The Scourge (part 3)

- "If anyone would like to leave before we commence, please do now." Lawrence announces.

The atmosphere grows tense once again. Everybody looks at everybody else, and then slowly stands up from their seats and leaves the room, some of them talking to one another.

I stay seated at the same spot, watching everything. There is still quite a few people left in the room, maybe thirty or so including myself.

A few minutes later, we are all alone together. It seems like these will be the people whom I will be working with throughout the day.

Lawrence walks to the front of the room, stands facing us with his back against the black wall.

- "Before we begin, does anyone have any questions?" He asks us.

Nobody answers.

- "Excellent." Lawrence smiles.

- "Then, without further delay, let us begin." He says.

- "Please, take a seat while I explain your first task and how it will be completed." Lawrence instructs.

Everyone sits back down on their seats. Lawrence begins to speak.

- "The objective of this task is simple. Each member will receive a list different from one another which includes your objectives to complete for the first part of the test. These objectives will range from different difficulties and dangers to different scenarios which you must face during the first portion of the test." He says.

- "But does that mean one cannot proceed to the next portion of the test if they haven't completed all objectives? No, each objective is unique from one another and is rewarded with a different amount of points. In order to move forward onto the next round, you must achieve 50 points at minimum before the time is up."

- "And the points you will earn will be added according to your contribution to the test. If you've not yet achieved all fifty points, you will receive additional points based on your contribution."

- "So, please try to think of all the ways you want to gain more points and then make a plan of action to accomplish them." Lawrence finishes.

Nobody responds.

- "Well, I think I've explained the rules of the testing area already so, if there is anything that any of you wants to ask, don't hesitate to approach me." Lawrence concludes his speech.

After a minute passes by, no one has approached him.

- "Great, now that we are ready for our first task, please come towards me so that I can give you all your unique lists of objectives." Lawrence instructs.

Everybody rises up from their seats and walks towards Lawrence. He goes to the left side of the table, picks up a piece of paper, unfolds it and starts reading off the names.

- "Alice." He reads out loud.

- "That's me." A girl standing near the end of the table calls out.

He holds up the list in his hand, scanning through it quickly.

- "Louis." He calls out.

Again, the man called Louis raises his hand to receive the paper.

Lawrence then calls the names of many other candidates, reading them out aloud one after another.

- "Karl." He says.

Karl then gets up from his chair to receive his list, then right after, he calls my name.

- "Kuro." Lawrence calls out loud.

I walk towards Lawrence.

- "Here you go." He says, handing me the list.

I grab it from his hands, turn around, and walk back to my chair, sitting down.

- "Now that you all have your proper lists of objectives, we will enter into our testing facility to begin the trial." Lawrence tells the people.

Soon enough, he turns to the left door of the room, then pulls out the handle of the door, opens it and walks out of the room, closing the door behind him. The last person who exits the room follows behind him, the door shutting with a bang.

- "All of you may begin." He states.

- "I sujest reading though your list of objectives so that you will have some idea of what you will be targeting during the test. You will now be given four hours to complete your tasks until you have reached 50 points." He explains.

- "I wish you all the best of luck." Lawrence leaves, leaving us behind.

There was no need to wait any longer. Everyone quickly grabs their papers, places them in their pockets, picks up their guns, and quickly scatters around the area.

I unfold my list and begin reading it carefully:

--LIST OF OBJECTIVES--

Task 1: Collect materials from around the area to make a weapon.

Task 2: Steal an item from another candidate.

Task 3: Eliminate one of the guards.

Task 4: Team up or work together with another candidate.

Task 5: Obtain the blood of any other candidate or victim.

Task 6: Kill someone with the weapon created previously.

This could be quite challenging. First of all, finding materials is difficult, and I don't know how I will eliminate one of the guards.

Though, I assume that the sixth task would be the most practical. Of course, this is the hardest task on the list, but I'm essentially getting two or more tasks done in one which should already give me almost enough to pass.

I will firstly find Karl and team up with him. I will then collect materials with him so that we can make a weapon, and finally kill someone with that weapon, and obtain their blood. That would complete four of the six tasks that we were given, which should be more than enough to proceed to the next round.

All that's left for me to do is find Karl, then we should both be good for completing this stage of the test.

After I had finished reading over the list, I put it away into my pocket.

All that I need to know right now is where he would probably be. I guess I'll just start searching for him.

I stand up, grab my gun and my map and start looking in every direction around me, hoping that I'd see something familiar, and that Karl would suddenly come out of nowhere. But he doesn't.

It's been ten minutes now, and I haven't found anything familiar yet. I decide to just start running aimlessly around the building trying to get somewhere safe.

I stop running when I feel the presence of another being. I look around, making sure that nobody saw me running. I can't seem to spot anyone or thing, but I can't shake off the feeling that somebody is following me.

As I continue moving around, I can feel a presence getting closer. I keep scanning ahead, trying to catch a glimpse of whoever it might be.

Finally the figure exposes themselves; it's Karl.

He walks up to me, holding a dagger in his hand, and his hair laying over his eyes as the wind was blowing across our faces.