Population Risks II

This is a continuation of this post.

Immediately after the man finished talking a woman appeared on screen. Thank you for your patience, the game will begin shortly. She seemed too happy about the game starting. Now if your last name starts with the letters A-G please follow the red path. Some of the floor panels began to glow red creating a path that lead to a room in one of the corners.

"That's us," my brother said. "C'mon. Michelle I'll see you later, okay?" He kissed her and we followed Andrew along the red-lighted path. If your last name starts with the letters H-J please follow the blue path. If your last name starts with the letters I-P please follow the green path. If your last name starts with the letters Q-Z please follow the yellow path.

Outside of this room, the world continued to move on except for the families of the players. After being chosen, the World's Army will visit the closest living relative. Our mother will have to suffer holding Life Cards once more. When I was 10 years old she had received an interesting little card. It shined red for two days. She'd sleep with it. She'd eat with it. She would take it with her everywhere. When the light finally went out, she stopped eating. She didn't speak for a month. At night I'd hear her cry.

When she finally began speaking, she told us that Father had abandoned us. I believed her until my 18th birthday. My best friend, Jessica, had been chosen. I was going over to her house to surprise her with tickets to Instant Gratification, her favorite band. Her mother answered the door, sobbing and clutching a Life Card that shined red. "She's been chosen," she said. "Why would they do this? Why?" I held her for hours as we both cried. Jessica didn't survive. I never confronted my mother for fear that she would have to live through father's death once more.

In the room we were suited up with customized clothes each featuring our respective colors. Our jacket had a special crest that shined red. They told us that it monitored our health: once it was out, you were dead. We exited to another room, as big as the first one, containing 10 different exits each closed by a see-through wave like pattern. People were now in groups, some holding a special gun that shot the Instant Cement. We met Michelle, Salvador and Christen once more. They were wearing yellow suits.

The woman from before once again began to speak: The game will now begin. I hope Lady Luck is on your side tonight.

10. A little girl began screaming, "Mommy, mommy, I don't want to play anymore. Please, I'm scared."

9. Michelle and my brother were holding hands.

8. "We'll stick together alright?" I said, as everyone nodded in agreement.

7. A man in the corner began laughing hysterically.

6. My heartbeat was deafening me.

5. People began shuffling towards the exits.

4. A scream could be heard outside of this room. It sent chills down my spine. It was definitively not human.

3. The lights on the outside were turned on and we could now see the 16th floor of the structure.

2. I heard a loud screeching. It sounded like someone was scratching out nails on a chalkboard.

1. The wave-like pattern disappeared and the doors opened: The game has begun.