The Coming

Test begins

The test was just about to begin. The candidates had already been briefed on how to win, and their faces after that easily broadcasted their disbelief. It was already messed up that the Heads had decided to cut out the candidates who were going to flunk the test; but that wasn’t the case, not directly anyway. They thought it better if the candidates killed each other to survive.

The guard in front of us used a remote on the large window-television screen, switching between cameras and whispering “online” to the person on the other end of the Mic. Before long, he’d already scanned through the thirty-five cameras in the entire arena. He pressed a key on the remote, and all the cameras displayed on the screen all out at once, with either of them in their own small cubicle. Not too small to make you strain your eyes though, just enough to make everything visible, maybe even suitable for a person with myopia.

Every candidate was in their own corners in the arena, waiting, but praying not to hear the ringing bell that is going to signify the start of the test. By the looks of things, all of them had understood what was going to happen, and what they would have to do; at least the group one members did… the group Micah belonged to; THE ELITES. The group two members looked the same. Their eyes conveyed the same message even though they weren’t together at that time. They were determined. I searched the screen and found Micah. My heart hit hard at the sight of her. I was already scared for her out of my mind, but the look in her eyes multiplied it, and I ended up feeling a grain of disappointment towards her. I would have appreciated it if Micah had those exact eyes as her other group members, but she didn’t. As if she wasn’t ready to survive… Or, was she still worried about me…?

“I hope not… I really do hope not.”

There was a reason Micah was in the elite group. Even without their intense resolve in her blood, she was still a member of the group, and she was respected by them as well. When it came to combat skill, she was one of the top five across the entire facility. Herself, Annie, Velskud, Izo, and Flynn. Micah and Velskud were in the Elite group, and the rest were in the second group. Putting combat aside, Micah had a good head, be it academically, strategically… whatever; she was there… hence her group. If the top guns were just selecting candidates for the experiment without the test, she’d have easily been part of the first three to be called, without question. But that wasn’t the case.

Yes, Micah was strong combat-wise… she was a master of strategy… but this isn’t one of those normal unharmful tests that we’d done countless times in the facility. This was a matter of life and death, and no matter how good you are, one single slip may lead to your demise, and there’s no way to come out from that. And even that, is if you are ready for the test… Micah wasn’t – and I could easily tell from where I sat, looking at her through the screen. Her eyes were filled with tears, but not drooling, her hands shaking slightly.

Micah wore a tight fitting black long-sleeve jump suit, with a “V” shaped neckline, made out of a PVC-type fabric. Her dark ash knee high boots that went well with the black color of her jump suit. She wore a belt around her hips which was made of a series of gold disks, the center one having an hour glass engraved into it. She’d outlined both of her eyes with black ink… All of these went in relation with her ponied hair which saturated her look. The look in her eyes didn’t match her looks, but whatever. Her other elite members had their own unique looks, be it color or style of their outfits, but that was that. Everyone else was in their light blue shirt and pants. The only group allowed to wear differently were the elites. Ha – talk about unfairness.

The bell rang loudly… signaling the beginning of the deadly test. My heart started racing as I looked at the screen, praying nothing goes wrong… for Micah especially.

The candidates started moving at the sound of the bell.

Twenty-five candidates, out of seven-three… Micah… Daniel… Miche… please be one the twenty-five, please.

About eighty percent of the candidates headed towards the various direction, where armaments were kept, the rest heading straight to the other locations where they were clued that the pass cards would be; and everyone moved individually; well, not exactly. Then there was Micah… not going for weapons, not going to search for pass cards either.

Sigh --

Her outfit was overestimating her readiness after all. She looked like a badass girl, ready to devour anyone and everyone who comes her way, but had the heart of a Disney princess, waiting for her prince charming to come and save her.

My eyes widened at the sight. Everyone was on the move; every single candidate. Even the ones I predicted would be the first to --- well, first to not survive. Even they, were on the move… yet, Micah was just being sad and idle, sitting on the back of her legs.

Velskud and other three elite group members had already gotten to the armory. He picked a handgun, and a combat knife to arm himself. Maki went for the longer, heavier, powerful rifle; a sniper rifle – looked like an AWM but what do I know. She drew out the magazine and looked, and then nodded right after with a fulfilling smirk. She put back the magazine and wore the rifle like a one-hand bag at her back, over her right shoulder. The other member, Michael had an assault rifle, and the Varnak only armed with a sword. He obviously wasn’t a fan of guns at all, and his face showed a confident swordsman going on a mission. The lot had finally armed themselves, and it was quite palpable they weren’t going to do this individually as the Lieutenant demanded. Either they didn’t understand the meaning of individuality or they wanted to work together regardless. I was curious to find out what they had planned. Velskud’s hair and height easily made him differ from the other guys he was with; okay maybe not just them but the entire candidates in the facility. He was the only one with red scarlet hair. A red-haired tall guy everyone could identify from a mile away. Maki had long blonde hair which she had ponied at both sides, with her big rounded glasses over her eyes. The two other guys both had black hair; Michael had a dark black afro and Varnak’s hair was medium length fluffy one.

----------------------------------------------------------------

Annie scanned the entire field from on top a tree; things would have gotten wild if Velskud’s team had stayed a bit longer. When I say things would have gotten bad, I don’t mean for her only, but for Velskud’s team as well. Even though they had a gun, and she didn’t, it still wouldn’t be that easy for them to get her. I’ve seen her in training… She’s the swiftest of them all – Now, I get to see her in an actual fight.

She didn’t drop from the tree until she was especially certain that the area was clear. Even after she’d dropped, she still behaved skeptically – she’d attempt to take a step, but stops in the middle of the attempt. She repeated that a few times until she successfully took the step. The armaments were in the center of a plain green field, with giant trees surrounding the field; all the other three armaments locations looked same for whatever reason. But, I mean, it gives a good way to scout the field for enemies, just as Annie did.

Annie’s steps were rather calm than I expected. To think someone who wasn’t sure if she was clear or not, walk like a bride to her husband to be, almost literally exploded my brain.

“Wouldn’t it be rather wise to rush and get a weapon?” I asked myself in a thought.

“OR – WAIT…!” I had realized it. She had a reason for walking like that… and I saw it.

“That’s Annie for you.”

Her eyes were still scanning the area thoroughly – almost as if she wasn’t satisfied for the fact that she didn’t notice anyone after her previous scans. A cautious person; No wonder she was one of the best candidates there was.

Annie had finally got reached the armaments. She headed straight for the hand guns container. She took one and glared wildly at it, tilting it from one end to the other. She pulled out the MAG to inspect it.

That’s when it happened… Even me, behind the cameras failed to notice it.

Annie suddenly shifted her head to another side, and then less than a second, something hit the handguns container, and the force just sent the whole container away. Right after that scene, a vicious thunder roar sounded.

My lips parted, and my jaws dropped. My eyes tried to jump out of their sockets as well. I could tell the entire group of doctors were as stunned as I was. This time I turned to the Lieutenant rather than look from the corners of my eyes, trying to find out if I was the only one who had witnessed it. His lips were not parted – his jaws didn’t drop, but his eyes were even more wide than mine.

“Annie… You did this? Does she already have a superpower?” I questioned myself.

“No – is what I just saw even real?

“Of course, it is…” Aven Tador answered, and followed with a laughter.

“What… is wrong with you?” I queried, not understanding the reason for laughter at that point.

“Oh – I’m just wondering who, not who, what, she will be after the project Noire. Even now, she’s a complete monster.

Even Aven Tador was surprised.                                        

Annie had dodged a bullet from a sniper rifle…

IMPOSSIBLE!