Memento Mori (Kill or Be Killed)

Sunlight broke through a canopy of trees, casting dappled shadows on the cold ground. The first thing Yuki noticed was the dull ache in his head as he slowly opened his eyes, squinting at the unfamiliar surroundings.

He blinked, disoriented, the murmur of waves in the distance grounding him only slightly. The last thing he remembered was being in class-the fluorescent lights, the hum of chatter, the teacher's voice droning on. But now he was here, lying on rough soil instead of his school desk.

He sat up, only to realize he wasn't alone. All around him, his classmates lay sprawled, still unconscious, their faces slack with an innocence that seemed painfully out of place in this eerie setting. He scanned the area, heart racing. They were in a dense forest clearing, surrounded by towering trees that blocked out all but fragments of the sky.

As he tried to make sense of his situation, Yuki's hand brushed against something cold on his wrist-a thin metal bracelet with a small screen and an ominous red light blinking faintly.

He was still studying it, confusion turning to dread, when a familiar face stirred nearby. It was his friend, Asahi, groggy but awake, blinking up at Yuki in equal confusion. Before either could speak, a sharp, crackling sound echoed through the clearing, a voice-mechanical and lifeless-boomed overhead.

"Welcome, students of Class 3-B. You have been chosen to participate in a game. A game of life and death. Each of you has been equipped with a bracelet that monitors your vitals and enforces the rules. Breaking these rules will activate a poison capsule within the bracelet, sealing your fate."

Yuki's blood ran cold, his mind racing. He glanced around at the others, still slowly coming to, their faces filling with fear as they processed the announcement. The voice continued, and with each word, the weight of their situation sank in.

"To survive, you must learn the rules, test your strength-and understand the gift given to each of you. This is your only warning: survive, or face inevitable death.

"As the voice faded, Yuki's eyes met Asahi's, a silent pact forming between them. He felt a surge of something strange-a warmth coursing through him, simmering beneath his skin, a whisper of power he couldn't quite explain. He didn't know what this "gift" was or what it would mean, but he knew one thing: they would need every tool at their disposal to make it out alive. With a deep breath, Yuki braced himself, his senses sharpening as he took in the scene-the island, the waking classmates, the gravity of the challenge before them.

As the last echoes of the ominous announcement faded, a student scrambled to his feet, his face flushed with anger and panic. "This is bullshit! Just a sick joke someone's playing on us," he shouted, clutching his bracelet in defiance and desperation. "They can't just do this to us!"His words sent a ripple of tension through the group. A few students nodded, relieved by the thought that maybe it *was* a prank, while others began arguing, fear in their eyes.

"Then why do we have these things on our wrists, Dave?" a Clint asked, his voice trembling as she held up his bracelet. "I don't want to test if that voice was lying!"

Chaos erupted as more students began shouting, some desperate for answers, others refusing to believe they were in any real danger. Their voices layered over one another, spiraling into a fevered cacophony. Yuki felt his heart hammering in his chest, overwhelmed by the mounting panic.

He looked over at Asahi, who gave him a grim nod. "We need to get a handle on this before someone does something stupid," Asahi muttered. But before they could intervene, a loud beep emitted from Dave's bracelet, silencing the crowd instantly.

Everyone stared, horrified, as Dave's face twisted in fear. "N-no, I...I didn't mean to break any rule!" he stammered, but the blinking light on his bracelet only grew faster. Yuki realized, with a sickening certainty, that denial was no longer an option.

The students watched in horror as the light on Dave's bracelet blinked faster, the ominous countdown seeming to echo their growing fear. His voice trembled as he pleaded, "I didn't do anything! This can't be real-someone help me!" But no one dared move.

Seconds passed, each heartbeat marking the brutal reality sinking in around them. Then, in a sudden burst, the blinking stopped, and Dave collapsed to the ground, unmoving. Silence fell, broken only by a few gasps and whispers.

Yuki's heart felt heavy as he looked around, his classmates frozen in terror. Asahi, standing beside him, swallowed hard, his gaze steady but full of disbelief. "They weren't lying," he whispered. "This is real."

The realization hit them all like a tidal wave-there was no escape, no one coming to save them. The rules were clear: follow them or face the consequences.

As the weight of Dave's collapse settled over the clearing, a heavy silence followed, broken only by the distant sounds of the island's wildlife. Yuki felt a chill run down his spine, the reality of their situation sinking in deeper than ever before. He turned to Asahi, whose expression mirrored his own fear and confusion.

Before either of them could process what had just happened, the same mechanical voice that had initiated the game echoed through the clearing once more, this time with a more structured tone.

"Attention, students of Class 3-B," the voice began, steady and unyielding. "To ensure fairness and order within the game, you must adhere to the following rules. Failure to comply will result in immediate consequences."Yuki and Asahi exchanged nervous glances as the voice continued to outline the rules:

Obey All Instructions: You must follow every command given by the game administrators without question. Ignoring or defying instructions will activate the poison capsule in your bracelet.

Restricted Areas: Certain zones on the island are off-limits. Entering these areas without permission will result in dire consequences. Also, venturing of the island or attempt to escape will result in activating the poison in the bracelet.

Survival Challenges: Upon death, the bracelet will pop out a green gem, collect 7 gems to survive and leave the island. Every 7 days, an aircraft will drop supplies at random parts of the island. Make enough of it or use the islands natural resources to survive. It would be boring if you died of hunger.

No Communication Devices: The use of any form of communication device is forbidden. Attempts to communicate outside will result in immediate disqualification/death.

Endgame Objective: The ultimate goal is to be one of the last persons standing. Other participants must be eliminated either through the game's challenges or by other means sanctioned by the game rules.

Memento Mori: Remember that death is inevitable in this game. Embrace each moment, as every decision could be your last.

As the voice finished outlining the rules, a holographic display materialized in the center of the clearing, projecting a detailed map of the island with marked zones and challenge areas.

Each student stared at the map, the gravity of their predicament weighing heavily on them.Yuki felt a surge of determination mixed with fear. "We need to stay calm and think clearly," he whispered to Asahi. "Panicking won't help us survive." Asahi nodded, taking a deep breath. "Agreed. Let's try to understand these rules and figure out our next move."

Just then, another beep sounded from Yuki's bracelet, signaling the start of the first challenge. The countdown began, ticking away the seconds until they had to act. The students glanced around, their initial chaos giving way to a tense silence as they prepared to face the unknown trials ahead.

Yuki glanced back at his classmates, seeing the fear and uncertainty mirrored in their eyes. Despite the fear gripping him, he felt a flicker of hope. Maybe, just maybe, they could navigate this nightmare together and find a way to survive the game of life and death.

The students stood frozen, the weight of the rules pressing down on them as the first challenge countdown continued to tick away on their bracelets. Silence took over, each of them processing the enormity of the game's rules: survival depended on compliance and endurance. Yet, the reminder that every step could be their last lingered, the "Memento Mori" rule a haunting echo in their minds.

Yuki clenched his fists, rallying himself to face the reality ahead. He took one final glance at the bracelet, the small device a stark reminder that they were trapped in a deadly contest, one where each breath counted.

As the tension mounted, the students shifted from fear to quiet determination. The time for hesitation was over; survival demanded action. Each of them knew that they had to adapt quickly-or risk being swallowed by the game's merciless grip.

A piercing scream shattered the silence, jolting everyone from their frozen state. Yuki turned to see Angel, one of his classmates, standing over a lifeless body, her face pale and horrified. Another student, who had a faint smear of blood on his hands, looked up from his victim with a wild, unsettling smile. His eyes darted around the group, as if daring anyone to challenge him.

"I didn't have a choice," he muttered, his voice shaky but growing louder. "I need those five gems if I'm getting out of here." He laughed-a manic, hollow sound that sent chills down Yuki's spine. "Better one of you than me."

Fear and anger bubbled up among the students, but no one dared to move. Yuki felt his pulse quicken, his mind racing through options. He knew that if they didn't keep their wits about them, chaos and desperation would take over, making them all vulnerable. This was no game-it was survival at its most brutal.

As he looked into the terrified faces of his classmates, he realized that they needed a plan, and they needed it fast.

Panic erupted like wildfire, scattering the students across the clearing as fear turned into chaos. Shouts and cries mixed with frantic footsteps, as friends were torn apart, some frantically looking for a place to hide while others lashed out, driven by desperation. A few began to turn on each other, fists flying as suspicions flared into violence.

Yuki caught sight of Asahi, who was fending off another student, their eyes wild with fear. He wanted to intervene but found himself frozen, overwhelmed by the intensity of the scene. Just as he took a step forward, a shadow moved behind him, and he barely dodged as a hand reached out, grabbing at him.

Before he could react further, the eerie mechanical voice echoed again, announcing the beginning of the first "elimination period," sending chills down Yuki's spine. Immediately he took Rainne, Him and Asahi's other friend, to run and get away from the chaos.

A single thought anchored him amid the bedlam: this was only the beginning.

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[Died - 2][Students left - 39]