Just then, the last entry catches your eye. It only reads ??? with no further description.
“What’s with the last option?” You ask.
“Oh, that’s if you’re feeling adventurous,” the man replies with a wink. “It could be any horse, really. Stallion or mare, colt or filly, who knows? A lightning quick Arabian or a prize-winning thoroughbred? A six-legged extraterrestrial or a cyber-enhanced super-steed? It’s all possible! You won’t find out until right before the race starts. It’s the chance you take when you bet on the unknown.” Leaning forward, the man adds in a theatrical stage whisper. “By the way, winning with a mystery horse brings an extra-special prize.”
If this were a real horse race with actual bets, this would be horrendously foolish. Here, though, it’s not much more risky than most carnival games.
“Well, how can I refuse a pitch like that?” You answer with a grin, really liking this guy’s sense of humor. Picking up a pencil from the counter, you check off the entry.
“I knew you had it in you!” The man says, patting your shoulder. Taking out a lanyard, he motions you to bend down and places it around you neck. “Here’s your pass. Keep it on so it doesn’t get lost. Now, just go through those doors and have a good race! It’s all up to you now.”
For a moment, his parting words strike you as odd, but you dismiss it. After a goodbye wave, you head to the indicated doors rather than following the crowd of spectators (wildlife included) down the stairs to the stands. You figure that betting guests get their own booth or something. After descending a long ramp, you find yourself in a maze of halls, the sounds of the races a mere echo. Thankfully, a painted stripe and numerous signs lead you in the correct direction.
Finally, you make one last turn only to see an empty corridor with ten doors lined up along the right. A digital marquee over each door displays a specific racehorse name. Private booths?
Just then, a beep sounds overhead, and the last door slowly swings open. The marquee reads “???” just like the entry on the man’s list. You admire how hi-tech the whole thing is as you go through the threshold and let the door close behind you.
The world seems to blur, and suddenly, you find yourself in a tiny, narrow pen facing a tall, metal double-door. Thinking you must have gone the wrong way, you try to go back only to meet a blank wall. Where did the entrance go? Where did anything go?
Realizing you are stuck, you start to feel claustrophobic. Pushing on the gate, you discover that it is locked. For the next few minutes, you pace the small area in agitation, noticing the dirt floor and the musty smell in the air. Sunlight illuminates a thin line through the gate’s double doors, too thin to get any glimpse outside. Calling for help brings no response, though you can hear the sounds of a cheering crowd seemingly nearby. Where are you?
“All of our horses are now at the starting gate!”
The blaring announcement makes you jump. It seems to be coming from a speaker overhead.
“At gate number one, we have Charming Little Gally! Rude Thunder is at gate number two! At gate number three…”
As the announcer goes down the line, you have a sudden revelation. This is the starting gate, number ten for the mystery horse! “But…but I’m not a horse!”
Then, you recall what that girl had said about this place. No, it couldn’t be! To your growing horror, you feel a strange sensation coming over you accompanied by a sudden draft as your clothing vanishes. “Ah, wait!”
“And finally, at gate number ten, we have…”