Build To Survive - The Orphans

The Grounds

Just as a wave of panic washed over our feet, two men materalised out of nowhere.

Now a different wave came over me, one of fright. These men weren't scary-looking more, intimidating. Dressed head-to-toe in plated clothing, coloured a colour similar to flame red, with a white helmet and white strips under the sides of the arms.

Almost as instantly as they had appeared they disappeared. I spun in a circle searching the expanse of the beach for them. As I began to start my 3rd turn, a hear a large crack boom through the air. James' body goes limp and crumbles into the sand. I dropped to my knees next to him, tears clouding my vision. He was still breathing. Then a second loud crack and I knew what was coming.

My limbs started to feel heavy, starting at my toes and slowly but surely creeping up my legs and into my arms. My vision now clouded by black splotches instead of tears threaten to throw me into a back abyss.

***

When my vision blurs back to clarity, we are laying on a hill. The grass is dead all around us and under us. James is next to me already awake, he gets to his feet and starts to walk towards to the road at the bottom of the hill when a voice booms.

"STOP WHERE YOU ARE JAMES"

The voice seemed to be coming from everywhere and nowhere at the same time. James' body locked into place mid-stride.

"WELCOME TO THE GROUNDS!"

"WHERE ARE WE?" I yelled back at the voice, that I could be imagining.

"YOU ARE AT THE GROUNDS ... I JUST SAID THAT"

"WHAT ARE THE GROUNDS?"

"OH YES, LET ME EXPLAIN"

I don't even know who this guy is or if it even is a guy but I already hate it or him or her, I don't even know. James is now back at my side, he seems to be a lot calmer than me, my hands are starting to get clammy and for some reason I'm feeling very claustrophobic.

"The grounds is a game, run by a small team, including myself and my grounds-walkers. How do you play? Good question ... come I'll show you"

And in that instant two things happened, a grounds-walker like the ones on the beach appeared in front of us, armed with a rather dangerous looking firearm and another voice appeared out of nowhere this time more feminine.

"Gathering in 30 seconds"

The grounds-walker beckoned us to follow him.

We did as were instructed to avoid being on the end of whatever metal cylinder leaves the chamber of his firearm.

The voice that I hate returns, and that's when I realise that we weren't transferred we were abandoned.

Again.