RUN

Three, Two, Run

The resonate wake-up bell pulled me from my light sleep. 

"All boys not participating in the trials get to your assigned work! For the others, follow me!" Barked a soldier, then storming out the door.

I quickly got up as everyone began scattering out of the cabin. A small hand clasped mine and I looked back to see Jean. 

"Win for me Théo," he said.

"I will, I promise," I told him, wanting so badly to know myself if I could keep it. 

I stepped out of my barrack for the last time. Dawn's first hues of light brightened the sky as I tried to avoid looking down at the blood-stained soil. It was noticeably warmer today like spring had woken up just to see us off. But the pleasant weather didn't lift the grim mood that lay over the camp. 

 We once again were directed to the courtyard. As we entered, I could see two distinguished groups. In the other group, there were boys with gunshot wounds and some with crutches. I couldn't find the words to describe the sorrow, the defeat on their faces. They could never make it. There was at least eighty boys in the smaller group, Including the ones who had tried to escape last night that weren't killed on sight. Once again we all turned to the platform as the host Stefan Müller began to speak.

"The trials begin this morning. We are all very excited to commence this highly anticipated event. It is now time for bets to be placed, guests may begin making their way to the front. Refrain speaking to our guests unless spoken to." He stated.

The "guests" strolled into the courtyard. They stayed behind a velvet rope as if we were wild animals at the zoo. Were they afraid of us or us of them? They observed us with ignorant glances and sighs of disappointment or disgust. A few would call out to one of us in particular and ask questions. After so many years of being treated like nothing, however useless it may seem, I wanted to be recognized or maybe even betted on. Because then I'm more than the dirt beneath their feet. I'm something to them. So I waded my way to the front beside the velvet rope.  An elderly, tall and thin woman slowly walked by letting her superior presence wash over us. A younger, meeker looking girl followed with her head held low. They stopped in front of me and the older lady lowered her foggy glasses, scanning me, judging me. 

"What's your last name?" she stated more than she asked, in a trilling voice. 

"D..D...Dubois" I stammered.

"Goodness child learn to spit out your words," she said, briskly walking away.

    The younger girl looked up at me with empathy. She couldn't have been much older than me. I felt my face go red with embarrassment. I was born with a stutter and had grown out of it, but when I'm nervous my voice breaks and I make a fool of myself like I just did. 

After the guests were done deciding their bets Stefan began to speak once again.

"All bets are now in and are final. We will now begin the distribution of packs. Each participant will receive one pack. Supplies will vary. It is very important you do not trade packs. Fail to do so, and you will join them" Stephan said, glaring towards the smaller group of boys with the time deduction.

The soldiers began to slowly pass out small, leather backpacks. A soldier gave me one and moved on. It felt heavy. I didn't know if it was good for supplies or bad for speed. It was strange suddenly holding something that was mine. I had lost everything before I came here except the clothes on my back. I was suddenly very protective of my pack, holding it against my chest so no one could slip their hand inside and steal my supplies. After darting my eyes around cautiously I realized how much I was overreacting. There was a loud cry of despair. Everyone turned their attention towards the smaller group of boys. They weren't receiving packs. A smaller boy with crutches began to walk away from the group and towards the precipice.