The Life Competition

Fatal Beginnings

 I never saw it coming.

One moment Derek's green eyes narrowed at me, then poof! No pain. Nothing. They told me the truck came out of nowhere, but in the end, I found somewhere.

My eyes blink open and I squint at the white light glaring down at me. I take a moment to gain my bearings before pushing myself up onto wobbly knees.

"Welcome, Shea Slone," An animatronic voice drones and I scowl. If Derek is playing some prank on me, I'll kill him. "You have entered the Life Competition."

"What the heck does that mean?" My eyes scan the walls, trying to find a way out.

"Every three seconds a person dies, but some are fortunate enough to be entered in the Life Competition." The droll voice continues and I rub my face in annoyance.

"Derek, I know you're trying to trick me, just cut it out!" My fingers run along the hexagonal shaped room I find myself standing in, spanning about six feet in diameter.

"Teenagers who die at the stroke of midnight are granted another chance. The top three contestants will be granted the chance to change their fate, the rest will pass on into oblivion." My fingers do not find a single crack in the smooth white walls, I am stuck.

"Let me out!" I pound on the wall, feeling panic rise in the back of my throat.

"The competition will begin with a written test; the door will open in 3... 2... 1..." One side of the hexagonal room shudders and slides upward, disappearing into the ceiling. A whoosh of cool air blows my short black hair against my cheeks and I sigh in relief. I glance down and gasp, noticing that my clothes changed from what I wore a moment ago. White knee-high boots brush my legs and a white dress falls just above my knees, hugging my hips.

"If everyone will please take their seats, we can begin the examination." A woman with a sharp face stands at the head of the room. Everyone takes a seat at one of the gray desks and awaits further instruction. My eyes zero in on the only empty seat beside a boy with mahogany brown hair. The chair squeaks as I pull it out and take my place, making the boy cast a glance over at me.

"Shea?" His voice breaks and my mouth gapes.

"Derek?"

"You died too?" He whispers and takes up his pencil.

"I thought this was you pulling a prank on me, what's going on?" I poke his ribs with a pout.

"We died, and now we compete to get our lives back." He sighs and flips over his test.

"No talking, any cheating will result in immediate expulsion." The woman's crow like eyes narrow on Derek. I gulp and grab the yellow pencil before me and flip over my test. The first question appears easy enough.

If you have six apples, and bake a pie with three of them, how many do you have left? I scribble down three and raise an eyebrow at the easiness of this test.

If a child fell off a boat, would you rescue them? Yes or No? After ten more questions like this, they shift.

If a person were to come at you with undesirable intentions, would you try to talk it out diplomatically? Or use force? Explain. I answer the question with, both, I would first try the diplomatic route, and if that didn't work, force. A half hour passes and I scowl at each question, many of which challenge my morals.

"Pencils down," The crow lady calls out and the sound of scribbling ceases in an instant. "If you could all come up front and place your test in this box, it would be much appreciated."

"How did you feel about the exam?" Derek nudges me.

"It was weird, they asked such bizarre questions," I shake my head slowly. "I don't know what to think of it."

"Same, I felt like I was on trial," We wait our turn behind the meandering line of students until we stand before the crow lady. She gestures to the white box on the table and Derek slips his paper in. The second it passes the entrance, it lights up blue.

"Please use that door," She gestures to a door with a blue border around it.

"See you on the other side," Derek cocks a grin. "I hope you win." I nod slowly and step up to the box. The paper slides into the slot and lights up green, not blue.

"Please use that door," The woman gestures to a door on my left with a green border. She gives me a fake smile and I sigh, I probably lost.