The Demigod Instruments

Preparation

After Kronos's speech, his guards led us out of the cafeteria to start preparation. We walked down a metal corridor and stopped outside of two, big glass doors. Behind the doors was a square room. The whole thing was made out of metal. In the middle was a cylinder rack full of different types of weapons. The weapons were made out of celestial bronze.

"This is how preparation is going to work," Kronos explained. "I'm going to call each of you into the room one at a time. You will choose a weapon from the rack. There are special lights lined all around the ceiling. They will produce 3D, pixel-like creatures and humans that you will battle in the arena. You will stab, shoot, cut, etc., what pixel-like thing attacks you. But beware; the pixels are poisonous. If you get hit, then you're dead. Any questions?" he finished.

I raised my hand. "Isn't preparation to help all of us prepare for the big trial? I thought all of us would be participating in the trial," I said.

"Hayley, you and everyone else were brought here to help my plan succeed. Time is running out. I don't want to waste it in the arena watching weak kids die in a few hours. We need to speed things up," Kronos replied. I didn't have any words after that. I was so shocked. I could die right in that metal, square room. Emily or Zach could die in that room. I tried to push those thoughts out of my mind and focus on staying alive. I looked over at Emily and Zach. Emily was as pale as a ghost, and Zach was taking deep breaths to try and calm himself down. He looked over at me with a smile and a thumbs up. I returned the gesture by half-smiling. Zach was always so optimistic about everything. He always brought out the best in me. He is one of the most best friends you could have. Well, next to Emily.

I turned forward again and saw that Kronos was gone. He usually disappears a lot. His voice boomed over the speakers as he called the first participant.

"Fletcher Wegner, please enter the room," Kronos boomed. Fletcher was a very scrawny boy. He was very nervous and scared all of the time. He wasn't a very good fighter, either. I felt bad for him. He shakily entered the room. The doors quickly shut, making him jump. He walked to the rack and grabbed a small dagger.

"Begin," Kronos said. The doors turned black, so we couldn't see what was happening on the other side. I heard Fletcher gasp with fear and run. Then I heard him fall to the ground in pain. He continued to scream. When his cries stopped, the doors cleared. What I saw through them made me sick and want to cry. Fletcher Wegner laid on the ground, dead. His skin was green and purple veins were visible on his skin. His body dissolved, and that was the last we time we ever saw Fletcher Wegner.

       "I'm glad to finally get rid of him. It was so hard just to watch him try and use a sword," Kronos rudely commented. It made my blood boil. Some of these kids he chose just aren't meant to do this stuff, so he just kills them to avoid dealing with them. It's sickening. I was about to say something, but Emily put her hand over my mouth and Zach put his fingers to his lips telling me to stay quiet. I nodded and Emily removed her hand from my mouth. Kronos continued to call kids' names. One by one they went into the metal room.

       "Next we have Emily Rancher," he announced after most of the kids took their turn. It felt like time stopped as I looked at Emily. Her green eyes were wide with fear. She quickly hugged me tightly.

       I whispered in her ear,"You can do this. You're deadly with a spear. Go kill some pixel-monster butt." She released me and smiled. Zach gave her a quick hug, and she walked into the room. The doors went black as I saw her grab the spear. I kept hearing her footsteps which helped me relax a little. I knew she was still alive.

        But then the footsteps stopped. I felt like I was going to be sick as a horrible image of Emily lying on the ground dead came into my mind. I looked over at Zach to see him looking the way I felt. We both couldn't believe it. I didn't want those doors to clear up. I didn't want to know the truth about what happened in there with Emily. I was going to have to find out anyways whether I wanted to or not.

         The doors cleared, and I saw Emily standing there, alive and breathing. I sighed with relief as she ran out of the room and hugged Zach and I in a big group hug.

        "I can't believe I did it," she said with bewilderment.

        "We knew you could," Zach replied.

        She released us to listen to Kronos call the next name. I prayed that it wouldn't be me. I wasn't ready to go into that room yet.

       "Next is Zach Ginkerski," Kronos announced. Zach took a deep breath. He looked at Emily and I and nodded before walking into the room with confidence. I saw him grab a bow and quiver with arrows before the doors were blackened once again.

       I heard his footsteps. He was alive. Bump bump bump bum-bump. His arrows made a whistling noise that everyone could hear. The noises stopped, and the doors revealed an alive Zach. He put his weapon back and walked back to us.

     "Woo-Hoo I'm alive!" he said. I smiled and Emily laughed. My smile faded as I knew that I was the only one who hadn't gone yet. I looked at my friends with anxiety.

    "Hayley, if Zach and I did it, you can do it," Emily said.

    "Yeah, you're wicked with a sword. You'll be fine," Zach replied. The smile I had crept onto my face again.

      "I love you guys," I said hugging them tightly. Kronos announced my name over the speakers. I walked into the room after looking at my friends for what could be the last time. I grabbed the celestial bronze sword off of the rack and got into a fighting stance.

     "Here goes nothing," I said. The pixels started to form a monster..............

Hey guys! Here is a new chapter. Hope you like it! It's my first cliffhanger chapter. Plz don't be mad at me. I'll try to update it as soon as I can. Trust me, I know what it feels like after reading a cliffhanger *ahem* mark of Athena*ahem*. Well, see ya in the next chapter!