Battle Royale X

Chapter 8-Game Start

There was no time. There was no time at all. It felt like time itself had stopped, however, those were only mere feelings because in truth it hadn't stopped. The dreadful, heavy atmosphere still lingered as the students were called one after the other being called to receive their weapons and supplies before making their way out of the classroom into the elaborate death trap. The students were called in pairs one after the other, first, a girl and then a boy followed afterward. Those who were called all have different/mixed expressions on their faces: some anger, some contempt, some sad, and others determined. By this point, up to five pairs had already left the room either feeling anxious, amped, or indescribable. "Boy number 6!", as instructed Jack began to walk up, he passed Nate giving him a strong pat as he walked by, hoping to snap him back to reality. With a heavy heart and a mix of determination and fear, Jack rose from his position and began the slow walk toward the front, passing by Nate as he gave him a strong pat on the shoulder. It was his way of trying to snap him back to reality, to remind me to keep fighting. Jack tried to shake off the immense nervousness he felt, he knew he didn't have time for anything else.

Moon still in her same spot held back her tears, swallowed the lump in her throat, and continued watching. Nate desperately wanted to look up, to see what was going on in front of him, but he couldn't do it. He was utterly transfixed. It wasn't just him, Moon, Hannah, and Anna were also starring.

I couldn't take my eyes off Shawn's lifeless body right in front of me. There was no time to mourn for him, no time to say goodbye. How do you spend so much time with a person only to have it all ripped away in a matter of seconds? I wondered if this was what real families went through when someone suddenly passed away. I wouldn't know, those feelings never came to me. I wasn't attached to my parents like that, but with Shawn, it was- ..it was different. He might've been a little reckless and impulsive sometimes, but no matter how annoying he got that didn't change the fact that he was still like a brother to me.

"Girl number 7, Ms. Watson!" Ms. Annette who was looking at the roster sheet projected her voice announcing the next student to be called up, as Avery hugged Marie silently, she also walked by Nate and Shawn's corpse, before doing a slight hand motion to indicate she was praying over his body, as she walked away and received her bag making her way out of the class just like the others, unsure of what fate would await her once she crossed out of the threshold, the classroom doors, and onto the island which was a lawless land. Nate had looked up at her during her gesture, realizing she had tucked away a small piece of torn paper in Shawn's shirt pocket, he grabbed it and would skim it thoroughly with haste. Charlotte glanced at Nate, desperately wanting to meet his eyes, to seek solace or understanding, but he too seemed lost in his own thoughts.

As the weight of grief settled upon my chest, my name was called, breaking me out of my trance. "Boy number 7!" The sound of my own name being announced pierced through the heavy silence and the disturbed aura of the others behind me, a stark reminder of the imminent danger that awaited me.

As if some vigor had been returned to himself upon reading the note, he slowly stood up and surveyed both the remaining students and military staff. "Get a move on son", one of the soldiers barked at him as he stared back with murderous intent making the soldier grip his gun with minimal force. Nate would grab both his bags.

Leaving the classroom, a tense atmosphere hung in the air. The remaining students wore expressions of anger, contempt, sadness, and determination. Whispers filled the room, mingling with the sound of shuffling feet and the occasional sob. Each step I took was laden with uncertainty, my mind racing with questions and fears. {What awaited me beyond those doors? What challenges would I face?} I glanced back one last time, seeing Moon, Hannah, and Anna still staring, their faces a mix of concern and resignation.

He walked out, just like the others did, past the point he left he was unsure of what was happening in the classroom anymore as he wasn't there, although he assumed that the others were receiving their things and exiting as well. Even though it sounded bad, in his head Nate was somewhat relieved to be one of the earlier students to leave, this way he could figure out his surroundings and avoid some of the potential conflicts the other students behind him could cause (at least for now.)