Chapter 6: Policy

The wolf's canine punctures the newly fresh muscle, its tongue tasting the overly sweetened warm blood, its snout bloodied with dried blood. Its bright sapphire eyes piercing through the cold eyes of the poor little rabbit, its neck was open, thick scarlet escaped it's veins as it flows onto the loam. The wolf towered over the bunny with no limbs, its face showing of content, satisfied from what it's done, and with its full stomach, it left the dead prey alone for other animals to devour.

Everett's eyes shot open as she gasps, milky white ceiling greeted the young woman, a sigh of relief pronounced her lips. The woman warily reached her neck, only to flinch at the pain she felt, her eyes widen as she breathes in heavily for this was the proof that what had happened was very real.

She quickly sat up straight and removed the blanket that was laying on her abdomen and raced towards the infirmary's door, the lady speedily reached for the knob and bolted to the hallway platform, no students were in the hallway was found, it was as if everything that was happening was merely a dream, it was too surreal but the pain that she felt in her neck, in her calf says otherwise. All the lady wanted was to go home, to enjoy the warmness of her mattress, to engulf her beloved brother in her arms.

Tears burst forth like water from a dam, spilling all over the lady's face, the lady knew she was living a crappy life but let's face it, that's reality, that's what's life all about however what played in her mind over and over again wasn't just crap, it was pure insanity.

It sent shivers on her spine and it made her felt weak to her knees, the vivid red substance all over the professor made sure to never leave her mind, the horror she did not expect to carry on but it did, the girl continued to run, her feet kissing the ground, when she was out of the school, Everett abruptly stopped, her heart dropped out of her chest, her breathing hitched as she stares at the man who almost took her life. "What do you want?" For the second time, the girl sobbed, fear crawling its way into her heart.

The man only chuckled at the sight of the girl, her shoulders were heaved with emotions with her quivering lips and her trembling voice, she was clearly trying to act tough but with her present state that was practically shivering in fear betrayed her, it was pathetic. "My, my. I knew for sure I was allowed to roam." His eyes stalked the face of the frightened woman, a glint of amusement playing in his mousy orbs.

The woman clutched her hands into a fist, her knuckles turning white in rage and fear, how bad she wanted to slam her fist into his face, really she wanted but she knew better, she stands no chance against a man with a distorted mind. "I just want to go home!" desperation laced on the voice of the girl as she shouts, he replied with a dark chuckle "Don't you want your money? You won didn't you?" The girl shook her head, her lips formed into a straight line.

The man threw the money in front of the girl and with that he left, the girl wasted no time, not even glancing at the thrown money, she ran back to her dorm room. She speedily took the things she needed, threw it into her bag, and was ready to move, suddenly her door burst opened, revealing the two girls with bored expression resting on their faces.

The two made their way to the girl, threw the money in front of her "You won so accept it." the girl frowned at this "Aren't you scared? Why are you all acting as if this is all normal?!"

"Cause it is." Everett shook her head, her knuckles white in rage. "Normal? Normal you say? A professor being murdered by a student? That's obscured!" Alicia rolled her eyes in annoyance while Sabrina groaned, saying "She's not dead! Don't be dramatic." Everett scoffed at the scene playing in front of her, this was a madhouse.

Everett rushed to the door. "Everett, I simply don't care what happens to you, whether you die or you live has nothing to do with me, after all, it's yours, not mine but keep in mind that once you leave, it's not only your life you put in the line." Alicia sighed, this was the main reason she hated new students, they're dim-witted. "What do you mean?"

"Oh please! Stop with the act, I know you know it. You die along with your loved ones, the end." Sabrina lifted her hands, shaking them as if she said something fantastic " So now we can't even get out of this place?"

Alicia groaned as she replies "Correction: it's you who can't get out and of course, we can. Are you that stupid? This is a school, not a prison. " Everett chuckled in disbelief, her head thrown back like a crazed woman she continued to laugh.

"What? Am I supposed to just nod and say 'wow, okay I get it.' after that horror you expect me to treat everything 'normal' because you said so?" Alica sighed as she motioned Everett to stop "As I've said earlier, it is your life, your choice however there's no backing out now Everett, you either choose life or death." Sabrina nodded as Alicia shrugged, as much as Everett tried to hold it in, beads of water rolled out from her eyes and down to her cheeks. Alicia did feel bad for the girl, she was not ready, all of them weren't but there was not much of a choice.

Sabrina patted the girl's shoulder as she sobbed in fear for her life and her loved ones. Minutes later when she had calmed down, Alicia began to speak. "From Monday to Friday, all students that belong to the afternoon classes are required to play games, similar to what you had earlier. There is no education, only gruesome games however students aren't allowed to kill one another, they can only do much but not too the point of reaching death."

"Ranks, that's what matters, if you're in the lowest, might as well kill yourself and many did." Everett gasp at the sentence, she shivered at her ghastly thoughts, if they've reached the point where they wanted to kill themselves, didn't just that prove that their life was a living hell?

Slaves: The lowest rank, known as the weakest and the poorest class of students, they were born just so they can die for they live a hellish life. The second to the lowest was known as 'Workers' pretty much the same as the slaves but not that pitiful to the point of suicidal mentality, saved by merely luck. Their similarity- coping up to live, however not all times luck is by their side, so just as many slaves died, so did the workers.

Next in the list was called Executives, executives are found in the middle of the ranks, they're neither poor nor rich, and most of them are invisible in the games. "Alicia and I belong in that class of students, so are you. You were almost put in the same position as the slaves but luckily you ended the game successfully with Asher." Everett only nodded, her mouth ajar, wanting to say something but no words came out, the girl gulped.

"The top ranks do not belong to the afternoon classes which means games are not required for them so what had happened earlier to you was Asher's choice, sadly for you, you caught his attention. The disadvantage of being a new student."

Clowns- the fourth in line with power in school, known as the joker in the games, considering the name of the rank. Those who belong in the clowns are well-heeled which is the result of their arrogant persona. "Asher Sullivan. Part of the student council, also known as the crazed joker."

The next rank is the class of students with brains they survived using their intellect, known as 'Strategists' The second most powerful rank is the 'General' with their cunning beauty, they've deceived many. Generals are known for blending in the crowd, similar to the executives, the difference is executives tend to be invisible while generals pretend.

King- In a flick of the king's finger, anything can happen with his minions under him and his ultimate power over the whole school. The king holds everything; power, beauty, intellect, money. "Iklies De Loughrey." Everett narrowed her eyes, listening closely, her curiosity piqued.

"The student council president. The room in the west wing where you went in was their meeting room, no one was allowed there, it will be the end of them but you broke that record. You stepped unto the stairs but not just that, you even wandered around the place."

Everett lowered her head, clutching the end of her clothing. If someone saw her would that mean she would die that very day? Her heart dropped, her blood ran cold at the thought of herself being dead. "What if I don't participate in the games?"

"You'll die. That's it." Sabrina responded, no hesitation laced on her voice. "What if we escape?"

Alicia sighed, shaking her head. "The same thing will happen. We'll die." Everett's lips curled into a frown, letting out a quick angered breath before saying 'how?' The two girls responded with silence, the truth is they do not know the reason how students along with their loved ones get killed once they've tried to escape their fate or try not to participate, maybe Alicia was indeed right, maybe this is a prison or worse maybe this is their hell.

"We don't know...Everett, all you need to know is to survive. Money and life, that's what matters, remember that." The two walked out of the lady's dorm, leaving her alone with fear swarming inside her heart. She sat on the cold ground, not moving an inch, her mind keeps on showing the same image over and over again, and for some unknown reason guilt was itching inside of her.

She knew she was not at fault but none of that would happen if she weren't there in the first place, she knew it was not time for guilt to eat her up, it was time for her to prepare for the worst scenarios but she couldn't bring herself to be brave.

She did not ask for any of this but then again all of them didn't. All she ever wanted was to escape their crappy lifestyle but it looks like instead of getting out of the pit she only dug deeper.