Line Up

     More time passed and that meant more waiting. Justin gained confidence and started to talk to more people, even the older ones. This was part of a strategy to get people familiar with him so if the pact ran out of supplies he can get without working much. Communication was fairly easy since all participants that didn't speak English had to take English class for 2 months; this makes it easy to talk to one another, and participants can use the language later on if they survive. 

Ring Ring Ring

     That was the dreaded bell, Justin had heard about its bell and how eerie it sounded. Everyone in the room stood up and headed for the waiting chamber that leads to the outside where the media and crowds had been waiting. Almost like a sporting event, the countries had fans in separate sections. The crowds were dressed patriotically in their flag colors chanting in their languages. 

     The arena was styled like a Roman arena and then the gate opened. There were squares set on the ground for us to step on, once stepped on they lit up green; after that, you were signed in. Everyone found a square and stood waiting for the game master. Justin looked around and smiled at his section as did Noah and Mathew, while Jen looked down and prayed. 

   The ground in the center of the area lifted up to reveal the gamemaster for this year's silence game. She was a small woman about 5 foot with a small frame; her eyes matched her hair both being dark brown. Her skin was pale and looked soft to the touch. 

"Greetings to all! I am Rosamie Santos from the Philipines! I am your game master for this year," Her voice was assertive and scared Justin a little bit. "Don't be fooled by my appearance, I don't care about any of you. That's why some of you are here and have medical issues. this is population control my dearies! Let me explain what's going to happen, 5 of you will be randomly selected to be predators. Predators are injected with a special serum that changes them physically and mentally. these animals are enraged and hungry, they will hunt down the runners which are the rest of you! runners have to run, hide, survive, and most importantly stay silent. dropping something can cost you your life, most of you won't survive- Any questions?"

     Jen raised her hand and everyone's eyes turned to her, no one ever asks the gamemaster questions. Rosamie looked at her with a death glare, scanning the girl up and down.

"Yes?" the disgust in her tone made a shiver go down everyone's spine.

"i-i was um.. wondering what's going to happen.. um.. to my baby?" She sounded unsure of her own question.

"nothing. better pray to god that baby doesn't cry too loud." 

     everyone was horrified with the response, but it's the ugly truth no one could help her. She looked to Noah but he didn't look back, she looked to Mathew and he didn't look back, and she looked at Justin and he did look back. This had everyone talking, he didn't know that if he looked back many would think he was the father. Starting to be aware of this fact Justin started to feel uncomfortable with everything, especially the tall dark-skinned, muscular, Brazilian man behind him looking down in shame. 

     Rosamie received the hat and called everyone to attention. one by one the five names were listed and their squares turned red.

Brazil 

Egypt 

Latvia

Indonesia 

Greenland

     The five were dragged off to separate white vans that sped away to an undisclosed location. The rest were taken away to the mansion where they had to survive for 1 month, the crowd cheering faded out slowly. the pacts grouped together naturally and started to finalize any plans they had. Noah's job was to collect things to make weapons, Mathews job was to find food and water, Justin's job was to protect Jen, and well Jen didn't really have a job.   Everyone was okay with their jobs, then pacts started to become allies with one another. Noah strongly suggested they didn't but Mathew had the opposite thought and a fight ensued.

     In the end, they decided to make a few allies. Justin and Jen had little to no say in any pact decisions but they decided to give it a name. They called the pact Elite Four. 

    Finally, they arrived at the mansion, it was huge and old. It was more like a castle than a mansion- an old castle that had fallen victim to the elements. All the runners rushed inside to get the first dibs on everything. food was out in open and clean water in sinks and bowls. Mathew gathered most of the things while his college buddy searched for metal and other things. Justin took Jen to a small room with a closet full of clothes, he showed her them to see if they could be any use. She told him they can be used for warmth. 

     the two started to get any clothes they could find.