Power

Chapter 9: The Note

So the new people suck. A lot. Brian, Reeha, Jacob, Kira, and Remington. I mean, they're not awful brats like Cierra, but they are really slowing us down. They're pretty disoriented right now, and I mean I don't blame them they were literally just put into a death trap, but the last thing we need is five new people to help along that have no idea what they're doing. The break room buzzes with excitment, or is it curiousity? Probably a little bit of both. The new people are seated on the beds with everyone crowding around them, and recounting what they remember before they were thrown into... this. Lauren, Olivia, and I have been trying to tell everyone we need to start moving, but they're too focused on the newcomers. They all look pale and exhausted, withh their backs slumped forward and their eyelids drooping.

I push my way through the crowd until I stand in front of the newcomers. I glare at them and begin in a harsh tone. Im tired of this. "Hey guys. So you know the whole 'arena thing'? Well we need to leave. Like right now." They all sigh except one. the boy on the end, I think Brian, has a spark of determination in his eyes, but only for a second, until he too sighs with the rest of the group. I take a mental note that I like him. "Okay, you're going to learn pretty fast that we don't have time to be lazy. The other group is about a day ahead of us, so we need to really be on our A games. Stand up." They do immediately, finally seeming to understand how serious this is. "Everyone get your stuff. Let's go." I think everyone realizes I'm not in a good mood, and they gather their few belongings quickly and report to the door.

Lauren stands beside me, looking very bored. I turn to her. "You know what we should've done? We should've stayed with them. Whoever announced the groups obviously wants some winners, so if we had just stayed with them we might've all been able to survive. Now our whole group is going to die." She shoots me a look. "Way to be cheerful." she mumbles. We stand there in silence for awhile, waiting until everyone is completely ready. Suddenly Lauren turns to me, eyes wide. "We could still live. And I just figured out how." Now I'm excited. "We could go through their door. We could try to catch up to them, and then see if we could all survive. We just need to work really hard to catch up." Lauren is a genius.

"Everyone listen up! Lauren is going to tell you the new plan." Everyone's head snaps towards Lauren. Lauren blushes not liking the attention. "We're going into the other arenas. We're going to try to catch up to them, and go together. If we all go together and get there at the same time, maybe they'll let everyone in." The group breaks into whispers. "Be quiet! You don't have a decision. If you want to survive, come with us. We have no chance going the other way." I snap. I'm so tired of this. I just want to get to James. We line up in front of the other door, anticipating it's open. I stand with Lauren and the newcomers.

The room is deathly silent for a quick second, and I relish in the moment. Silence is a sound I haven't heard in a long time. And sleep. I could really use some silence and some sleep. I yawn at the thought of a comfy pillow. I've been keeping myself up all night lately. Every part of me just yearns to be with James again, and it's a force I can't ignore. One more touch, one more laugh, one more kiss. And I realize that with Lauren's new plan, that might be possible. Suddenly awakening me from my daydream, the door to the next arena starts to slide open. I'm the first to step inside. I muster whatever courage I have left and try to focus on my surroundings.

It's a large room with a small, ugly, bald man sitting in a large chair. In front of him is a purple pillow with a shiny golden key resting on top of it. "This is the key to the next arena. But it is mine and I love it, so you must take it from me." The invisibles immediately turn on their power, and minutes later I see the key floating through the air towards the door, and the. It was unlocked. Well that was easy. But they didn't have invisibles, so it must've been much harder for them. And then I realize the arenas were probably built to be hard for them, not us. We had an advantage.

Unfortunately for us, we weren't so lucky for the next few arenas. Let's just say I'm still a bit woozy from that sleeping gas. We have seen no sign that we are even catching up yo the group. We're all losing hope, and fast. I feel the note James gave me and temptation knows at my brain. Finally I decide, since I will hopefully be seeing him soon, to read the note. That night when we reach another break, I call Olivia and Lauren over to my bunk.