by Cooper Eaton
At one point a girl asked if we'd get to see the upper floors. To which the woman answered curtly. "The upper floors are off limits. You must not go up there. If you do, you will be sent home. You may be on the second floor and the ground floor, and that is all, am I clear?"
We all nodded in the affirmative and our tour continued. “Alrighty then, let's head outside.” And so we did.
Outdoors, the strange woman showed us the magnificent pool, pointed out the towering trees standing gracefully in the distance, and even explained to us some interesting facts about the giant ASTA building. "The building is quite large, and so we like to refer to it as the castle. It is newly constructed, and those panels you see that it's made from are coated with graphene. The Graphene helps us to absorb the sun's rays and directly convert them into electricity to power the enormous building. It is quite ingenious and I would love to tell you more about it, however, we must keep moving." And move we did.
We walked back inside where it Mrs. Nasdin explained to us that due to a lack of postal system we wouldn’t be able to write home to our families. “I know you were told in your letters from ASTA that you wouldn't be able to write home, but just in case anyone missed that fact, I wanted to make it very clear that due to our remoteness we don’t have a way to connect you to you’re familes via holo call. Any questions?” When no one responded we continued to move.
However, we didn’t move far. We made our way back to the dining wall where the woman, Mrs. Nasdin dismissed us. “Alright, the tour is over. I hope all of you enjoyed it. You have two hours of free time, and then please meet back here for dinner. Thank you.”
I wandered back to my room and once there I thought about the lack of communication with my parents. The letter from ASTA had clearly stated no communication with family would be possible, but now the reality of being completely alone was starting to sink in. I really wish I’d hugged my mom before I left. I hope she knows how much I miss her. I wonder what dad is doing. I wonder if he’s studying realism. Thinking of which, I wonder what Josh meant by telling me that everything was real right before he died. I wonder if he- A knock came as I lay on my bed. “Knock, knock, knock.” I was so caught up in my thoughts that I didn’t even realize someone was knocking.
“Knock, knock, knock.”
Rasben opened the bathroom door which he occupied. “Fine, I guess I’ll get it since you seem unable.” He said annoyed as he hurried to open it and was greeted by a small woman who informed us that we were called upon.
“Let's go Mr. Focus. The headmaster wants us.” Rasben called back.
We followed her down multiple hallways that transgressed from new and smooth to smaller and older looking. Eventually, we came to a small wooden door that opened into a rather comfy looking conference room. Inside Mr. Blackwood, and a woman were sitting on one side of the table and Jessica, and Rachel on the other.
"Have a seat, boys. Thank you for coming." The headmaster spoke as if we'd really had a choice. "We are here to discuss what happened in the simulation today. So my first question is: what really happened in the simulation today?" ¶Rasben and I sat on the soft leather chairs sinking in a little bit. When no one else spoke, I decided to head things up. "Well, it happened rather suddenly. We were in the middle of escaping after getting the vile when out of nowhere someone shot Josh."
Jessica cut me off continuing. "We tried to save him, but it was too late. His lungs had been burned to badly, and it looked as if his heart might also have been singed. We couldn't do anything for him, and people were chasing us, so we had to leave."
The room fell silent as Mr. Blackwood, the headmaster, pondered. Finally, he spoke. "Well, it seems as though we have quite the predicament."
“If you don’t mind me asking, what happens to Josh now? Why can’t he just come back since he only died in a simulation?” I asked.
"Good question Mr. Rose, and the answer is simple. When someone dies in the simulation, we send them home. In this way, we thin the herd so to speak. Hence the test being a competition. And I’m sorry to say, but without a senior leader, we’re going to have to send you all home as well.”
“What!” We collectively responded confused.
“Well, without a leader things would be very difficult for you and you would probably be eliminated from the competition very shortly anyways.
They can't do this; I need this money. There has to be another way!
“I can do it, I can.” I blurted out.
Mr. Blackwood’s eyes, as did everyone else’s, turned towards me. “It seems as though Mr. Rose doesn’t want to be sent home.” He said to the woman from the tour, Mrs. Nasdin, sitting beside him with a slight chuckle.
I looked over at Rachel and Rasben, and then my eyes met Jessica's. Her eyes seemed to be spitting fire, telling me, "Don't you dare!"
Mr. Blackwood pondered my suggestion for a moment before opening his mouth to speak only to be interrupted by his assistant, Mrs. Nasdin, whispering in his ear. He seemed to take her words into consideration as he thought once again in the dead silent room.
“I don’t know about this.” He finally uttered. “Although if we instructed you could probably get the job done, and we could see different reactions to the simulators based on different leadership. Oh, what the heck. Why can’t you be your team's leader? You know what, that sounds like a good idea. As of now, you, William Rose, are your team's new leader. Is that okay with everyone else?” He said scanning the faces of the other three.
It looked as if Jessica was going to say something, but she decided against it and stayed silent.
“Alrighty then, we have a new team leader. Your team's member change will be announced at dinner and may your team have the best of luck." With that, he stood and ushered us from the room. "Thank you all for coming please feel free to head directly to dinner which will be served shortly.
I stepped into the hallway and began to walk extremely fast hoping not to have a confrontation with Jessica, but by the sound of the footfalls behind me, that wasn't going to happen.
I had just turned the corner when I heard, “William!”
I turned and was met by Jessica’s angry yet beautiful face.
“There is no way I’ll take orders from you!”
"Jessica keep your voice down," I whispered soothingly.
“You don’t know the first thing about leadership! You’re gonna get us all killed. You’ll be too busy thinking about girls to lead our team. Why don’t you just walk back in there, admit that there was a mistake and tell Mr. Blackwood the new leader should be me!”
“There is no way I’d take orders from someone who hates me! Like it or not you're gonna have to listen to me. Otherwise, I'll get you sent home!" I fired back hotly.
“I wouldn’t take an order from you if my life depended on it, you selfish bastard!” “WACK!” She finished as her hand connected with my face! I reeled and fell backwards against a nearby wall. She quickly turned and rushed off realizing a group of testers had been standing at the other end of the hallway watching our argument play out.
“Haha.” I turned my head only to see a group of testers laughing hard. “She slapped him so hard!” I heard a few whisper. “I wonder what he did?” came another whisper from the crowd.
I gathered myself and walked right at them and then through them. My face felt like it was on fire and I could feel everyone’s eyes on me as I walked towards the dinning hall.
“Are you serious, she slapped you?” Chris asked in amazement. “Dude she must really hate you” Jack jumped in. “I would just keep my distance from her,” Jack laughed as did the rest of them, but I stayed silent.
"You'll be alright," Chris said trying to calm me down. "Just try not to think about it."
“Hey, at least you don’t have it as bad as Steven does.” Jack butted in.
“What do you mean. Where is he?”
“Supposedly since his team took last they have to take part in s
ome sort of competition with the second place loser and whichever team loses the competitions is sent home.”
“What, are you serious?”
“Yeah, and-”
Just as Jack was about to speak the headmaster walked into the great dining hall. “I hope your dinner is satisfactory. Congratulations on getting through your first simulation, and good luck in the second part. He paused briefly before explaining the real reason for his appearance. “I am here to inform you all that there will be a simulation to decide the fate of the two groups who finished last. Robert and Julia’s teams are already preparing for the simulation. The rest of you are fine to keep eating while the two fighting teams get set up. Once you are done eating if you will please head towards the group simulation area. Oh, and William if you don’t know where that is just ask, Mrs. Nasdin, my assistant, and she will be happy to show you the way." the headmaster finished, and everyone's heads turned towards me.
Mr. Blackwood turned back realizing he'd forgotten me. "Oh, that reminds me. In the your first mission Josh, who was a team leader was killed. Josh has been sent home, leaving his team without a leader. However thanks to William, who graciously offered to stand in and lead, his team will be allowed to stay. Would everyone please give him a round of applause.”
And just like that 100 teens began to slowly clap for me. I felt a hot blush burning my cheeks as everyone's eyes now fixed upon me.
The clapping didn’t last more than 20 seconds, but it was extremely painful nonetheless.
“As you were.” Mr. Blackwood finished his briefing and walked out.
We made it to the large room filled with beds, only lit by small pinpricks of light.
“Please find a bed and prepare yourselves for the trip.” Came Mrs. Nasdin’s, the woman from the conference room, voice.
We responded, along with all of the other testers in the room. We stumbled and tripped over each other until we could find open beds in the crowded and darkened room.
“Alrighty, is everyone set?”
I quickly laid down on a springy and uncomfortable bed. Here we go.
Once again we were ripped from our bodies and thrown into a tunnel of light. However, the landing this time was different. I still slammed into another body, but this one felt almost like that of my own. Where am I?
"Hey, William, over here," Chris called.
What the heck. “What’s going on?”
Chris happily answered. "Well according to my senior leader this is what is known as the deciding games. The two teams ranked last have to participate in some competition to see which one stays. Luckily for us, we get to watch." He laughed and nudged me.
"Hey, guys!" Came Jack's voice from behind us.
Turning, I saw that it really was him, he was dressed in the same odd fashion of Chris and I, but his features were the exact same as his real life body.
“Ding, ding, ding!” came a bell’s cry from somewhere overhead.
“Hurry, hurry! It’s about to start!” Came the frantic cries of men, women, and children who were all rushing past us now and into the giant coliseum that stood in front of us!
“Where’s Steven?”
“He’s in the match; he was on Julia’s team. If we don’t hurry we’re gonna miss the competition, come on let's just follow these people.”
We rushed forward with the swirling mass of people kicking up tons of dirt. The large gait quickly came and passed as we entered. This place is huge! And huge it was. The giant arena that had to be thousands of years old was made of graying stone. Archways, benches, rows, walls, everything was made of stone and covered in dirt.
There in the center of the circular arena stood a balding man who was quite short. In his hand, he held some sort of cone. He placed it near his lips and his now booming voice filled the arena. “Today, ladies and gentleman, is a special day!” His voice rang out quite clear.
I was almost too focused on the sights around me to listen to him. Is this place a gladiator arena? Everyone was dressed in very old clothes. In fact, in the distance, I saw a castle towering over its kingdom high on a hill.
His voice once again flooded my ears. “Facing off in this contest of champions are Steven the wise and Matthew the monster! They have been deemed guilty by the magistrates and must pay for their crimes. As you all know, this is a fight to the death! Each contestant will be given a weapon by chance. Thereafter the fight will begin!”
Each contestant drew from a large bag. Matthew received a double-bladed ax and Steven, a sword, and shield.
“The wait for blood is over!” The announcer roared as did everyone in the stands. “No longer will these men be allowed to pervert the ways of our great empire! They must pay for what they have done! Who’s ready for justice!” The man screamed at the medieval people hungry for bloodshed. “Well then, let the fight begin!” He said ominously as he scampered off to safety and a man who looked like some sort of referee signaled his dirty hand.
Why was Steven being treated like a criminal, and why were there so many people here?
But my thoughts ended as the fight got under way. I felt the crowd around me lean forward, staring intently at what was unfolding before them.
The two boys circled each other and slowly began to close. Although both boys were 16 Matthew was well over 6 feet tall and seemed to tower over Steven like the castle in the distance.
“Boom!” Matthew’s ax rang as it slammed into Steven’s shield and just like that the fight had begun! Steven stumbled and almost fell but managed to regain his balance and swing his sword. It was an attempt to make some room but only made it easier for Matthew to knock his sword away from him! Now all Steven had was his shield! Matthew smashed Stevens shield again and again! Slowly forcing Steven into the dirt! Steven managed to roll away and pick up his sword from where it lay. Turning, he swung at nothing in particular! Matthew sensing his opponent's weakness moved. In an attempt to counter the range of Matthew’s long ax, Steven moved in with his sword! However, Matthew countered with the butt of his ax flipping Steven’s shield away from him!
Everything was happening so fast! I could barely keep up! The sound of the weapons was quick and fast. “Boom, clang, wack!” As both opponents fought for their lives! And then it happened!
Now that Steven was shieldless, Matthew’s mentality of playing it safe seemed to change. After deflecting a failed swipe, he swung his ax around at top speed slamming Steven’s sword right out of his hands! He then brought up the end of his axe slamming it into Steven’s gut! Doubling over Steven was now completely defenseless!
Matthew swung his ax around in an arc of death! The blade seemed to slow down as it connected with Steven’s neck with a sickening, “CRUNCH!”
Steven’s head fell from his mortally wounded body!
“BLOOD!” The crowd went berserk. Everyone began screaming and jumping up and down. The people around me were utterly insane!
“We have to move, let's get out of here!” Jack whispered urgently to us.
We had just begun to move for the large gate in an attempt to escape the crazed crowd when we were once more ripped from the simulation and back into the real world.
The ride was a little bit less hairy than before, but not by much. I was pretty disoriented when I got back to my body in the real world. What is happening? It took me a second to figure out what was happening. Someone is fighting. I rushed out into the hall along with dozens of other testers. There I found Jack confronting Matthew.
“Hey, what the hell man! Why’d you do that!” Jack roared over to Matthew across the hallway.
“Whatever man.” Matthew retorted, turning to walk away.
“What was that?” Jack shouted!
“Get over it!” Matthew fired back. “I did what I had to do to stay in the competition.
“You didn’t have to take his head!”
“No one cares, you need to calm down man. Your brother didn’t stand a chance! I didn’t mea
n to humiliate him, but it wasn’t that hard!
“You son of a…” Jack stepped forward and unleashed a right hook!
Matthew countered by throwing him into a wall and just like that a fight had started. I wanted to jump in, but it looked like Jack had things under control.
The two of them exchanged punches before falling to the ground and wrestling around!
“Fight, fight, fight!” testers began to chant.
Suddenly Mr. Blackwood flew in from nowhere.
He was furious! “Break it up, break it up!” he said with a fire in his voice. “What is going on here?”
When neither of them responded, so he turned towards the crowd that had gathered. “Will everyone please head to their rooms. Lights out in an hour. ” And with that, he grabbed both boys and led them away.
Chapter 4: Asking for Trouble
Thanks to the moon it wasn’t overly dark outside. Which would make our adventure a little bit easier.
Chris, Jack, and I had decided to sneak out and see what the grounds looked like. Luckily Jack had been let off with only a warning so the three of us would all be able to make the adventure.
“Hurry, hurry let's move!” I whispered to Chris and Jack as we made it to the front doors.
“We’re all gonna get in so much trouble for this,” Jack said as he laughed and led the way.
“Like you have any room to talk.” Chris grinned.
I was genuinely surprised by the lack of security and that three boys who were joking and laughing could escape without being noticed.
We made it past the giant swimming pool that seemed to dance in the moonlight. It seemed almost too easy. We ran to a fence that was hidden behind a distance clump of trees. The trees were old and stretched up and into the moonlight. They were oak and a dark brown just like the ground around them. We ran in and out, dodging trees this way and that until we finally made it to an exorbitantly tall fence that encircled us.