Perfect School

Jonah:

It was a maze of an obstacle course. Not only were there physical obstacles, but mental ones as well. The course was riddled with puzzles to solve in order to progress. It was a breeze for me. I explored it as much as I could without letting someone catch up to me. My belt was nearly full of weapons, and I had passed up some unnecessary duplicates. I had yet to cross paths with Kira though.

I worked through by instinct, picking paths along the way as I worked my way deeper and deeper in. The puzzles, the obstacles, I barely spared a seconds thought on them though at times it left me scrambling as I failed a puzzle and a trap would spring. But I'd already gained a pair of pistols and a knife along the way. I'd passed over many of the weapons, still seeking out a rifle if one could exist somewhere within the maze.

Jonah:

I was the first out of the course. I had a couple scrapes and a few bruises, but otherwise I unharmed. I took off my full weapons belt and handed it to the attendant before I took a seat to rest. IT had exceeded my expectations, and I had enjoyed every minute.

I walked over to Jonah once I was finished. I was towards the later half of the middle group who wandered out of the course. I paused half way to him to hand off my full and heavy weapons belt before I inspected a long slice down my arm.

Jonah:

Evelyn was seated next to me, having been the second to come out, ten minutes after I did. We had carried on a simple conversation until I spotted Kira. I nodded to Evelyn as I stood up, she was being treated for a burn on her ankle, and went to meet Kira. I met her with a happy grin. “Nasty,” I commented looking at her arm.

"Just another scar, and it's a fair price for the reward it gained." I said with a tiny shrug. "The course wasn't difficult, but going for weapons slowed me down. We will be fine in the next challenge. I can gaurentee it."

Jonah:

“I have no doubt.” I said and I took her wrist tenderly. “Lets get this taken care of.” I lead her to the medic station, but as all of the medics were attending to others, I grabbed what she needed ant sat her down.

I only watched him carefully as he lead me away and sat me down. "What are you....". I trailed off ad it clicked in my head.

Jonah:

I cleaned her wound and bandaged it expertly. “One task down and we aren't in bad shape. I saw the weapons you got, nice work. Some people only came out with one or two.” I told her as I worked.

"I would have finished faster, but I decided to go for weapons for the next round. As it was, I had a run in with some other competitors." I shrugged absently with my good arm while watching him work.

Jonah:

Once I finished I sat down next to her. “I tried to find you, but I think our track was too far apart in the start.” I said.

"More than likely. But why would you try to find me? It wouldn't have helped any." I remarked as I inspected his work. It was good, I had to give it that, and he's done it perfectly to not impede my movements.

Jonah:

“Because we are partners, and it would not have done me any harm.” I said simply watching the last few stranglers make it out in increasingly ragged states.

I turned to follow his gaze, watching those who'd had to struggle their way out. I made no comment to his words, though they reminded me of Marie.

Jonah:

After a brief resting period the lined us all up and announced the scores. I came in first place having gathered a full belt and made it out of the course first. Next was a guy who also had a full belt but came out in the first five. Then There was Evelyn in third place, having finished the course second with a decent arrangement of weapons. Kira wasn't in the top, but she scored well. Of course the only thing that really mattered was that we had the weapons for the next task.

I mostly ignored the points and how they ranked us. I watched the faces of our competetors, noting the expressions on them. Some people I could tell had placed lower on purpose, either to conserve their strength or their skills. Others showed pride or shame when they were listed in rank. Two had been knocked out entirely, having been too injured to continue the trials. After all the scores had been announced I turned to Jonah to whisper in his ear, "You are up one point." I didn't say a word after that, choosing instead to go collect a bottle of water they were handing out to everyone.

Jonah:

The next day, the task was a shoot out. We would get to chose out of our weapons five to take into the arena. We were fitted with a suit that would register hits and heat up where we were shot. In our ear a computer would tell us how fatal the shot was, and how long we would have left in the game if we were shot. If we 'died' the computer would tell us to leave the field, and out weapons would no longer register on any others suit.

I slowly worked on taking apart and rebuilding both pistols and the rifle I had chosen to use. The rest of my weapons I passed to Jonah to decide how he wanted to use them. My goal was set in my mind, and though the suit wasn't the most comfortable and wanted to ride up I put it out of my mind as I finally stood with rifle in hand. I tried not to let confidence get to me but it was especially difficult with how content I felt with the gun in my hands.

Jonah:

Kira and I had discussed strategies in our cabin. In this one I knew I could not beat her, her instincts would always trounce my brain in this. I would take the opposite side of the arena from her and work my way to her while she took out the ones within view. Just before they took us in I held my hand out to Kira to shake. “I would say good luck, but I know you don't need it.” I said with a smile.

I stared at his hand for a long moment before shaking it carefully. "Let's just make this quick." I informed him. I was fully into my old self, ready for anything they had in store for us. I didn't expect any other result except our win, it was only a matter of when it would be.

Jonah:

“Of course.” I winked at her then melted into the group, distancing myself from her. We would have five minutes in the arena to find a spot to occupy before the alarm went off for us to begin. The clock started as we were released. I ran in the opposite direction from Kira, trying to get to the very far end before anyone else. Some people were being sneaky, trying not to be seen. I, however didn't care who saw me reach my destination. I was confident enough in my skills.

I found a stone wall that towered over the landscape. It had a few other walls leaning against it and I found a nice little crook to perch myself in with rifle in hand. I took a moment to adjust the sights from within my hidden nook before waiting on the buzzer. I kept my eyes roaming, noting the little bits of movement people made and where they would be as they moved.

Jonah:

I was still moving to the far boundary when the game started, within the first few minutes I had knocked out three of them who had been tracking my movements. I didn't find a spot to hold up in, I was actively hunting.

Once the alarm sounded I raised the rifle. Using the scope I picked out targets, adjusted accordingly and fired. Every shot sent impacted into a kill and I had no shortage of targets from my vantage point.

Jonah:

I did a through search, working my way through. After the first ten minutes the shots fired slowed to an irregular pattern. After a few minutes my search no longer turned up anyone. I made my way to a more visible spot. They had to come out to get me if they wanted a chance of winning. And when they did make themselves visible, Kira would surely get them.