Sinner's Game

3 - The Test

Anna

Anna sighed as she saw Jim and Jack running out of the classroom like the two full-fledged idiots they were. It was almost kind of cute... almost. She used her right hand to readjust her clothing, made sure her shoulder long blonde ponytail was still in shape. It was a reflex, something she did out of habit. If she didn't do it for too long, it almost felt like she could hear someone criticizing her.

The other children had started preparing for break, were now fetching their lunches out of their school-bags, observing what their parents had made for them. The air inside of the room started to clear up a little – probably because of less fifth-graders per m².

"Why did we befriend them again?" she asked, looked at Hendrick who was currently staring into blank space. "It really feels like taking care of toddlers sometimes."

"Huh? Oh yea... probably because they share all of our interests. Also, someone needs to make sure they won't kill themselves by accident, right?" Hendrick pulled his lunch box out of his backpack, sighed after he opened it. "Did I ever mention that I hate strawberries?" he said with narrowed eyes.

Wait, what did he just say? she thought.

"You... don't like strawberries?" Anna raised a brow. "Alright, who are you and what did you do to Hendrick?" she added in a set up serious voice.

"Ha Ha, very funny Ann," Hendrick returned with ironic pacing. "I just ate too many of them lately, that's all."

It was odd for Hendrick to not go into raptures about his strawberries for once. He usually exterminated every single one within 100 meters range as soon as he spotted them.

"Imagine you would have to eat one food for the rest of your life, which one would you choose?" Hendrick asked.

Anna tapped her chin. She liked a lot of food, but settle for one?

"That really sounds terrible, but I think I would pick ice cream. I could change the flavour every day this way."

"Nah, not allowed. One flavour only."

"Well, definitely not strawberry then."

They both chuckled, then picked up their stuff and left the classroom. Around 200 meters of boring hallway later, they left through the side exit. The hot summer sun glared down upon them, not a single cloud visible in the broad sky.

---

Jack

The four of them were sitting in the sandpit, protected from the sun by the shadows of the tall birch trees nearby, as a light breeze brushed the leaves around. Jack had spent the last 15 minutes explaining 'Dungeons and Dwagons' combat to the rest of the group. His eyes were sunken and close to falling shut.

Maybe he shouldn't have spent the last night staying awake and inhaling the entire book, but he hadn't been able to stop himself. It was like a whole new world had opened up in front of his imagination, and he could already see what it would be like to dive into it with his friends.

"So you can move whenever and wherever you want, but you only have your walking speed. For example: you can move for half the duration, use your action, and then move again," he said while drawing stuff on the dry sand with a stick he found, used his other hand to gesture around.