Game Of Survival

Chapter 10

JAMES

Suddenly, the screen came on. It's background color was Black with a white omega sign at its center. The vast majority of us quickly stood, fixing our eyes on the screen as if it were our salvation.

"Congratulations to the three hundred participants who qualified successfully. You all are now officially contestants of the show." A deep voice emanated from the screen.

"My name is Mr. E and welcome to the Omega Show." He paused. And some of the contestants began clapping for themselves but I was baffled. How was it possible to have three hundred contestants in a reality TV show? I might not be a fan of those shows but I do know their numbers weren't this huge. Which led me to another puzzle. Why? Why did they decide to have so many?

"The main goal for each contestant here is to battle their way through and make it to the top. For only the one who rises above all shall get the prize money of a hundred million dollars." He explained. "Hundreds of viewers are currently watching this show live. And they hope you all give it your best." He paused again and the crowd cheered. But rather than smile, the look of horror was imprinted on every person beside me. This wasn't the time to be cheering, this was the time to run from whatever this was.

"There is only one rule in this show," He paused and I gulped down my saliva in fear. "Kill and don't be killed." His voice toured out even deeper. I immediately felt a cold sensation haunt my spine. At the same time, we glanced at each other speechless.

Some of the other contestants on the other hand were murmuring in bafflement. If only they knew the truth.

"In this stage, each contestant should eliminate ten contestants within an hour to advance to the next stage. We hope you enjoy yourselves." He finished and the screen went off immediately.

"Is this a joke?" Eve stammered.

"No. I don't know." I replied, still staring at the blank screen, hoping it was really a joke.

"Is this a prank?!"

"Who the hell is that guy?!"

"I don't care at this point, I'm leaving. I'm tired of all this nonsense."

Those were the several voices emanating from the crowd.

"James, what do we do?" Daniel asked.

"I don't know." I whispered.

"We have to do something guys! I think this s**t is real!" Dave pitched in a trembling voice. But I remained like a statue regardless. I was stuck in a limbo, confused whether to believe this or not.

At the same time, scores of people threaded to the center too. The situation only got worse, they were equally as scared as we were.

"What's up guys, what's going on?" Jason asked as he and Linda approached us. Eve tossed him one of the bags and after a while.

"What the hell?!" He gasped.

"I can't believe it, is this actually real?" Linda stammered.

"You can see it for yourself. This is no longer any dumb reality show. This is something else!" Dave lamented.

"Whether this is real or not, we have to leave. It's not safe here." Eve mentioned.

"Yeah, as soon as possible!" Daniel added. "James!" He tapped me and only then did I get myself.

"We have to go." He whispered and I nodded.

And just as we made to leave, an alarm blared. About twenty contestants' heads exploded instantly.

I needed no soothsayer to tell me, This wasn't a reality TV show. It was a m******e!

Everyone began to run Helter skelter, screaming like helpless sheep that were thrown into a pit with wolves. Some of us remained not because we were brave or anything but because they were consumed by horror. As if their souls had left their bodies.

"Oh my God!" Daniel yelled, his eyes gleaming with nothing but fear.

"This is bad, this is bad, this is bad!!" Dave yelled too, walking to and fro as he scratched his low cut hair.

"Did their heads just blow off?" Linda stuttered.

"We have to run! We have to leave this God damned place!!" Dave screamed again. "What are you guys waiting for, didn't you just see what happened now?!"

"Yeah… We have to leave!" Linda chirped.

"James, what are you waiting for?! Let's go." Daniel began tugging at my arm, pulling me forward but I was barely moving. My head was in a complete disarray as several thoughts stormed my mind. My entirety was engulfed in fear but somehow, I knew one thing. Running away wasn't going to do us any good.

"James!" Eve screamed too with pleading eyes.

"Come on man, what are you waiting for?!" Jason blared too.

"I don't know about you guys but I'm not about to become dead meat!" Dave blurted and he immediately started racing.

"James, don't just stand there!" Daniel yelled. Amidst all this chaos, everyone's natural instincts were to run without thinking. I should be doing the same thing too but my legs wouldn't just move. It felt as heavy as an elephant.

"James!" Eve blared again and somehow, I could finally see their faces clearly. That look of horror. In a way, I could finally make a move but as I took a step, the screen suddenly brightened. It immediately grabbed everyone's attention.

"In this stage, each contestant should kill ten contestants within six hours to advance to the next stage. We hope you enjoy yourselves." The deep voice quoted and everyone went dead silent. And after that, a timer displayed. It was a twenty minute countdown.

"What the f**k is this place?!" Dave blared, I didn't even know when he appeared beside me.

"Whatever that timer means, it definitely doesn't mean good." Daniel muttered.

"Meaning we only have twenty left to escape from this place." Eve replied.

"We have to go." Jason interjected. "Right now. We don't know whose head is going to blow next. Let's leave."