Orphan

Chapter 31 - Reunion

The Test was over. The total number of children remaining in each team was one hundred. Was it a coincidence? I didn't believe it.100 Children had died in this test, and the commentators didn't seem to care at all. Was it normal? I hoped not.How could they just kill 100 children and not feel sad at all?Ding*Turning to the lift, Zoe and the four trainers stepped out.Xie Li looked so happy. Her smile was so big it spread across her whole face, she even had her nose up and looking like she had won an award.She walked to Tina, whispering something in her ears and passed her something. The other trainers were laughing and joking around, comparing their team's performance against one another, and this disgusted me."Well, boys and girls. You are the last 100 for each of the teams. You have successfully passed the preliminary tests. And now you will be faced with the utmost challenging events that only your trainers can help you pass.""What will you be tested on next, I cannot share it with you. I mean, where would the fun be if I ruined it now.""Trainers, can you please, ask your children to follow you and we will be leaving."Zoe didn't sound like she cared at all. It was business as usual. It was just another test, and she didn't seem to care how many of us made it out dead or alive.The remaining children split and followed their trainers. It was similar to when we were first picked, one team at each corner of the room. How many more of these tests were there going to be?How many more deaths were there going to be?I had so many questions I wanted to ask, but Zoe was not going to answer them. She even gave me a wink when I turned to face her."You are a lucky girl. I thought for sure. You were going to die. You have earned some respect from me. You are a fighter. Too bad Abby didn't make it just like Andriel. The double A's. I really wonder how many more you can save."I didn't reply. Zoe was taunting me, and the last thing I wanted was to show her my emotions. I walked away, passing her as I made my way to Xie Li.Xie Li didn't waste any time at all. After all of us had joined her, she opened another hidden door, and we followed her out and ended up back in the main hallway. Just how many hidden passages were there in this place?Were Castles really filled with hidden passages?We made our way back towards the staircase, the one where the chocolate fountain had been under, the stairs that brought us back to our rooms. But we didn't stop. Instead, Xie Li continued to climb, and we could only follow.We walked past at least seven flights of stairs before we finally came to a stop.I wondered where the other children from the other teams had gone, but it didn't really matter. Xie Li was now the one responsible for training me and making sure I survived, so I had to trust her."Sorry to make all of you climb so high. I just like high places. And maybe it's because of my nationality. I especially love the number eight. So, I have decided to train you all on this level.""Please follow me through this door." Xie Li was pointing to a glass door. We followed her inside.The floor was covered with large porcelain white tiles, that brought chills up my feet with each step. It was so clean. There was not a single speck of dust. The walls were also elongated, and the ceiling was stretched at least two meters high, making it look grand and welcoming.We continued walking deeper into the room, and spread across the room, perfectly aligned, surrounding a giant circular matt at the centre were hundreds of black plastic seats."Before we continue, can I ask each of you to let me know your name and age and write it on this sheet of paper. Once completed, please sit down." "Caleb, 17.""Tina, 16.""Sonia, 8.""Gary, 15.""Janice, 16.""Evelyn, 7." "Valentina, 14.""Marek, 15."The names continued to be said, one after another, until we were all seated in a circle.