EXTRACT FOR
Hunting Hanna
(Anna Mann)

Hanna had nodded, then signed the waiver without really taking much notice of the small print. Need had blinded her, drowning in debt she'd seized the opportunity with both hands.

It's win - win she told herself as she scrawled her signature on the dotted line. She would get paid either way, if she won the chase she would get the grand prize, and if she got caught she'd still get half of the prize money... and even half was more than she'd ever dreamed of having in her hands.

She'd seen the advert online and immediately dismissed it as a scam. But let me save the details, just in case she'd decided. If something looked too good to be true then generally it was, but I'll sleep on it she thought, just before her landlord called again for the sixth time that morning. She couldn't give him what she didn't have, and it frustrated her that she couldn't even give him a rough idea of when she would be able to clear her arrears.

That timely phone call had pushed her to make one of her own, and casting aside suspicion she had dialled the number from the advert. A woman had answered, and somehow to hear a female voice added a little credibility. They had chatted for several minutes, the woman answering every one of Hanna's questions without any hint of evasion or uncertainty.

"So this is organised by a club?" she'd asked.

"It is a private members club," the woman had replied, "A very exclusive club, hence the value of the grand prize. It is organised along the same lines as a hunt. Not like a fox hunt with hounds," she added quickly, "Think of it more like a big game hunt out in Africa, a group of well-equipped white hunters exploring the dark continent, stalking the big five, not with guns of course, they are unarmed. They simply want to pit their wits against a quarry that can think quickly. Only a human can qualify as we are capable of planning, a wild animal released into the zone will think only of escape, they are not capable of considering evasion."

"The Zone?" Hanna had questioned, the woman answered instantly.

"Privately owned land that incorporates open countryside, woodlands, and a derelict urban area. It was a vast industrial complex that was earmarked for redevelopment, the club purchased it specifically for this one purpose."

"So let me get this clear," Hanna said as her mind raced, it still seemed a little too good to be true, but she also understood that rich people were generally a little crazy, and had the money to indulge strange fantasy. "I get shown a map of the area?"

"You have five minutes to memorise." the woman confirmed.

"And then I have a half hour head start, before the chase begins. And I have to collect markers from various places, and each marker adds bonus credits?"

"Absolutely correct," the woman answered, "Some consider skipping these markers and head directly to the finish line... but take my advice," she added, her voice dropping almost to a whisper, "If you decide to accept the challenge I strongly advise that you collect as many markers as you can."

"So to win I simply have to run, evade, and collect markers?"

"Correct," the woman replied, "But you should also use your brain and try to outwit them. The people who will be hunting you want to be tested, a straight path from A to B would be quite an anticlimax, to catch you too quickly would be no fun, they want you to make them work for their prize."

Twenty four hours later and Hanna sat in a plush office with the woman who had introduced herself as June, the club secretary.

On the vast mahogany desk sat an open briefcase, and inside fat bundles of cash had been neatly packed. Hanna had been invited to check the cash, so that she could assure herself that beneath the surface the stacks weren't wads of newspaper.

Hanna had handled several, but not really to check their authenticity, more to feel it in her hands as she imagined how it would change her life.

June had smiled, then whispered. "Opportunities like this don't come around every day my dear, and if you are going to sign the contract remember what I said, collect markers, you'll be happy that you did."

"I know that this is a once in a lifetime opportunity," Hanna nodded, then looked again at the cash. "And I am going to sign, and I won't forget what you told me."