a shove against Jesse's shoulder.

Unable to keep her balance, Jesse stumbled forward into the dust. She heard the gladiators laughing, gritting her teeth. They tended to find more pleasure in her suffering, than any other workers there...

Reaching up a hand, Jesse took a hold of a piece of netherrack, hauling herself back up to her feet. Trying once more to tell herself that it was almost over, the day had almost come to an end. Soon she could have a few pitiful hours of rest.

Jesse raised her pickaxe again, her tired eyes scanning the area for more veins of quartz. Seeing some quartz shining on a high ledge, Jesse began to slowly trudge over.

Silently ignoring her body's stiff aches and throbs as she tried to reach for the ledge. Once more, her short height was a major disadvantage.

"Shift's over!"

Jesse let out a long sigh of relief, immediately turning away from the high vein of quartz. Her boots dragged along the Netherrack as she followed the other miners and gladiators out of the mines, through the purple haze of the portal.

Jesse slowly inhaled the icy winter air outside, feeling the bitter cold settling over her sweaty body. She didn't care how bad the sudden heat to cold transition was for her health, at that moment she was simply relishing in it.

"Tough day?" Jesse heard a voice beside her.

"You bet." She replied, not needing to look up to know who she was speaking to.

"At least you avoided collapsing from exhaustion." Jesse felt the person give her a pat on the back as they walked. It might sound like sarcasm, but she knew he was being dead serious. And she whole-heartedly agreed.

"I might not have collapsed from exhaustion, but that doesn't mean I didn't get to taste a mouthful of dust at least once." Jesse said with a sigh.

"Let me guess, somebody decided you weren't working hard enough already?"

"Spot on, Sebastian." Jesse responded, finally lifting her head to look at the miner. She gave him a faint smile and shrug. "They really do seek me out to pick on, huh?"

"You're new." Sebastian said with a shake of his head. "New guys are always a favourite to be picked on."

How many more months had to past before they would shrug off then?

Jesse only nodded in response as the two of them continued to walk on with the rest of the miners. She couldn't help but cast a quick side glance at the competitor village. She couldn't spot anybody she recognised, only turning her gaze back to the front and continuing to trudge along with the other miners.

It's been so many months since Jesse ended up there, she's lost count. Ever since the day she lost the games, and was forced to stay behind while her friends got to leave.

The memory was still fresh in Jesse's mind. Being held back as she watched gladiators pull her friends away. Hearing them desperately calling her name, until they were out of hearing distance. Even now, she could still hear those cries in her dreams.

Every day since, had just been a repeat of the same cycle. Every morning they were shoved into the Nether before the sun has even risen. Forced to work a solid twelve hours, until the sun sets outside.

At first, Jesse couldn't make it through an entire day. Her body pushed past it's limits, she had collapsed, fainted, thrown up and pulled several muscles. But no matter how awfully she ended every day, she was pushed right back in the next.

Even now, after adapting throughout the many long days, Jesse still couldn't quite handle the amount of work. It was just too much for her.

Jesse's stiff body groaned in relief as she sunk down in a chair, the pressure finally taken off of her beaten legs. She rested her head on the long wooden table, only just about managing to keep her heavy eyelids open.

No matter how tired she was, she knew better than to skip dinner and just go straight to bed. She only made that mistake once.

Jesse lifted her head again, the scent of freshly baked bread meeting her nostrils. Usually they were fed whatever the competitors didn't finish, stale and hard. When something fresh slipped through, it was always a treat.

"Only give number 308 half their ration!" Jesse felt her heart sink, hearing her number. "They slacked off during the end of their shift."

"Man, whoever was watching you really isn't in the best of moods today." Sebastian said as the food was handed out.

Jesse looked down at the small crust of bread she was given, complete with only a few sips of water. She hungrily wolfed down the pitiful amount of food, not letting one crumb of the bread go to waste. She could only hope that she'd be up to her tasks the next day, considering she'd practically be running on fumes.

Everybody else were still eating by the time Jesse finished her tiny meal. Having no reason to hang around and watch everybody else eat while she was still hungry, Jesse got up and left the dining hall.

The sleeping quarters were empty when Jesse entered, not that she wanted to have it any other way at that moment. She sunk down on the side of her bed in the small room that she shared with three other miners. Kicking her boots off her sore feet, and pulling off her hard hat.

Jesse raked her fingers through her short, sweaty chestnut hair. She still remembered the night she found one of the gladiators' swords, left unattended. It only took her a minute to cut off her long brown locks with the diamond blade. While it was probably one of the harder, sadder things Jesse had to do in her time there, it helped. Not having long, thick hair, was a great relief against the incredible heat Jesse had to endure inside the Nether every day.

Jesse lay down on the bed, her eyes threatening to close the moment her head rested on the pillow. But no matter how tired she was, sleep didn't come.

It wasn't because of the room's chilly temperatures, or the stiffness of the mattress that bothered Jesse. It was the quiet, the eeriness of the room. Usually she'd fall asleep with other people in the room, hearing the breathing of other miners, not being alone.

Something about how silent and empty the room was that night, made Jesse's homesickness grow stronger. It made her miss her friends even more.

Rolling onto her side, Jesse hugged her knees to her chest. Eventually falling asleep with tears on her face.

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From the moment she woke up, Jesse knew it was going to be a terrible day. She just wanted to be able to get back in bed, and continue sleeping, that's what she wanted to do. Or no, scratch that – what she really wanted to do, was eat.

Jesse couldn't believe how incredibly weak one skipped meal made her. She's never had less motivation to start a day. But alas, there was no way out. Despite her desperate desires, Jesse was forced to trudge back to the mines with all the other miners.

She wasn't really paying attention to her surroundings or the people around her. Simply focusing on keeping her body in an upright position as she walked.

However Jesse abruptly stopped, when a strong hand clasped around her arm. She looked up, meeting the gaze of one of the gladiators. It wasn't one she had seen in the mines before, and thus didn't know anything about him.

What do you want? The question was on the tip of Jesse's tongue, but she knew better than to snap at a gladiator. If she didn't show respect, she might as well have the words "punching bag" painted on her forehead.

"Hadrian wants you."

Immediately, Jesse's blood ran cold, her heart feeling like it skipped over more than just one beat. Hearing those exact words Slab had spoken to her when she had been competing in the games. Remembering the night she made that deal with Hadrian, the deal that saved her friends but took her freedom.

Gulping slightly, Jesse gave a small nod. The gladiator turned away, dragging Jesse after him. She glanced slightly over her shoulder, before turning back around and following after him.

The Old Builders didn't care for the miners at all. Jesse hadn't even seen them, ever since the was thrown into the Nether for the first time. What were they planning to do with her?

For the entire walk, Jesse just stared down at the snowy ground, her mind filled with all the horrible possibilities over what was going to happen to her. She didn't even notice as they approached the building, until the gladiator shoved her through the door.

Staggering forward, Jesse was only just about to keep her balance. The moment she looked up, she met the eyes of a person she had hoped she never would have to speak two words to.

"Long time, no see, huh sport?" Hadrian said, a devilish grin dancing on his face.

"What do you want from me?" Jesse hissed, for once not caring what they would do to her.

"Of course, I should have known you wouldn't grow out of your pesky habits." Hadrian said, leaning his elbows onto the quartz desk. Despite his statement, there was still a grin on his face. "You know, Jesse, I'm surprised you made it this far. Taking how you started out, well, let's just say I didn't expect you to be around for too long."

"Oh please." Jesse crossed her arms, ignoring the fact that she was playing with fire. "Even if I died working in the mines, I'd just respawn and start over again. If death was a way out, I would have left this wretched place ages ago."

"Tell me, Jesse..." Hadrian went on, completely ignoring her statement. "Do you know how long you've been here?"

"Does it matter?" Jesse asked skeptically. "Months."

"A year." Hadrian corrected her. "And you know what that means?"

"Oh, stop it with the riddles already." Jesse said with a groan, rolling her eyes. "Get to the point already!"

"I want some entertainment." Hadrian said, his maniac grin growing. "I'm giving you another shot."

For a second it was quiet. Jesse wasn't sure if she heard Hadrian right.

"Another shot?" She asked. "At competing?"

"That's right." Hadrian said, leaning back in his chair.

"No." Jesse said, shaking her head.

Hadrian's face fell, a surprised and dismayed look replacing his grin. Jesse almost wanted to laugh. Did he really think she was stupid enough to compete again? Just so somebody could kill her again and send her back into that fate? False hope, that was all the games were.

"Don't you want another go at them? Try and prove to us all that you're more than just a quartz miner?"

"Sweet talk me all you want." Jesse hissed. "I'm not you, Hadrian, playing with my ego isn't going to help. The games are rigged, unable to succeed at. You think I'm stupid enough to put myself through that pain again?"

"Well, can't say this is the attitude I expected." Hadrian said, placing his hand out and thoughtfully stroking the cover of a book that rested on his desk. "If only I had some... what do you call it, leverage, to help you make up your mind..."

Jesse's eyes darted to the book, her heart skipping a beat as she recognised the atlas. She all of sudden leaped forward, planting her hands on the desk. Glaring into Hadrian's eyes.

"You do not touch my friends!" She bellowed at his face, slamming her fist down on the quartz surface.

The grin began to return to Hadrian's face, a dark chuckle leaving his lips.

"You sure are easily motivated Jesse." He responded, not phased at all by the boiling rage in Jesse's eyes. "It's your choice. Compete for us, and fill a gap in one of our teams... or-"

"I'll compete." The words came out of Jesse's mouth before she even had a chance to think of her next statement.

Satisfaction coated Hadrian's face, as he slapped his hands together. "Splendid!"

Jesse felt her heart thud heavily inside her chest as she realised what she had just agreed to.

"Since we're eager to get things going again, you'll start today." Hadrian said, standing up from his chair. "Take Jesse back to the competitor village and introduce her to her team, will you? They'll give her a uniform."

Jesse felt the gladiator grab her by her arm again, tugging her away from Hadrian's desk. She glared back at Hadrian, pure hate bubbling within her. Hadrian chuckled triumphantly.

"Enjoy the games, Jesse. Remember to play as if... your life depends on it. Because it does."

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I am so sorry it took me so long to finish this! I believe you requested back in November, that's terrible of me. I hope it was worth the wait though!

I at first didn't know what to do with the prompt "Game of Life". But once I got this idea, I was on a roll, writing it.

I actually really, really like how this came out as well, and I feel like this story could have a lot of potential... oh boy, future book idea maybe? 
I'm not sure yet, but I feel like I have to expand on this, because I haven't felt like this about a one shot since Exile's original one shot!

I'd like to know whether you all enjoyed this one! :)

Anyhow, that is all I have to say, I believe. I'll see you all soon with another one shot!

Feel free to leave me more requests, whether they are one word prompts, actual plot lines, or sequels to previous one shots I have done!

Remaining requests pending:  3