บท 12: Chapter 12 - The Excursion
One by one we filed out from the great hallway and out the door, in front of us were three large white buses.
"Zac, the buses are massive. How many children can it fit?"
"Most likely all of us."
Stepping inside, it smelt sweet, I was guided by a man to a seat at the end, the seat was comfortable. Sitting next to the window I watched as one by one we all boarded.
"Zac, you need to sit!" Zac was bouncing from one seat to the other like a monkey jumping from tree to tree.
"It's so comfortable! The seats are so comfortable. I can't decide which one to sit on."
"Just sit with me?"
"...Fine. But seriously you should try as well, the seats are soft but sturdy."
Glaring at him, he finally stopped jumping and sat next to me.
"Welcome children, my name is Zilic and I'll be your driver for today. Strap your belts on, sit back and relax. We are about to make our way to Lake of dreams."
The lake of dreams, just what kind of place was it. Was it a place where people lied down, slept and dreamed?
It must be a fantastic place. I imagine that there would be birds hovering about.
Looking outside, our bus roared to life, and quickly we began to drive. It was such a strange place, yesterday when I came here it was dark, we drove over a whole heap of desserts before arriving but today we drove around the main building and all I can see is green, blue, brown and plenty of light.
How could such a place even exist?
I was in wonder, when I heard a scream, pulling me back to reality.
A lady in a white dress with square glasses was moving down the aisle, stopping by each child with a needle, stabbing them, patching them and then moving to the next child.
She moved so fast.
Did it really hurt? The whole bus was whining and crying as if they had lost their mothers.
It didn't take long before she was just seats away from us.
Her kart screeched as it pulled closer.
She was coming.
It was going to be my turn.
Time stopped and slowed down.
I watched as she bent over, and slipped her hands inside the metal tin box, pulling out another very fine needle.
She was just two chairs away now.
She moved towards the boy, whispering to his ears, and before I could even try to listen in on what she was saying. Her hands moved in a blur. The needle was in and out and the boy was left crying.
My heart was pumping, she was coming, and there was nothing I could do to stop her. I had nowhere to run, I was trapped.
"Oi, what is in the needle?"
"You're not putting it inside me unless you tell me!"
A kid two chairs up screamed and yelled at the top of his lungs.
"I don't really think you have a choice kid. This needle is filled with the latest medication, which prevents you from catching diseases like cough, runny nose, fever…"
"If that is true"
"...why is it not on every shelf..."
"...at every single shop?"
"Look, kid. I am just trying to do my job, how about I give you a lolly?"
"No thank you!"
"For all, I know you could have the formula in the lolly too."
"This whole place is messed up."
"Giant vegetables, and fruits."
"It goes against everything"
"The apples are completely out of whack."
"It doesn't make sense at all.
"It's big, crunchy and shows no signs of oxidation..."
The kid went quiet, he had been grabbed from behind, and seeing the opportunity the lady's hand moved in a blur stabbing him, before pulling the needle back out and sticking a giant band-aid on him.
I could see the tears rush into his eyes, as his pupils turned red and watery.
"Fat shit, what was that for?"
"You talk too much! I want his share lollypop please."
The boy who had grabbed him was Augustus. I couldn't believe it. He had just grabbed the kid to give himself more food.
"Thank you, love."
"It was a pleasure."
Augustus reached out with his arm, and she quickly stabbed him, before moving forward.
Zac and I were the last to remain.
"Arm, please? It'll be quick and even painless. I promise."
Listening to the nurse Zac reached out with his arm, she quickly gave it a quick wipe and then stabbed it. Zac was not like the other kids crying, it was quick as promised and before I knew it, was my turn.
"Now your turn young lady."
"Before you do it, can I ask you how you are able to just look at our arms and know where to stab the needle?"
"It comes with years of practice. Now arm please."
Reluctantly, I reached out with my arm, and before I could even react the needle was in and out.
* * *
Command Centre: 12:05PM
In a dark room, on a big screen in front of the eyes of a dozen individuals were three massive red dots moving closer and closer towards a green flat box with big writing, The River of Dreams.
"Are all preparations in place?"
"Yes."
"Are you sure that everything will work? I don't want to see the same thing happening as last year."
"That will not be happening today. I have installed new killing machines."
With a flicker of his hands, three images popped up on the screen.
The Baby Killer: Stage 1 and 2.
"The Baby Killer. It's a new improved semi-automatic shotgun like a crossbow, capable of shooting 12 arrows at a time. The only downside with it is that when it loads it does take about 6 seconds to reload. But it shouldn't be a problem because we have a dozen of them for stage 1 and an additional dozen in stage 2."
The Death Stinger: Stage 3 and 4
"Then if the candidate makes it past that, they will be faced with our new sleek black elite killing machine. The Death Stinger. If we were to compare it with modern technology, it will be the machine gun of crossbows, its body is painted in a metallic black, steel frame, and can shoot over a hundred arrows in a minute. It has a scope to sense when candidates will arrive and can predict where they will land. Using algorithms."
The Man-Eater: Stage 4
"And to help ensure that not all candidates make it past the finish line, I have laid multiple Man-Eaters on the floor. They are traps that will clamp onto the candidates, preventing them from moving."
"Good Work. If your system fails again, I will have you personally test it."
* * *
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