So this is how it ends…
I sat there trying to hold back my tears. I'm not surprised, I can't be, what else could waking up in a random classroom mean? We all knew, we all knew what the Program was. We all heard the stories. We've seen and heard hundreds of announcements. Every year we're reminded of death and murder in all these horrible ways.
Murder…
I looked back and saw Chika and Tomo sitting in the back row three seats apart. Aoi was sitting in the front row right in front of this asshole.
"So I suppose you all already know the rules but hey it's my job to go over them." he said in a bored tone. "Alright the rules are simple; currently there are 42 err 43 of you. Sorry I rehearsed this before the uh "transfer"."
Rehearsed what an ass! Well I guess he's already broken in the head from seeing kids murder one another hundreds of times!
He then grabbed a piece of chalk and drew a T shaped blob on the board. After he was done he drew a grid system over it. He numbered the top of the grid from left to right and alphabetized its side from top to bottom.
"Now we're currently on an island a couple miles away from Hokkaido. As per usual you will all compete in a battle to the death until only one is left standing. Like every time the Program is held each of you are randomly divided by number and gender. This number represents when you leave this room into the island. As boy one goes then girl one and so on. Before you leave the island you're each given a bag that holds a loaf of bread, two bottles of water, a compass, a flashlight, a map of the island, and a random weapon. The randomness factor of weapons is to get rid of any natural advantages you may or may not have. This weapon can range from guns, blades, or blunt objects. Some of you however may not get a weapon instead a survival tool or you could get a useless piece of crap. Alright time for the interesting rules, every six hours I'll hold an announcement to tell you who died. After that's done I'll tell you four sections of the map that will be marked as danger zones at a certain time. If you enter the danger zone that collar around your neck will explode instantaneously killing you. Speaking of the collars they keep you from trying to run away and keep the game going. You see if someone doesn't die every twenty-four hours all the collars will explode ending the game with no winner."
Asshole! Nothing but an asshole! If I could I'd send his ass to hell!
When he was finished with his rules I saw a hand raise from a few seats from the left. It was Yoritomo Sugimoto. Sugimoto was a guy no one really liked. He was an obnoxious prideful rich kid who always had to complain.
"Um sir." he said while scratching his spikey hair.
Sugimoto what the hell are you doing?
"What is it?" Minabuchi said still not caring.
"It appears there must be some mistake. I'm the only son of Yoshimoto Sugimoto. I'm kind of a big deal in Hokkaido so I can't really afford to suffer through this. Besides who else will take over my father's banking corporation? Like I said Yoshimoto's only son. Without me Hokkaido's banking system will be in ruin when my father's gone." Sugimoto said in his usual condescending tone.
"I don't know your dad can adopt."
"Listen I know one such as you can't understand what my death would truly mean so I'll put it in ways you could understand. If you allow me to participate in this game my father and his lawyer will have a word or two with you."
"I see. I'm sorry you don't realize how little I give a damn about you and your lawsuits. Besides I have the government on my side and your dumbass father has already been informed of your forced participation, now sit down."
At this point Sugimoto's conceded face turned into full unrelenting rage.
Come on Sugimoto sit down! Stop trying to argue!
"How dare you talk to me in such a way! And how dare you insult my father!"
"Alright kid I'm done. I'll give you one warning calm down."
"I refuse! The fact that you dare talk down to my family and I! We are of higher class! Sure you have a government job but when it comes down to it you're probably nothing but their dog!"
When Sugimoto was done Minabuchi simply used his hand to brush his hair. He slowly turned toward the soldiers and said "I warned him."
Everyone, including Sugimoto, knew what he meant. Now Sugimoto's furious face turned into fear. His body began to shake as the soldier next to Minabuchi slowly began to raise his gun.
Get the hell out Sugimoto!
Almost the exact instant the gun was raised Sugimoto sprinted toward the door. I didn't know what his plan was but I guess he didn't really have one. When he reached the door however it bursted open revealing a soldier who tackled him down to the ground. The soldier held him down and dragged him toward Minabuchi. Tears began rushing down Sugimoto's face as he looked up at Minabuchi's expressionless face.
"I'm…I'm sorry!" Sugimoto cried.
Minabuchi didn't react instead he looked toward the class.
"I guess I'll show you an example of the game." he said bored as ever.
He strolled over to his desk and pulled out what appeared to be a laptop. However the buttons were all numbers. Half of them were blue and the others were pink. He nodded at the soldiers as he pressed the blue fifteen. After that the soldier simply threw Sugimoto to the side.
Beep…Beep…Beep
"Uh what?" Sugimoto cried as he felt the collar around his neck.
A red circle in the front of it began glowing red. It was releasing a beeping sound that kept getting louder. He turned at the class with tears still flowing. He ran at us crying for help. Everyone got up and ran away from him to avoid the inevitable explosion.
"Please help! Someone save me!" he cried.
We spent what felt like hours running around the room avoiding Sugimoto. Eventually the chaos was broken by the sound of a bomb. Blood trailed down the middle of the room. Sugimoto's body was missing his head and one shoulder. His blue school uniform was burned at the top and smothered in blood. You could see the blood rushing out and the top of his rib cage sticking out. On the other side of the blood trail was his half his head. On his head you can see the bottom of his skull and half his tongue sticking to side of his left cheek. His eyes still wide open with shocked eyes where you could see the trail of where his tears were.
Sugimoto why did you try!
About half the class began crying. Not because they liked Sugimoto it was because they feared the possibility of a terrible death like that.
"Alright that's enough. Back to your seats." Minabuchi said still emotionless.
After we made it back to our seats we were all handed a piece of paper and a pencil.
"Essay time." Minabuchi instructed. "You will all write down the words "I will kill" followed by a classmate's name. Do this until you write everyone's names."
"Sir." the girl in the back said.
"What is it Sonoda?"
"I don't know anyone's name here."
"Then draw pictures of killing them, I don't really care."
Does he seriously think I'm doing this crap!
I turned back to Chika and Tomo and they were writing away. When I turned to the front so was Aoi.
What who…who are they writing? Damn screw this! Screw this essay! Screw this game!
I sat there staring at my paper. When dots began appearing I realized I finally started crying. Thoughts began rushing through my head.
Do I have a future? Do any of us have a future? If I die will my mom's shitty boyfriend kill her since there'd be no one to call the cops?
In the end I ended up simply writing apologizes to people in my life. After I was done I decided to write down a promise.
If I manage to survive I'll murder my mom's boyfriend.
"Alright times up." Minabuchi interrupted.
The soldiers walked by and collected all the pencils and papers. After that a cart carrying several black bags came in.
So those are the weapon bags.
"Alright here's the fun part. When I call your name walk up and a soldier will hand you a bag. When you get the bag immediately exit the building. If you wander inside I'll detonate your collar. After the last person leaves the area the school immediately becomes a danger zone. If too many of you group up near the school to plan to rush in and attack I'll detonate your collars before you reach the inside of the building. Enough regulation time for the names. We usually don't do this but let the new girl go first. Girl #0: Mai Sonoda. "
The second her name was called the girl in the back got up and slowly strolled up to the front. They handed her a bag and then she disappeared into the outside. About two minutes later he called the next name "Boy #1: Toru Soma".
It was time. I picked up my backpack and speed walked my way up there. After getting my bag I waved goodbye to my peers, took one more look at Sugimoto, and ran outside.
Game Start: Day 1 12:00 A.M.
Boy #15: Yoritomo Sugimoto Dead
42 Students Remaining