40 Students remaining.
Plastic gray flooring stared back at Will as his eyes opened, his head was pounding with a headache and his eyes were taking awhile to adjust back to normal.
I must be in the classroom again, thought Will as he raised his head a little. Rows of desks and chairs filled the dim room, pictures of old leaders like Hitler and President Lincoln all covered the walls. A chalk board stretched the width of the room right at the front with the words: BR TRAINING PROGRAM, in large bold, chalky letters.
It suddenly dawned on Will what was going on, what he remembered when he was on the coach, what his Father told him. All around him were Class Nine all laid on the floor, conscious and unconscious. It took awhile to register the location of Danny, he was propped up against the classroom wall smoking, staring into space. Will ran over to him and tipped his hat to him, Danny glaring at him and taking another drag of his cigarette. Nobody spoke a word, there were too many questions in each others minds to be asked. Molly Drive was in the corner whimpering, her face tear-stained and her braces shining in the reflection of the light. Some of the tougher girls like Rosario Green, Female Student No. 9, Evelyn Ladel, Female Student No. 10 and Alesha Parkers, Female Student No. 11 were sat on tables with their legs crossed, their hair slightly ruffled and there faces dirty with sweat. They looked like they feared nothing at all.
Will turned his body next to Danny's and slumped himself against the wall next to his, still taking in the reality of where they were. He didn't know how to feel, he felt numb and disorientated, like he was staring death in the face, like he was staring his Father in the face.
Yazmin coughed and spluttered some blood as she awoke from her forced slumber. Her hair was still in shape and she had sweat forming across her forehead. He topped was rolled up her back and for a moment, she thought she had been raped until she realized her surroundings. The amount of students in her class, crying, moaning, whispering and awaking shocked her too much that she had to lay back down again.
What the fuck, she thought, placing a hand on her forehead, her eyes wide open until Victoria appeared over her.
"Babes what the fuck is going on?" asked Yazmin as Victoria pulled her up slightly so that she was sat on her bottom. Victoria sat down with her, their expressions identically worried.
"I fell asleep first, I thought I was just tired but then I remember waking up and everybody was asleep in here, it was empty but I could hear helicopters outside and then a huge light was shone into the classroom and we were asleep again and, and-" Victoria stopped and traced her fingertips to her neck. A silver plastic collar was strapped around her neck with a red light beaming at the front. Yazmin stared for a moment until she became aware there was one around her own neck. She looked all the way around her, everybody was wearing one too.
"What are they?!" screamed Yazmin, her voice the loudest in the classroom. The students fell silent, a few of them frowning like Alannah. They stared at Yazmin, hoping for somebody to reply to her. Will had only caught on what was around his own neck too, he felt strange, like he was in control of.
Suddenly, footsteps hammered into the classroom. Six army men came in with fully loaded AK-47's and two huge bags which jingled and ruffled in movement. The entire class stared in awe, questioning their presence. Closely following the army men was a huge muscle man with a buzz-cut. His features were harsh and wrinkled, his stare was empty and lifeless. A black suit covered his body, he looked quite menacing. He walked to the front and grabbed some chalk. He hastily wrote his name in large letters.
Mr Killian, it read.
A few of the students gasped at the man's aggressive movements as he wrote on the board. Mr Killian turned on his heel and smiled coldly, his hands clasped firmly behind his back.
"Welcome Year Eleven, Class Nine of Esserwich High School, I am Mr Killian, as you can see by my beautiful, elegant motherfucking handwriting on the board." said Mr Killian in his cool, don't-give-a-fuck tone. Danny was glaring at him viciously, he didn't like him already. Will had noticed this new hate and felt uneasy about a possible fight. Mr Killian noticed Danny's glare and laughed loudly, his horrific laugh chilling the spines of the students. He pointed his finger at Danny and his laughable grin dropped to one of the most coldest, meanest stares he had ever seen.
"Stare at me like that again boy and I'll gauge those eyes out." spat Mr Killian, turning away from him to the rest of the class. He took out a cigarette and let the tense atmosphere build for the students, enjoying every moment of it. Slowly, he lit his cigarette and took one deep inhale of tobacco and the exhaled into the light, hazing the classroom over.
"I can see those questions are knowing away at your brains. Let me answer them for you eh," began Mr Killian as he moved to the board. He grabbed the chalk again and underlined the phrase: BR TRAINING PROGRAM.
"BR Training Program, welcome, hope you love every fucking moment of it. Of your lives that is. Before I start, I do not want to see any chewing, any whispering, any crying, any GLARING and anything that insults my ego in any shape or form, am I correct? Good, so let me answer those questions. You are all here for one purpose. The fight of survival of course. You need to toughen up those skills before you enter the wide world. However, only one of you will be leaving with that advantage."
A few whispers and cries were heard in the class, Yazmin braced herself and moved further to the back where she slowly edged herself to Will, trying to give herself a false sense of security for the time being.
"I said no fucking whispering!" shouted Mr Killian, grabbing the chalk and throwing it brutally at Sarah Petil who was silenced in seconds as the chalk flicked her forehead. Everything was deathly quiet again
"Good. Only one of you will be leaving, don't fucking understand me? Watch this video. General Luke, sort the machine out." commanded Mr Killian, moving to one of the spare desks and sitting on the table as General Luke swiftly moved over and shoved the tape into the VCR. The screen flickered for a moment until an excitable Japanese girl came onto the screen in an orange t-shirt. Mr Killian sniggered.
"These Japs." he whispered under his breathe, taking another drag of his cigarette.
The Japanese girl made a peace sign and grinned as the neon lights flashed crazily in the background.
"Konnichiwa Class Nine, I am Mayumi and I shall be teaching you all about the BR Training Program! Okay, aren't you excited? I am excited! Let's start!"
The picture shifted to a picture of a map to what looked like an island. Mayumi appeared in front of the map with a cane and began to point out several coordinates.
"We are here, an unknown island off the North Coast of France. The island is sectioned in the coordinates! You have to make your way around. But waity waity, let me carry on because aw, you do not know the object on the game!"
Danny smirked, Game, what game, he thought as he continued to watch the crazy Japanese raver on the screen.
"Ooookay! Class Nine, we have got you here to play against each other! You have to fight each other until everybody is DEADand there can only be one survivor! Now now, the collars around your neck are very dangerous so do not pry them off or they will EXPLODE. These collars help us track where you are so if you get up to any funny business, we can press the button and BOOM there goes your head!"
The entire class was traumatized by what they were hearing. Fighting each other until we're all dead? This cannot be real, it must be dream. A dream they are all having.
"Now listen up you guys, you will all be given a bag with a map, a compass, bread and water to last you two days. That's 72 hours! The game's maximum running time is only 72 hours and if there is no winner, we will make those collars explode until all students are gone. However, guys guys, listen, if there is a winner, you will receive a pension plan and a special place in the army forces if you do! You will be famous! Rich! So what's up guys, don't be so sad, you're fighting for survival, who was your best friend may become your murderer! Each of you have a weapon in your bag which matches you and your abilities, so don't be sad if you get a spoon kay?"
The girls began to scream and cry, they didn't want to die yet. They don't want to fight each other. No, some of them thought, we shall stick together and somehow get off the island.
"And don't think about escaping off this island because there are army men in big black ships all the way around just so you don't swim away! One of the most important things to remember is that there will be three zones called out at morning, afternoon and night. Mark the coordinates on your map because they are very important. Do not go in the said coordinates or your collars with go BANG!"
Some of the class jumped as she made emphasis on the bang. Danny seemed un-nerved by all of this, but he knew he could do it. Will however was feeling incredibly tense but he had been expecting this all along. He glanced at Yazmin and sighed, knowing that she could be dead in the first hour of being set free onto the island.
"Owkay guys, I'm about to go but one more thing! All your names will be called out, boy girl boy girl and you will be given your bags. Each will be in two minute intervals for you to get out of the building. Once you get out of this building, you will be on the island. Run, hide, assassinate. Okay guys! Good luck!"
The television screen went blank and the tape stopped. Mr Killian was chuckling to himself wildly, he loved how scared the students got whenever they saw this tape. He slipped off the table and glared at the class, his arms folded.
"You heard the bitch, lets get this game on the road." said Mr Killian, snapping his fingers, prompting the army men to open the bag.
"Harry Jones, Male Student No. 1, to the front now." called out Mr Killian, it was all happening too fast. Yazmin had adjusted to the task but the thought of braving her revenge to the test would be a toll on her brain. The tough girls looked as if they could handle it but we all knew that they were trembling underneath. The reality of death can overcome the toughest of people.
Harry Jones, an English-black student rose to his feet, his jeans half way down his backside, a Slipknot hoodie hiding his fit-physique. Harry Jones was the school's best football player, in game he was praised for his abilities but outside, he was scorned for like Gothical/Mosher music. Harry is six foot two and has the speed of a runner once he gets going. He doesn't have any friends and he's damn hard to beat at anything. It made Victoria wonder whether this game would be the same.
Harry took the bag and walked out of the classroom quickly, Mr Killian eyeing him up and down, obviously being racist in his mind.
"Amelia Brown, Female Student No. 2." called a voice. Amelia stood up, Sarah giving her a harsh glare. Yazmin knew she would find pleasure in killing Amelia, that's if Sarah can put up with the blood and gore. Amelia grabbed her bag and walked out and it remained like that for the entire house, students names cropping up, coming and going. Everybody was on the edge of their seat, not knowing who would be called next. What happens if somebody has already been killed?
"Joe Don, Male Student No. 10." shouted Mr Killian. A bulky boy with a scar on his cheek pulled himself up and stumbled over to the front, his muscles showing through the white of his t-shirt. Joe Don was surprisingly the clown of the class, always had something humorous to say and often put a positive spin on things. Rumors have it that his Father tried to kill him with a knife and that's how he got the scar.
Yazmin and Victoria moved over to Will, she couldn't help link her pinky finger within his, comforting him. Electricity ran through them again and Victoria couldn't help fall awkwardly silent under the arousal. Yazmin had become unaware because of the current situation. Time passed more, the arrows of the clock once pointed to 9:00pm now pointed to 11:00pm.
"Danny Harper, Male Student No. 7."
Danny stood hastily and made his way over, striding his every movement with aggression as a statement of power. He wasn't going to let this Mr Killian take control. Mr Killian narrowed his eyes and smiled.
"Danny, Danny, Danny." said Mr Killian, moving his arm away from his back and around Danny. He wasn't sure what was going on at first until he saw a glint of metal in his eye. He gasped and looked at Mr Killian, there eyes connection in a vortex of hate. Without hesitation, Mr Killian raised the knife in his hand, Danny froze in time. Will leapt forward and screamed, Yazmin pulling him back for his own safety while Victoria held Yazmin in her arms.
The knife came running down straight into Danny's arm and sliced a part of his skin off. Danny lunged forward in pain, his arm bleeding all over his clothes and the floor. His black hair fell over his face, his face turning into a twisted version of hate, his eyes empty, but he bit back and grabbed his bag and stomped out of the room. Will, Yazmin, Victoria and the other students were stood amazed, they thought he was going to die. They rested back on the wall in relief, then it suddenly hit Will. Some people will be playing this game, maybe everyone, for survival. What happens if Danny betrays him? What happens if Yazmin does? It's all too much to take in, it's like all trust has disappeared.
"Will Senate, Male Student No. 12." said Mr Killian as he eyed the class up and down. There were only eight of us left.
Will looked at Yazmin and Victoria, sighing. He didn't know what these girls were truly capable of and he's suddenly started to imagine everything in black and white. Trust has been narrowed down to nothing compared to what it used to be.
He moved forward and didn't bat an eyelid to Mr Killian, the curve of his cowboy hat covering his eyes completely.
"Heh heh," laughed Mr Killian under his breathe, staring at Will's hat. He hated American's, especially their so-called fashion.
"My dear boy, you look a fool in that pathetic hat." spat Mr Killian, his eyes piercing Will as he walked by but Will didn't bat an eyelid. He let his calm exterior take over, showing he felt no fear and will do whatever he can to get the job done. No matter what. The army man shoved the bag into Will's arms and shoved him out of the room, slapping his cowboy hat clean off. It fell to the floor at the doorway, the students on the edge of their seats, wondering what will happen next. Will merely knelt down, picked it up and placed it back on his head. He left the classroom and walked down the dark corridor, old notice boards and advertisements covering broken lockers and holed walls. Light shone down the valley of darkness, he knew that the instant he walked out of that door, the game begins for him. The minute his foot steps outside, he will be the hunted. Minutes passed and he approached the door with caution, he closed his eyes and pushed the door, the cold midnight air filling his nostrils and for a moment, he could smell blood. His walk was confident, tall and manly, I will plough through this, he thought as he stepped fully onto the school buildings playground.
The air stirred dread, flourishing all the way through his senses. He placed the bag over his shoulder and placed himself flat on the school wall. He edged down it until he got to a dark corner. This should keep him safe for now, he will be able to wait for Victoria and Yazmin here.
What happens if some of the class comes out before them and try to kill me? He thought as he opened his bag, his eyes darting around him for anybody in the vicinity.
I wonder what weapon is in here, he thought to himself again, his hand rummaging inside, his hands casually grazing over two bottles of water and some bread until he felt something hard and leady. Will pulled out a 15mm Sword Gun with a silencer on the end. For a moment, he felt incredibly blessed. He felt like he had just pulled the holy grail out of his bag.
Perfect, he thought as he loaded it, this will keep us safe.
CRASH!
The school doors flung open and Janet Dyke came stomping out, her heavy platform shoes thundering anger as she stepped.
"Fucking idiots," Janet mumbled viciously, aggressively opening her bag. Will had never seen Janet so angry before, but it was expected. She is unpredictable.
"Shitheads, how dare they make us do this," scoffed Janet through her braces, slowly pulling out a 12 inch Kay bar from her bag. The lengthy knife shining in the reflection of the Full Moon.
"Heh heh, now I can get revenge on Sarah and her pathetic groupies." murmured Janet to herself, placing the knife in her belt loop. Will clasped his hand over his mouth to quiet his breathing. Janet began to walk across the playground until she stopped in the middle, she could feel a presence behind her. Somebody was watching her in the midst's. She withdrew her knife and spun it quickly in her hand. Will pushed himself deeper into the shadows, his body less visible from a distance.
Janet began to walk back up the playground, the Moon shining down upon her like a midnight assassin. She looked blood thirsty, confident. As if the knife was her new best friend.
"Well well well," hissed Janet, the knife slicing through the air as she walked arrogantly towards Will.
She can see me?! Will shouted in his mind, his heart racing, his gun ready to fire in his hand. Janet cackled with laughter. Her body a few yards from Will now.
"You should of taken that hat of William." Janet said, her tone pompous. Within seconds she had dodged low, spun on the ball of her foot and jumped straight next to Will where she held the knife to his neck. He kept still, his gun hidden from her view, he hoped. Janet traced her lips down his cheek and laughed to herself, a twisted sound.
"Oh how I have dreamed of being this close to man…" whispered Janet, placing her face in front of Will's, slowly moving her hand down his arm to his hand.
"Pity." she said, grabbing the gun in Will's hand. He reflexed back and elbowed her in the face, she slammed to the floor, the knife slicing a bit through his thigh. He brushed off the pain and grabbed his gun properly and aimed it at Janet who was holding her face in pain, rolling from side to side as the searing hot heat flourished to the tips of her nerves in the cheekbone.
Will remained quiet, the barrel of the gun aimed directly at Janet's chest. Could he do it, seemed to be the question on his mind. Could he murder somebody. Of course he could, to save himself. This is a game, the minute he shoots Janet, the closer he gets to safety.
He pulled the trigger and closed his eyes, Janet thrust her hands forward and screamed No, but before her next word slipped out of her mouth, the bullet was streaming through the air towards her,
BANG!
The bullet slammed straight into her left lung, she gasped for her air frantically, her arms moving around the floor, trying to reach for her knife to slip in a quick revenge. Will stumbled back and breathed heavily, his eyes wide open, his hat clear of his face.
CRASH!
The school doors opened again and Molly Drive came running out, she fell to her knees and screamed as the saw the pool of blood surrounding her best friend Janet Dyke on the floor. Janet's hearing was slowly deteriorating as her life began to slip away. She finally grabbed the handle of the Kay bar and raised it high above her body, with one flick of her wrist, she flung the knife towards Molly. It pierced straight through her forehead and she was dead in a second, her lifeless body crashing to the playground floor. Janet's eyes rolled and she no longer breathed, her soul leaving her body.
Will was shaking now, the cold biting the outer layers of his skin. Everything he just saw went so fast. Why didn't Janet kill him? She had a clear shot, he was un-nerved. He deserved it. Why didn't he die?
"Will," whispered a voice in the distance. He peaked through the darkness to see a familiar face in the bushes at the edge of the forest. It was Danny Harper.
"Danny?" asked Will, walking out into the playground.
"Sh!" Danny hissed. Will ran over as fast as he could, the playground was like an open mine field. He dived into the bushes and landed in a heap of mud beside Danny Harper. He sat up instantly and clasped his gun firmly beside him, a small part of him telling his instincts to be wary of Danny, he could be against him.
Danny looked rugged and rough, sweat and mud covering his face and what looked like blood on his neck and ear. His hair was shiny and smooth, but frizzy on the outer layers, his eyes were alive and steely. His shirt was ripped to reveal his toned abs underneath.
He knelt down from the bushes and glared at Will for a moment, scorning him for his recent move on Janet and his slow reaction on Molly.
"You nearly got yourself slaughtered out there." whispered Danny, sitting back on his elbows, breathing heavily.
"Trust me Will, these chicks are psychotic. We men get fights done and over with and that's it, but these girls… bitchy and secretive and whenever the chance arises, they'll kill each other for something that happened a year ago. We men are just damn unlucky that this motherfucker cropped up." explained Danny, pulling out another cigarette and placing it in his mouth. Sarah's lighter appeared in his hands and for a moment, it made Will wonder how he got it, but he didn't ask. He lit the cigarette and took a deep inhale of smoke and slowly exhaled small rings into the air, his head leaning way back. His steely eyes glazed over to Will.
"You know, now would be a good time to talk." said Danny. Will smiled and moved his hat over his eyes again, a feeling of dread washing over him.
"What the fuck were you doing hiding in that corner over there huh Will? I could see your damn hat from over here." laughed Danny, smirking and taking another drag of his cigarette. Will fake a grin and looked down at his free hand, feeling quite offended that Danny slated his Father's hat, he knew his history perfectly well not to offend it. But that was Danny for him.
"I am waiting for Yazmin and Victoria." replied Will.
Danny burst out laughing, a puff of smoke escaping his mouth.
"Fuck off!" he said loudly, himself nearly in hysterics. Will didn't know what he found so funny.
"Dude, I cannot believe you're still pining over Yazmin, I mean Jesus, Victoria is the one you want, cute little girl like her. I wouldn't mind at all." said Danny.
"What are you saying?" asked Will, he knew Danny liked to play with his words whenever he spoke about a sensitive subject. Danny smirked at Will, giving him a quirky look in his eye, his cigarette hanging loosely out of his mouth.
"You think I like Sarah? Fuck no, she is high maintenance. Girls like Victoria, they're natural, she's quirky and she's beautiful." said Danny, breathing in the fresh cigarette air, "I think I love her."
Now it was Will's turn to laugh but he didn't let it slide out of his vocals, he kept it in and smirked. Men like Danny don't love, they only lust.
"I am still waiting for them, Danny." Will said cautiously, grasping his gun tighter in his hand, the barrier of distrust strengthening between them. He looked at Danny for a moment and watched him carefully, it looked as if he was forming a plan in his mind.
"Brilliant," said Danny under his breathe, "We shall wait for them, they can tag along with us, we'll keep them safe. We can get off this island."
I doubt it, thought Will, looking at the school door as a silhouette appeared on the walls. The door opened slowly and a figure with white trousers appeared with bare feet. It was Yazmin. She looked unbothered by the dead bodies of Janet Dyke and Molly Drive near her. Will jumped his attention and smiled in the shadow of his hat. He got up immediately and stepped through the bushes.
"Yazmin." Will whispered, trying to grab her attention as fast as he could. She looked up bewildered and saw Will in the moonlight. She smiled and quickly jogged over to him. He opened his arms and hugged her briefly, trying not to make a scene in front of Danny but he wished to hold on longer.
"What is going on?" said Yazmin with a pained tone as she pulled back from him. Will could of given her a ton of answers but he it wasn't the right time, not yet. Danny was looking at Yazmin up and down, admiring her physique but he knew she was off limits to him, he had to be respectful for Will, for now.
"I will explain later," replied Will, gesturing Yazmin to sit down. She slumped herself beside Danny and gave him an open-eyed stare, her expression unable to read.
This chick is weird, laughed Danny in his mind, finishing his cigarette. He pulled out his cigarette packet and offered one to Yazmin. She stared for a moment and then took one, but placed it in her pocket rather than lighting it. Will was watching Yazmin, analyzing her every move, he wanted to see whether she was nervous.
"Before I left that classroom, that Killian nutter went mental at Victoria, she's okay though. Strong but shaken, yeah? That sounds like a drink. A bit like James Bond." said Yazmin, staring at the school door, waiting for her best friend to stumble through.
Will laughed at her small comment but Danny seemed bewildered, what the Hell was she talking about it? It baffled him how she got onto the subject of Victoria to James Bond in one sentence.
"Totally told him to fuck off under her breathe, I'm surprised he didn't get violent on her arse, I mean jeez, you just don't say that to a guy like him. I guess he has a soft spot for women. Rapist." finished Yazmin, laying on her bank to look at the stars through the gap of the leaves and branches.
What the fuck is she on, mumbled Danny to himself in his head, watching her lay down. He found it awfully tempting to look at her exposed navel but he didn't bother, he knew Will was watching him.
A soft creak sounded in the distance and the door opened. Victoria stepped out timidly, holding her bag to her chest. Yazmin had already looked at her weapon but she wasn't going to tell anybody what it was just yet. The handle of her weapon however, was sticking out the opening of her bag but she hoped nobody would realize.
Will was about to stand up until Danny pushed him back with his arm. He grinned at him,
"I'll take this one." he said, standing and placing another cigarette in his mouth. Yazmin stared at Danny open-eyed again and smiled,
"I do say." she said to herself as she glanced at Will, giving him a shrugged smile. She seemed totally oblivious to the situation, like she hadn't realized how serious this was. This was a game of death, not fun. Then again, Will never knew what went on inside her head but all the time it was like he could feel her inside his, almost like they were one.
Danny rolled up his sleeves further and unbuttoned the bottom of his shirt, presenting himself irresistible. He casually stepped through the bushes and placed his hands into his pocket, flicking his hair back of his face, his cheekbones well defined in the moonlight. Victoria hadn't noticed him, she was staring at the dead bodies on her classmates on the floor. She didn't feel too shocked, she knew that she will be seeing a lot worse. Danny purposely scuffed his feet on the ground and suddenly, Victoria turned her head, her eyes stunned open. She stepped back a little, worried that Danny was going to hurt her until she realized he was un-armed.
"Victoria…" he whispered, his voice awesomely seductive and silky. For a moment, her heart fluttered as his natural charm sparked off on her. The way his body shaped, the way his eyes oozed temptation and the way he looked so Vamperic and porcelain enticed her intensely. She had forgotten he was Danny Harper, a pure player of lust.
"Danny, what are-"
"Take my hand." said Danny, placing his hand gracefully in front of her. She took it gently, her hands trembling. He could feel the attraction between them and suddenly it bloomed into something bigger, a warm feeling in his chest, a surge of power in his body. He had never felt this before. Victoria stared at him straight into his eyes and let him lead her on across the playground. Her bag felt heavy and pointy as it bashed on her leg as she walked. It made her wonder what weapon she had.
"Here," whispered Danny, leaving his head past her face and took her bag for her. As he pulled back, his face hovered in front of hers and for a moment, she thought they were going to kiss. He held her chin in his fingers and winked at her, smiling.
"Come on." he said, pulling himself away from Victoria, dragging her to the bushes where Yazmin and Will were both laid.
"Yazmin!" Victoria exclaimed, jumping forward and hugged her tightly. Yazmin grinned broadly and mouthed a thank you to Danny who nodded in return.
All of them sat together on the ground, pausing for rest. There was strong mix of chemistry between them, they were almost excited for the adventure to come but their ambition was soon shattered by the thought of death. There can only be one winner, but they kept telling themselves that there is a way to get off this island for all of them.
Is there one?
38 Students remaining.