This story is going to involve the parents and their thoughts as well, so in this chapter the devastating news is delivered to the characters parents!
Saturday: June 1st, 2010 – 11:45 P.M. (New York: St. Josephs: Home for Boys)
Ms. Linston was doing her summer cleaning. Sure it was a little late, but she adored this time of day because it was always quiet in the orphanage. She swept the tan tiles in the kitchen free of tonight's dinner scraps. She heard the streets bustle with taxi's and buses with a little smile on her tired face.
"You just have to love the city," she chuckles to herself. After spending a month sleeping in this city…you'll be able to sleep through anything. "I hope they're having fun. They've been talking about this trip nonstop," she giggled while putting the broom back in the cupboard. She made her way to the porch and wasn't surprised to see Mr. Dennings sitting in his famous old rocking chair after she opened the screen door. "Well, look who it is," she chimed while tucking a loose strand of gray hair behind her hair.
"Why hello there Diane, you going to enjoy the beautiful New York life with me?" the old gentleman beamed. Diane maneuvered to a lawn chair in her bathrobe and sat down causing it to squeak a bit.
"I miss them already," she sighed while looking over at the scrawny elderly man.
"So do I. They're young men now, but I must say this place is going to be quite lonesome with them gone." It was true. Once they turn eighteen, they are no longer in the orphanage's hands. They'll have to go out on their own in just a few months.
"All that matters is that we have a few more months," Diane said. The summer winds blow down the busy street in front of them and whistle past the honking cars.
"What's that?" croaked Mr. Dennings. Diane looked in the direction he was and was a little confused by the sight. A solid black SUV was roaming down the street with two police cars in front. They turned the corner and parked right in front of the crammed orphanage building. The cars in front stopped their bickering and had the passengers look over in curiosity.
"What's all this?" Diane snapped, storming up to the SUV in her pink slippers. Two men dressed in black with emerged from each side of the vehicle while one burly individual with a dark blue suit marched out of the front with a calm expression.
"Ma'am, are you Ms. Linston? Guardian of Beck Oliver and Mike Fukanaga?" he says quickly. Diane narrows her eyes and begins to laugh.
"Oh Lord, what did those two do this time? Whatever they did I'll pay you as much as you need to repair-" She was cut off by the burly man who was now coughing into his large palm.
"That's…not why we're here Ms. Linston." Mr. Dennings was hobbling down the porch steps and over to black SUV with his oak cane.
"What's happening here?" he chuckled while looking at the group of agents. "Is this one of the secret service things like from TV?" he laughed while dancing around. Diane put her hand on her forehead in embarrassment.
"No sir," the large man told them, "We came to inform you that Beck Oliver and Mike Fukanaga have been chosen to participate in the sixty-first annual-" without saying another word, Diane's eyes went wide and she began to scream.
"NO! You can't do that! There is no way! There is no way you can subject them to this!"
"I'm sorry ma'am but it is not our decision. It is by law that they participate and-"
"The only people they have left is each other! How can you waltz in and force this upon them and come over here and tell me this so nonchalantly?" Diane stomped her foot wildly and let her tears spray in every direction. Mr. Dennings looked down to the ground and placed a hand on her back.
"Come dear," he whispered sadly.
"No! I won't let them do this! My God you all are a bunch of monsters…Damn You!" she bawled. The agents all looked at her with sympathy and made their way back into their vehicles. After driving off into the city, the other vehicles continued their business, but the drivers looked over to them with sad eyes.
"How terrible," a woman sighed. Her two sons in the back seat looked over with confused looks.
"Maybe they'll make it out okay," assured Mr. Dennings with a beaming face.
"No… they won't. The only way you make it out is if you kill everyone else and..." Diane couldn't continue. She fell to the floor and cried hysterically even though people stared at her through their car windows. She didn't care…she didn't care one single bit. Mr. Dennings squeezed her shoulders and fell to his knees as well.
"They're smart young men. I'm sure they'll find a way through it all," the old man smiled with hope, his bony fingers still wrapped around Diane's trembling shoulders.
Saturday: June 1st, 2010 – 12:07 P.M. (New York: Vega Residence)
Holly was watching a late night special on Lifetime. Her hands buried in the popcorn while the screen lit up with drama. She missed her two little girls but how can you not enjoy this peace and quiet. David Vega was running down the stairs in his police uniform, getting ready for another night out on the dangerous streets of New York. His job was dangerous and could get him killed but Holly thought it was the most exciting thing in the world due to all the dramas she would watch.
"Got my holster, my badge, my cap, and my gun…what else am I forgetting?" he mutters to himself while pacing over to the kitchen.
"I think it was saying goodnight to the girls honey," Holly said from the red couch, her eyes glued to the television screen.
"Oh, right! I miss them…hope their having the time of their lives," David chuckled while tightening the belt around his pants.
"Yeah…hey? They should have called us by now. It's midnight. Don't you think they would've gotten there by now?" Holly asked in suspicion. David looked at her in agreement and raced to his phone.
"Yeah, I'm gonna call Mr. Garcia. Ask him whether or not Carlos made it there safely," he says while dialing the Garcia's home phone. Officer Garcia and David both worked as cops on the NYCPD. They were good friends and knew each other for about eight years. Tori, Trina and Carlos would always play together when Mr. Garcia came over to have a drink and watch some football with him.
"Hey Diego!" David greeted with cheerful voice. "Listen, I was wondering if Carlos got in contact with you once he made it there…" There is a long pause and Holly looks at him in concern until he talks back.
"I see…okay…yeah, I'll see you at work…alright…talk to you later," David hung up and took a deep breath.
"What's going on?" Holly asked turning off her anticipated movie with the click of the remote.
"Carlos hasn't called him back either," David said with worry. Holly licks her lips and walks over to him.
"Maybe…they were too wrapped up in excitement that they forgot. I mean who can blame them?" Holly insisted while hugging her husband.
"I hope so…dear God why can't they remember what I told them! I said specifically to contact us during their trip," David sighed with irritation. After the couple shares a hug a knock interrupts their dilemma.
"Coming!" Holly shouted from the kitchen. "Who could that be at this hour?" Holly asked in confusion. She opens the door and comes face to face with a giant gentleman in a blue suit. His body takes up most of the door frame and he gestures to the couple.
"Hello ma'am, sir. I am Agent Hansen. May I come in? It's to discuss the situation involving your daughters," Holly's eyes light up with fear and she turns her head slowly to her husband.
"David," she whimpers with a terrified expression.
"What's going on?" he says in confusion after running over to the front door.
"Are you Holly and David Vega, parents of Trina and Victoria Vega?" asks Agent Hansen.
"Uh…yes. Why? Oh God did something happen to them! Oh God no…don't tell me please," Holly whimpers again while bringing her hand up to her mouth. David looks the Agent up and down with horror. A black SUV sits parked in their driveway.
"No ma'am, nothing harmful has happened to your children. However, there is something I must inform you two about," he says. David frowns at the man and pulls his wife inside.
"Just tell us what's going on," he growled. Taken aback, Hansen clears his throat and delivers the devastating news.
"Mr. and Mrs. Vega, I am here to inform you that your daughters are to compete in the sixty-first annual Battle Royale Competition." Holly's eyes widen and she falls to the floor in shock. Her lips quiver as sobs escape them. David shakes his head rapidly and grabs Hansen by his shirt.
"You son of a bitch. Y-You're lying! You give my little girls back to me!" he booms, his fists shaking the large man as much as he can. Hansen lets out a sigh and pulls the hands off of him.
"I apologize sir, but it's government mandated."
"Bullshit!" David barks at him red-faced. He shuts the door right in Hansen's face and hears heavy footsteps hesitantly make their way back to their SUV. Holly wails from the floor, her face stained with tears.
"Not my babies! Not my babies!" she sobs while getting up and hugging her husband tightly. David cries into his wife's hair and begins to let reality sink in.
'My little girls…are gonna die.'