Late 1940s - Yugoslavia
We see the 7 nations in the kitchen preparing a meal. Serbia is near a stove. We hear her thoughts: "Things were not easy after the war. With all the destruction and the loss of more than half a million men, it was difficult to rebuild...Luckily, we had friends to help out."
Flashback: A few days earlier. A smiling America presents a gift to the Yugoslav nations. "And for your contribution in helping me defeat Nazi Germany, as well as saving my pilots, I present you with these humble supplies."
"Thank you" Slovenia says seeing the large pile of cans.
"We would have done it either way" Macedonia adds nonchalantly.
"Um...you defeated the Nazis?" Serbia repeats confused.
"Still, I want you to know I do appreciate it" America continues and gives them two thumbs up.
End of flashback: We see them observing a few cans. Serbia has taken a strange yellow powder from one. She carefully sniffs it. "Does it smell like eggs?"Croatia asks hungry.
"It does not smell like anything special, to be honest" Serbia replies as Bosnia reads another can.
"Say what you want about capitalism, but at least it lifts people out of extreme poverty quickly" Slovenia says arranging the supplies in the overhead compartment.
"Maybe at first" Serbia adds. "And what when it serves it's purpose? Will it linger on like a weight on everyone's shoulder or will it leave like a superhero whose job is done?" Serbia mumbles poetically.
There is an award silence.
"Spam, again" Bosnia is in the background, looking at his can disappointed.
"Well. What are you waiting for?" Montenegro says with his head just above the top drawers. "Hurry up. I'm starving."
Serbia sighs. She puts the powder on a heated frying pan and...Black smoke hit their nostrils straight away.
Next scene: Looking at the house from the outside. "Gross!" a loud yell is heard.
"Is this suppose to happen?" Macedonia says now starting to cough.
"I'm pretty sure we are not supposed to suffocate to death" Bosnia retorts sarcastically.
We see the windows being opened as they still cough.
"Did you even read the instructions?" Croatia yells.
"Hey...It's not my fault it's written in small print" Serbia's voice is heard.
World Academy W
In the dark hallways, Australia walks alone. It got so dark that he needs to use his key ring flashlight to see. "Hello" he repeats for the fiftieth time that hour. There is still no reply. Already losing all hope, the student sighs. "I hate being so isolated" he mutters and continues walking.
"Hey there!" a familiar quiet male voice is heard. The excited Liam runs towards it. His footsteps are so loud he can hear nothing else. Finally, the hallway becomes brighter. He stops just a second before reaching the corner. He pops his head, very carefully and is happy to see Mattew. They smile, almost hugging each other.
Next scene: As they move through the better lit hallway. "So what happened to you?" Liam asks.
"I don't really know. I started with a group but then I stopped to tie my shoes and...everyone was gone" Mattew responds.
"So, do you know what we need to do?" Liam asks hopeful.
Mattew sighs: "No clue." Liam looks at him and gulps. They continue in silence with only the sound of their footsteps heard.
Next scene: Back in the Teacher's Lounge. As the staff watches the monitors, the counsellor rushes in. She fixes her hair and clears her throat heading straight to the small tin compartment. No one pays too much attention. They are busy watching some students who got into a fist fight. "Need something?" one of them finally asks.
"Yes, these" she says taking out a few large scrolls. The counsellor checks the monitors for her son who is still struggling to fight off his opponent. Saddened but determined, she observes the other screens carefully before walking out with the scrolls in hand.
Next scene: Back in the dim locker room. Yasna wanders around humming a tune. Ivan, looking serious, places one large old poster downward on the table. Ludwig, who has been in the hallway talking to his father, returns melancholic. He places his pen and a flat thin board over the white surface. They discuss something in private. Lukas is just kind of there.
Yasna reminisces. Flashback: Literally few minutes ago. She holds the walkie talkie with a slightly trembling hand. "Are you sure? I will be honest with you Ms. Petrović this will be no easy task. I need to know that you are committed." Ludwig and Ivan look at each other.
Yasna puts the device near her mouth. "If it leads to us all getting out of here, I'll do whatever it takes."
The return sound is heard. "Excellent. I knew I could count on you. Now, listen carefully. The place you are in now was created so that students could face and overcome their greatest internal turmoils. Only then can they be ready for a world outside of this educational facility..."
Ivan presses the button again. "If this is the final test then what was all that studying for?" he asks angry.
The counsellor is allowed to speak again. "Mr. Braginsky, I will tell you everything you need to know but you need to stop interrupting me first" she says in an authoritarian voice. He exhails through his nostrils but let's Yasna have the device back. Ludwig frowns and turns his head. Lukas stands silent.
End of flashback: The girl looks back at the two boys who were already drawing the plan of the room and connecting hallways.
Next scene: Back in the school, the gym teacher waits outside the office for the counsellor to return. He can hear her heals from down the hall. As they go back in, he asks putting the scrolls on a large table: "Has anyone asked anything?"
"No" she says confident. "They all assumed the principal sent me." The two school employees open the scrolls, which are actually detailed plans of the school and take a pencil. "Alright, tell me about the layout of the hallways. Does it appear that they are multiplying?"
Next scene: Yasna stops and takes the walkie talkie. "As a matter of fact they are. I think the ratio of passages is 3:1 since when we started" she says. "And they keep getting smaller and darker" Ivan adds.
The counsellor speaks: "As expected. Remember to remain in the original hallways. The others are meant to tempt you in. Avoid them at all cost, unless you want to face your struggles."
"Yeah, we felt one of those already" Ludwig says still sniffing.
The students draw the map as instructed.
Next scene: "Now what?" the gym teacher asks. The school councillor ponders dabbing her cheek with her finely manicured finger. "Well they can't escape, so..." she gasps excited. "Unless...Do you remember those small explosions we thought were done by some hooligans?"
"Do you think it was one of the Shadow kids?" the man adds.
"Probably..."
The gym teacher tilts his head thinking. "Now that I think about it...the problem did start about the same time as they were created" he says.
"Exactly. But how could they come up here? The entire test area was prepared and closed off?" she says. The gym teacher stands up: "It can only mean that someone let them out."
"Or better yet, installed a door opening mechanism so they can let themselves out" she continues. Smiling, the teacher takes the pencil and circles all the places where the incidents occurred. They look over it.
"It must be in this area, near the basketball court" the councillor concludes. The teacher nods and takes the walkie talkie: "Ludwig, listen to me. I need you to pay attention to this area particularly..."
Next scene: Back with the students. Ivan and Ludwig work as Yasna tip-toes around them. "Why can't I help?" she pouts. "We already have two able pairs of hands. You will just mess things up" Ludwig blurts. Before she can protest, Ivan continues: "He's right, why don't you look around and see if you can find something useful."
She goes away muttering: "I already checked."
As the two draw lines and use the walkie talkie, Yasna finds a wooden practice sword. "Hey, do you remember these from lower grades? I do. I had such a huge crush on the fencing teacher" she says blushing and swinging it around with a lot of skill. The only one that pays any attention is Lukas. He appears next to her. As she skips and plays around with the sword, he moves only when she does, not saying a word. He does this a few times.
Slightly confused, she asks: "I'm sorry, do you want to spar?" The blond quiet boy nods. Yasna looks at Ivan and Ludwig who are still focused on their work. She shrugs and tosses another sword Lukas' way.
"Give me your best shot" she starts playful but is surprised by the sudden attack of her opponent.
We watch Ivan and Ludwig carefully map out all the areas they passed. In the back, Yasna tries to avoid ferocious swings. Still taken a back, all she can do is jump away or block them. At one point she jumps on the table. Lukas charges yelling. She manages to jump off just before he hits it, splitting it in two.
"Knock it off already!" she yells getting scared and rolling a few bowling balls his way. Ivan finally notices and turns his head. "Hey, what are you doing?" he asks Lukas but he does not reply. He is not able to jump over the bowling balls and slips.
"What is happening?" the councillor asks. "Lukas appears to be attacking Yasna" Ivan replies concerned.
Next scene: The woman rolls her eyes and says in the walkie talkie annoyed: "Put him on."
Next scene: Back in the locker room, Ivan calls out his name: "The school councillor wants to speak to you." The shorter boy stands up and approaches calm as if nothing happened. Yasna is left to stare in shock.
Next scene: Back in the office. "Hello, Mr. Bondevik" she says with a pleasant voice. "Hello" his short answer is heard from the device.
"Listen, thank you so much for finding these three. I was told that you found the walkie talkie first."
"That's right."
"Alright then. I have another task for you. I need you to go around and tell students what I told you about the passages. Oh, and tell them not to fight each other but remain calm. Will you do that for me?" the councillor says.
The walkie talkie sounds off. "I will."
"Excellent, Mr. Bondevik...Now please find your friends and share this information. Ask them if they want to join you."
"Alright" the boy on the other end replies.
Next scene: Lukas returns the small device to Ivan content. "It was nice talking to you but I have to go now. Goodbye and good luck" he says politely and heads out the door. The three remaining students look at him baffled.
"Don't worry about him. He just has a problem expressing what he wants with strangers" the councillor's voice informs them when he leaves.
Next scene: Ten minutes later. As the entire plan was conceived and relayed, the councillor and the gym teacher talk. "You should probably return to the Lounge first. If they see us together they may assume something stupid" she said.
Knowing the collective too well, the man nods and reluctantly hides the walkie talkie. "Better leave this here. I can always come back if something happens."
"Yes, if they find it on your person you may lose your job" the councillor replies.
The teacher gulps. As he prepares to leave, he turns to her: "Let me ask you something. Why the scrawny stuck-up girl? Why not my boy or that other one?"
She looks at him slightly offended. "It's because she has the highest chance to succeed. To be honest, I rarely saw a student undergo such a transformation and I read the files of every single student. She is determined and resourceful, and most importantly she has the right mindset... Ivan is a good boy too. He acknowledged my advice and worked on himself, but he has too much emotional baggage. I am certain he won't be able to escape all the passages and Shadow kids after him. And Ludwig...Oh boy don't get me started on him. I'm honestly not sure if it's a good idea he stay with them."
The teacher frowns: "I talked to him. He understands the situation."
"Good" she replies not entirely convinced. The gym teacher leaves first. Left alone, the school councillor clasps her hands concerned. "You can do it kids" we hear her thoughts as we watch the three run through the hallway. "You have to. For all of us."
