Brave New World Chapter 21: Let the Games Begin👽

[Some time in the Past]

"How long do you think you could survive in the arena?" I asked Caroline munching on some caramel popcorn,

"Me? How long do you think you'll survive?" She shot back, sipping on her soda as we watched The Hunger Games for the nth time.

"I don't know. It's not like I know how to climb trees, or shoot arrows, or build a fire." I listed stuff on my fingers, "I wouldn't even know how to make the sponsors like me."

"You could recite one of your poems." She laughed.

"O yeah, or maybe a Shakespearean sonnet? Maybe people enjoying murdering kids for fun would also enjoy some literature on the side." I replied sarcastically.

"Out of all the movies, this is the least one I would wanna wish to be in for real." She crossed over in front of me to reach for my popcorn.

"Oh, I can think of a few other dystopian ones that are way worse." I smacked her hand motioning at her own butter popcorn, while I tried to steal a sip from her soda, only to get smacked back.

#

[Present Time]

We all stood with chills running down our spines. The hologram was bright as day and unmistakably the harbinger of doom. Whatever had been cooked for us, was finally getting served.

"Screw you!" Mathew screamed at the Hologram, giving everyone a jump scare.

Soon somebody threw a shoe at the hologram and then a few other things flew through it and fell on the other side. Then one of the juniors fell and passed out cold. And then another. The whole doom-and-gloom getting to the poor kids. Turns out science fiction is only fun when you are watching on a screen.

Soon the grumbling and chaotic group went back inside with the same obstinacy, 'We won't leave!' The rest of the nearly sixty people just stood there, having no idea what to do. Caroline had gone inside to take care of the passed-out teens, while the rest of us were about to turn in as well.

That is when it sounded.

The announcement began in a digitalized robotic male sound as the subtitles played on the same hologram. We listened feeling creeped out as our stomachs dropped with every word. We were barely standing.

"Welcome lucky Homo Sapiens. You have been randomly selected to participate in the D'Lar Intergalactic survival games' new season. You have been given a chance to represent your primitive species and compete in this arena. The last ones standing shall be rewarded with their lives."

Before anyone could digest this new information the announcement resumed, "You have been provided a map with your possible paths towards the finish line."

That is when we noticed a translucent screen on the grass right under the hologram. It was roughly the size of an average notebook and was blinking. Nobody dared approach just yet. The hologram spoke again, "Congratulations on passing your ecosystem training. Your triumphs are being live broadcasted across your tiny planet and the rest of the thousands of habitable planets in this galaxy. The honor to entertain us is finally yours after a hundred thousand years, per your calendar."

For a moment there was pin-drop silence. I wasn't sure if my heart stopped beating or pounded out of my chest. Our eyes kept ringing with that robotic announcement.

"Remember, your clock is ticking. Let the games begin." The robot finished in the same creepy monotone it had begun.

For a while no one moved, we were barely daring to breathe.

Yes, we had been expecting awful things. After everything each of us had to endure, it was obvious that our problems were far from over. But, the knowledge of having our lives on the line for the entertainment of some species we partially believed to exist was insane.

Xavier stepped ahead, all eyes were on him. He cautiously stepped closer to the blinking tablet and picked it up. If I could I would've clapped for his show of courage, everyone needed that, but I was stunned like everybody else.

He looked at it for a few moments with a curious frown and then walked straight towards Mark.

"It's the map of, um, the arena." Hearing him say 'arena' felt strange. It was still an undigested reality for most of us.

"You should have it. Lead us." Xavier handed the tablet over to Mark who took it reluctantly. Leading people, knowing their lives were on your shoulders was a huge burden. I hadn't been in the Arc long enough to get to know anyone personally but Mark did seem like the right choice.

Grant stepped towards his dad wanting to say something but changed his mind, "Let's head back in. Share the news and, form a plan of action."

Everybody agreed we all needed to sit down and let our minds wrap around the recent events.

Mathew and his group of delinquents weren't happy about the announcement. That much was expected. Which is why it had been Mark who broke the news to them, everyone knew if there was someone Mathew respected and might listen to, it was Mark.

I went to the room wanting to be alone. I sat on the bed looking at my carton, thinking. I didn't think that I was ready for what was to come. I had barely survived that forest. Whenever I thought about actual aliens watching me suffer like that, I felt sick.

Aliens existed after all.

And the sick bastards reveled in our suffering.

Then something else struck me. I remembered the announcement saying, 'Your triumphs are being live broadcasted across your tiny planet'. Did that mean my family had seen me suffer too?

That is when Caroline walked in. The emotions that I had been trying to control broke the dam at her sight. She rushed to hug me and we both broke down together. It was easier to cry on a familiar shoulder than to hug oneself in a lonely, dark, and cold forest. I don’t remember when Keira joined us but in that closed room, our trio bonded over the mutual terror of the unknown.

After a while, we were all staring at our cartons again. We tried some more random passwords none of which worked. That is when Xavier knocked on the half-ajar door. We nodded for him to enter but he just motioned for us to follow him, "Mark's having a meeting to form a plan of action. Everyone should be there."

We nodded and I thanked him softly as I passed him before he closed the door behind us and followed.

What we saw, made me instantly furious. The meeting was already being held. They hadn't waited for everyone to show up and be a part of it.

Seeing Nora seated right beside Mark holding the tablet victoriously smirking made Keira lose control, "Y'know Mark, I expected this from the snake beside you, but I didn't expect you to ignore the rest of us as well."

"Who did you call snake, you greasy-" Nora's nose flared funnily.

"Girls, calm down." Mark intervened.

"You said you'd wait for us to gather everyone," Xavier spoke from behind us, just stating facts.

"Don't worry you didn't miss much. Have a seat." Mark simply said and was about to resume the meeting when Xavier spoke while taking a seat beside me at the very back of the group because we were the last ones., "I gave you the map, Mark. You, to lead us."

Everyone saw what he was referring to. Nora was shooting daggers at him as Mark wordlessly slipped the tablet from her hands back to his and resumed his speech like he hadn't been interrupted at all.

"As I was saying."