28 Students remaining
The heat was unbearable. Stifling. Choking. Tom crawled forwards blindly. Smoke blurred his vision and made his eyes water. He couldn't see. He couldn't breathe.
Stand up
I can't.
If you don't then you're dead.
It's too hard.
Dead.
I don't care. I want to die. Death is better than this.
Don't say that. You can't give up now.
What's the point? I failed them all. They all died and I couldn't do anything.
It wasn't your fault.
Yes it was.
You couldn't have done anything.
I should have killed him when I had the chance.
But then he would have killed you. You did what you could.
My best wasn't good enough.
But it's over now.
So? I still failed them.
Get a hold of yourself. You can't stay here feeling sorry for yourself.
So warm…
Stop it!
Sleep…
No! Fight it!
Can't…
Do it for them
What?
Live and get revenge
But he's dead. It's over now…
No! It's not over. What about Mr Henderson?
What about him?
He put you on this god forsaken island in the first place.
But the soldiers?
Can be overcome.
How?
Win
Win?
Win and carry on the fight.
I don't understand
Get out of this place and bring down the program from within.
Within?
Take over.
How?
I will help you.
Help me? How?
I will teach you.
Teach me?
Yes.
Teach me.
I will.
Thank you
Now get out of here.
Yes.
Tom searched within himself. There must be some strength in there. He had to stand up. If he didn't then he would die. He climbed to his feet. His leg shook dangerously with every step. The door? No. it was blocked. Where then? Upstairs. He made his way over the stairs. His foot caught something and he stumbled. What was it? A sword? His sword. He picked it up. Wasn't there more? Yes! Over there, his gun. He pulled himself towards it. Now the stairs! One step at a time. You can do it.
He found himself at the top of the stairs. What now? With a loud crack the stairs behind him gave way. The fire had consumed them. There was no way back. The whole house shook and tilted. The wooden supports were all on fire now. There wasn't much time. There! The window! Tom made his way over to it and pushed. It was locked. He grabbed his Shotgun and swung the stock into the centre of the pane. The glass shattered. Cool air flooded in. the fire behind him surged as the fresh oxygen fed the flames. He looked into the night and jumped.
Then there was nothing.