Lucy hadn't followed Calli through the door before it slammed shut behind her. She clambered to her feet and ripped it open. Outside was the alleyway. Quiet and still. No sign of the office maze. No sign of Lucy. No sign of the demon.

"I'm losing my mind," she muttered to herself. Was any of that real?

The man at the head of the classroom addressed her, "Miss, if you don't take a seat, your test will be nullified."

"Test?" She scanned the new room she found herself in. At every desk sat a student diligently staring down at a test sheet. A singular empty seat near the back awaited her. She nervously made her way over and sat down. "Is this for the gameshow?" She narrowed her eyes.

The proctor nodded. "Take as long as you need," he instructed, "but cheating will not be tolerated. Speaking to another examinee is prohibited. When you are done, simply place your test on my desk and you may leave."

Simple enough, Calli considered. She glanced down at the test before her. I wish I could call Ada. I'll need to find a phone I can borrow after this. She sighed. I shouldn't bother with this gameshow at all. I need to up my meds. There's no way that girl was real. Unless this isn't real? Calli glanced around the room suspiciously. No, this is real. This has to be real.

She shook her head and proceeded to read the first question, "Where is 183 Harold St?" What? The second question read, "How much is a bottle of shampoo?" What kind of test is this? The next question simply asked, "Cheese?" This is all just nonsense. How could this possibly be for the auditions? Calli glanced at the other examinees and wondered what they thought of the test.

Some nodded along as they answered question after question. Others tapped their foot or pencils, lost in thought or deep consideration for their answers.

Are they serious? Maybe we don't have the same test? She contemplated. She returned to her own test. "Given the chance, would you end the world?" Her mouth fell open. "Are demons real?" Her heartbeat quickened. "Would you do anything to be granted one wish?" Sweat beaded along her forehead. The ice-cold chill of the subway train crept into the classroom. The smell of sulfur wafted under her nose. No, no. I'm imagining things. She wiped the back of her hand across her forehead. In a sidelong glance, she swept the room. What if I never left home? What if I've been dreaming all day?

The proctor rose from his desk at the head of the classroom, his eyes locked on something behind her.

"Stupid," Calli heard a voice from the back of the class mutter. "So stupid," a young black man with broad shoulders said as he smacked his hand against his head. He looked to be near Calli in age if his babyface was any indication. Aside from that, his body was almost comically too grown and muscular to be sat at such a small desk.

The proctor smiled in such a way that Calli felt as if a predator had found its prey. His unwavering gaze on the struggling student, he deftly maneuvered through the room, coming to stand behind the young man.

The young man gripped his test paper with so much force that it crumpled and shook with his trembling hands. Sweat beaded from the top of his crisp shaved hairline down the dark skin of his face.

There's no way him and I have the same test, Calli thought.

The proctor leaned down and whispered into the student's ear. The smile still wide and sharp on his lips. Calli shuddered as the words hit the student and filled his face with fear. His eyes glazed over, and he stared ahead to the front of the class. The proctor whispered something again. She watched intently as the proctor's lips unmistakenly mouthed, "Let me in."

Calli gasped and the eyes of the proctor snapped up. Swirls of smoke ebbed from the whites of his eyes as they narrowed at her.

The demon. No, no, no. Not real. She stared down at her own test sheet. Tears filled her vision. I've gone absolutely mad. She blinked and forced herself to look around the classroom. The other students hadn't seemed to notice anything amiss. Demons aren't real, she shut her eyes and attempted to steady her breathing. This is all just a test. Part of the auditions, Calli focused on that thought. Yes, all part of the auditions. These questions don't matter. This test doesn't matter. It's all just meaningless to make us sweat. She steeled her nerves. Dorian James, games master, Calli rolled her eyes at the thought of the eccentric billionaire. He set this all up. I bet half of these people are just actors. The maze was just mirrors. Calli considered that even the fearful Lucy had been an actress and scoffed. How far will this mad man go for a gameshow? A newfound determination settled in her.

Calli stood, holding her empty test, and made her way to the front of the classroom. As she set the paper down, she turned to face the proctor and his student prey. If he's not an actor, I have to help him. "Glad to know the world won't end because I can't answer a few questions," she chose her words carefully. "It seemed impossible at first and yet it truly was." The student's glazed look disappeared as he took in her words. "They probably won't choose me as a contestant but at least I can say I tried and that's worth everything." She turned her attention to the proctor, "Thank you for this opportunity," his sinister smile had morphed into confusion. "I tried my best and now there's only one way to find out if it was enough."

The student watched as Calli walked to the exit. She paused with her hand on the doorknob and glanced back. His demeanor had relaxed without the proctor in his ear. A half smile edged at his lips, and he flinched as if he might bolt from the exam to join her.

It's up to him now, she thought, pushing her way through the door. It gently closed behind her as she waited. No one followed after her.

This time the door led to a long hallway. Movie magic, Calli thought. Moving sets. Mirrors. Actors. That or she had truly gone mad. She shrugged.

At the end of the lengthy hallway, something like a yellow door waited. So far in the distance it was hard to tell exactly what it was. There wasn't any other direction to go aside from forward or back. Calli chose forward.

The further she walked, the more the hallway seemed without end. That's ok. I could use the exercise, she thought, idly dragging a hand along the wall. Between being scared and embracing whatever madness was truly afoot, Calli chose the latter. I'll either find someone with a phone so I can call Ada, or I'll wake up in my bed soon.

Quiet chirping echoed down the hallway.

Birds? Calli paused, squinting at the yellow door ahead.

The trilling sound of singing birds grew louder.

No, this can't be, Calli ran.

The endless hallway began to close in on her. The narrowing walls hugged tight against her shoulders. She pressed onward, squeezing herself through as the yellow door grew within reach. Her outstretched fingertips brushed the door handle, just barely able to pull it down. The door fell open and Calli was sent tumbling forward.

No, this – what is this?

On all fours, Calli fought the urge to cry.

I'll never escape. I'm trapped in this dream – this nightmare.

Dirt collected under her nails as she ripped at the grass between her fingers.

"Why do I always come back here!" she shouted at the earth.

Warm summer sun beat down on her. She tilted her head up to let the sunlight blind her. A single tear rolled down her cheek.

Slowly, Calli climbed to her feet and looked out before her at the sea of a never-ending golden field that swayed in a gentle breeze.

If I am mad, then let the madness take me back to him, she thought, exhaling a shaky breath. She closed her eyes and waited for his caressing touch, hugging herself close.

The cotton fabric of her pullover rubbed against her skin. Calli quickly patted herself down. She was still in the clothes she'd worn to the audition. It offered little relief. Singing birds swooped overhead and Calli watched as they descended the field into a forest down below. So much like her dream and yet so different. She marveled at the open sky, free of smog.

I must be dreaming, Calli knew that the real world offered no such place.

"Movie magic," a woman spoke. Calli turned to find Ada standing among the tall grass. She smiled in greeting and Calli rushed to embrace her.

"How did you get here?" She wondered, squeezing the woman as if she might disappear into thin air. Real, she's real.

"I seem to be chosen as a contestant. Same as you," she winked.

Calli loosened her grip on the woman, "What?"

Behind Ada, four others approached.

Jonah Parker, the football star with a sling, gaped at where they'd found themselves.

Lucy, the timid girl in the oversized sweater, waved nervously at Calli. Her face turned pink the moment she noticed Jonah and she attempted to hide behind her sleeves. He was too preoccupied with his new surroundings to notice.

The young man from the test gave Calli a polite nod. He glanced anxiously at Jonah as he approached and kept his distance.

The final person in their group lingered behind. He was an older man. Bald with a gaunt face and ill-fitting clothing. He didn't seem fazed by the open field or the sunshine. The man only watched each contestant. Eyeing them suspiciously. Calli thought for a moment that she might recognize him like the others, but she couldn't place him.

The others each gazed in awe at their surroundings, their faces filled with shock, confusion and small hopeful smiles.

"This is unreal," remarked the young man from the test. "I can't believe –" His words stumbled as soon as Jonah turned in his direction.

Jonah only skimmed over him as he continued to take everything in.

"I can't believe it either," Calli offered, smiling at the young man who's face blanched. She turned to find Lucy staring at Jonah from under her curtain of dark hair. Is Jonah really that famous, or is he just that attractive? Calli speculated.

"Did anyone else happen to notice," Jonah spoke up, clearing his voice when half those gathered avoided eye contact with him, "that – that the doors we came through have vanished?"

Everyone turned to the direction they'd come from.

It's true. Where Calli expected to see a bright yellow door, there was nothing. Only more field and blue skies.

"What the f –" the older man started.

"Careful, "Ada cut in. "We're on nationally syndicated television," she winked again.

The man only sneered in response.

Lucy whimpered and edged toward Calli. She stepped away from Ada and offered a comforting hand to the young woman who immediately took it.

"It's gone," the young man from the test looked on in disbelief. "How could –"

"Movie magic," answered Ada again, tapping her nose with a smile as everyone turned to her.

The young man nodded, "Okay, like they painted the back of the doors to match this place, or something? And this place only seems big 'cause the walls are painted too?"

Ada smiled, "Sure."

Movie magic, Calli thought. Moving sets. Mirror. Actors. And now painted walls. Even still, the field was too much like her dream. Is that really all this is? Movie magic?

"WELCOME!"

All except Ada jumped at the booming voice.

"AND CONGRATULATIONS," the disembodied voice continued, "EACH OF YOU HAS BEEN CHOSEN AS A CONTESTANT IN THE WISHING GAMES."

Its declaration did nothing to ease the discomfort among them.

"THREE TRIALS AWAIT. THE CONTESTANT TO COMPLETE ALL THREE SHALL BE GRANTED ONE WISH FROM DORAIN JAMES. NOTHING IS OFF LIMITS."

Although she'd known the premise of the gameshow, the eerie promise felt almost sinister to Calli.

"YOUR FIRST TRIAL BEGINS NOW."