I never liked school. I never liked to study. I was jealous of the students who scored good marks than me, i hated them. It was hard to be average. Average in everything, no particular unique skills. I DESPISED myself.
As i was thinking this the school bell rang. It was the start of the zero period, a 1 hour long period for taking attendance and completing the pending work but this time no teacher entered the class, it was not normal as our homeroom teacher Mr. Shah never had been absent.
Soon a chilling voice echoed from the speakers. Greeting and saying," WELCOME dear students, Want to play an interesting game."
Even though we never heard that voice the students were thrilled and excited hearing the word GAME, they shouted in joy and excitement YES SIR.
In our class there were total 50 students. 20 girls and 30 boys. It was a physical education class so even girls were very athletic, leaving some, same goes with boys but i was not in any sport even though i loved to play games. I guess i too come in that "some" category.
The announcer said," Very well then, SACRIFICE A LIFE TO MOVE FURTHER IN THE GAME."
Students still confused. Some laughing thinking it is a joke. Even me and my friends but the smile soon faded. A hologram timer started 30 minute timer counting back , the doors shut with metals windows too. No way to escape.
Some students still laughing not knowing the gravity of the situation. Some took out their phones. Some tried to open the door.
the moment one boy---Ravi---took out his hand out of the window, a laser shot from the ceiling piercing his hand.
No scream...
Just silence.....
Then CHAOS.
Ravi collapsed.
Girls screamed some cried. Boys shouting for help and panicking. NOTHING WORKED.
The voice returned.
"SACRIFICE IS ONLY WAY TO PROGRESS."
I sat frozen. Ravi was bleeding and collapsed to the ground. Nobody touched him not even his friends.
The shouting from the other class could be heard but soon a noise cancelling gadget started and noise was gone only screams and chaos of our class could be heard.
Oh DID I FORGOT TO TELL? That only highschoolers were called to school that day, no juniors, no seniors. No teachers. Just us.
The notice came last week.
COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE.
NO EXCUSES.
FAILING TO DO SO WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE SCHOOL.
Same message. Worldwide. Every school, every country.
We thought it was some government drill.
Some weird new education policy but now…
now everything started to connect.
The voice. The timer. The sealed doors. The blood on the ground spilling like ink.
This wasn't school anymore, It was now DEATH GAME OF HIGHSCHOOLERS.
Ravi blood covered the floor in red, he was alive but nobody dared to check.
Everybody tried to contact through phones and ask for help but there was no signal and soon the phones were jammed too , phones blinked uselessly.
The rich kids--those who came in luxury cars, wore branded shoes, and never worried about grades--were the first to panic. Their world had rules: money, money and money. But here, none of that mattered. The school didn't care about your last name. The lasers didn't ask for your report card. The game had leveled everyone.
There was no TOPPER now. No BACKBENCHER either. No AVERAGE student either. WE WERE NOW PLAYERS JUST PLAYERS IN THIS ABSURD GAMES.
"This isn't legal." Son of politician, Aryan, screamed as if the walls would listen. But what a irony , i smirked thinking it.
The timer kept ticking.
[12:12] left.
Mayank stood up slowly. Six foot five, broad shoulder, a kabbadi player with arms like iron rods and a voice that always carried.
A very good friend of mine. Unlike me, he was a smooth and Confident talker. He talked to everyone, especially the girls. They laughed with him, leaned in when he spoke. Me? They avoided me. Mocked me. Called me names and even abused me verbally when I tried to talk. I never understood why. I just stopped trying.
Mayank was good in studies too but i never hated him as he was really a nice person but i was a bit jealous because of his talking skills.
He raised his voice above the screams, calm and commanding. "Listen up! We need to survive. The game wants a sacrifice---we give it one." He pointed at Ravi, who lay bleeding on the floor, barely breathing. "He's already half-dead. Let's not waste time."
No one objected. Not even Ravi's friends. They looked at each other, then looked away. Some nodded. Some sighed in relief. Some even smiled. Not because they hated Ravi---but because it wasn't them. Ravi had always been one of the musketeers of the class. Loud, loyal, always surrounded by friends. But now, none of that mattered. In this new world, friendship was fragile. Morality was optional. And survival was everything.
Mayank: Let's drag him to the hologram rectangle before time runs out.
I guess its perfect time to introduce you to myself.
I am SHRISH but from the start i was obsessed with this name "GODSHRISH" and this game was perfect platform for me to rise and become the GOD OF THIS NEW WORLD.
Don't bother Mayank. I know a foolproof plan to win this game without sacrificing someone, I said.
What!!!! what is it he asked. Everybody still confused. A guy holded my collar in anger and said," Don't joke around you son of a....".
I am not joking i replied before his sentence could be finished.
His hold got soft. He fell on the ground crying saying please save Ravi.
I guess he was a really good friend of Ravi.
I moved from that spot to the corner of the room and searched for a minute the other students were silent, observing.
Finally found you SACRIFICE, hearing this students surrounded me.
Only to see a red ant, few dead mosquitoes and a dead bug.
The students were really mad at me i could sense it.
But before they could hurt me i placed those bug, ants, and mosquito one by one dead one first but it not worked but as soon as i placed the living ant a message was heard.
[SACRIFICE ACCEPTED. CONGRATULATION.]
TIME REMAINING WAS 4 MIN BUT WE DID IT. BARELY.
Rest were still confused. They asked how?
But some understood that the rule was to sacrifice a living being and a ant is a living thing so it was accepted there was no need to sacrifice Ravi. They explained to others too.
The room atmosphere was changed but something happened, for the first time i was recognized and praised. But it was not the time for me to be happy as the next level was coming and it was not going to be any easy. ITS REALLY NOT A NORMAL DAY FOR ME I GUESS HEHEH.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.