"Welcome to challenge 7."
All the noise vanished instantly, and was replaced by silence as every pair of eyes locked onto the figure at the front.
"My name is Mr Gerald, and I'm one of the higher-ups," he introduced himself, his voice carrying around the hall. He didn't even need a microphone to be heard by everyone.
William leaned in. "Do you remember him?" he whispered.
Malakai squinted his eyes, running through his memory, trying to match the face. "Yeah… I think so", he replied uncertainly.
"Today's challenge is different from all the challenges you have done before," Mr Gerald continued, his eyes sweeping the room. "It is a team challenge, BUT it's not in your classes."
"Awe, I wanted it to be a class challenge," Tanisha said, disappointed, her shoulders slumping.
Beside her, Delilah's shoulders also slumped. "I hope I have at least one person I know on my team," she said under her breath.
"I won't explain the rules just yet," Mr Gerald said over the small chatter that arose. "First, you're all going to find out your teams, and then you'll go to your designated team zones. Once everyone's ready, I'll explain the challenge."
As if on cue, the monitors around the room flickered to life.
"To find out your teams, look for your names on the screens," Mr Gerald said, gesturing towards the screens around. "Each screen shows a different class. So that one shows 1-A, that one shows 1-B and so on."
The room erupted into controlled chaos as soon as Mr Gerald stopped talking. Everyone moved to different screens trying to find their classes. Small groups formed in front of screens.
Malakai pushed through the crowd with his friends and ended up in front of the screen, which showed all the 1-C students. His eyes darted around the list and quickly landed on his name.
"Red team," he read out. He kept scanning the screen, but after every name he found, he was hit with a letdown. "Damn, none of you are on my team."
A few feet away, Lucas was celebrating. "Yes! Ray, we're on the same team," he said, dapping him up.
"Let's go. Blue team", Ray replied, grinning.
Benjamin stood with the same energy as Malakai. "I'm alone," he said. "Barely anyone here is on the orange team."
"Hell yeah! I've got David on my team," William said, jumping and putting an arm around David. "Green team baby! I'm good."
"It's a shame we're not all together," David said, sensing the low mood from Malakai and Benjamin.
"This feels like discrimination," Malakai said, shaking his head, joking but sounding serious. "I'm always alone."
"You're not alone. There's other people on red team," Lucas replied, pointing at some of the other names on the board.
"I don't know them though," Malakai shrugged, not caring.
"Mally, you might get lucky. You might get people you know from other classes on your team," Benjamin said. "I don't know anyone from other classes."
"Yeah, the few people that actually like me might be on my team," Malakai sarcastically replied.
Further away from Malakai's group, the girls were also discussing their teams.
"I'm on the same team as Malakai," Tanisha said, unsure how to feel about it. "What team are you on?"
"Yellow," Maria replied, her eyes still glued to the screen.
"Me too," Nicole added beside her.
"My team doesn't look too bad," Delilah said, letting out a breath she had been holding for a long time. "I've got Ray and Lucas."
"This is interesting," Nicole said. "We're all against each other."
"You're literally with Maria," Rose said, playfully narrowing her eyes, jealous.
"You get what I mean," Nicole replied, smiled, shaking her head. "And you've got Serena on your team."
Mr Gerald's voice randomly boomed once again.
"Once you've seen what team you're on. Please make your way to your team's area. We want to start the challenge as soon as possible."
The crowd began to shrink as people made their way out of the marked exits around the room.
"Time for the challenge," David said, bringing his hands together and rubbing them.
"I slyly can't be arsed", Malakai said, looking towards the exit with the red sign and seeing random people.
"I feel you feel man," Benjamin said, mirroring him and looking at the orange exit.
"Sucks to be you two," William teased, briefly rubbing and pushing their heads before walking off with David.
Ray and Lucas smiled as they started to walk away.
"See you guys later yeah," Lucas said with a grin, tapping their shoulders a few times with each tap having more force.
Benjamin and Malakai watched as their friends left in silence.
"At least you have Tanisha with you," Benjamin noted, turning to Malakai. "I've got no one I'm close with".
"It's Tanisha though," Malakai replied in a low tone. "She don't really like me like that. I'm probably not even a friend to her."
"Nah, you're her friend," Benjamin said, before thinking about it. "Hold up. Why doesn't she like you again?"
Malakai thought about it for a second, looking elsewhere, like the answer would appear in front of him.
"I don't know. She just doesn't like me."
"Makes sense," Benjamin nodded, instantly understanding. "She's cool with me and the rest of the guys, so she must be cool with you… in some type of way."
Malakai watched her for a moment before sighing.
"Aryt imma go," he said. "Good luck man. Hope your team is good," he dapped up Benjamin.
"You not gonna wait for her?" Benjamin asked, subtly nodding to Tanisha.
Malakai smirked as he started to walk away. "Nah. I don't wanna be a beg."
Malakai made his way to the door, hands in his pockets. Seeing bodies cross in front of him from both sides. He was surprised he'd hadn't bumped into people he knew. He noticed some faces from afar, that's it.
"Malakai!"
He turned his head to see who called his name.
"Yo."
"You could've called me, you know," Tanisha said, her breath a little quicker as she speed walked to get beside him.
"I was scared you were gonna give me attitude," Malakai said like a joke, but there was truth in that. "Why? Did you want me to call you?"
"Yes," Tanisha said, surely, nodding. "You're the only person I know that's on this team".
"Don't you know the other girls on the team?"
"Not really. I don't know them well enough to start talking to them now."
Malakai couldn't tell how Tanisha was feeling. "You happy with this team?" he asked, gauging her mood.
"We don't even know who else is on our team", Tanisha replied, gazing around at other people. "But I can't complain. You are good at challenges." She said it quickly, looking away as if the compliment was a secret she wasn't supposed to say. "I would've loved if I had at least one of my friends with me".
"Same man", Malakai agreed, some tension easing off him.
They both walked up some stairs and, at the top, went through this hallway that felt like a tunnel. At the end of the hallway, they passed through some doors which led them to a spacious room filled with people.
"I think this is our area", Tanisha quietly said, recognising some faces.
There were about twenty people scattered across the space. A few groups have already formed. Every face turned to Malakai and Tanisha. The eyes were mainly focused on Malakai.
"Do you know anyone?" Tanisha quickly asked under her breath, her eyes hiding from the other eyes.
"Nope", Malakai replied, shaking his head, briefly scanning everyone. "I've seen them before, but I don't know them".
"Malakai!"
A guy with dreads, whose tips were blonde, was smiling ear to ear, walking with a spring in his step towards them.
"I thought you said you didn't know anyone," Tanisha said.
"I don't," Malakai replied, shaking his head, looking clueless. "I don't know him".
"How you doing man?" he said, raising his hand to Malakai to dap him up. "I can't believe I'm on your team dawg."
"Yeah. Me too man," Malakai replied, returning his greeting and playing along with it. "What's your name again?" he asked, adding the again at the end in case they've met before.
"My name's Ash", he said. "This is the first time we've spoken… I think." He was unsure himself. "But I've talked to your friend before. I know that."
"Who?"
"The Mexican one," Ash said. "Ray."
The gears were turning in Malakai's head. "Oh yeah. I've seen your name in the last challenge," he remembered. "You're friends with Dillon innit".
"Yeah", Ash nodded, happy he knew him. "Aye man. He don't like you, but I don't have a problem with you. You're on my team right now. I like you. I'm cool with you", he said, raising his hands, not wanting any problems.
"It's calm," Malakai smirked, his hands back in his pockets. "I don't have a problem with anyone."
Ash noticed Tanisha standing beside him. "Hi, what's your name?" he asked, bringing her in.
"Tanisha," she replied with a little welcoming smile.
"Cool," Ash said. "Are you two friends?"
Malakai stayed silent and slightly turned his head toward Tanisha, sliding a glance at her, wanting her to answer.
Tanisha glanced back, "Yeaaaah", she slowly said, nodding.
"Malakai?"
Another voice called out his name from behind.
Malakai turned around. "Yo… Sabrina," after going through his memory, he remembered.
"Hey. I didn't expect you to be on my team", Sabrina said, her eyelids raised, pleasantly surprised with her smile growing.
"Sabrina? You two know each other?" Ash asked. "Are you two friends?"
Sabrina stayed silent and slightly turned her head toward Malakai, sliding a glance at him, wanting him to answer.
Malakai glanced back, "Yeaaaah," he slowly said, nodding.
"Our team doesn't look great," Sydney said while texting some of her friends.
"Were you hoping to see someone?" Alejandro asked.
"I wanted to see people in the top ten," Sydney replied, looking up from her phone.
"We've got Akari," Alejandro subtly pointed at her. "That's one of the best people from 1-B".
Sydney pressed her lips together, "She's good, but she doesn't give me that confidence I need", she said, looking at Akari. "I want to keep my position in the top ten."
"I dropped heavy after the last challenge," Alejandro said, annoyed, thinking back to it. "I didn't even try that hard last challenge".
"Not many people did," Sydney replied, shrugging. "I didn't even do anything last challenge. My teammate hid it for us".
"Lucky", Alejandro commented. His eyes snapped towards the entrance as someone walked in. "Isn't he in the top ten?".
Sydney followed his eyes, and her lips curled a little. "Yeah. He's seventh".
Benjamin walked into the room, his eyes performing a quick sweep of the place. "This team looks wack," he thought.
"Benjamin."
Someone approached him as they called his name.
Benjamin's face remained straight. His eyes didn't flinch.
"Leroy's on my team", he thought. "FAAHHH!"
"Do you think they'll take our phones?" Luna asked, holding her phone.
"Definitely," Frank said. "It doesn't look like we'll need them."
"I strangely can't wait to start," Luna replied. "The building looks like an indoor playground."
"I have no idea what this challenge could be", Frank said. "I'm a little nervous."
"Awweee Frank. Are you sad that your best friend isn't on your team?" Destiny randomly said with a teasing grin, sneaking behind and joining them.
Frank jumped a bit on the inside. "A little," he honestly said. "It would've been amazing if he were on our team."
"I wish he were on our team," Destiny sighed. "Our team looks shit."
"Our team isn't bad," Luna said. "We have you two."
Destiny shook her head, "I want more tryhards here."
"More?" Frank questioned, looking at her. "Are you calling me a tryhard?"
"Duh," Destiny nodded. "You're third for a reason".
Frank pulled his head back. "What does that make you?" he asked. "You were in the top ten."
"Were," Destiny highlighted. "I'm not anymore. Don't get it twisted, I want to win, but I'm not going to sweat for it."
Her gaze wandered to the entrance as more people walked in. "Is that who I think it is?" she excitedly said, her eyes shining, her smile beaming, already skipping away.
Frank and Luna's eyes followed her to where she was going.
"I thought she wanted tryhards", Frank said, confused, seeing the people she was skipping to.
"I'm just as confused as you are", Luna replied.
Destiny kept skipping towards the entrance with open arms, "Delilah!" she squealed, throwing her arms around her.
Delilah stood frozen, half-heartedly hugging her back, "Hey, Destiny", she awkwardly said.
"When did our relationship progress this quickly?" she asked herself.
"From fighting each other to being together," Destiny said, pulling away from the hug. She shifted her attention away from Delilah and looked at who was standing beside her. "Oh... you two."
"Why do you sound disappointed?" Lucas asked, picking up her tone.
"I'm not. I'm really happy you're on my team", Destiny replied, her disappointed tone not disappearing.
"You know he's in the top ten, right?" Delilah said, gesturing to Lucas.
Destiny's head snapped back to Lucas. "Really?!" She switched her view to Ray. "Don't tell me you're in the top ten too."
"I'm not," Ray replied, shaking his head.
"Ugh. That's embarrassing. This guy is in the top ten, and I'm not," Destiny quietly said, but loud enough for them to hear. "Oh well." She quickly got over it and hooked her arm around Delilah's shoulders, leading her away. "Hey, I don't think our team is that bad anymore!" She shouted toward Frank and Luna.
Delilah just went with the flow and kept quiet. Letting Destiny take the lead.
"I'm happy she's got a friend," Luna said.
"I'm surprised they're friends, after the bloody nose she gave her," Frank replied.
Ray and Lucas were still standing at the same spot, giving each other bewildered looks.
"What just happened?" Ray asked.
"I'm just as confused as you," Lucas replied.
"Alexander's not on my team", Adam thought, standing by a wall. "Did he do that on purpose?"
He kept his head on a swivel and noticed someone making their way to him.
"Adam. How are you?" Ryan said with his perfect smile.
Adam blankly stared at him, analysing him before answering, "I'm fine."
"We haven't spoken in a long time," Ryan said.
"Why would we speak?" Adam bluntly asked. "We're not friends."
Ryan bit his tongue while he slowly nodded, "Okay," he accepted, not expecting the bluntness. "We're not friends, but I'm happy you're on my side. We've got a strong team."
"How is it strong?"
"Us two, for starters", Ryan replied. "That girl with the silver hair from 1-A. That guy with the comb over from 1-A. Dillon. He might be useful in this challenge. David. The only useful guy out of Malakai's friends. And that girl with pink hair from your class," he slowly listed, guiding his eyes to each one.
"You really think she's good?" Adam asked, looking at Nada, who was across the room.
"She's in your class. You should know," Ryan replied. "She's not amazing, but she's better than most people here."
"He's only saying this because of what she did to him in challenge five," Adam thought.
"So you think we've got the best team?"
"It could be. Depending on the challenge."
Adam didn't reply. His reply was silence.
Ryan side-eyed him to check his expression. His expression was the same as ever. Expressionless. He could never read him.
He shifted his weight and turned his head to Adam, trying one last time to be social, "So… how's life been?"
Adam slightly turned his head to him. He didn't want to keep talking to Ryan. This whole conversation was meaningless to him.
"Fine."
"I'm happy we're on his team," Nicole said, sneaking glances at Alexander. "Have you been on his team before?"
"No", Maria shook her head. "That was Delilah."
"Oh yeah", Nicole remembered. "Apart from him, we've got some really good people."
"Yeah, I recognise a few people," Maria said.
She kept looking at faces and eventually landed on Eve's face. Maria tentatively waved at her. Eve smiled back and returned the wave.
Nicole saw who Maria was waving at, "Do you know her?"
"A little. She's Alejandro's friend," Maria replied. "She came to that big dinner we had, remember?"
Nicole closed her eyes and put a hand to her head, "Oh yeah," she said, vividly remembering her face. "There were so many people at that dinner."
"Hey, Maria."
Their conversation got interrupted before Maria could reply.
"Hey," Maria replied, her smile growing. "We're together again."
"Yeah," Owen said, struggling to maintain eye contact. "Hopefully, we get the maximum amount of points this time."
"I'm sure we will," Maria confidently said.
"I'm sorry about the last challenge," Owen said, rubbing the back of his head. "I was really confident about my hiding spot."
"It's fine. My hiding spot wasn't as good as yours," Maria replied, waving her hands. "Anyone could've gotten their devices found."
"Yeah. My partner was Destiny, and she was confident too," Nicole joined in. "Our device got found. It is what it is."
"Wassup, everyone."
A new body joined and threw their arm around Owen's shoulders.
Owen flinched slightly. "Hey," he said awkwardly.
"Hello Maria. How are you?" the guy said with a smirk.
"I'm good," Maria replied cautiously.
Nicole looked between them, "Do you know him?"
Maria shook her head.
Nicole looked at Owen, "Do you know him?"
Owen shook his head.
"I remember he was Delilah's partner in the last challenge," Maria mentioned. "You're Ace, right?"
"Yep," Ace nodded, his smirk showing teeth now.
"Oh yeah," Nicole remembered, recognising his face standing next to Delilah on stage. "Delilah was complaining a lot about you."
"Heh, she was just playing," Ace said, exaggerating his husky tone more than usual. "She's tryna make me look bad."
"We've got a nice group here," Ash happily said. "The four of us can do damage."
"You realise the entire room is our team," Tanisha told him.
Ash took a quick look around. "I don't trust everyone here."
"But you trust him," Tanisha said, pointing at Malakai, raising her brows.
"Yeah," Ash carelessly shrugged.
"I know a few others here," Sabrina said, talking to Malakai.
"Same," Malakai replied, looking around. "But do you know them or do you know them?"
"I know of them," Sabrina smiled. "And I know the others."
"Aryt," Malakai smiled back. "Wait, Nathan's over there," he noticed, pointing at him. "He's in your class. Aren't you friends with him?"
"Where?" Ash perked up, turning his head. "Oh shit, He's on our team", he smiled after finding him. "AYO NATHAN!"
Tanisha winced, covering her ears. "Did you have to scream?"
Malakai couldn't help but smirk, "This guy's funny".
Crackle!
The speakers overhead came to life, the static startling a few people.
"It looks like everyone is in their teams," Mr Gerald's voice echoed around the room. "So let me tell you what challenge you will all be competing in today".
Everyone stopped their conversations and listened.
"This challenge is called Infected."