I almost snorted.
"E.Q.A.O.? Aren't those the tests we do every three years?" I asked, trying not to smirk, "Are you actually threatening us with a test? Well guess what, we already did one this year, and it wasn't that bad."
But Ms. Gerdalli's smile just grew wider.
"I am not threatening you with the test itself, but the games which the test is for." she said, and it was easier to resist smirking.
"What kind of games?" Anika asked, a mix of curiosity and fear in her voice.
"The 'Evaluation of Quickness, Agility, and Overkill' games of course." she said, like that explained everything, "Competition to the death."
A stunned silence spread over the group as her words sunk in.
Competition to the death? So to win, you have to kill your friends? Not happening. I would rather die first. But, I also don't want to die...
Out of nowhere, Michelle screamed. It was a terrible, loud, blood-curdling shriek, that echoed through the hallways. Everyone covered their ears, except Ms. Gerdalli, who reached out, and grabbed Michelle's throat. The scream was cut off abruptly, but was replaced by my angry cry as I lunged at my principal. Her free hand struck me before I knew what was happening. My face burned as I hit the hard floor.
"Jessica!" My friends cried, and Anika ran over to me.
"Michelle..." I croaked.
Anika looked at Ms. Gerdalli with pure hatred, and was going to say something, but Ms. Gerdalli had let go of Michelle, who crumpled on the floor, gasping for air.
"I have no use for loud, annoying noises that serve no purpose. Do not do that again in my presence." the crocodile woman hissed, and walked back into her room, "Folman, put them in detention."
—*—*—*—*—*—*—*—*—*—*—
A few moments later, Mr. Folman was locking us in what used to be the detention room. It was now more of a prison cell. Although, I've never been in one, so it could've looked completely different. The windows were covered in steel, the door had a steel coating, and there was really just more steel everywhere.
"You are to stay here and be quiet until someone comes to get you." Mr. Folman said in a gruff tone.
"So wait, you're just going to leave us here?" Sameera exclaimed, "In the hands of that woman?"
"I wouldn't say stuff like that around- " Mr. Folman started, but Sameera interrupted him,
"Why are you doing this to us?" she was yelling now, "Why are you just going to sit back and watch us kill each other?"
"You brought this on yourself!" Mr. Folman shouted, "I tried to warn you, but you didn't listen! If you hadn't been so idiotic and nosy, you could've avoided this! Didn't you hear? Curiosity killed the cat, and now it's going to kill you too!" with that, he stalked off, shutting the door behind him.
"We're only human!" Sameera shouted after him.
She sat down at one of the desks, and sighed. I heard a sob, and turned to see that Kat had started crying.
"Hey, it's okay..." Anika said soothingly, "We'll get through this okay?"
But I wasn't so optimistic. I had no idea how we were going to survive this. My face still stung, and my legs hurt from hitting the floor.
"You okay Michelle?" I asked.
She nodded, but looked really shaken up. Her neck had red mark from where Ms. Gerdalli had grabbed her. A surge of anger washed over me at the thought of her. I felt a familiar buzz in my pocket, and the anger was quickly replaced with hope. My phone! I could call someone for help! I eagerly pulled out my phone, and felt a heavy weight drop into my stomach. My vision blurred as soldiers ran in, grabbed my phone, and tore it away from me. My friends screamed my name, then everything went black. The last thing I remembered, was the message displayed on my phone,
"He's gone."
YOU ARE READING
EQAO
ActionThis is not a story about school. This is a story of Jessica and her friends, who find out something they're not supposed to know, and end up having to compete against each other to the death. Ever wonder what those tests were really for?
