The Government Game

CHAPTER TWO

'Settle down, please!' said the Supreme Leader calmly into the mike. 'Oh, come now, please. I implore you!'

 One of the Game's Armed Guards whipped out his pistol from his utility belt, aimed it at the ceiling, and fired. A loud boom! echoed throughout the room. The bullet ricocheted into a nearby, church-like window. It went through and left a hole with cracks surrounding it, like a spider web.

 Then everyone calmed down. The Supreme Leader thanked the Armed Guard.

 'Well, that was a slight overreaction, wasn't it?' he said in a jovial tone. A sob was heard from a corner of the mostly silent room.

Still collapsed beside one of the windows, Peter Anson felt his ears ringing.

Oh, what I'd do for a cigarette right now, he thought wearily. He wanted to go home. Go back to bed.

Then the ringing stopped and Peter could hear clearly. The Supreme Leader was in the middle of a speech.

'... You will be receiving a daypack with bread, representing my outer body, and water, representing my inner body. Use these supplies wisely. Also provided is a map of the Arena. Surrounding this Arena, in order to prevent escape, is a massive moat in which thousands of piranhas are residing.'

Fuck ... I didn't realise the Game was this full-on.

'Now, we will also be providing a singular weapon or item for each contestant. It is randomised, to level the playing field. There are also small villages, or towns, if you will, scattered around this massive Arena.'

Peter Anson decided he'd play. He had too much to lose. And besides, did he really know anyone here? He supposed not. However ... he did spot a young lady in the corner of the room, bawling her eyes out, that he thought he recognised.

'In order to prevent escape even further, we have given you all non-detachable wristwatches. Whoever wins the game will have theirs taken. If you decide to risk it all and enter the moat, we will still be able to track you. We will find you. And we will kill you -- without mercy.

'Need I not forget, your daypack will be given to you as you leave the building. If you even so much as attempt any funny business, you will be killed.

 'Now! I want you all to leave here at five minute intervals. The surrounding area of this building in which we are currently residing is what one may call a killzone. You will be shot on sight. Typically the maps are for Games without many volunteers and we usually add even more killzones to spice things up, but this year's Game ... whew! Well, I needn't say anything more. It'll spoil the fun.

'I shall be turning on this television here and playing some classical music, to get you all amped up and maybe even relax some of you. See? The Game isn't so bad, after all!' He turned on the television and switched the channel to the Classical Music Station.

'Okay, you will all be leaving in alphabetical order by surname. First to leave: PETER ANSON.'

The young lady Peter had his eye on had looked up at the mention of his name. That was when he realised: He did know her. They went to school together and were semi-close friends. Harriet Dixon, he believed her name was. He hoped and prayed to whatever god existed that she was not a volunteer, but rather a regular contestant.

He hoped.

He stood up, avoiding eye contact with her. He left the room silently and was given his daypack.

Then he sprinted as far away as possible.

Once he felt he was at a safe distance, he collapsed next to a hulk of a tree. He was out of breath. He looked up at the sky: it was a light shade of blue by now, and there were birds chirping in the treetops.

He unzipped his daypack and pulled out the bread, bottles of water, and his weapon (a Smith & Wesson Model 10). He then pulled out the instruction manual and a box of rounds. He felt almost ecstatic: he had received one of the better weapons, he guessed. A revolver of sorts, he thought. He didn't know an awful lot about firearms as weapons were mostly illegal in the State. Once he read the manual, he put the maximum capacity of rounds in the chambers. Six in total.

He supposed he could just kill himself, make it easier. But he was going to live. He had to. He then checked the map. He pinpointed his location and decided to make way for the small village the Supreme Leader pointed out. He'd get better supplies there. If it even had anything. Perhaps it was just for show.

No better way to find out, he thought, than by going there myself.

So he did just that.