Conquer

Chapter 2:

I rolled onto my stomach and began to effortlessly choke as I tried to inflate my lungs again. I could feel pain shooting through all parts of my body. My legs felt like jelly, as did my arms.

I rolled back onto my back and saw unfamiliar faces staring down at me. They all continuously asked questions to one another as a confused expression jumped from one face to another.

"A chick?"

"What are the Outsiders up to?"

"Can I call dibs?"

"Really man?"

"Leave her alone!" a familiar voice shouted.

I continued to gasp as Allyana made herself visible in the crowd and said, "Nice job newbie. You shouldn't run from us next time." She rolled her eyes and walked away.

I watched her walk away, now able to control my breathing better.

The group slowly scattered except a boy. He had messy dark brown hair. His blue eyes stared at me in sympathy.

"Hey, I'm Jedediah, or Jed. Sorry for ramming you in the back. You're new, didn't know if you were gonna make it or not," said the boy as he held out a hand and a small chuckle.

I hesitantly grabbed his hand as he pulled me from my back. My muscles strained but I forced myself to stand.

When I stood, I leaned over. "What the hell is going on?" I asked. Talking hurt my lungs but at least I was getting them to function the right way.

"You're in Survival. Here, follow me and I'll explain a bit more. Trust me, you'll be more confused than ever," said Jed as he patted my back and began walking away.

Sure, pat my back as I can't breathe.

As we walked, I looked at my surroundings.

We were within a bowl made from the metal sheets that had closed, almost like a circle. And the circle was cut in half by hundreds of trees.

Buildings were randomly placed around me, taking up more of the odd environment. There was also a field, where corn and a few animals seemed to remain still.

I followed Jed to a little hut under a few trees. It looked worn down by nature's work.

"My cabin. Water?" he asked.

"Yes please," I replied, my throat rough and dry.

"So your first day and your almost shut out by the Planks. And you ran from the group? You're trying to kill yourself aren't you?" he said as he laughed. He handed me some water in a metal cup.

"Why am I here? Who are you people? What are 'Planks'?" I asked as I drank water, becoming thankful for it.

Talking to him was odd. I knew in my mind that he was a complete stranger.

"Remember those metal sheets that tried to split you in half? We call those Planks. Remember those walls you saw when you first woke up? We call that the Tower. It's confusing, just try to keep up, okay?

There's eight sections of the Tower. Each section connects to form an octagon, we are on the inside of it. However each section has its own wedge," he said as he grabbed a stick and began to draw it in the dirt.

Jed drew the octagon and drew a very small circle in the middle.

"We are in the cirlce," he pointed. From the circle he drew lines that connected to each of the corners of the octagon.

I watched as Jed drew the unfamiliar shape. He drew it like he had done it a million times before.

"See the spaces between each line?" he asked. From the circle, he drew octagons from smallest to biggest outward. "It's confusing until you see it on your own. But each section's block brings a new hell. It's-"

I heard a screaming come from a distance, causing me to flinch.

"JED! HURRY!" yelled a blonde girl from my left. The worry in her voice implied that something had gone utterly wrong.

"What's going on?" he asked as he stood quickly.

"It's Carol, she's on the other side of the Planks," said the girl out of breath.

I looked at Jed, fear and depression over took his face. It was as if someone had set the whole place on fire.

Jedediah took off running towards the Planks without warning, messing up the diagram he had drawn in the dirt. Jed never turned around, he just continued to run.

I looked at the blonde and she shook her head and said "Carol.. She's as good as dead now."

I couldn't help but wonder why he was so upset. Or why no one had explained what was going on. The air had grown thick and heavy. It filled with an uncomfortable silence.

I stood and slowly followed Jed to the Planks.

"Which section?" he yelled at the blonde girl from a distance. She held up four fingers.

He ran along the Planks and stopped when he was a little less than half a mile away. His emotions were unknown of to everyone, especially me.

There were murmurs filling the air with uncertainty. And yet, confusion was the only thing I could cling to comfortably.

"Carol, I beg of you. Please tell me that you're not in the first block!" shouted Jed.

The uncertainty in his voice made me fearful of the response he might be given. But there never was one. The person he called for never replied and I was becoming more afraid. I didn't know what happened... or of what will happen.

"Jed, no one survives Block one," a feminine voice finally spoke. The terror in her voice sent chills weaving through my spine. The thought of a death made my stomach weak. I watch Jed as he punched the Plank with a mighty anger.

"It's not fair!" he shouted as he fell to his knees.

I jumped when I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned to see Katelyn with tears in her eyes. She had the same depressed expression as everyone else.

"Carol is Jedediah's... Everyone's 'sister,' " she said to her feet.

I finally asked the questions that was burning my throat. "What's going on? What is going to happen to her?" I asked as I watched Jed continue to yell.

"Carol is in Block one. Every night in all of the first Blocks, a Mutator is released," said Katelyn.

A Mutator?

"What's a Mutator?" I asked. I waited for a response or an answer, but Katelyn remained silent.

I stared at her, begging for an answer with my eyes.

"We have tried everything," said Katelyn, leaving no explaination to her statement.

I was more confused than I had been upon my awakening in this new world.

Katelyn then walked away. Jed was curled against the the metal. His body was shaking, and unsurprisingly, so was mine. I shook everywhere. I was full of fear and confusion, even anger.

Where am I?