stuck

down to earth

Before I got time to think, I got placed in a long line with all the other passengers from the plane on this beach I had never seen before. Someone were crying, others were paralyzed by fear. But I, I felt this feeling I had never felt before. We have been kidnapped.

About thirty middle-aged men looked at us, some of them were talking, all of them had weapons, mostly spear and knives. I couldn't tell the time, but it felt like hours before one of them stepped forward "as you can see, this is not Florida. We have taken you to a better place, we have taken you to freedom" I couldn't believe the words that come out from his mouth, this is so unreal. "unfortunately, we only need 100 of you, and as many of you can see, you are way more than that". I didn't know what to feel nor do, I looked at the people around my and saw all different kind of reactions.

One of the men got up to the first one in the line, it was a young girl, about my age. "are your family in this line?" he asked, the girl cried and nodded her head. In one quick move, her throat got slashed and a loud scream from someone, probably her mother, could be heard. I looked at my father and he nodded at me, I knew what he meant. Time passed and some where taken away while others got killed. It is only two more people to they'll get to me, my palms are sweaty, just don't say anything stupid.

I looked down and saw two feet placing in front of me. "do you have any family members here?" he asked me, "no, I am all alone" my voice was hoarse, you could tell how nervous I was. He studied me, and wrote something down, I couldn't see what it was. "your name and age" he asked without looking any more at me "Cassius, 18 years old" I answered more confident, "keep" he said and went on to the next in line. I looked up to my father and his eyes was filled with tears.

Both my dad and I survived the check. "now we are down in 200, we got to know if you are useful, so be prepared for duels and tests tomorrow. It can be your last day." The man said and walked away. The other guys dragged us into the woods and made us sleep on the ground with a roof made of leaves from palms. My dad came to me and just whispered "we don't know each other" and went to sleep. I know we would get killed if they knew we were father and son, but it is so hard to not have someone by your side. I decided to sleep and get well rest and ready for tomorrow.

Day 2

I woke up terrified of what the day would bring. The sunlight hit my face and forced me to wake up even though I did not feel completely rested. The folks that analyzed and killed most of us yesterday had gathered around us survivors. Everyone was quiet, probably to afraid to say anything. We did not get any kind of food at all, we just got these two words from someone I think is the leader "follow us" and before I could react everyone stood up and we followed them deep into the woods. I admit, I was scared as hell, but something about the nature and the surrounding was a bit calming. I felt like all those huge everyday struggles was so small jet yesterday it meant the world to me, boy how thing can change.

We stopped at this breathtaking place, I could say out in nowhere but this whole place is out in nowhere. Anyway, vi got placed outside of this middle-large circle and waited for the leader to say something. "we need people who can help us with necessary things, everything from making food, to hunt it down, but right now we need fighters." He stopped talking and it was completely quiet, I think all of us understood where he wanted. "you are going to fight for a place in our community, a fight to death." He looked at us "we are trying to make it as fair as possible, you will meet someone who is about your age and size, and you will get about two hours to prepare. You can train or just get ready to die, your choice".

Everyone started looking around to see who they were going to fight, I won't lie, I did the same thing, but it seemed like no one were the same age like me. I guess I must fight someone older than me. What are we even supposed to do for these two hours, just waiting to die? I tried not to think about the fact that this may be the last time with my father, it is so hard to not talk to him or go up to him and just, I don't know, cry? Just the thought of losing him is awful. Well the only thing I can do now is mentally prepare for what is soon about to happen, gosh two long hours left.

The speech

"I hope you all are ready for something that can be the last thing you do in your life. Before we start with the fights we will say why we have brought you here. We started out as twenty people who were so fucking tired of ho things was back in America and the rest of the world, people hating on everything, school shootings, high taxes and the big different between the rich and poor. We wanted to start from the scratch and build our own perfect society. we have been here for 75 years, some of the "grounders" are unfortunate dead now but luckily, we have grown to be a big enough society. we live simple, no technology, and it will not take a long time to be used to it"

"every other year a few of us leave the island to recruit new citizens, as you may have notice we have taken away some of you and the reason why is because the have proven in other ways that the want to be here. We hope you understand why we have taken you away from your old life, and why we make you fight against each other, we need new people but why do not want to ruin this island with overpopulation. God luck and I look forward to see the survivors tomorrow."

it's now or never.

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