The Holdout: Cera's Story

Cera

    Cera was full of hope and joy. She was one of the candidates picked to be part of The Circle, the leaders of the Holdout. It has been her dream ever since she was small. She slowly drifted off into thought and fanasty. Being boss would be amazing. More privileges. More rations. It would be extraordinary. A small knock brought her attention back to the door.
     She opened the door to see her best friend, Johnny. He was tall and stout. He had bright diamond blue eyes and dirty blonde, ruffled hair. His face was round and his chin was chiseled. He was gorgeous.
      "Hey Johnny Boy!" She said with a big, radiant smile on her face. She has been in love with him since she could remember. She felt all warm and fuzzy when he would smile, or laugh, or anything.
     "How's my soon to be boss?" Johnny said smiling. Cera's feelings were in her chest.
    "I'm doing good, how is my soon to be employ?" she said.
    "I'm great now seeing my best friend of all time" he responded with his southern accent hanging on the word great.
    "Ready to go my majestie?" he said putting his arm around his stomach and bowing. He reaches out a hand and Cera takes it. Bowing as well.
    "Why yes my pestant." They both let out a laugh and go to the ceremony.

     At the ceremony, they meet up with Cera's other close friend, Tabitha.
     "Hi Tabby," Cera says pulling her into a big hug.
      "How's it going big boss?" Tabby says with a strong New Yorker accent. Tabitha is average height and has a slim athletic build. She had long straight black hair and bright sea green eyes. Her eyes would take your breath away. She had a long, slim face with freckles across her nose. She was beautiful.
     "My stomach is full of butterflies." Cera answered.
     "I'm sure you got it! Look at you! You're amazing!" Johnny said.
     Tabitha nodded in agreement. Cera grew a little more confident and happiness for her great friends filled her heart. She couldn't be more lucky. This could be the best day of her life.
      "Attention! Attention!" A tall woman with glasses and blonde hair pulled up in a bun announced, "We are now beginning to announce the new members of the Circle. Please take your seats."
      Cera and her friends sit, excitement coursing through her body.
      A new woman with red hair in a ponytail comes on the stage.
      "Hello everyone, my name is Diana or better known as the leader of the Circle. I came here today to present you all the new Circle member. Now straight to business!" she opens the envelope, "And the winning candidate is......."
      Suspense filled Cera's heart.
      "James Donner! Congratulations and welcome!"
      Cera was disappointed. What did she do differently?
      "Better luck next time, Cera." Tabby said patting Cera's back. Johnny put a hand on her shoulder.
       "Thanks."
       As they got up Johnny said something.
       "I heard they go a new contestant in Holdout, wanna check it out?"
       "Isn't that against the rules?"
       "Screw 'em rules. Let's be rebellious for for once."
        Cera smiled in agreement but Tabby thought different.
        "I don't know."
        "Come on," Cera said "It'll be fun."
       Tabitha finally smiled and they left.

       At the Holdout Observation Center they quietly snuck in. When they got into the building, they entered a room full of large computer monitors connected to one central computer with the name Memory Base labeled above it.
       "What is this place?" Tabitha whispered.
       "Idk but it's weird" Johnny said sliding his hand across the glass screen of one of the monitors.
       The whole room had a blue hue as lighting. Cera glanced at Tabby's face. The blue light reflected off her face making her seem like a angel. She was gorgeous.
        They continued their way though the building until they reached the observatory. The room had several computers, two chairs facing a huge glass window that looked down into the Holdout, and a strange button labeled Nightlock. They all looked out the glass.
       The Holdout didn't look like Cera had imagined. It had a lot more weapons and traps. She had expected a forest like area where they had to hunt and survive but it was much more than that. She pointed out a graveyard. Weird, She thought, I didn't expect that many to die. There was a huge fort in the middle of the area surrounded with spikes and traps. Strange. There didn't seem to be an exit visible. Around the fort was four doors wide open that leads to different "worlds". One full of snow, one full of lava and fire, one full of water as deep as the ocean, and one with a swallow that was constantly growing. It had already took part of the lava and the middle ground.
      "Wow!" Johnny gasped, "That's terrifying!"
      "What are they doing here? I thought it was based on human survival skills not a death chamber." They all stood there speechless.
      "Let's just get the file and get out." Tabby finally said, breaking the silence. "Cera check the filing cabinet in the back corner and John check the one beside that. I'm checking this one over here."
       As Cera was sorting through the papers she came across a strange file named The Process. It read
       In order to reach the Ending, the subjects must.....
       She was cut off by Tabby calling her name.
       "Cera! Look at this!"
        Cera walks over and looks at the file.
                   New Subject:
    Name: Hart, Maxwell Joseph
    Sex: Male
    Age: 26
    Strengths: Strong, smart, leader
    Weakness: Self centered, over controlling.
      Cera's heart sunk into her gut.
Her brother was stuck in the impossible chamer, the Holdout.
This was the worst day of her life.