The DEATHMATCH

CHAPTER THREE

Chapter 3

Elijah

My alarm clock blared, waking me suddenly from sleep. I was already dressed, all I had to do was grab my bag. I could hear the soft noise of tires below, and I knew Pandora was here. It was time.

Her car was much nicer than mine, but she was older I guess. Pandora was straight out of Marvel, a white hat hacker turned Jiu Jitsu fighter. She was like the recreation of Black Widow.

Skylynn was asleep in the back, Zach next to her. We explained to Zach what was going on, trying to sound calm and not panicky. It worked, I guess. Pandora tried to trace the unknown number back to find the user, but failed 3 times. I honestly don't think she slept at all. But honestly, who could?

The night was cold, and I huddled in two blankets I packed in my bag. Pandora kept her eyes foreword, as if a car would swerve in front any second. As if anyone with sanity was up driving.

Surprisingly though, I wasn't tired. I was ready to find some answers.

We drove in silence for 40 minutes before Skylynn yawned.

"Where is this place?" She said, stretching. Her voice had the just-woke-up tone.

"I dunno." I replied. Pandora snapped back into focus.

"About ten minutes." She answered. "Wake up Zach." She said.

Skylynn obeyed, shaking him gently awake. His eyes got wide for a second, before he realized where he was.

"Alright you guys." Pandora said seriously. "We need to be extra careful. No mess ups, be brave, and keep your head down." We all nodded.

"I'm scared." Zach cried, his voice barely a mumble.

"Don't be, dude." I comforted him. "We'll be alright." I smiled reassuringly at him, hoping it would help him feel better. Even though it was a lie.

Pandora pulled into a parking lot the size of a football field, with a thick black building next to it. A few cars were already there, which enlightened me to know there were more people.

"This is it." She said. We looked towards a big sign over the entrance, which in bold letters read The Zone.

Big guys with guns and more masks stood in the entrance, right next to the doors. About four on each side. Zach reached for my hand, and I held it tight. A heavier looking man stood at the end of the hall, a clipboard in hand. She was wearing full tactical armor.

"Names." He said. His voice was rough as sandpaper, and deep as the Earths core.

"Pandora, Zach, Skylynn, and Elija." Pandora replied.

"Zach?" The man asked, clarifying.

"Zachary." Pandora corrected. So much for no mess ups.

"What about the other girl. Hope?"

"Never heard of her." I stepped in. The man grunted.

"Head inside, don't talk, run, or scream."

We obeyed.

The inside of the room was large, I could tell, but it felt small because of the dark black walls. Four other people were inside. After stepping closer, I realized they were maybe our age, just kids. A girl with her hair in pigtail buns, half pale pink, half black sat on the ground, cross legged. Another girl with a giant gray jacket way to big and long dark brown hair sat huddled in a corner, her eyes wide. Red and black writing was all over her arms and some of her legs, but it was too far away to read it. A blond teenage boy stood in the middle, a college football t-shirt on. And another boy in a black T-shirt and a jacket, with messy black hair stood next to him. The blond boy tried having a convo with the guy in the black jacket, but he just stood there, arms crossed. His eyes rested on me for a split second before he looked away, facing the wall.

More people kept streaming in, about twenty kids or so. Zach was definitely the youngest.

After about fifteen minutes of waiting, another man came in. I turned to look, glaring, as it was the Black Plague guy. The entire crowd hushed, all eyes facing him and his medieval glory. His cronies followed, about ten of them.

"Role call." He stated, and raised his hand for emphasis. "Billie ?" The girl in the gray jacket shakily raised her hand. "Elijah ?" I raised my hand. "Ethan?" The black haired boy followed.

This went on until twenty names were called.

"We are ready to start." The man said after he finished. "Bring them in." He said to his guards. They went into two doors on the sides of the walls I haven't noticed before. Shortly after, they came back out, escorting many adults. Some looked like parents, coaches, teachers, and... our Professor. Gasps ricocheted throughout the entire room, some people whimpered, some people screamed. Except Ethan, who remained steadily indifferent.

"These," he motioned towards the adults. "Are connected to you in some way." Several kids cried out, seeing parents and guardians among the crowd. I gasped as soon as I saw mine. "They have all signed a treaty. Forcefully, I might add. This is one of the 70 meetings going on around the world, right now. All for the same thing. The DEATHMATCH." A film projector started up, projecting the logo, a black triangle with a silver line through it. "400 competitors from around the world have agreed to take part in a game, similar to cat and mouse. Everyone is to run and hide within the public, trying to kill everyone else who is playing." Murmurs echoed throughout the room. "We are, in fact, allowed by the government, not forcefully." The man added. "There is a week long grace period where you and you team can stock up on weapons and train. Then we will start. There aren't rules, really. Everyone playing you kill gives you XP. The more kills someone has, the more XP. Whoever has the most XP wins. If you do not choose to participate, I will take you and your family members out back to- uh- erase your memory. Permanently." He chuckled. "You twenty are a team, so you may work together and help each other. When we start, the nature and able will give classes in our warehouse. More details will be provided at start." He raised both arms in excitement. "Now, who wants to play?"

Ethan

Well, I guess this is my turn. I don't have parents, but even if I did I don't think I'd care enough to be upset about their capture. It's their fault I turn out like this anyway, no real possessions except for a few articles of clothing and a jar of money. That's about it. I had to steal a phone, sell things on the black market, and every other crime imaginable to make money. It sucks.

No one in the room seemed particularly eager to participate in the games. But someone had to. I slowly raised my hand, trying to set an example. Many people looked at me as if I was a deity or something. Especially the brown haired girl named Elijah.

I smirked. Everyone else started raising their hands too, until everyone except for this one girl on her phone had their hands up.

"Hope." The man at the front said. "Are you playing?" She looked off her screen and at the man.

"Nah." She said matter-of-factly. "I'm dreaming." She turned back to her phone.

"No you aren't." The man growled. "Are you playing or not?"

"Sure, whatever." She replied without looking up.

"Good, good." The man nodded to his guards. "Well, without further ado..."

The guards walked around the room, and more flanked in through the doors. They paired up with each kid and pointed their guns at our heads. I glared at the one next to me.

"Let's begin."

And everyone fired.