Games of Death

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The sky was contaminated with smoke and fumes due to all the factories that towered over our miniscule town. There were no pink or yellow flowers that were left behind to replace the filthy air with their fragrance. Little children scurried around the town endlessly to scavenge for food. All the males farmed while all the females seemed clothes for the higher ups - in order to be able to receive enough money to make food for their starving children.

Everyone here had become destitute because of the corrupt government. They used their power unjustly and used all their wealth to improve the city that we despised very much. All the wealthy were located in the city - Affluencia, where as we have been habiting here in Meagreendia for the past years.

It was currently 2070 where mankind had believed that the world would have improved to become more efficient and safe. However, this isn’t the case. We aren’t safe. We want freedom. We deserve liberty. Whenever groups from our communities would band together to start a protest and a riot, we would be shot down by the Ghost Army - sent by Affluencia. They wanted a divide. They adored the idea of being more dominant and superior over us: vulnerable, naive, frail humans. They even were crazy enough to have created a game that would kill us. A game of survival.

Every year, the Ghost Army would lead the way for the higher ups of Affluencia to Meagreendia where they would order for all the young adolescents to come with them and join their game. Those who refused would end up with blood oozing out of their heads as they would lay lifeless on the ground. This year it was my turn. I had just hit 16 and my mother could no longer hide me away from this treachery. I had no other option but to join their brutal, heinous games.

I awoke in a room full of white. The bright, hard white light blurred my vision as I gently got up from the soft mattress. Looking at my surroundings; I noticed I was in an all black attire that seemed to be appropriate to be worn in events that were barbarous. The room was completely bare, until my eyes flickered onto a yellow sticky note that was stuck on the white door. Stepping towards the door, I peeled the note off - staring at it in confusion. A joker was drawn on their - similar to the ones in a 52 deck of cards.

 A joker was drawn on their - similar to the ones in a 52 deck of cards

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My eyebrows furrowed in confusion until my ears began to ache in pain. A deafening alarm had rung causing my heart to speed up. It felt like my heart would burst through my chest in agony. Immediately, I pulled the door open - where I was met with multiple teenagers from all over the towns, copying my actions. Dashing out of the room, we all stared at each other as anxiety ate us up. We all stood there, startled by our encounter, until we heard gunshots. Pupils dilating in fear, I ran down one of the hallways, where I was followed by a stampede of teenagers.

Panting, we continued running but to our dismay, we reached a dead end. A wall had barricaded us and soon we were met with another wall behind us. We were now trapped in a white box. Shrieks and cries of help echoed through the box while some boys punched the wall to escape this claustrophobic space. Rapidly gazing around for any clues to escape this white box, I noticed a wire that was blended in the wall. Following the wire, I noticed how it abruptly stopped on one of the walls that surrounded us.

‘’Guys listen!’’ I shouted over everyone; gaining their attention.

‘’We need to pull that wire over there.’’ I said pointing at the wire that stayed hidden on the roof of the wall.

‘’What do you mean?’’

‘’I don’t see anything.’’

‘’What the hell are you talking about?’’

Multiple voices responded back but then one caught my ear.

‘’I see it.’’ Immediately looking at the brunette, he gazed at the wire with his round glasses.

‘’Good. Now lift me up. I need to pull it. It might be our only of escaping.’’ He nodded as he knelt down, allowing me to sit on his shoulders. Lifting me up gently, I tried hoisting the wire but it wouldn’t budge. A roaring sound engulfed the box and soon panic had once again been unleashed. The walls were now closing in on us.

‘’I need a knife or something! Anything SHARP!’’ I shrieked as everyone began panicking while some teenagers tried looking through their pockets of their new attire. A blond girl had found a pocket knife and passed it to me quickly. Stabbing the roof mercilessly, I sliced the wire and began to pull it. Pulling and pulling, soon the wire halted at the wall that might lead to our escape. Jumping off the brunette’s shoulder, I tried to pull the wire but the wall wouldn’t break.

‘’Guys help us pull the wire!’’ The brunette shouted as he held the wire with me. Darting towards us, they held the wire as we all pulled with force. Grunting, we kept pulling until the wall had collapsed. Everyone dashed towards the exit as the walls continued to close in on us.

Breathing heavily, we all panted like wild dogs as we had just escaped a brutal death. Looking around my eyes met the brunettes. He had a victory grin plastered on his face.

"Good job. Without you we would've never made it out." The brunette said as he patted my back lightly. Everyone agreed with him and thanked me.

Suddenly, a woman appeared as a hologram out of thin air. Her eyes were full of content and her grin spread across her pale face. Her dark hair fell below her shoulder, hiding some of the fuschia flowers that were printed on the black dress.

"Congratulations everyone. You have passed the 1st round." Heads spun in all directions as murmurs began to creep up.

"Fortunately for you lovely children, you will continue to the next round. But the other miscreants who failed the first round have met their unfortunate fate." Images of children our ages, laid lifeless on the white floor. Their arms and legs had been crushed by the wall causing a pool of metallic blood to stain the floor. Everyone gasped as their jaw dropped in complete shock. Tears stained the teenagers cheeks as they stared in horror at the scene. This would've been the fate we might have met.

"Now, the 2nd round will begin in approximately 48 hours. During this time, you will all rest up and train under the Ghost Army in order to have the basic skills to survive. Goodluck little children, and don't disappoint us in the next round." With that, the strange woman giggled and disappeared.

We're playing the games of survival. The games of death.

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