It was dark outside. No one knew what time it was but they could see how dark it was when guards opened a door. The cell-block was filled with bright light all day and the lights did not turn out when they usually do.
?What?s going on?? asked David. The a guard walked in and climbed up a ladder onto a metal walkway.
?That?s the warden, he never comes here personally, but do everything he says or bad things happen.? said Michael.
?Attention everyone! When your cell doors open please take one step out and face your cell. If you try to move or look around you will face the consequences.? announced the warden. The cell doors sprung open and the prisoners all followed the warden's orders. One prisoner made a run for another cell that he had previously found a vent inside. The guards opened fire and killed him before he could make it.
?Whaaa?? started David. Michael cut him off saying
?shut up dude, you might end up like the other guy?. The warden began giving new orders.
?I want all guards in position and I want all prisoners to slowly walk and follow me?. David and Michael walked slowly side by side and joined the main group of prisoners. Guards blocked the other door across the building while more stood above the prisoners as they exited the door in front of them. They passed under the walkway and through the main door. Outside there were bushes on the right and a building on the left. The warden ordered everyone to proceed through the left door of that building. One prisoner made a run for the door on the right but was shot before he could make it. Everyone else crowded inside and waited. Out of the corner of his eye, David noticed gas descending from the ceiling. He shoved people out of the way as he dashed over to the door. It was too late, he felt tired and fell to the floor just before the door. He woke up lying next to Michael. The room around them was filled with bright light and platforms were hanging from the ceiling around the open room.
?Clearly we have been moved after they drugged us? said Michael. The warden began to speak,
?Hello again everyone, today we will be playing a game of climb. You need to jump from platform to platform all the way up to the top. If you fall you can go restart, but if you try to leave you will die. If you do not win then you will die. We will be taking three winners and you may have as much time as you would like. If you decide not to participate then you will die. Alright then you may begin. ""
The room had a small border separating what must have been the starting zone and the climb coarse. The floor beyond the border was filled with water to catch anyone that fell. Many people started rushing the coarse while three people waited their turn. Michael, David, and another person all patiently waited while the warden watched them. Many people fell off pretty earlier and got drenched in water. Some even broke their legs when they landed as the water wasn?t very deep. The guards shot anyone that couldn?t get out of the water in a reasonable time. The water began to turn a distinct red color.
?Who are you?? asked David.
The third unknown person with them ignored the question and stepped up to the first platform. He took a deep breath and ran. Both David and Michael were stunned while they watched this other guy run and jump from platform to platform like it was nothing. The man finally reached the top and sat down. David felt a bit of courage and moved up to the first platform. He looked around cautiously and then made the first jump. The air flew past him and everything seemed to slow down. Then time rushed back and he landed on the second platform. That wasn?t so bad he thought. He steadied himself and moved to the next one. After landing it turned to wave Michael to come. Michael wasn?t the most athletic person and struggled get speed on the small platform. After jumping he landed and felt much better. David then moved on from platform to platform taking his time and waiting for Michael to follow. They had been carefully climbing for half an hour and David noticed the guards changing out. He started to think of a possible escape but quickly flushed out the thought. Michael shouted David?s name and gave him a look of annoyance. David realized Michael was waiting for him to jump. He turned around, stepped back, and ran across the platform. At the end he leaped out pushing with his feet. Once again the air rushed past and time slowed down. David noticed this platform was a much higher difference than the previous ones. Fear struck in as he saw that the his feet would not land. Time quickly began to speed up and David hit the platform with his knees. He had the wind knocked out of him but quickly grabbed the edge of the platform with his arms and started to pull himself up.
Michael could only stare in shock while David struggled to get up. When he did get though Michael realized it was his turn to jump. David called down to him saying he would catch him and help him up. Michael jumped and grabbed hold of David?s hands before he could fall to the floor below. He pulled him up and over onto the platform. They both remembered the rules of this game. The warden never said they couldn?t help each other. The people below that could still continue watched and figured out for themselves how to continue. Everyone began to rush up the platforms. Michael and David got up and quickly began moving on up. The pressure continued building as the people below caught up to them. In the end it was too late for everyone else. Every guard was aiming at the prisoners. The moment Michael and David reached the last platform, they opened fire. It was over in less than a minute. The shallow water was colored red and bodies hung on platforms and others rested on the floor. David threw up everything he ate previously. The guards tossed a rope to the three winners and told them to attach it to the pole on the platform and climb down. All three obeyed while SJ went first. Something was off about SJ and how he handled this but Michael wouldn?t find out just yet. The three had to step over bodies and make there way to a corner the guards marked. Once there, the ground lifted and they reached the level the guards waited on. The guards escorted the three prisoners to a room where a banquet was laid out for them. Again SJ acted odd as he showed no emotion at the sight of the food. Michael and David dug in quickly since they were starving while SJ took his time. Before he knew it, Michael felt tired and collapsed onto the table.
?Whats going on here!?? questioned David. Then David also felt drowsy and passed out. SJ continued to slowly enjoy his meal until he was full. The warden walked in and gave him a smile.
?I see you finally getting used to the routine here? said the warden. SJ just looked up at the warden with an empty face. Then he gently put his head on the table and fell asleep.
[*]Michael woke up back in his cell. He had the strangest dream that night. He got off the bed and found David asleep. The strange thing was another guy was in their cell. Michael suddenly remembered there was no dream and that they went through some sick game the day before. The other guy in their cell was SJ. Michael gave up on figuring things out only to turn and see a paper posted inside the cell. It read: This is your official welcome to the prison. I hope you had fun the other day because day we will play another game. You don?t have to play if you don?t want to, but I think we know you're going to play. I also want to lay down some special rules for you. Rule number one, do not tell anyone about what you have witnessed or how this prison works. Rule number two, do not try to escape. Rule number three, do not attack any other prisoners. The final rule is to not break any of the rules or you will be shot on sight. David eventually woke up and read the rules, but SJ took his time sleeping. When he did finally awake he ignored the rules and sat by the cell door.
?Attention everyone! When your cell doors open please take one step out and face your cell. If you try to move or look around you will face the consequences.?. The trio already knew what was said ahead of time and what was going to happen next. SJ looked like he was going to mindlessly follow every order without talking. Strangely he said
?good luck? as the cell door opened. Just as before, a prisoner made a run for it and a few others followed. None of them got out and blood began pooling on the floor. Everyone remaining was moved outside and brought to the gas chamber. They all got inside but only SJ, Michael, and David knew what was about to happen.
?I hope we are doing the same thing again so that we keep winning? said David.
?I wish we didn?t do anything? replied Michael. The sleeping gas began filling the room again. Right before they fell asleep, SJ whispered something again.
?It?s never the same?. When they woke up they were in a new room. This room was filled with large wooden boxes. The floor looked strange and once again the guards waited on walkways above the prisoners. The warden began to explain what was going on.
?Today we will be playing something I like to call box game. It?s very simple really. You just have to pick a box and stand on it. Then you must wait one hour, but there is one more thing. After the hour is complete all but one box will be left. I?ll leave how that will come about to your imagination. Good luck everyone, the time starts now?. The whole room was in shock and the only person to move was SJ. Michael and David quickly followed like sheep. They sat on box and watched everyone else. The other prisoners took their time and formed small groups on boxes. A girl who noticed the trio quickly act decided to join them. She sat down next to SJ and David gave her a questioning look. Michael spoke the question on all of their minds.
?What?s your name?? he asked.
?Shouldn?t you be telling me your names first?? she replied.
?I?m Michael, that?s my friend David, and the lonely looking guy is SJ?.
?Alright, well my name is Victoria. It?s nice to meet you?. The group waited in silence until Victoria got impatient.
?How are you guys so calm about this?? she asked.
?Well SJ is? nevermind sorry I can?t tell you? replied Michael.
?Why can?t you tell me anything?? she quickly asked.
?Five minutes left!? shouted the warden.
?Just stay here? said Michael quietly. They continued to wait for the time to run out. Tension was building fast and groups of people on their boxes grew impatient.
?Hey, I think the floor will fall out from under. There are lines in the floor that might hint to that.? said Victoria.
?It doesn?t matter because??. David was cut off by Michael who quickly covered his mouth before he could finish the sentence.
?Attention everyone! The time has run out and now I hope you enjoy the show? said the warden. Moments later a grinding sound began and one box after another disappeared as the floor dropped from under. It seemed the system was slowing down and boxes stopped dropping right away. It got to the point where three boxes remained. SJ?s box and two more on each side of it. Everyone looked around and wondered whose box would survive. Conveniently the two on the side fell and SJ?s group was spared yet again.
?Congratulations my boys, it?s nice to see you finish again.? said the warden. The boys new the drill and got up and were started leave with their escort to go eat.
The warden stopped Victoria and spoke,
?I?m sorry, you don?t know what?s going on yet do you??.
?No, I do know? she replied.
?Oh, you do know, that might be problem? he said.
?Yeah it?s a big problem that looks just like you, It?s like a disease needing to be cured? she said.
?I see, well then, continue with the rest of the winners and you will learn a thing or two?. That was the last thing she heard the warden say before she ran to catch up with the others.
