"I am Unnamed. My title is dead."
In the World, the Planet, and the Base, it's either be number one or die.
The alternative to dying, however, is to become an Unnamed. Turning eighteen means that you will compete for your name. Come out on top, you...
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The year passes by slowly as the tragedy and shock of that year's Competition fades away. The three people that had put their fists over their hearts soon were gone from people's memory, either by choice or by distraction and eventual forgetfulness. The Runner never forgets though, whether it is out of curiosity or because he was scared about this year's upcoming Competition. His Competition.
Mortimer the Elite Solver does his best to hide his concern for the Runner. He gives him as much advise as he can and makes sure to remind him multiple times about being careful when approached by someone, whether it's one of his friends or a complete stranger. Be careful, he would always say in a quiet tone, as if someone could hear him. Just do what you're told.
The Runner trains hard and always returns home sore and exhausted from the day's training. Mortimer the Elite Solver is really pushing him.
He had been right about the hurricane. It came and everyone had to take cover underground. Luckily, the World's building structures were made to handle the Earth's storms, and not much was ruined inside the walls. Everything was cleaned up when the storm was surely gone and it all went back to normal, the Builders working on things that had received damage.
Now, it's only a month until the Competitions. The Runner watches everyone practicing and working as he runs around the world. Two laps, and then he has to take a message to the Elite Leader from the Elite Solver.
The ground is hot and dry, as they're going through a drought this year, a big contrast to last year's hurricane. Luckily, the Keepers always keep on top of their jobs, or else the people inside the World would die from thirst and starvation.
The Runner's mind drifts back to the previous year's Competition, his stomach turning over in his body as he thinks about Rachel. Whatever it was that happened...
He shakes his head as he makes his way to Mortimer the Elite Solver's mansion.
"Here's the message, Runner," the old man stands up to hand the boy the envelope. "Don't let anyone see it."
He nods at the strange command and takes the paper in his hands, tucking it inside of his jacket.
"And Runner?"
"Yes, Master?"
"Run. As if it was for your life."
He sprints to the large building and enters through the big black door. He waits patiently in the doorway as he shuts it behind him, the cool air of the Elite mansion a relief to his skin.
The Elite Leader walks from a room to the right and looks up, startled. His face shifts to show panic and worry as the Runner pulls out the envelope.
"Runner," he says, taking in a short breath of air. "Come with me."
The Runner follows him up to his office and is told to sit down. He obeys, knowing that the Elite Leader really doesn't mind him sitting.
He hands him the latter and the Leader takes it hesitantly. He opens it slowly and pulls out the white piece of paper with black scribbling on it. It shakes in his hand as he reads the words spread out across the width, as if the paper was to burst into flames at any second.
