Hope

"Learn from yesterday, live for today, and give hope for the future."

These words were inscribed on a weathered plaque beneath a majestic bronze statue standing tall just outside the imposing gates of Mount Vernon High.

Alan stood there, his gaze fixed upon the statue, carefully examining the intricate details carved into the metal. The plaque, weathered by time, bore the name of his great-grandfather, the revered founder of the school.

Throughout his life, those words had been passed down in his family and were one of the reasons he became a teacher. But right now, he was looking at the statue with a different look and belief.

"Great grandfather, unfortunately, these days, hope is not a luxury anyone can give."

Alan murmured softly, his voice barely audible amidst the bustling sounds of students passing by.

With a heavy heart, Alan made his way to the administrative building of Mount Vernon High. He entered the familiar corridors, now filled with a sense of farewell and finality. Walking into the office, he handed his resignation letter to the concerned department, his decision to leave sending ripples of surprise and confusion among the staff and students alike.

Word of his departure spread like wildfire, igniting whispers and speculation throughout the school. As Alan walked past one of his students, Daniel Judge, he paused and placed a reassuring hand on the young man's shoulder.

"I'll see you soon, Daniel," Alan said with a faint smile, making the young man puzzled.

Leaving the familiar premises of Mount Vernon High behind, Alan headed to the nearest flower shop. After carefully selecting a vibrant bouquet of fresh yellow lilies, he made his way to the cemetery where his beloved wife, Sarah, lay at rest.

Looking at the grave of his wife, Alan's chest aches. It wasn't just the memory of his wife's last moment that reappeared but also his friends, and his teammates who died one by one while he could only watch helplessly.

Alan looked at the sky and took a deep breath. A flicker of unease passed through his eyes, transforming into a resolute determination to change his fate.

"Wish me luck, Sarah," he whispered softly, his voice carried away by the wind as he gently placed the bouquet on her gravestone.

Alan left the cemetery and went to the bank, withdrawing every penny from his meager savings account, which amounted to a modest sum of $5,000.

With the funds in hand, he purchased a substantial quantity of supplies, meticulously selecting items that would aid him in his journey, and made his way to one of the abandoned cabins nestled deep within the rugged mountains.

He had one month to prepare before the next Apocalypse Game began and one way to survive the game was to increase his physique before he started the game.

Strength, Agility, and Endurance were part of the main attributes that players could influence by improving their overall physique and fitness. Hence. His plan was to do extreme training up and down the mountain, every day while making his plan for the game.

Thus, his arduous journey of self-improvement began.

The initial days proved to be the toughest for Alan, his body struggling to adapt to the demanding routine after years of sedentary work as a teacher. But he refused to yield to the pain and exhaustion. Pushing himself beyond his limits, he ran through dense woods, scaled treacherous hills, and submerged himself in frigid lakes. Gasping for air, battling bouts of nausea, and feeling his legs grow weaker by the day, Alan persisted.

In the moments of respite from his grueling training, Alan would be on the lookout for the latest news to jolt his memory and make necessary notes about the upcoming game.

He started to plan multiple scenarios, the best way to replay the games and make the most out of them. He wrote down all possible quests, items, and plots of the Year 4 of Apocalypse Games that he could remember from his previous life.

Three weeks after, the wall was full of his plans for this year's game and the next. Alan turned on the television, his eyes fixed on the screen as world governments unveiled their new policy—the Meritorious Service Lottery, better known as the Apocalypse Games lottery.

Each country had its own unique variations and incentives to compel its citizens to participate. Some dangled the promise of wealth, while others resorted to coercion, using threats of imprisonment to ensure compliance.

In the United States, Alan's home country, participants were offered a monetary reward of $10,000 and the status of official soldiers. The government pledged death gratuity to the families of those who did not survive.

The public's reaction to the policy was a swirling mix of enthusiasm and opposition, a stark reflection of the divided opinions within society. But for individuals like Alan, the Apocalypse Games presented an unprecedented opportunity—an avenue to attain resources and privileges that were once the exclusive domain of the government and military.

The television screen flickered to life, and the figure of Chinese President Xu Jinping emerged, delivering a powerful speech about the policy agreed upon by governments worldwide.

"People Republic of China, 1000 years ago, when facing the invaders, our ancestors would send one brave man from each family to protect our nation. Now I will ask for 50,000 brave volunteers to be stationed in five cities where the Apocalypse Game will take place: Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou. My people, the republic's future, the world is in your hands."

Alan remembered watching and hearing this speech before, so he knew that within two days, all 50,000 volunteer slots would be filled by people without the need for a lottery to take place.

Meanwhile, Alan's own destiny awaited him. As he contemplated his next move, a notification flashed across his mobile phone screen, demanding his attention:

[Priority One Alert]

[Please report to your local Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) to confirm your draft status]

With only seven days remaining until the commencement of the game, all players were called to report to their designated MEPS for enrollment and training.

However, before Alan could embark on this new chapter of his life, he knew he had unfinished business to attend to—a final act that demanded his attention.