The Simulation

4

The cafeteria was huge, dull and dark. About 50 chairs or so were lined around the room with only a ceiling fan for ventilation. Considering there were no lightbulbs or air conditioning, you could more or less guess that electricity was a major problem here.

The cafeteria was already filled to the brim by the time you and Avery had reached and you could see that all the chairs were already occupied. You sigh in frustration, running a hand over your face.

Something sharp suddenly poked you in your palm and a warm liquid streamed down your cheek. Your mind suddenly drifted back to the shard of glass that had pierced your face earlier . "Oh shit!" You cursed.

Avery, who was beside you stared in concern, "What's wrong?"

When he saw your bleeding face, his eyes widened in shock, "What the..."

"It's glass, please help me pick it out!" You say to him, reaching your hand to try removing the glass from your face.

"Wait, let me help" He replies and you nod. He reaches out, and with one swift and unexpected motion, pulled out the shard of glass from your face. You gasp from the shock.

"It's alright. It's out now" He hands you the glass, and you examine it. It was a small shard and it looked incapable of causing any serious injuries, so you breathed a sigh of relief. The warm blood still continued to trickle down your face, and Avery had to tear a piece of his clothes to wrap them around your face.

"This will hold it for a while" He says and you nod.

"Thanks"

"No problem"

The both of you advance forward into the cafeteria, before settling on an empty spot at a far corner. It seemed okay for now.

Just as you settled in, a voice called out. But this time, it was not the detached, robotic voice you were all familiar with. It was a more humane voice.

"Listen up guys" It called out. All your attention were quickly drawn towards the man that had spoken. An unfamiliar man, with long braided hair, a broad chest, and a relatively large stature, stood at a large podium before everyone in the room. He stared at you all with a chilling gaze that made you notice his off eyes a little more than you had wanted. His left eye was a strange shade of grey, more icy than grey and considering that his right eye was black, it made him look... Almost inhuman.

"Y'all must be asking what da fudge is going on, and it's normal, it's okay... All ya questions will be answered today once the General comes in, and I want each and every one of y'all to be in your best behaviour, understood?" His gruff voice reverberated through the room, and you along with the others found yourself subconsciously nodding.

"Good! I am Major Ice-eye, and each time I address you, I want to be addressed back in similar terms, is this understood?"

"Yes Major!" A chorus of words rang throughout the entirety of the cafeteria, almost damaging your ears if you were to exaggerate.

"Excellent! Excellent!" A round of stiff and loud claps filled the room before Major Ice-eye could say another word. Instinctively, your gazes shot towards the newcomer. A tall guy about the same age as you, with pleasant features and shoulder length hair slowly walked into the room. Staring intently at him gave you the impression that you had seen him somewhere before.

"General!" Major Ice-eye was quick on his knees to greet the General. You look on, surprised that such a young guy, no less than 20 was actually a General. Just as you along with the others continued to stare, the Major gave you all a side-eye when he noticed that you weren't on your knees greeting.