THE CULLING TRIAL

CHAPTER 5 — NOT MY CUP OF TEA

Dead faces surrounded me in the darkness, their hollow eyes burning with accusation. The blonde girl stepped forward, her finger pointing straight at my chest.

"You let me die," she whispered, blood trickling from her lips.

It felt suffocating, like air being sucked from my lungs. I gasped as their hands wrapped around my neck, squeezing it. 

I wanted to tell them it wasn't my fault, especially to the girl, but I couldn't find my voice. When I thought this was going to be my end, the blazing alarm shrieked through the dormitory, forcing my eyes to snap open. 

My chest hammered against my ribs. The nightmare clung like smoke, but I was grateful to escape those accusing stares.

Soldiers marched in and stood at the entrance.

"To the field in ten, nine..." one barked as we jumped from our beds. I got up, disoriented, then saw Tobi still snoring on the top bunk.

"Really?" I muttered, shaking him until his eyes opened.

"What's happening?" he groaned.

"Get up." I pointed at the countdown soldier. He cursed and jumped from his bunk.

We threw on uniforms and rushed out as the soldier hit one. More soldiers filled the corridors, yelling at stragglers.

"Move! Move!" they chanted, forcing us to quicken our pace until we got outside where the harsh sunlight hit us like a slap. A soldier pointed to the track circling the compound.

"Start jogging!"

The command stunned everyone into silence. I cursed under my breath. "I can barely walk, and now I have to run?"

"Why?" one brave boy called out. "You didn't tell us—"

"Double laps for questions!" the soldier snapped. "Keep talking and we'll make it triple."

The other soldiers snickered. One muttered, "Last year's set wasn't this chatty."

A thin boy broke from the group and started running, destroying any hope of group resistance.

"Traitor," Tobi hissed, and several boys echoed the sentiment.

We gasped for air, throats dry, sweat burning our eyes. I couldn't wipe my face because touching my forehead wound would hurt more than the stinging salt.

Across the field, we saw the girls march in formation. Even in drab uniforms, Nira looked radiant.

Most boys collapsed on the scorching ground, chests heaving. A soldier approached our sprawled forms.

"Who's got contraband? Energy bars? Stimulants?"

Grumbles rose from the group. They could've asked that before torturing us.

Another soldier stepped forward. "Confess now, or meet the trainer's wrath. Trust me, you don't want to be on Sergeant Kole's bad side."

When they reached me, I shook my head. "Nothing."

"Liars, all of you!" The first soldier spat. "Double the remaining laps!"

Protests erupted until another soldier approached him

"Sir, the general is in the building..." He paused, eyeing us, then pulled him aside. After whispering, the soldier sighed, dejected.

"Go get ready for the day!"

We raced toward the showers without a second thought.

The decontamination was brutal, but at least some of the chemical residue washed off. Afterward, we headed to the cafeteria.

It was massive that it can stack my cramped apartment ten times and there will still be space for more. 

We waited at the completely empty space until a cook emerged from the kitchen, wiping his hands. 

"There's nothing here, boys. You need to keep to time here. No exceptions." and walked away, leaving us stunned.

"Great," Tobi muttered as we trudged toward the training center. "Adding starvation to my list of ‘what will they torture us with?’."

"That's a sad list," another boy said. 

"You tell me," someone else added darkly. “Tobi must love torture to keep a tag on it.”

“Shut up, Kingsley.” and turned to the other boy “You too, Danny.” which made them laugh. 

The training center doors loomed ahead. Inside, a mountain of a man stood waiting.

Sergeant Kole looked like he could crush vehicles with his bare hands. Thick arms crossed over a chest that strained against his uniform. 

His shaved head gleamed under the fluorescent lights, and a scar ran from his left temple to his jaw.

His eyes narrowed as we filed in.

"Late." His voice could grind stone to dust. "You'll stay after training for extra punishment."

The next hour was agony. Push-ups until our arms gave out, then more. Sit-ups until our stomachs cramped. Pull-ups that left our hands bleeding.

My wounds screamed with every movement, but showing weakness meant more punishment.

When the session finally ended, I could barely stand. The girls filed out first, heading to lunch.

I watched them go, stomach gnawing at itself. If only I could ask someone to save me food, but fraternization was probably forbidden.

Sergeant Kole stood over us, fists clenched, when Kambi appeared at his side. She whispered something urgent in his ear.

He listened, his expression darkening further, then nodded curtly.

Kambi turned to us. "Go take your lunch."

We cheered and ran for the cafeteria, some boys even overtaking the girls in their desperation.

The food served to us looked unappetizing but tasted tolerable. 

Tobi leaned close. "Some boys are talking about sneaking out after the next training."

"What for?"

"The Savior's Parade. Former champions marching back from missions outside the dome." His eyes lit up. "Want to come?"

I hesitated. More rule-breaking seemed dangerous.

"Come on," Tobi pressed. "Aren't you curious to see the ones who survived previous trials?"

That got my attention. "Sure. I guess.”

Tobi smiled." It's great to see those that were able to pass the experiment, heard it's tough but we got this."

Honestly, I'm actually curious to see how these champions looked like. Do they look like gods? Untouched precious jewels? Unblemished treasures? 

We haven't seen anyone return home for a long time. Heck! No champion ever made it back since I was born and no body, not even the older generations, talk about any champion from my home Ark, so it's possible we haven't succeeded in pass the trial.

Who knows if that's why we can't afford basic things despite working twice as hard. We don't have any champion to stand in the frontline and demand our rights to access the simplest things.

Which made me question if what Xavier said was true? 

The thought twisted in my chest like a knife. Maybe Xavier was right. Maybe none of us here were going to survive. 

I was still lost in that dread when the cafeteria doors creaked open again. Everyone turned, expecting another soldier.

Instead, an old man in rags shuffled in, his skin gray and thin as parchment. But his eyes… his eyes were hollow, empty as the dead girl from my nightmare.

And when they locked on mine, he raised a trembling hand and pointed straight at me, eyes slammed open.

“You,” he quivered, voice raw and broken. "What are you doing here? You aren't meant to be seen." 

As if by order, a column of soldiers marched in, boots thundering against the floor. At their center walked a man draped in a tailored suit. 

"Get him." he commanded, pointing at him. The frightened old man glanced back at me

“You’re next! They are coming for you! You have to get the hell out of here—" he was interrupted when something was trapped on his mouth, muffling his sound. 

He looked at me one last time before the soldiers dragged him out as if he’d never been there.

This odd feeling rubbed on me and I didn't like it. I was left with many questions and thoughts running through my mind but all fell back to one thought, I'm being targeted from someone I have no idea of.