Part 2

Tom was at school. It had been a month since the accident. He was very lucky. Their car was old, and there was a problem with the locking system of the rear right door. Tom, who had been leaning against the door, was thrown onto the road due to the impact.

The car wasn't going very fast, and the vehicles behind them braked just in time. Despite sustaining several bruises, Tom survived.

His mother and father, however, were not as fortunate. The driver who hit them was the mayor's son—a reckless bully. After the collision, their car rolled down a barrier in the mountainous region.

Tom regained consciousness 15 minutes later, his entire body aching. A group of people surrounded him, providing basic first aid. With great difficulty, he managed to stand. As he took in his surroundings, the reality of the situation became clearer.

He staggered toward the barriers and looked down. There, he saw the car—his family's car—reduced to ashes. He stood frozen, staring at the wreckage for a long time. Then, he felt wetness on his face. When he touched it, he realized he was crying. It was as though his body was expressing emotions his brain could no longer process. Like muscle memory, his body conveyed the feelings he was supposed to feel, but deep inside, he was empty.

The emotional weight and physical injuries overwhelmed him, and the world around him went dark.

Tom spent the next three weeks in the hospital. During that time, the mayor's influence was at work. Nepotism ensured the incident was swept under the rug, and the culprit walked free. The mayor even deposited a significant amount of money into Tom's bank account, claiming it was a gesture to help him live comfortably for the next few years.

But Tom felt nothing about this injustice—not anger, not gratitude, just emptiness. He felt guilty for his lack of emotions, though this guilt was merely a thought. His emotions no longer reacted the way they once did.

After being discharged, Tom spent a week at home. During that time, he grappled with the idea of ending his seemingly meaningless existence. Without emotions, he felt like an inanimate object, questioning the very purpose of life. He was reminded of The Stranger by Albert Camus, a movie he had watched in the past.

One day, he received a notification reminding him that his absence allowance at school was about to expire. On a whim, he decided to return. It was a fleeting thought, barely more than an impulse, but it would lead to a monumental change in his life. That night, he went to bed.

The next morning, he woke up to the sound of his alarm, put on his school uniform, and headed to school. He entered Class 11-B, a crowded class of 29 students.

As he scanned the room, he noticed John, the school bully, laughing loudly with his friends. In contrast, a few nerdy students were quietly studying. The room was filled with a mix of personalities.

Tom sat at his desk. A moment later, Amelia approached him. She had been their neighbor, and their families had once been close. She was aware of Tom's situation, as it had spread through the school like wildfire.

"I'm sorry for your loss," she said gently.

Tom nodded, offering no verbal response. He could hear faint whispers around him.

"He was always an antisocial loser. Now he's both antisocial and a bastard," someone muttered, followed by stifled laughter.

Amelia turned sharply, giving the class a stern look. The room fell silent.

Just then, the teacher entered. "Good morning, children," she greeted cheerfully.

"Good morning," the class replied in unison.

The teacher was about to speak again when the room began to shake violently. Dust fell from the ceiling as the tremors lasted for five seconds before stopping abruptly.

Then, a voice echoed through the air:

"Congratulations to the universe that has just joined the system. You have been selected. The elimination begins. Those who are worthy will survive."