Now that we had the mandate to get rid of each other in order to advance, I was very concerned for our safety. I told the others of my concerns and they were also pretty nervous. I was sure that we were good pilots. We had a fight before, but this time was different. We might be fighting for our lives in the next fight. Indeed, only 6 minutes after lights out, there were several cries of terror as the purge began. We got up and ran directly for a wall. It was enough to just survive the night. As long as we were all alive when there were only 50 candidates, we would advance. Felix limbered up to us with a guilty expression on his face. "It's getting rough out there. Can I stay over here with all you guys?" he asked. Our team just looked at each other. Another shriek stole our attention. "Fine! But any funny business and we're killing you. Got it!?" I snapped. He just nodded his head. We saw Mark and his guys beating several candidates. Some were killed and others were only maimed before another combatant got in the way. When it was time for the meal. The voice addressed us. "Stop. Eat, then train."
Felix
Mark
Mark was choking the life out of some poor guy. He apparently decided to stop playing with his prey as he squeezed tighter and snapped his neck. It made a sickening sound that rang out the silent holding room. Everyone here must have heard it. The body fell to the floor, a look of horror eternally etched onto his face. Mark just sighed out loud and went about his business as if nothing had happened. His cronies had both survived the night and they were laughing as they recounted their kills. I thought it was disgusting. Felix stepped off of the wall and said "Thanks for letting me hang out with you on the wall. It was getting a bit rough for me out there. They had me in the first half, not gonna lie." he said as he pointed to his face. There was a large gash on his cheek and it was still a bleeding mess. It was going to be a big scar when it healed. I thought that was a shame. At least he was alive. During the night, 11 people died. That meant that there were still 62 candidates here. That did not mean that it was all over and done. Those that were maimed were not in any condition to continue on.
They were dead men walking. No medical attention was given to them. A couple of them died from their wounds before mealtime was over. One of the candidates with a broken leg dragged himself over to the armory while we were eating. He got a gun and returned to the holding room. He got his revenge on his attackers by shooting them dead. Others rushed him and knocked him to the ground in order to disarm him. He shot one such person dead in the center of his chest before the gun was taken away. The one to disarm him put the rogue gunman down with a bullet to the head. With that done with, another five candidates were eliminated. "Oh no. Now who left the door to the armory open? Silly us." the voice said mockingly. So it was planned and allowed by the ones watching us. "Now it's time to start your training for the day. I want no funny business during the day. You will die." it finished. We went to train. There were 57 of us left. 3 of them were still maimed. They were now essentially goners unless they had something big up their sleeves. 7 of us had to go. It would not be any of us.
