THE CULLING TRIAL

CHAPTER 5 — THE BIRTHDAY CURSE

They dragged me into the chamber like I was carrying secrets I didn’t know I had. The restraints snapped shut, and suddenly every eye in the room burned with the same question.

"What did your father mean in that message?" The lead scientist leaned close. 

“I don't know.” I answered. It was news to me too. 

"Has he been communicating with you?"

"No."

"Do you know where he is?"

“Know where he is?” I was stunned. “Isn't he supposed to be dead?”

The scientist cleared his throat and went on, "Any knowledge of his whereabouts?"

"I'm literally confused. My dad left when I was five and never came back."

The scanner hummed over my body as the interrogation continued. Shortly after, one of them approached him with the results in his hands. 

“Sir, I'd like you to take a look at this.” He said, handing it over to the lead scientist. 

He looked at me with an open-eyed expression 

"Have you encountered any beasts?"

Remembering Kambi's warning, I stuck to the safe story. "Yes. A monster attacked the train that was transporting us here."

They exchanged stunned looks. "How did you survive that amount of venom?"

I shrugged, saying nothing.

"We'll need to extract the poison before enhancement," one muttered. 

Another scientist held up a hand. "Wait. We need to check his ranking first before proceeding. No, we don't want to waste resources on someone weak."

"What enhancement—"

Lex walked in with his team, one carrying an antidote case. 

"I'll take it from here." He walked in. 

“We received clearance for this—”

“I don't like to repeat myself,” and gestured a few of his subordinates to clear the room. The scientists who were leaving grumbled bitterly how he was using his champion status to boss them around.

After they were done, he turned to his assistant 

“Let's be quick before they realize what's going on,” while pulling out a serum he got from the opened box beside him. 

As I waited for Lex to explain, another scientist jabbed something into my arm. "This is the real antidote that will flush out the venom shortly."

Numbness crept through my limbs. I became a prisoner in my own body, watching them work. Tubes, machines, monitors—all connected to me like I was some experiment.

When the extraction neared completion, Lex leaned close and whispered, "I'm making sure you get the enhancement. Kambi begged me to."

I wanted to respond but felt like a soul trapped in an empty shell.

Lex signaled his partner. They began injecting something new into my bloodstream. Silver liquid flowed through clear tubes into my veins. They did it consecutively, I think about seven times, can't tell as my brain was slowly getting foggy. 

My body temperature spiked, then plummeted. Every nerve fired at once—electricity racing through my system while my muscles contracted involuntarily.

My vision flickered between blur and crystal clarity. Heart hammering against my ribs like a caged animal. The enhancement felt like liquid fire rewriting my DNA, each cell screaming as it transformed. Terror gripped me—what if this killed me? What if I never saw Cent and Vivi again?

Suddenly I convulsed violently, back arching off the table.

"Inject the solution! Now!" Lex commanded.

They injected a clear fluid that made my body instantly calm. Muscles relaxed, breathing steadied, but strange energy hummed beneath my skin.

I lay there until feeling returned to my limbs. Lex approached cautiously.

"How are you feeling?"

"Better now that the venom's gone."

Lex looked confused “You don't feel any slight symptoms?” and I shrugged. He wore a worried look, muttering to himself as he flipped through his journal. "I followed every protocol." He studied my face. "Are you sure?"

“Yes.”

"Doctor Voss is going to kill me," he whispered.

"Stop being such a worry-wart," his female partner said. "Long as we don't tell anyone about the enhancement, we're fine."

The door swung open, and a soldier entered. "Thorne requests Kae's presence."

Lex looked like he was about to panic. "Don't mention what happened here."

"I'm not a snitch."

The soldier led me through several buildings until we reached the government complex—a towering structure of black marble and steel, all sharp angles and imposing columns. Inside, crystal chandeliers cast golden light over polished floors. Ornate paintings lined the walls between massive windows draped in burgundy velvet.

Thorne sat at a round mahogany table with several men who looked older than my father. 

He looked exactly how I see him on screen; thick-set, well-fed, his expensive suit straining over his belly. Gray hair swept back, cold eyes calculating as he shuffled cards with practiced ease.

The soldier left, leaving me to study the fancy decorations while I wait for him.

"Why's the kid here?" one man asked.

"I called him." Thorne waved them away. "Give us privacy."

As they filed out, one paused before me. "You remind me of someone. Do you perhaps know this young man—"

"That's enough," Thorne interrupted.

The man smiled at me and left.

"Join me," Thorne gestured to the cards.

"I don't play cards." No, I have never played cards. 

"You're missing the fun." He dealt two hands. "What do you do for hobbies?"

"I don't have any."

"Young fellow like you? Hard to believe."

How could I? When I spent my formative years caring for my younger ones. No time for hobbies when survival came first.

"This conversation's getting dull." Thorne's eyes glittered. "Let's play a simple game."

The word 'game' zapped me back to when Pierce used that same word before everything went wrong.

Thorne dealt cards face down. "Pick one. Either a high card or a low card."

My hand trembled, reaching for a card, and when I picked it up, it was a Queen of heart.

“Good, a high card. Can you guess what it means?” I shrugged, "I know you're a smart boy, so let me be direct—don't try anything sinister or your siblings will pay the price on your behalf."

Chills traveled down my spine "Like what?"

"Causing trouble, and mind you, I won't make the same mistake twice."

Same mistake twice? What does he mean? 

“In other words,” he continued, “I won't make it easy for you in the trial, so it's best you don't have anyone to drag into this.”

The words hit like ice water. My blood ran cold like it's the Grim Reaper that marked me to die himself. 

A soldier escorted me out after he was done, his threats still echoing in my head. 

What did I do to deserve this? Did he want me dead? The threat wasn't clear, but my hope of surviving and getting back to Cent and Vivi shattered completely.

I went back to the training center, where they announced the rankings. My name appeared at one hundred fifty-one.

That couldn't be right. I should get a higher placement. Tobi ranked ninety-eight, Nira at one hundred. Was this part of Thorne's manipulation?

Coordinators were called forward. Kambi sat with the others, each selecting ten candidates. She chose Tobi, Nira, and me along with seven others.

Then came an announcement:

"Thorne invites all candidates to tomorrow night's dinner banquet."

After selection, Kambi led us to a waiting bus that took us to another location called The Tent. 

Its compound sprawled before us—military-style canvas structures arranged in neat rows. Kambi showed us to our quarters.

"Tomorrow I'll brief you about the trials," she said, retiring us to bed.

Thorne's words haunted me all night. Whatever he meant, it spelled trouble.

Tobi shook me awake. "Happy birthday, man. Any celebration plans?"

I chuckled. "Like what?"

He shrugged playfully. "I don't know it's your day."

We found clean clothes in the cupboard after bathing and tossed our faded ones in the bin.

At the round table, other candidates had gathered, including Nira. I didn't realize I was staring until she caught my gaze, and I awkwardly looked away.

"Gather around," Kambi then called the chefs to bring the food to the long table.

Steam rose from platters of roasted meat, fresh bread, colorful vegetables, and fruits I hadn't seen in years. My mouth watered, and my stomach rumbled loudly.

As we filled our plates, Kambi introduced a male champion. "This is Raven, one of the champions of the ninety-ninth trial."

Before he could speak, someone burst through the entrance, hurrying toward us.

Turning around, I was shocked. The woman with glasses from the Savior Parade was here. What was her name again? Chili?

"You're late," Kambi scolded.

"Sorry, sis." Chili apologized casually.

Everyone stared. "Your sisters?" A candidate asked.

"Yep, older by two years." Chili's relaxed attitude was contrast sharply with Kambi's rigid demeanor.

"Same with my sister," Nira said.

"Was she marked too?" Chili asked.

Nira shook her head. "Fortunately, it's only me."

I wondered how they had marked her. Brokers usually targeted people through their deepest desires or fears.

"Your ranking results are out," Kambi said. "Understand what they mean?"

We shook our heads.

"There are four ranks. First fifty are Rank A—premium gear, major advantages, best survival odds. Fifty-one to one hundred are Rank B—decent gear, half of Rank A's benefits. One hundred one to one fifty are Rank C—basic suit only. Bottom fifty get nothing—enter bare, most die in the first game.”

My ranking made terrifying sense.

"That's why I arranged champion strategy talks," Kambi said.

Raven stepped forward. "The quickest way out is becoming a ripper—someone who kills other players."

"Staying close to rippers works, but they might kill you if you become a liability," Kambi added.

"Form alliances early. Use them as shields when death comes," Chili said bluntly.

A girl raised her hand. "Must we follow these strategies?"

"Don't and die," Raven spat. 

"Focus alliances on the the top fifty players." Chili added.

"Why?" a boy asked.

"You're there to survive, not babysit," Kambi answered as Raven's face darkened.

"Are you asking stupid questions just to annoy me?" 

We all shook our heads quickly.

"Also, transportation into the game matters," Chili added. “So search for clues on that one.”

"Learn basic skills," Kambi said. "Fire-starting, edible plant identification, water filtration."

"Weapon training too," Raven added. "You'll need to defend yourself."

"Where do we practice all these?" someone asked.

"This afternoon," Chili replied. "See what you can handle."

"Will there be guns?"

"Maybe," Raven said. "Depends on airdrop colors. Green for food and medicine, blue for essentials like blankets and tents, red for lethal weapons."

"Focus on airdrop timing," Kambi warned. "Get close to grab supplies before other players, but retreat if it's too dangerous."

"Or kill other players and take their stuff," Raven interjected.

Chili mentioned horde zones with valuable loot, but Kambi warned against them. 

After hours of discussion, we headed to the practice room. 

There were other candidates there already with their coordinators, making me wonder if showing my skills was smart.

We didn't stay long as Kambi reminded us about tonight's dinner.

Back at the tent, I gathered courage to approach her. 

"Hey, Kambi. Is it possible to call in and check up on my siblings?" But she brushed me off. 

"Not now. Prepare for the dinner event first, then we'll discuss it."

Later, as we were prepared to leave, I couldn't help admiring Nira—her styled hair, elegant dress, beautiful heels — as I watched her get into the vehicle.

We arrived at the transformed government building. Crystal chandeliers blazed, silk drapes adorned the walls, and fresh flowers filled every corner. 

Was this the same austere place I'd visited yesterday?

We took our seats as murmurs rippled through the hall. "Thorne's coming."

He emerged from the indoor balcony, commanding the room's attention. "Welcome to this celebration dinner." After a brief speech, he descended to dine with us.

The feast was magnificent—glazed ham, roasted fowl, exotic vegetables, delicate pastries, wine flowing freely.

After dinner, Thorne called for a special celebration. Servers wheeled out an enormous cake—three tiers covered in white fondant with golden decorations and fresh flowers cascading down the sides.

I wondered why they'd brought a cake until Thorne spoke.

"Today marks a special birthday for one of your fellow candidates." His eyes found mine across the room. "Everyone, please sing for our birthday boy, Kae."

The room burst into song while my blood turned to ice. When they finished, Thorne raised his glass. "May this be a birthday to remember... possibly his most memorable one."

The threat was subtle but clear.

I stayed silent on the ride home, telling myself this was the best birthday ever—and probably my last.

Back at the tent, I worried about the twins but when the main door opened, we were greeted with unfamiliar faces. 

“Papa!” A girl jumped excitedly as she raced to hug her father. Another did, making me wonder what was going on. 

Until I heard two familiar voices call my name. 

I scanned the room and froze. What I didn't expect was right before me. Cent and Vivi were here too.