[ WP ] Write a story about a board game .

They huddled together in a group in the middle of the arena. None of them knew how they'd ended up here and the feeling of panic that washed through them was palpable. 
 
 `` What is this?'' several voices demanded. `` What's happening?'' 
 
 No one answered them. It was clear that the lack of response was unnerving on everyone and it spread quickly from one to the next. It was only a matter of time before someone broke down and lost it. 
 
 `` Just keep calm,'' someone shouted across the constant murmuring. `` Who remembers anything? Anything at all. Maybe if we all start sharing what we remember we can figure this out.'' 
 
 David looked over at Mike, pressed up against him in the huddle. Mike was the only person he recognised and despite putting on a brave face, Dave was n't going to let him out of his sight. Having someone else he knew close by was enough to keep that rising terror at bay. 
 
 `` What the fuck, Dave? What is going on,'' Mike hissed at him, trying not to be overheard. It was obvious he was freaked out too and trying to hold it together. Dave just shook his head in response, not trusting himself to actually speak without letting all the sobs he was holding back start gushing out. 
 
 `` OKAY! READY? GO!'' 
 
 The voice was deafening. Several of them let out gasps in surprise at the sudden announcement. They cast their gaze about wildly looking for the source of the voice and the subject of its statement both. Go? Who goes? Was that for the group? Where were they supposed to go? Or was it a signal for something worse? 
 
 They did n't have long to wait to find out. 
 
 The beasts leapt at them without warning. One of the beasts snatched three people from the outside of the group in one swift lunge and swallowed them whole. It did n't even bother to chew. Two more were taken unawares by a second beast, one of them right next to David. Its jaws came so close they brushed against his skin. 
 
 Panic erupted. The group scattered, running in all directions but with no plan, no idea of where to go. The screaming began in earnest now, an outpouring of sheer terror at the prospect of being devoured whole. David added his own voice to the cacophony. 
 
 `` Mike! Mike! MIKE! Stay with me. Do n't leave me!'' If he could have pissed himself he would have. 
 
 The beasts bounded into the group, bowling them over, sending them skittering and occasionally picking off anyone too slow to get out of the way. David followed Mike as he barreled towards the edge of the arena before turning and rushing back towards the center. 
 
 Mike had lost it. `` What are you doing? We're gon na die down there,'' David wailed. The words were lost on Mike who charged on heedlessly as one of the beasts took David in the side knocking him down and sending him rolling across the floor. He cried out, more in shock than actual pain, fully expecting to be torn in half and disbelieving that he was still alive. 
 
 `` Shit! Mike? Mike where the fuck are you?'' 
 
 Keep moving. He had to keep moving. If he stood still, he was a dead man. As if to punctuate the point he caught sight of a woman in front of him. She stood in one spot, turning in a circle as if not sure of which way to go. Was any way better than any other, David wondered. One of the beasts collided with her, knocking her off her feet and straight into the jaws of a second. All it took was one moment and she was gone. 
 
 Several more people sprinted across his vision, screaming as they went. Where was he? Where? 
 
 Across the arena he caught sight of Mike, still running aimlessly, tirelessly. Get to Mike. Get to him. And then what? It was a shit plan, but it was his only plan. If he was going to die here he was going to do it with someone he knew. A small comfort, but the only thing his panicked mind could come up with. 
 
 A blow to his back send him careening forwards. By luck, it pushed him straight into Mike's arms, bringing him to a stop. They babbled at each other, knowing they were n't making sense and that the other was n't listening. 
 
 `` Mike, we got ta... Dave, the hell man... What if we... I ca n't do this...'' 
 
 It was cut short in a flash as one of the beasts caught Mike by the back of his shirt, flipping him up into the air briefly. He landed heavily, the wind knocked out of him and unable to regain his feet. With no respite the beast that had tossed him scoffed him down. 
 
 A quick glance around told David he was the last survivor. Did this mean he'd won? Would they call off the beasts and release him? Even now, their assault was relentless. He was battered about as the beasts fought amongst themselves over who was going to be the one to eat him, knocking him away from the jaws of another for the chance to pick him off themselves. 
 
 Even after all of this the insatiable fiends were going to devour him. There was no escape. He staggered back and forth, senseless from the beating and crawling desperately for safety. Somewhere, anywhere for a brief respite. 
 
 With a howl, one of the beasts descended on its prize and David felt the jaws close around him. Darkness as they tugged him off his feet and drew him into its fetid gullet. He slithered down the beast's throat and landed in its stomach, surprised to find that several of the others were alive and intact in here with him. 
 
 `` What the hell was all that? What were they?'' he asked. 
 
 The low hubbub of moans died down slightly as one tired old lady took his arm and helped him to his feet. `` We do n't know,'' she said. `` Whatever they were, they were very hungry.''
