Kryptonite

"Ten minutes to go" Tibi mumbled.

I felt the chills of the darkness already starting to creep up my spine. The twilight was soon to break. I stood cautiously as I watched the silent cornfield swirl in a vortex with the daring, yet ever so gentle wind.

I could feel Tibi trying to read me. Though I refused to look, I could feel his eyes attempt to generate and comprehend my inner thoughts. He couldn't do it. That only meant it was almost time. In just less than ten minutes, all hell would break loose. March 23, 4053. Proelium Hostis was to begin again.

Every ten years, the traditional Proelium Hostis begins at twilight's break. It is the battles against the Cranes and the Plix, as they fight to the death or surrender of who will dominate and control Galiyos. As the tradition follows, the Cranes people gather at the edge of the cornfield, while the Plix people await on the opposite side of Galiyos, near Vitimus Canyon. The battle between the mortal packs lasts for two months, until a dominator is declared by Demetrius, the computer Lord, who is sworn to be faithful and honest to all people, regardless of their pack. To keep the games fair, Proelium Hostis disables mind reading abilities and embodied gadgets that would give a pack an advantage over the opponent. However, those are the only restrictions. All is fair in war. And there is absolutely nothing from keeping this brawl to turning fatal. The average amount of deaths from each group averages anywhere from 40-60%. That's why its important to play it smart, or there is little chance of survival.

"Anmora" Tibi whispered, "have you even activated your suite yet?"

I glanced at my slick, navy jumpsuit. This suit could be the barrier between life and death at times. The Crane government had designed these new, high-tech jumpsuits that were supplied from head to toe with battle-ready gadgets and protectors. The navy blue suit was temperature regulating, so our body would remain at a healthy temperature, despite the bipolar weather changes that could come our way. There was a four-level, flat LED light panel located on both forearms that could shoot endangering lasers more than 1,000 feet away from the enemy, as well as store virtual maps and routes, and provide holographic communication between the Crane people. The sash of pockets all around the torso held explosives and medicines, or whatever else people decide to store there. And on the side of the left shoulder, held the Crane's symbol; two spears that crossed through a large "C" in the middle of a circle. If you tap the symbol, the suit activates. I double tapped the circle as my suit lit up with the most star-like glow that indicated the successful activation.

Three minutes. The Cranes began to rank and file, without a single sound as they await Demetrius' hologram to appear. I glanced at Tibi. His brown hair was spiked in the front, that complimented his grey eyes and gentle, yet boyish features. He wasn't the most muscular, but he wasn't even close to being weak. I began to think what would happen if I lost him during the battle. We have been best friends since we met during our first Proelium Hostis at the age of eight. Our mothers both managed to find one of the few safe places during the war that were so rare to find. And in the course of those two months, he became my best friend. I felt my heart drop into my stomach as it shattered at the thought. I shook the pessimistic thought from my head, none of us could afford to think like that.

The ground began to shake as the ground separated. The brightest beam of light I have ever seen shot out of the cracks. The once glowing night sky turned into a purple explosion, as it then settled into a faded hologram. Demetrius. It was time.