Story No.1

Chapter 17: J

Jack, Goldman Hotel, April 25th
It was already 10:00 pm when we all got back to the Goldman Hotel, a Hotel provided for all the contestants of the Trials. As far as Hotels go, this one was pretty bad, but if it could house 4,000 people then we needed it. Each room housed two people, so while Amanda and I were originally together I switched rooms with Mason, since I could defend myself in a head on fight if it came to it with whoever my roommate was. After dinner ended, a man walked out on the big stage, urging everyone to stay in their seats for a few more moments.
"Hello all, I am Dr. Lockespire, one of the five people who will be conducting the trials. As you all know, leaving to the outside world is a big step, and even if that is not your intention you may well end up doing it, so these trials ensure you are the best of the best and you deserve it. As for your first trial, it will begin tomorrow on a boat that takes you to our second destination. Below your dinner plates are some glowing discs that are necessary for the next challenge. Out of all challenges, this one will have the highest fatality rate, so please prepare yourself. Thank you." and then he left the hall. I said my goodbyes to Mason and Amanda, and made my way up to my room on the 53rd floor. My roommate was a big oaf, with muscles the size of cantaloupes, and a jawline that looked like it could cut stone. He nodded toward me, before getting into the bed 6 sizes too small for him. At 10:49, I got in my own bed and drifted off to sleep, unaware of just how literally the man's words would be. at 12:00 sharp all restrictions on murder were released, and U felt a giant pair of hands stuffing a pillow over my face, I thrashed around to no avail, until a made a grab at my baton and thrust it into his chest, pushing him back. I whipped the pillow off of my face, not fast enough though as he grabbed me again and threw me through the door into the hallway. The wind was knocked out of me and all my muscles hurt. The man flared at me and got down to charge, but suddenly his face slammed to the side as though something had hit him, but nothing was there. A few seconds later a light shot out where His glowing disc was on his bed. The oaf realized in a split second what had happened, but too late. He clutched at his neck where a choker was that we all got at check in. It started tightening while he started gasping for air, until his face turned red, then purple, and then he dropped to the ground, not breathing at all. Outside the window I could see that the Hotel was actually not a hotel at all, more like a cruise ship. It had disconnected from the mainland at some point, and split into two different ships with different sets of people. Oh no, if this was the 33rd floor and up, then Mason and Amanda were on the other boat.
"Want to team up with me?" an invisible voice asked. Almost out of the dark, a man slowly materialized. He had long-ish black hair, a tattoo from behind his ear and down his neck, and several ear piercings. "My friend is on the other boat too, if that's what you're thinking. Everyone's teaming up in pairs, so what do you say, be my partner? I'm Sparrow".