*Pants, pants,
"How much farther?" "Umm...3,457 metres more" A nerdy-looking Scottish boy replied in a clear Nottingham accent. "Ugggggghhhhhh đ«. Arrrrrrrrrgggggggggh", a girl screamed as she blazed down the hand-dug tracks.
Freidan Oliver was a fully bloomed 13-year-old nerd who had a major crush on this confident 14-year-old who wants to win this race so bad. She usually showed an indifferent side to everyone, especially boys, but to him, she was sweet and cherubic, like talking to a child. His deep thoughts made him fall behind.
Deanna Hawkins, felt like she was moving at the speed of light, hearing the wind cloud her hearing. She was running like there was no tomorrow. She focused ahead and spotted the red tape. She's almost there!
Deanna began pushing harder to get there first until a gust of wind passed by, and in an inkling of a second, Yanassa Kumtra, her 3-year senior and best friend, had already cut the ribbon. All the girls rushed over to fawn over her.
"You looked so cool!" a girl remarked. "Pfft. She always looks good," another rebottled, "Just look at her perfect physique and muse-like looks. Even her sweat looks gorgeous".
Everyone is always fawning over Yanassa. She was kind, smart, and straight. Sure she's pretty, but no one ever noticed whether she was tired or uncomfortable. Deanna couldn't understand the superficial treatment and status that people are keeping...despite them being locked up, in the middle of nowhere, against their will.
But damn, she wanted the winner's prize: Roasted Turkey for dinner!
Freidan came forward and held Deanna back by her shoulders
(since she's quite short)
Deanna just sighed as she walked towards the cafeteria, in the other direction.
"Deedee! Don't leave me", the rumoured girl of elegance, was suddenly flinging herself to Deanna. She began palpitating as Yanassa leapt towards her. You know how you'd feel when a fat hippo wants a hug...or a meteor falls towards you. Yeah, that's how she felt. Right about when she jumped onto her, Deanna took a big step forward and Yanassa fell flat on the ground.
The whole courtyard dropped into compelled silence. No one dared to scold Deanna because it'd end with a heated argument that she'd win, nor accidentally provoke Yanassa, so everyone turned to stone instantly.
Yanassa hopped to her feet, with eyes full of glee, dusting herself off and yelled out to the cause of her fall.
"Deedee-Chan! Wait for me!" she ran after her into the cafeteria. Deanna scoffed, "She never cared about others in the first place", she thought. "She should also stop calling me like that...in public", as she began shying away.
Like every other day, they were served one surprise meal each. Deanna got a sunny side up meal of pancakes, covered in caramel while Yanassa, who was right behind, got egg fritters. They were never given the same meal twice and no two people have ever had the same meal in history.
Deanna looked around the cafeteria; several tables were filled with people who were already familiar with each other: roommates, former neighbours, and people who had things in common. Everyone had gotten so used to their confinement. She felt disgusted by their complacency.
A chime rang 4 times and customised drones called Eedamn, moved to everyone and presented a vial of liquid, from a high-tech robotic arm. Like everything here, no person has the same thing as another. Not designed, format no,r colour.
Suddenly, a girl sitting towards the centre of the room started turning and swivelling her head rapidly, as if under a curse. She began foaming and people started looking and murmuring. Massive cracking sounds could be heard from her. The girl, Nessie, collapsed to the ground and all her bones burst out of her skin, showing a bloody sight. Many people began puking all across the room but no one cried for the girl
*Tch, "typical", Deanna turned away in indifference.
She was heading to her room to enjoy her sunny side pancakes, even though she didn't feel "sunny", glanced ahead and saw Yanassa, surrounded by a gang of elites:
Sumi, a female sumo player, won a bronze medal at the Nationals but couldn't go further due to her temperament. Kitae, the second son of a drug baron, was well-connected with the dark web. Monique, a child model and young idol, vanished one day from her idol practice, but people didn't care, as she was always indifferent to others. They were a bunch of kids who all had one thing in common, violence...
Deanna walked over to Yanassa and said, "Better don't bring your tainted body back to my room" in a tone of eminent authority.
"Hey!" a girl blurted while racing to Deanne "... don't talk to Yan like that". The girl pulled Deanna's hair with a manly force. The girl's name was Roulette. She was Yanassa's best friend with a two-faced persona. "Roulette, stop!" Yanassa called out but two boys came forward and blocked her with their outstretched hands. Sumi stepped forward with a bully's smile, spelling bad news.
***Recom song: Sweet but psycho - Ava Max
Like on cue, Sumi flicked her wrists twice, rolled her sleeves, and rotated her left arm, like a batter swinging. Five girls came from her left and lunged at Deanne. Despite her pushing, screaming and kicking, Deanne was overpowered and pinned on all fours.
"Shit! Damn it!" She muttered. A kick flew straight to her stomach. One...two... seven, she was being kicked. Deanne gritted her teeth under her breath. Even the bullies were finding it hard to keep holding her. Although she held up well, she spat out enough blood to fill a tiny bucket.
After a few more kicks, Sumi stepped back panting. She's always felt a pint of ecstasy when she beat up smart kids. Originally named Rita Schmidt, she was bullied as a kid for not being good at school, especially when she was from a family of top-tier scientists.
When she was abducted into the facility, someone removed the sack on her head, her gag, eye cover and untied her wrists. She was met by a man in blue overalls and a '90s smiley mask.
"What the heck", she scoffed as she saw the ridiculous outfit of the mysterious man.
"Do you want to keep the old you?" He asked in an unnatural voice.
"What?!" she asked with a blank face. She didn't expect such an abstract question from the people who kidnapped her.
"Do you want to keep the old you alive?" He asked again.
"The heck is going on!!!" She yelled at the top of her lungs. She was just heading home after failing yet another test when she instantly fell on the roadside while standing. Then, she woke up with all her limbs tied meticulously, her mouth and eyes bound under a head sack.
The man asked again and again. She felt like she was going rabid. When he asked again, she thought to herself, "Why's he asking me over and over? The question is making me sick. Maybe...does he want to give me redemption?!" A dumb thought came to her mind.
"...What do I do..." she finally gave in "...what do I do for you when I want a new me".
She could tell that the man was smiling under the mask, and he finally spoke something other than that question, "Well, we just want you to remember us when you rise to power.
Normally, she'd question this but all she did was laugh. At least, they don't want her dead or gone, unlike her own family.
"...deal"
Back in the current day, she felt good and said to herself, "Yes, yes, yes" She began getting louder and more sinister with every "yes" from her. Sumi lunged back at Deanna and clamped her head. She forced it to the tiled floor as though she were drowning someone. Deanna pushed against the floor with all her might but Sumi's accumulated strength was focused on crushing her here and now.
"Stop", Roulette called out but it was no use. The facility doesn't say anything about bullying or violence, its only rule concerning their interactions is that they are not planning to escape. Sumi was willing to go all out on Deanna and began to bash her head on the floor.
*Thwack, thwack, thwack
The sounds echoed in the hall. Everyone stopped to wonder how long she'll keep hitting and how long they'll last. Even the other bullies began shaking in their step. Yanassa quickly shoved past the boys, stopping her, and held Sumi's hand. She began tugging really hard but with a swat, Yanassa fell.
Oliver, one of the guys who held her back held her in a shoulder lock and began dragging her out of the cafeteria.
"No-no", Yanassa began freaking out. The fact that Deanne was the major reason she was known in a good light in the first place and now...she is watching her being pummelled...just like every other day.
Yanassa got to her room door and got tossed to the ground inside. Yanassa felt guilty, torn, and frustrated. "I thought I was her friend", she muttered as she pulled herself to her bed at the corner. She glanced around the room.
There were 4 beds; all the beds were hung to the middle height of the room with canopies of the owner's preferences. One had geometric designs, which were the direct opposite of hers. It was directly opposite too.
Yanassa began thinking, "... things can't go on like this".
It took at least 4 hours before Deanna came in, covered in bruises, but walked so well that it'd put anyone in awe. Deanna looked at Yanassa, who was shocked that she was smiling at her. It took only 2 of the same events to make her get used to it, yet she still does well in class.
Yanassa couldn't take it. She jumped out of bed and ran to hug Deanna, wailing bitterly.
...
Their daily routine consists of breakfast at 7, morning obstacle course at 9, 3 out of 30 classes at 10 till 2, lunch at 2 till 4, then evening physical training from 6 till 8, then we're free till the next day. But at any given chance they get, they feed us the vial, and anyone can die from it; taking it more than twice doesn't guarantee anything. No one's on elbows, what's in it, but no one's complaining.
By 9, everyone was already outside for the obstacle but Deanna was not there. Sumi and the others began snickering about how she won't come since this beating was harder than the last ones.
"6227, Hathaway... 5021, Lewin...2359, Oliver...7530, Kumtra..." Everyone responded by lifting their hand to mark their attendance. The numbers bear weight on how many days they've survived.
"8399...Hawkins... Hawkins? Hawkins..."
Despite the numerous bandages from the last beating, Deanna finally presented herself right before the attendant marked her absence without a change in expression. She reverted to her indifferent self.
Yesterday, Yanassa wanted to help her nurse her wounds but Deanna said that "...this is just like every other day". So we suffer the mysterious drug, but get anything we ask for, and there are no restrictions on interactions. People literally do whatever they want, and she does the same thing each time..." just like every other day", Yanassa said.
The only catch about this paradise is that you can die so easily. Every day, someone passes a class, and every day, someone rises in the numbered rank of survival, and every day, someone must die or they'll all be punished.
The routine remained the same and everyone seemed used to it. But suddenly Deanna vanished.
Everyone began thinking whether Deanna, who has the highest rank in this jungle gym, got eliminated. Yanassa wanted to get at least a sign that she was still here. And she got her answer.
At lunch, Deanna came late to the cafeteria for the first time after 3 weeks and was late. She was only given a bottle of water but just in time for the serum to arrive. Deanna stood on the empty food counter and brought out a diamond-encrusted button from her hoodie. She lifted the plastic case over the pressable button and smiled from ear to ear.
"Since no one wants to die voluntarily, here I have a button that will make that decision easier", she said as a blush came over her face. No one dared to move, not even the bullies.
"But first, everyone drinks" The serum was passed round.
Just as they all finished drinking a guy fell onto the floor. It was Freidan. Yanassa began panicking as her friend began foaming and his jade skin started burning. But Deanna stood still on the table with her hand over the button, like a sword drill.
After 2 excruciating minutes, his body grew cold. Yanassa grew furious, "How could she!" She thought and turned to Deanna.
Like a scripted play, she pressed the button, and a mellow, deafening sound rang out. The drones lost balance and everyone covered their ears. Yanassa couldn't believe that she'd use a killing machine on people but after today, she'll never see her the same.
Like a second thought, she smelled something very familiar. The scent that Deanna always gave off. It was a natural scent, as Deanna didn't own any perfume or care products.
She then thought of all the possibilities.
"Deanna is very indifferent about everything. Despite what others asked for, she only asked for the bare minimum. She has only smiled when we're alone or with Freidan so she couldn't..."
The sound stopped but the smell lingered. A hand grabbed Yanassa from behind. Her face resembled a sheet of paper as she saw the cold body of Freidan grab her.
"Oliver, get up...Kumtra", she said, still used to calling people by their surnames.
"We've got work to do" "Like every other day", they both said with exhausted faces.
Deanna was always doing very strange experiments around, like collecting secret samples or something very weird, like standing upside down.
But today, they were in her room. She opened the door and they looked lost.
"Deedee, Freidan shouldn't be in a girl's room" Yanassa voiced her concern, but Deanna, being Deanna, didn't reply.
She lifted her trunk, under her hammock. She raised the floorboard and placed her right pinkie on the board under it, and a secret code pad revealed itself. From a padlock to a puzzle to a tracing game, whatever was here was top secret.
After the last lock, a door opened on the floor and they took the stairs down to an out-of-this-world science lab.
Yanassa and Oliver looked stunned. Everything seemed handmade. They couldn't contain their amazement.
Deanna scoffed, "3 years. It took me 3 years to get everything here made from scratch. This..." she said, raising a flask from its rack and facing her friends, "...will be the key to finding our way out of here".