It was the cold that woke John Ellis up. Slowly regaining his senses, John opened his eyes. Above him was a cracked and peeling roof, once a brilliant white, now approaching a dirty grey. John's mind froze in confusion. The last he could remember, he was in the Travelodge with Martin. They both had been sitting watching TV, and then nothing. John groggily lifted himself up into a sitting position, and looked around. The room he was in was cluttered and filled with chairs and tables. There was one door to the front of the room, and a large window to the right of him that beamed in light from the full moon. Then John saw that all around him was the rest of his class, sprawled over the floor, propped up on chairs and slumped over desks. They were all asleep. John's mind struggled to see the reasoning behind it all. Slowly getting to his unsteady feet, John turned around. At the back of the room, placed against the wall were three guys and three girls that he had never seen before. They weren't wearing their own clothes like the rest of the students either. Instead they had dark grey shirts and matching trousers, and combat boots. They were also out cold. Above the breast pocket of the shirts were names, printed onto the cloth. Williams, Sands, West, Neville, Jones and Baker.
John turned around, and scanned the sea of people. He quickly found the person he was looking for, slumped over a nearby desk. John leaned over, and gently shook her.
"Sam. Come on....Sammy! Wake up. Come on you need to wake up." John shook and shouted, but she didn't seem to respond at all. Moving her hair to one side, he saw a slim collar around her neck. Warning bells went off in his mind, but he still couldn't figure out what was going on. His head felt slow and groggy. John shook Samantha again. He kept trying, raising the tone of his voice. "Come on Sammy, wake up! Pleas-"
"Can you give it a break? She'll wake up in her own time." A slightly angry voice spoke behind John, and he turned. Leaning against the right wall of the room was Bernard Croshaw, his unkempt matted hair sticking out in slight tufts. His eyes scanned John. One hand fiddled with the collar on his neck. He had a sour look on his face.
"But we gotta get everyone awake; we gotta get out of here!" John raised his voice. Bernard looked down at his legs and gently shook his head.
"No getting out of this one. Haven't you figured it out?" Bernard pointed to the collar around his neck. "We're in the program." John staggered as if he had been hit. Of course. The room, the collars, the trip. John leaned back on the table, next to Samantha. He had read the papers, he had watched the news, and he had read the stories of what happened, of course he had. But he never believed it would, or could happen to him. John felt the bile rise up in his stomach.
"I think I am gonna chuck..." John gasped before leaning to the side and throwing up his last meal.
After he had finished, john stood up again. Several more people were awake now, and they were all looking around in the same confused manner that he had awoken in. Then there was a loud clunk at the front of the room, and everyone turned to look at the door, which was now slowly opening. There were two soldiers, fully equipped and clutching rifles. In-between the two soldiers stood a third man. He stepped slowly and confidently into the room, and looked at all the students. Behind him, several more soldiers brought in a large television on a stand, and rolled it to the side of the room and started setting it up. In the corridor, past the door, were several racks full of plain, dark green packs. The man in the plain black suit smiled at them.
"Hello. My name is Mr Worth, and I am the administrator here."Now I am sure you all know what is happening-"
"We're part of the fucking program!" Rachel Moore shouted at Mr Worth.
"Yes, Indeed." He seemed the brush the shout off. "That saves us a lot of time, as I don't have to go through the ghastly introduction speech." He turned to the television. "Now they have made a short video for you to watch, which will explain everything. I really suggest you listen, as you lives quite literally depend on it. "He leaned over, and pressed a button on the front of the television, and the video started. There was an outline of an island, and then a grid appeared over it.
"You are currently on Section 12. The Island you are currently on is just over ten miles across, and 8 miles long." The voice from the video was a woman's, and it spoke in calm and slightly unnerving manner. "There are over twelve navy ships surrounding the island." Twelve navy boats appeared in the area around the island. The screen then changed to a rotating image of their collar. "The collars around your neck are an enhanced design on previous acts. The collars are thinner, and contain liquid explosives "The image froze, and the side of the collar slid away, exposing the innards."When the collar receives the activation signal, it mixes the two chemicals together, causing it to detonate" The liquids in the collar mixed together, and then explosions when around inside of the collar, "These collars are one hundred per self tamperproof, and permanent." Mr Worth leaned forward and presses the pause button. He turned to the class.
"What this video isn't going to tell you are that unlike the old design, which merely cut off the blood and oxygen to the brain, these new collars will pretty much blow you head to peaces. So if you want open casket funerals, pay attention. "Mr Worth let out a small grin and pressed resume. The video returned to the map of the island.
"Every six hours, grid squares will be broadcast over the island. These grid squares will be given with a time. At those times, the grids will become off limits, and any active collars inside will be automatically detonated. "The squares flashed red in random patterns" Then the film cut to a picture of a plain, dark green pack. The picture of the pack moved to one side, and a list of items began to scroll down the screen.
"Inside your issued packs will be many items to help you in the program. There will be food, water, a compass, a torch, a map and marker pen, and your weapon. The weapons are issued at random, and range from small knives, to fully automatic sub-machine guns. "The pack and its contents disappeared, and the map returned. There was a timer running above it, counting down from 72 hours. "The time limit for this game is three days. If more than one collar remains active after the time expires.... "The timer ran out, and every grid square flashed and turned red "Every grid will be automatically activated, and all students will be killed." Mr Worth once again leaned over and pressed the stop button.
"Well, that seems to cover all the basics you need to know." He clapped his hands together. "So, any questions?" A shaking hand was raised from the group.
"Yes........." He paused, seemingly trying to remember. "...What's your name again?"
"Uh.....David, David Webb." The small student in the wire framed glasses seemed to struggle to even get out his name.
"Ok, Davey, what's the question?" Mr Worth seemed to be staring directly at Henry, which made him stutter and shake even more. David pointed towards the six people sitting at the back of the room.
"Who are they?.....I mean, n-n-none of know them....What are they doing-" David was cut off by a loud voice. The voice belonged to James Bedford, a muscular figure wearing only a sleeveless sport top in the middle of the room.
"So who are they? Criminals? Is that it? You cunts put criminals in with us for your sick pleasure?" James spoke, his anger already quite visible as he clenched his fists and ground his teeth. Mr Worth stuck up his hand.
"Firstly, did no-one ever teach you to let a person finish James?" Mr Worth said, shaking his head slightly. "I can swear to you they aren't from prison, and they are not criminals. Neither did they sign up for fun. They are just as scared and confused as you. Now as for whom they are, I simply suggest that you talk to them and find out. "Mr Worth watched as the students eyes darted between him and the six people sitting at the back."Anymore questions before we get started?" A hand shot straight up. "Yes?" Mr Worth looked at the slightly podgy student before him who had a distinct fringe.
"So.....why us?" Kelly Andrews shuffled on one foot to the other as he spoke.
"Complete pot luck, I am afraid. You lot were one of over fifty thousand, all of which were going through year eleven. It was picked at random. "Kelly remained standing.
"And the others. The ones not part of our school?" Mr Worth shrugged.
"They were less unlucky. They were chosen for this. "He looked around."Any more questions." There was none. "Good, then let's start." He pulled a crumpled piece of paper out of his pocket, and flattening it out, he held it up. "Now I'll call your names out, you grab your packs, and head out of the door. It's a straight corridor. "He looked around at the terrified faces."Oh, and don't forget your backpacks and whatever." The room slowly came alive as people quickly found their belongings and then sat back down or stood, clutching their possessions.
"Boy#1 Kelly Andrews" Kelly quickly moved forward, taking a pack from the rack in the corridor and then leaving at breakneck speed. Kelly was terrified. He had only transferred into this school a month ago for his exams. He hardly knew anyone in the class, and he knew that they wouldn't be very trusting of him.
"Girl#1 Kate Atkin" Kate moved towards the corridor, struggling as she lifted a heavy pack from the rack, and then jogging out. She knew she had to get far away from the starting point, no matter how much she wanted to wait for her friends. She took off running down the track that led away from the building.
"Boy#2 Christopher Baker" Chris slowly got up from his position at the rear of the class, and running down the corridor, grabbed a pack and left. Chris was confused. Chris had a condition that made him see things. See things that weren't really there. His medication helped him fight it, but he didn't have it now. He didn't have anything.
"Girl#2 Tara Bailey" Tara moved quickly into the corridor and picked up one of the packs with a look of sheer disgust on her face. Tara couldn't believe this was happening to her. She was the hottest girl in the year! There was no way she was going to be crawling around in mud and rain. She took off running as fast as she could down the road away from the building.
"Boy#3 James Bedford" James swagger to the rack and picked up a pack. Slinging it over his shoulder, he quickly ran across the open and positioned himself in the prime position to see everyone exit. James wasn't stupid. There was only one way out of these games. He had seen it on the news. He had no intention of being killed by those losers, those cunts. No way. James knew his mates would be thinking the same thing.
"Girl#3 Victoria Brown" Victoria started to run for the hallway and tripped half way there, sliding across the rough concrete floor. Grabbing a pack, she sprinted out. Victoria couldn't believe what was going on. She just wanted to go home, back to her parents. Her daddy had said that this would never happen to her, why did he lie?
"Boy#4 Henry Bishop" Clutching his backpack strap, Henry grabbed the pack and ran out into the open. He was torn between waiting for his friends and running. Henry wasn't stupid, and he took off running through the trees. He needed to find somewhere to hide, somewhere to think.
"Girl#4 Jo Cannings" Jo stood frozen for a moment, before running out, barely slowing down to pick a pack up. Jo was terrified. How could this be happening to her? She didn't even understand why they had this stupid act. It was nothing to do with her.
"Boy#5 Bernard Croshaw" Bernard hurriedly grabbed his messenger back, and walked to the rack, picking up a back, he briskly walked out. This was just his fucking luck. Bernard didn't particularly like anyone in the class, but he wasn't going to kill them because of some twisted bastard in government.
"Girl#5 Lynsey Edwards" Lynsey grabbed her pack and sped out of the building. Well wasn't this just wizard. She had only joined the school two years ago, and she hardly knew anyone outside of her group of friends. Somehow, Lynsey knew that the rest of the class probably won't be so welcoming.
"Boy#6 John Ellis" John slipped a piece of paper to Samantha Stewart, then took his pack and then run. His head was still struggling with the situation. John knew that he had to run as fast as he could. He did not want to be around when the rest of those people at the back of the class got out.
"Girl#6 Jill Fisher" Jill hugged her boyfriend Steven Peters goodbye, and after grabbing her pack, ran for her life. Jill was terrified. She had only went on this stupid trip because Steven had begged her to, told her that it would "fun". She took off into the night, hoping to avoid everyone.
"Boy#7 Nigel Fullwell" He clutched his backpack in his stubby arms, and struggled to pick up the pack. He burst outside. Nigel was terrified. He was picked on and bullied enough in school; god knows what was going to happen now. He took off down the path, wheezing as he ran.
"Girl#7 Lucy Fong" She nervously stepped forward, brushing her hair back off her face. She slowly picked up the pack and stepped out into the cool, clear night. Lucy knew she was in trouble. She had moved from Canada only three months ago, and she didn't know anyone in the class. Some of the guys had already started shouting abuse at her. She shuddered to think what they would be like now.
"Boy#8 Tom Griffin" Tom grabbed his large satchel and sprinted for the corridor, grabbing his pack without slowing down; he burst outside and kept running. Tom was furious, furious at the nut jobs that ran this game, and furious at the country for allowing it.
"Girl#8 Katie Gibbs" Katie hugged the last two of her friends in the room, Sarah Wood and Samantha Stewart, and then hoisted the heavy pack from the pile and took off running. Katie was scared. She had heard stories about the program. Stories about guys chasing down girls like animals. Katie just wanted to find somewhere to hide.
"Boy#9 Michael Nesson" Mike walked to the corridor with a swagger, and casually picked up his pack. Mike knew that he was in deep trouble. There was only one way out of these games. When he heard James call him from behind a thick hedge, Michael knew that he might not be the only one considering playing.
"Girl#9 Davina Jackson" She quickly moved to the corridor, unable to look back at the terrified faces behind her. Grabbing her pack, she took off down the street. She heard James call her name, but Davina kept running. All the bets were off now, and friendship didn't mean anything. Davina knew she was on her own.
"Boy#10 Graham Pace" Graham kissed his girlfriend one last time and bounded into the corridor, picking up the pack in one smooth motion and running outside. He took off running. Graham was more worried about his girlfriend than himself. He had told her to meet him at the northernmost point of the island. He could only hope she made it.
"Girl#10 Emily Jones" Emily stood up from the back of the class and moved forward, the students making way for her as if she was a plague carrier. She took her pack and stepped out into the cold night. Emily was scared. She saw the way everyone stared at her, as if she was a killer or something. She took off running down the path, her heavy boots thudding as she ran.
"Boy#11 Steven Peters" Steven rushed out, grabbing a pack from the pile and bounding out into the freezing night air. He looked around, but his girlfriend was no-where to be seen. He took off down the road, hoping to catch up with her. It was his fault she was here. It was his entire bloody fault.
"Girl#11 Juliette Owen" Juliet pushed her wire framed glasses up her nose as she hurried across the room, taking a pack and running to the open door at the end of the corridor. She was scared. Juliette knew she wasn't the most popular girl, and hanging around with the geeks didn't help. She only hoped that she didn't run into the psycho chavs.
"Boy#12 Peter Smith" Peter grabbed his large duffle back and scurried towards the door, picking up a pack as he went. When he reached the outside, he froze for a moment. What was his plan? Then he heard James call from behind a thick, dense hedge in front of him. He quickly moved behind it, and saw James and Mike squatting there, eyes focused on the exit to the decrepit old building.
"Girl#12 Penny Metcalfe" Penny grabbed her pack and ran. There were quite a few people that didn't like her. She had only moved to the school a year ago, and the girls had taken a dislike to her. Penny thought she heard voices, and fearing the worst, ran as fast as she could down the road.
"Boy#13 Martin Steel" Martin climbed off the table he was sitting on and grabbed a pack, sprinting straight forward, out into the night. Martin knew that he needed to get as far away from the starting point as possible, and he planned to run until he collapsed.
"Girl#13 Rachel Moore" Rachel got up, and with a cocky swagger, picked up her pack. Stepping outside, she heard James call her. She found him, Mike and Peter all behind a large hedge. She stared at them.
"Where's Davina?" James shook his head.
"Fuck knows, she took off. We called out, but she just legged it. Only one left is Ben now." James said, the chewing gum in his mouth rolling around as he spoke.
"Boy#14 Ben Taylor" Grabbed his sports bag and sprinted out of the room, grabbing his pack and throwing it over his shoulder. Ben knew that the only way was to play, and he planned on embracing that .As soon as he stepped out, he heard James calling him. Behind a hedge were the rest of his mates. He quickly crouched down beside them.
"So, what you waiting for then?" He said, already opening his pack. James shook his head.
"We haven't got any real weapons. I got handcuffs, Mike got a first aid kit, and Rachel got one of those fucking meat tenderisers." James spat his gum out. "Fuckers gave us joke weapons." Ben felt in his pack a cold, hard, heavy object, and pulled it up. In the light of the moonlight he saw what it was, and a grin crossed his face. It was a small, black pistol, with an ammo magazine that was extended way past the end of the gun. He felt around in the pack and found three more magazines, and a box of what he presumed to be bullets. He showed it to the others, and smiles went across their faces.
"Girl#14 Laura Neville" She stood up from the wall and walked to the corridor, watching as every students eyes were on her. She clumsily picked up her pack and stepped outside. She knew this was going to happen. She knew it. They really had been after her.
"Boy#15 Alex Varley" Alex ran to the door, and grabbed his pack. Then he sprinted straight out of the bunker and into the trees. He heard someone shout "STOP" and that made him run even faster, his heart racing and lungs burning. Alex didn't know much, but he knew he needed to get away, now.
"Girl#15 Samantha Stewart" Samantha quickly picked up the bag and jogged towards the exit. John had slipped her a note, and she hadn't had a chance to read it yet. She hoped it wasn't what she was thinking it could be. Stepping out into the cold night, she saw James Bedford standing right before her. Samantha wanted to run, but she was too scared. James started to move towards her, reaching inside his pocket for something. Samantha finally acted, and ran to her left, quickly hitting the tree line which was only four or five steps away, and slipping into the darkness.
"Boy#16 David Webb" David slipped on his backpack, and then after picking up his pack and throwing the packs strap over his shoulder, he stepped outside. He was immediately greeted by a gun, which was being held by Ben Taylor. Ben's face was contorted with anger.
"Get down on you fuckin knees, you cunt. Now!" Ben barked at David, who immediately dropped to his knees. He could feel his heart pounding in his ears. Ben stood over him, the gun millimetres from David's forehead.
"Please, please don't....." David begged, the tears already welling up in his eyes.
"Give me your fuckin pack." David began to slide the pack off his shoulder, as the first tear streaked down his face.
"Girl#16 Maria Sands" Maria slowly got up from her crouched position at the back of the room, and walked across the room, picking up a pack with one arm. She bounded towards the exit. As she ran out, Ben saw her, twisting his head and pointing the gun towards her. Before he could get a good shot at her, however, Maria slammed into him, knocking him backwards. He lost his grip on the gun, and staggered back a few steps. Maria then swung her heavy combat boots into his crotch, sending him keeling over to the ground, groaning. Maria turned to face David and shouted.
"RUN!" David scrambled to his feet, and followed Maria, who was already well ahead of him, into the trees.
"Boy#17Daniel West" Daniel grabbed his pack and headed quickly for the exit. He had heard about the program, everyone had, but he thought he had avoided it. Now here he was, wearing what looked like prison outfits. Great. Stepping outside, he saw several of the students in the middle of the road. He stared at them, and they stared at him. Taking his chance, Daniel sprinted off into the woods.
"Girl#17Laura Weir" Laura looked at the other two remaining people, grabbed a pack from the near empty rack, and sprinted out, heading straight for the trees. She had to catch up with Graham.
Boy#18Neil Williams" Neil slowly got up, and grabbing the second to last pack, walked outside. It was cold and dark. And quiet. He quickly moved towards the tree line, and disappeared into the dark. Neil felt like shit, and he just wanted to find somewhere to hole up.
Girl#18Sarah Wood" Sarah carefully picked up the last pack, and jogged outside. There was no-one there. She wished that she hadn't been the last, her friends were long gone by now. Scared and alone, Sarah started to walk down the roads that lead away from the building.
GAME START ======= 36 Contestants remaining =========