Peril

Prologue

I could still remember the last day when I last saw the beautiful sun and blue sky.The final second when I had my last glimpse towards the ground and sea.The infectious disease had covered the soil,air and water.We had no other choices but leave the ground and live in the open atmosphere, which is the sky.We only had one thing in mind and that is survival.

My name is Claeris Amber Martins,17. My dad is a scientist serving the government since he was 24.My mom was just a casual citizen.I had one older brother and his name is Felix and a younger sister named Erine.They were aged 18 and 13.

Since we left the ground,we are now living in a floating stadium called "The Center World". Only rich and priviledged people can enter this place including us because of my father who's a government scientist.We are called the affluents or casually called as skywalkers because we live in the sky.While the poor and pity people remained there,below the sky which is the ground.They are called the destitutes or soil crawlers. They are the ones who were unlucky and are there to fight between survival and death.They could die any second now because of the infected monstrous creatures.

Every 3rd anniversary of the affluents,every skywalker is required to gather to the control station for a huge imperial celebration.And it would be also the testing day for every teenager aged 16-18.It's not a normal test but it's a game.In every family,there should be 2 representatives.These young adults should face the game calmly and with confidence.They would be sent below,on the ground,the infected area called exterior , where the disease is spreading out and the monsters are.They should survive there for forty-two days without contact and supplies.This is a way of training the council has decided so that every skywalker would be independent and experience survival of the featest.The winning team would probably receive an award from the council.And luckily,me and my brother are one of those young skywalkers who will take the test.

This is my first time and it would be probably the last because once you take the test,you won't be able to take it again because either you'll die or survive in this test.Wait,'till you know what test this would be.

It was the day of the test.The peril day has come.Everyone was dressed in formal attire.Me and my sister were wearing some velvet dress.My brother was wearing a bow tie suit.And both my parents were wearing black apparels.My dad chatted to the other skywalkers and cheered his wine glass.My mom was busy talking to my brother and I am here sitting in a silent corner with my sister.

I can feel my flesh moving and my blood flowing.I am sweating badly.

I can't resist to think of the fact that today is the day I'll start to decide if I'm going to die or survive.It's between life and death,survival and dying.

"Good Evening Skywalkers!I'm sure you are ready for this celebration." a woman dressed in aquamarine suit spoke up in front of a thousand people.

She was somehow aged 45-50.I think she's a high-positioned lady in the council.Hmm,very interesting.So this is my first time attending this kind of gathering.I can feel nervousness all over my body.

"And today is also the testing day for all the representatives in each delegation.It would be the day where you and your daughters/sons would part ways and discover their abilities.They would be exposed to a new atmosphere, the exterior." She said with a glaring smile.

To be honest,I can feel my knees shaking.I glimpsed at my brother and there he was smiling widely with confidence.

After the lady finished his eratic speech,a young man,he was kinda mid 20's delivered a short message to the representatives like us.

"Young skywalkers,representatives,I am Steve Willson,25.I was like you before.I am the latest champion in this field game.My partner was Annaline Willson,she is my sister.But sadly,she wasn't able to finish the game.In this game only one skywalker would win and survive.I know you,I know this new batch of representatives would succeed.Any of you here would replace my place here and raise your family's flag.So goodluck.Just a few words for you, be alive and survive." he finished his statement with those words.I was amazed on how I was mesmerized by his words.

It's kinda frustrating to hear his line that his sister didn't survive.

Only one person could survive but how about me and my brother.I can't afford to see that one of us would die.No.

A slideshow was played on the wide-screen.It was about the Anniversary Special and The Test.

The rules were given.Here are the following rules:

1.) You will be divided into 3 sets.

SET A (The Newbies)

-consists of the skywalkers aged 16

SET B (The Intermediates)

-consists of the skywalkers aged 17

SET C (The Captains)

-consists of the skywalkers aged 18

2.) There would be an elimination round before the final round,where you would be sent to the exterior.Only 20 skywalkers would pass through the final round.The remaining skywalkers are considered fail and would face the severe consequences.

3.) Once you've passed the elimination round you would be directly sent to the exterior and meet the challenges without insurance and safety.You would survive and face danger alone.

4.) There would be no permanent contact to the Center World.

5.) Everyone must see and treat others as hostiles or their opponents not allies.They should fight for their own and survive for the winning crown.

6.) In this game,you are acquired to kill because if you won't,you would be the one who will be killed.There are hidden cameras everywhere and the council could see everything you do.

7.) And the one who will stand and survive last would bring home the flag and win the test.But before that,the last standee should find the control base and get the flag so that he could finish the game and go home.He would be acknowledged as one of the sky patrols.These sky patrols are the ones who guard the Center World.

8.) And lastly,always put in mind that this is a battle,the survival of the featest.Only one representative would win and bring home the beacon.

The sideshow was over.My knees were shaking.I can feel my heart hopeless.

Am I ready? I don't have a good answer for that.I am not assured to take the implemented test by the council.If I would neglect or fail the test,I would be punished and sent to the ground or the exterior forever without seeing The Center world again.I would probably bid farewell to my family.