Just to reply some questions...
GoddessOfArchitecture: Yeah, i really am a guy. and Some of the authors i follow are guys, so yeah :)
anthane: Yay you got it right!
No One's POV
The smoke had now completely cleared, and there was absolutely no indication of the previously chaotic situation that had occurred only moments ago.
The fact that the entire hall had now gone completely silent was due to a singular presence at the center of the stage. There sat a man in a wheelchair who had completely commanded everyone's attention.
He had dark brown hair combed neatly to the side, a scruffy beard that reached his chest and walnut brown eyes that seemed to shine with confidence and knowledge. He wore a brown suit with a white collared shirt underneath and sat comfortably in his titanium alloyed wheelchair.
"My name is Mr Brunner, but most of the students here call me Mr Brown!" he chuckled, "Well from what I am wearing it is pretty obvious why."
The student's nervous laughter only made Mr Brunner chuckle even more as the wrinkles under his eyes seemed to smile back.
He looked amused and knew that most of the students here were frightened and stunned.
Surveying the hall, he spotted a few familiar faces from the previous Entrance Programme - many new ones, and some that he had personally invited.
"I'm sure many of you are wondering what that was all about!" he paused, raising up his hand while gesturing towards the students, "Every year, we receive millions of applicants around the world, trying out for our programme. And every year, we reject millions."
"That… theatrical demonstration of an explosion just now… was a test. You see, although many of you may be talented and special individuals… not everyone has the aptitude or instincts to make it here at Demi-Goode." He continued, placing his raised arm back on his armrest, "The test simulated a bomb exploding. Senses such as your vision, hearing and smell were all tested. You saw the bright lights and smoke of an explosion, you heard an explosion and you smelt burning wood. We rely on our senses to tell us what is happening, and our body reacts accordingly."
"However, what most of you realised was that there was no actual explosion. There was no actual fire, no debris and there was no way I would let any of you be caught in an explosion without proper training." He chuckled again, and raised his index finger "There will be 2 more tests before you are allowed entrance into Demi-Goode Academy and I wish you all the best of luck!"
The students began talking amongst themselves and the once silent hall was suddenly filled with chattering and even more confusion.
Questions like what the hell? Or you can't be serious came up quite a bit whilst a sigh of relief could be heard from everyone.
Mr Brunner turned and was about to leave through the way he came, when he paused and turned his wheelchair around. "Ahh I almost forgot, the second test, is a test of potential." he chuckled with his eyes twinkling, giving a mischievous grin, "and it begins… right… now."
The entire hall went dead silent. You could literally hear the sound of a leaf detaching itself from the branches in the trees. The only sound that was distinct was that of Mr Brunner's wheels rolling out of the auditorium and a faint chuckle coming from an amused man.
SHHIIIIKK
The sound of the door disappearing behind him left many shocked and stunned faces, as the students were now left completely by themselves.
"Umm what now?" one of the students questioned.
Everyone started looking around, trying to find a clue or what they had to do next.
CLINK CLINK CLINK. PSSSSSHHHHHHHHHH.
A loud sound echoed throughout the hall, followed by strange noises that sounded like that of a gear churning and steam trying to escape. The entire place started shaking as hot air rose from the sides of the auditorium. The students found themselves falling out of their seats and stumbling over one another as the ground beneath them started moving.
"EARTHQUAKEEE!" a student shouted and widespread panic ensued, as the now frightened and stunned students struggled to balance themselves and find a proper place to hide for shelter.
The rumbling continued for a while, but stopped suddenly - much to the relief and delight of many students. Steam however, continued escaping through the sides of the auditorium.
A collective sigh of relief could be heard as they thought the worst was over.
… But it wasn't.
In an amusement park, there are certain rides where they take you to the highest point in the park, giving you a widespread view of the entire area. You can hear the wind, and feel the coldness of the altitude. And then without warning, they drop you. Well…
The auditorium dropped.
Loud screaming and shouting ensued.
Scene change:
In a dormitory somewhere…
No One's POV
A blonde haired girl sat up from her bed, her hair messy from lying down on her pillow.
"You hear that?" she asked, "That faint screaming sound?"
"Yeah, I heard that." Replied a spiky and black haired girl who sat on the bed next to hers, she grinned. "Must be the second batch of try-outs."
"Seems like it." The blonde haired girl sighed, "Well, we'll have to get ready soon, the hunt is about to begin."
"Hell yeah." The black haired girl replied, grinning even more, "I can't wait to give them hell! It's gonna be interesting to see who makes it!"
"You're such a sadist!" said the blonde haired girl, "Don't you even remember how hard it was for us?"
"Nah, I don't remember it being that tough." The black haired girl replied, "Piece… of… Cake! Besides, its tradition! and a rite of passage. It'll be fine Annabeth; don't be such a worry-wart!"
The blonde haired girl rolled her eyes, as she got off her bed slowly, looking out the window facing the thick and green forest where smoke could be seen and screaming could be heard.
"I sure hope so…" she muttered quietly, with a worried look on her face, "I have a bad feeling about this…"
Back to Percy's POV
"Ummm dude? What's going on?" I shouted.
"Uhh I-I-I rea-really do-do-don't know what's going on Percy!" Grover shouted in reply. "It w-w-was different the last time I was here!"
"Huh, okay." I grinned, "at least it suddenly got more interesting."
"You're ma-ma-ma…" he paused, and then shouted, "MAD! You call this interesting?!"
"Hey, we're plummeting to our deaths in an auditorium with 20 other strangers" I shouted back, shrugging my shoulders, "How much worse could it get?"
I was holding on to a railing when the tingling sensation in the back of my head; began to intensify and started getting louder and louder.
The auditorium started groaning and it sounded like a whale was being murdered, as the auditorium suddenly picked up pace in its descent.
The screaming around us got even louder as everyone started hanging on to whatever they could hold on to for dear life.
"Y-Y-Y-YOU JUST HAD TO SA-SAY IT!" Grover yelled over the screaming.
"OOPS. UH MY BAD?" I shouted back, as I gripped onto the steel railings attached to the steps.
A few moments ago, we had just found out from this guy in a wheelchair that had appeared through a door that came from out of nowhere, that we had just passed a test. And not only that, it was just the first test... There were two more fricking tests.
Grrreaaat.
I turned to Grover, whom might I add looked like a wreck. He was so nervous after he had heard it… and here I thought he was the experienced one.
"Dude, what does he mean two more tests? Who is he?" I whispered.
"He's Mr Br-Br-Brunner. H-h-he was here the last time as well, it seems like he's the instructor or tester or s-s-something" he stuttered. "As for what comes next… I genuinely h-have no idea."
"What do you mean you have no idea?" I whispered, more urgently this time.
"H-he d-d-didn't say those things the last test. And it was a little b-b-bit different…" he whispered back. "We followed him somewhere else the last time… so I don't know what's going to h-h-h-happ-p-p-p-pen."
He turned to face me, an exhausted look on his face.
How was this guy even here, I thought to myself. The poor guy can't even sit still from all the shaking he's doing…
"Calm down man." I whispered, "It'll be fine. I'm sure we'll make it…"
I had absolutely no confidence in what I had just said. He seemed to calm down a little bit, and wasn't shaking as much… that was better at least. I took in a deep breath and let out a long sigh. I had to remain calm and collected.
The man in the wheelchair had then turned to leave the stage, but before he did, he had said something about the test starting right now. And then he just disappeared, the very same way he had mysteriously reappeared without even giving instructions!
What a douchebag…
Everyone around me started panicking. I felt fear spreading from my chest and the strange tingling sensation had slowly made its way back to the back of my head. But as soon as it had appeared, the fear was gone… replaced with a calmness that came with a strange confidence. The faint tingling was still there though…
Ever since I was young, when faced with a tough situation or with my back against the wall, I didn't panic or falter but I uh actually sort of… thrived in those situations.
When I was in 7th grade, I was on my way home from school cutting through an alleyway, when a pack of stray, wild dogs appeared out of nowhere. They were snarling and had foam coming from most of their mouths. I remember feeling frightened and afraid. But once I realised how much real trouble I was in, the fear just… suddenly disappeared. I hadn't bothered to even cry out for help or scream at the dogs to try and intimidate them. Not knowing how to really describe or explain it other than simply put, my survival instincts kicked in. I was focused in, and everything around me seemed to move in slow motion. I side-stepped the leader of the pack as he jumped right at me. I rotated my waist, and with both arms swung my backpack at it right in mid-air. The dog whimpered, flew into a wall, crumpling to the ground. It didn't move and the rest of the dogs proceeded to run away with their tails literally between their legs. Reality sped up again, and I was left alone in the alley panting with a broken bag pack.
"Ummm what now?" I heard one of the students ask out loud.
As if on cue, a loud sound echoed throughout the auditorium, followed by a strange clinking sound… It sounded very much like gears were unlocking and moving. Steam then started rising from the sides of the hall, and the ground beneath us began to rumble.
Then, shit hit the fan.
Right now we were falling at about 40 mph, give or take and it was getting increasingly difficult to hang on without losing grip.
45 mph…
50 mph…
It was beginning to get difficult to think because the tingling was getting so loud.
55 mph…
ARGH
My knuckles were beginning to turn white as I felt my palms slipping upwards from the railing.
60 mph…
Gritting my teeth, I started pulling myself towards the base of the railing. I could feel my fingers screaming at me to let go, but I refused. Using my core, I pulled my waist downwards towards the railing and wrapped my legs around another railing.
I was secure for now.
Everywhere around me I could hear people screaming and shouting. I opened my eyes and turned to look at Grover, but to my horror, I couldn't find him. Had he lost his grip and got sucked up? The open ceiling of the auditorium had formed a vacuum and everything in the hall was getting pulled up.
Shit. Where'd he go?
65 mph…
I had seen a couple of students getting sucked out of the hall by the wind. It was horrible. Their struggling silhouettes disappeared into the distance as their arms and legs flailed about, their screams muffled by the strong wind bearing against me.
Was I going to die?
I closed my eyes and waited for the end.
70 mph…
75 mph…
The tingling was now screaming in the back of my head. Getting stronger and stronger…
80 mph…
I could feel the entire hall start to shake vigorously. How long would we last till we hit terminal velocity?
85 mph…
90 mph…
ARGHHHHHH
I'm sorry mum. I tried my best…
95 mph…
100 mph…
The tingling in my head was now playing at full volume and had proceeded to scream bloody murder.
I was about to let go.
0 mph…
The screaming in my head disappeared.
I opened my eyes. The air around me was still, everything was floating and frozen. I looked around me and saw the horrified looks and screaming faces of the students around me, all frozen in place. The saliva bubbles were floating out of their mouths ever so slowly.
I turned to my left and saw a girl holding on the wooden seats, her face screaming and eyes closed. Um… were those claws dug into the wood?
I shook my head, I must've been hallucinating.
Looking forward, I saw a familiar figure across the auditorium. It was Grover hanging on to the walls of the auditorium! Phew, I sighed inwardly. Grover was ok. Wait… How was he hanging on…? I squinted my eyes to get a closer look. Uh wait… was he rooted to the wooden walls? Were those roots coming from his fingertips…? Uhh…
Huh.
CRUNCHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.
BOOOOOM BOOOOOOOOOM BOOOOOOOOOOM
The screaming (tingling*) in my head came back at full volume and force.
I heard a loud crunching sound; followed by a few deafening explosions and everything seemed to fast forward. I heard the faint screams, saw the landscape blur downwards and then…
… Everything around me went black.
Longest Chapter so far.
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