Beyond the Walls

Selection

Gabrielle brought out a mini device and turned it on. A 3D hologram came out of it. It’s a map.

“You still have that? You know it’s not reliable to look at that. It was designed in a pre-apocalypse world.” Alexa said.

Gabrielle didn’t say anything as she zoomed out the map. A red dot on the map signifies the device’s current location.

[World Arena]

The surrounding buildings and streets also have names. It was the map of the world before now.

“What are you looking for?” Adam asked as he came to the side.

“She is looking for the next game location.” Xian said.

“You don’t look interested.” Alexa raised an eyebrow at him. Wasn’t he one of the most eager to know just earlier.

“It’s not that…When Gabrielle found the building full of undead it was a coincidence. The cargo’ tires flat made them stay overnight and strong wind carried the scent which led her to it and this time. We only discovered this because we were lure here. What do you think will be the probability of finding another location? How much can we be sure it was not another trap?”

At his words, Gabrielle halted her search and sighed.

“That's true. They know about my sense… That’s why they concealed the spell of the undead. It was not until we were surrounded that their smell came to me.”

They are using her ability against her.

“This place might be a trap but it was a real game location.” Apollo said.

“How can you be so sure?”

“My sister was here…and she is part of the games.”

“...!”

“Why are you only telling this now?!” Adam glared.

“I don’t trust any of you. Why would I tell you that? Aren’t you all affiliated with the military?”

“Do you trust us now?”

“Not enough to show all my cards.” He bluntly answered him.

“...Your sister, is she a good fighter?” Gabrielle asked.

“She is…”

“Then pray she wins the next round. If my hunch is correct, the remaining players will face something else...”

****

[02:00:00]

[01:59:59]

*Tingggggg!

[Good Morning Players! In preparations for the next round you are in the process of selecting items for the next round. Players only have 1 hour to select their items.

Players will purchase these items with their points.

Game Level Ranking Points will be for the necessary items while Additional Skill Points will be support items.

Switching or exchanging items to other players are only allowed after the commencement of the games… Player Number 1 please step inside the room.]

*Shiiing

A door appeared inside is a plain white room. Liam stepped inside and said “See you on the other side.”

Few seconds later, another door appeared.

[...Player Number 2 please step inside the room.]

“Hey Man! I trust you.” Elijah winked at him.

“What is that supposed to mean?” Jack cringed.

“Dude, that’s for goodluck.”

In a short amount of time those two become real close.

As soon as Lucas came into the room, the door closed and a hologram appeared.

[Player Number 2, Please select your items.]

On the screen his points are written.

Game Ranking Points ‘GRP’ : 14 pts (remaining)

Additional Skill Points ‘ASP’ : 206 pts (remaining)

The buttons are touchable.

Basic Items

1x Plastic Water Bottle 30ml = 3 pts (GRP)

1x Plastic Water Bottle 100ml = 5 pts (GRP)

1x Plastic Water Bottle 500ml = 7 pts (GRP)

1x Glass Water Bottle 100ml = 8 pts (GRP)

[...]

There are a lot of choices of waters then if you press the button a list of bread, biscuits and other packed food are displayed. Since there is no picture players will have to guess what the item looks like.

There are six pages for the Basic items only. The last page goes like

*ting

[You are now exiting ‘Basic Item Category’. Once you click “Yes”, the selected ‘Basic’ items will be finalised.

Are you sure you want to proceed?

]

Going back to the basic item he went to the second page and selected an item.

[Buy this item for 13 pts (GRP)]

[Congratulations! You acquired…]

With the remaining point, he bought a piece of orange flavoured candy. The next round of items doesn’t compare to the first one, there are more than 50 pages filled with various items. From weapons, first aid kits to ropes, clothes and camping supplies.

‘That’s why we were given 1 hour to choose’

It may take forever for others but Lucas knows what he wants so it only took him a little more than 15 minutes to select his items and equipment.

The top of his lists are flashlights, bag, medicines, coat, boots, rope [...]

*Ting

[Congratulations! Player! You’ve completed the Item Selection Process first. You are given an additional reward.

Would you like to claim it?]

[Player number 2 is granted System’s Eye Authority… You are now able to see the rooms of the other players…]

The hologram was split into 9 screens that showed the players as they selected their items. They are all facing Lucas as if they are video conferencing, and it was impossible for Lucas to see which item they are selecting.

Liam, who was at the top screen, suddenly went out.

[Player 1 has finished selecting his items and equipment.]

If Lucas was 5 seconds late on selecting his items, this reward would go to Liam. That’s what he thought and focused on others.

Third to go out is the 10th player. He doesn’t have much points to spend to begin with.

Elijah looks like he is scrolling fast and makes faces as he contemplates and thinks hard. There was not much to see on audioless video but Lucas is focused and actively watching everything until every single one of them finishes the selection under 45 minutes.

[All players have selected their items and equipment… Time to choose your team.]

[Team leaders please select the Player’s number you wish to recruit… Players 3 to 10… Please select the Team you want to be in.]

While on Liam and Lucas’ screen is displayed the number 3-10, the rest has blank space.

*Ting

[Team 1 has sent you an invitation to his team. Would you like to Accept it?]

Liam’s right hand man, Player number 3 - Michael, receives an invitation as soon as Liam pressed the number three on his screen.

Michael who is about to press received another notification.

*Ting

[Team 2 has sent you an invitation to his team. Would you like to Accept it?]

“What the hell?” He said unable to believe what he was seeing.

Lucas also sent him an invitation.

*ting ting ting ting

One by one the rooms get the same notification.

“What is he doing?” Macords asked, frowning at the screen.

Player number 2 - Lucas has selected everyone on the screen and waited.

Whilst everyone has received notification from Lucas, only four had received from Liam

Player 3 - Michael, Player 4 - Aaron, Player 5 - Athena. Player 6 - Lark

*Ting ting

[Player 9 accepted your invitation.]

[Player 8 accepted your invitation.]

It only took a second before Jack and Elijah confirmed Lucas’ invitation.

Not minding the result, Lucas waited patiently while the others are anxious, especially, Player 10 - Kiko and Player 7 - Brandy, who was set aside because Athena and Aaron joined the group,

*Ting

[Player 3 accepted your invitation.]

[Player 5 accepted your invitation.]

[Player 6 accepted your invitation.]

Unexpectedly, Liam was also anxious, it's been more than three minutes but the last player he is waiting for hasn't accepted his invitation yet.

Five minutes had passed.

*Ting

Lucas opened his eyes and saw a player had joined his group. Two more are waiting, one player with one invitation and the other has two.

At almost the same time they clicked.

*Ting

[Player 4 accepted your invitation]

*Ting

[By default Player 7 will be joining your group.]

Just like that both groups are now complete.

*Psshh

As usual a gas has been released and the players went to sleep after a second of inhaling it.

Remaining time until the Game 4 starts in 01:03:02

*thud thud thud thud

One by one the room space collapses into four sides, revealing the stage inside. Gas masked men are surrounding the area with wheeled stretchers. The players were put into the stretchers and pushed to one a line.

*Creaaaaak

A huge rusty gate opens up. Inside were more armed gas masked men in black uniform. They accompanied each player as they were placed in different locations in an abandoned theme park.

The creaking sounds of the metals, blood dirtied surrounding, tattered rides, of ferris wheel, carousel, bump cars, dried lake of swan boat… space shuttles, food and mini game stalls.

Placed inside a tea cup ride, corner stall, behind grass and even rest rooms, these are some of the unconscious players’ locations. After being put down, a metal- like metal was put to their wrist. It lit three reds and a small ring sound before it settled down.

*Bzzt bzzt

“Installation Complete” The gas masked man reported to the radio.

*Bzzt Bzzt

“Connection Established. All good.” The man from the other side of the radio said.

The mask men nod to each other and leave Lucas’ body sitting in an open cubicle.

*twitch twitch

His fingertips moved a little.

*Beep Beep Beep

A truck was let into the amusement park and it was put down in the middle of the park. A total of three large containers have been put inside it.

Macord, who is watching from the screen, gives orders and monitors the situation.

“Team 5, how is the promised land? Any movements?” He asked

*Zzzt zzt

A crappy line connection comes in first before the report. “No Movements, sir.”

“How are the cargos?” He asked another.

“All in good conditions, sir”

He glance up the screen and the timing above says [00:15:06]

“Wrap it everyone, in 15 minutes, the Lasts of the Games will start.”

“Yes sir!”

Looking at his tablet placed on the long table, He sees the bidding on the final winner is taking place as well as what team will win.

The whiteboard is full of bets.

Macord, pressed his votes and bid $10,000 on that person.

‘Don’t disappoint me.’ He said as he looked at the players on the big screen.

*SHING!

“Ah! Thank Goodness, It hasn’t started yet.” Yuslan, who went straight to the monitoring room without days of shower, came in from the hard steel door and settled on the couch.

“You are back early… I hope you have the delicacy to take a shower before coming here.” Macord said, slapping ayaw the dirty boots of Yuslan’s from the table.

“If not for the mess, you left. I would probably have more time to shower. So yeah it’s your fault because there is no way I am not watching the last game.”

The mess he was talking about is when the control sends Level 0 undeads to Gabrielle’s way during the night. Cleaning up the place and standard investigations procedures are followed and reports at the end.

*Tap tap tap

Using Macord’s tablet, Yuslan used it to cast bidding votes on Liam’s group worth $ 15,000.

“You really like that person huh?”

“Of course, he is perfect. Strong, Smart and Rational. Don’t we need a lot of those in this world? Who did you vote for anyway?”

“Shut it, the game will now begin.”

[00:00:30]

“Wake the players up.” Macord said.