Next Generation

Chapter 11

Markus^^

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I'd have to take the test as planned.

No "Tom-Foolery".

No shenanigans.

Plus I would have a better chance at pulling something off under their noses another time. Another test.

I could hear the alarm ringing through the screeching sound of Aimee's voice singing the tune to Starships. That was the 20 minute bell and then we were supposed to meet in the dining room.

I arrived five minutes early, throwing on the same grey pants and hoodie that we always wore. Somebody else wss there too. But i had not paid attention in the start, and so I didn't know his name.

"Hey." He waved shyly. Cowering behind his fear of me.

"Uh... hi?" I smiled, trying to put him at ease. Maybe he just wasn't good with people.

He tied his long hair into a ponytail just like mine. The shyness seemed to vanish just like the invisible man - one of the very limited collection of comic books they allowed me to bring.

"What do you think it's going to be?" He asked.

I didn't have to thin to answer his question.

"Testing our fears." I stated directly.

He looked confused, he was about to say something when I saw people head into the room behind him. The room slowly began filling up. Both genders finally getting to interact with each other.

I could see partners from the island test reuniting happily and some of them scowling.

I laughed to myself and headed over to George.

"You ready?" I asked as I poked his side.

He flicked my away my finger, "Not without you in there with me."

"Aww. See? I told you, you needed me." I reached out and hugged him. I could feel my body relieving some of the stress that built up over the days. I really did miss him.

"I missed you too." He said quietly as if reading my mind.

~~~

3 minutes max.

That was all the time they gave for us to prepare after breakfast.

Everyone hsd drifted apart from their friends so that they could review what they learned. And practice what we thought we needed to. Although this time passed faster than we thought it would.

"All pargicpants line up for Phase 2." The scratchy voice on the telecom spoke.

A man in a very small suit walked into the room, his bright green shoes tapping the floor. "Okay boys on the left. And girls to the right," he said, "and no questions asked."

As much of a goof that he looked like, the green footed man spoke as seriously as he could. He pointed his finger towards the sides he was directing us towards, his grey suit strectching in the process.

I watched George walk to the other side of the room. He rolled up his sleeves and brushed his hair back with his fingers. He caught me watching at him; returning a scolding look.

"You two are so lame." Jean elbowed me in the ribs gently, "Everyone can see you to like each other!"

"We do not!"I could feel a smile growing on my face. She was completely wrong about that, the chances of being together at this time was unlikely. Either one of us could leave the program in a snap.

Plus I had come here to get passed all five stages, not just one.

*beep beep beep*

The sounds started signaling for our entrance into the test room. One by one we lined up, each of us trying get a look of what exactly was in the room.

There were beds. 32 beds exactly; one for every striver. The grey walls connected in a circle, and the floors looked previously polished. I could almost make out my reflection in them.

The same man talking during the meeting earlier this week was standing in the middle of the room. I couldn't stop picturing Mac beside him. That same lost look in his eyes.

"Welcome." He spoke clearly, his voice booming around the room.

"Girls on the right, boys in the left." He gestured towards the beds.

We did as he said, every nerve in my body twitching because I had to hold in my anger towards this man. He had on a black suit, all black down to his shoes. His newly shaven face made him look five years younger yet still as cruel.

I had my eyes on the man all the way to my bed. He hasn't moved or said one word in that time.

"Strap them in."

This was when a riot broke out. Strivers began fighting the assistants beside each bed. The assistants bad no chance of winning, their week bodies being knocked down to the floor.

Either this was planned or I was just not aware that everyone else was fighting against Denraw as well.

I  scanned the room and found Jean beside Aimee helping her out of her straps. She must have been too small to fight the man beside her bed, yet he was in the floor holding his head between his knees. A puddle of blood froming at his ankles.

I rushed over.

"What is happening?"

War had broken out. The man in the suit had managed to escape during the chaos, leaving the assistants to fend for themselves. Most of the strivers had beaten their opponent and had begun to help others.

"You missed breakfast. We couldn't fill you in." She spoke in between breaths. Aimee hopped of off her bed.

"We wanted to tell you but there were too many cameras."

"Markus had damaged the cameras in the dining hall so that we could plan this. She waved her hand around the circular room.

Markus was the tech guy out of our strivers, of course he would know how to dismantle the cameras without the guards finding out. Or maybe they already knew what was happening.

I was disappointed that I wasn't included in the plan that was made but I knew it was my fault. I felt someone grab hold of my shoulder.

"Are you okay?" George. He must have been lost to.

"Yeah. You?" I could see a purple bruise starting to show on his cheek, and his face beginning to heat up as they always did when he was out of breath.

"What do we do now?" I said looking around the room, the majority of us has won the battle against each guard. Leaving most of them drenched in their own blood and sweat.

"We escape."