SURVIVAL 1: THE CHOSEN 24

LOCATION: Galaxy TIME: Unknown

I went back and forth with my memories, and that was all I remembered.

I am still standing here inside the transparent glass capsule floating in the middle of nowhere. Gradually, others woke up, and there was a look of shock on their faces. Some continuously punch and kick the glass capsule, a girl is crying, others are confused, and some even faint. And their eyes were asking for help. I estimate we are about three meters away from each other as we formed a huge circle.

I am wearing a white short-sleeved blouse, dark blue necktie, dark blue skirt with stripes, and black shoes. This is my school uniform—the last clothes I wore during the moving-up ceremony. We are all in school uniforms, but from different schools. There are 12 girls and 12 boys. I also noticed that we’re placed in pairs. A boy and a girl have the same design and color as the uniform and are placed adjacent to each other.

Then, that should mean… I saw my boy classmate. He was the one who pulled me to go to the school garden, then suddenly pulled out a necklace that shone until the last thing I remembered was that I was stuck here!

What is he doing here?!

When he finally came to his senses, our eyes met. He frowned as he looked at me. I stared at him, but his eyes appeared to be innocent. I strongly feel that what happened to us in the garden and that necklace has something to do with why we are here.

***

After a few minutes, everyone is awake.

*bell rings*

I was startled because of the sound that I heard, which entirely broke the silence. It is the sound that students often hear at school during classes and breaks. There is a hologram coming out in the middle of the 24 glass capsules, forming a huge circle. The image released by the hologram is a large white letter A.

"Greetings, everyone. It's good to see you, the battle 24." I frowned at what it was saying. "As you can see, you are in the middle of space. It is not an illusion; it is reality. 12 boys and 12 girls, a total of 24. 24 students from 12 different schools. 6 pairs from private schools and 6 pairs from public schools. You are the lucky 24."

"Hey. What kind of gimmick is this? Why are we here?!" questioned a boy angrily, with his silver-gray hair raised.

“You were chosen to play this game because each of you experienced a lot of tragic events being a teenager. You've been chosen based on your past, which pulled the trigger for you to enter the game. All of you desired to change your lives. A life that is better than your old rotten world." I was left stunned by what the hologram announced. This is big nonsense.

"But before you claim your prize, you need first to reach victory. And that is to play the Tri-Games." the hologram added.

Victory? Tri-Games?

"You are here with a purpose. You are all chosen because you have been strong in the battle of life. You are the most desperate not just in life, but for life. You have dreams, goals, and plans, but the world has become an obstacle for you to achieve them. This game is the remaining key to fulfilling your dreams."

How did I become desperate to the point that I went to this point?

A boy with red hair questioned. “Why do we even play something we’re not motivated to play with?”

The hologram responded. “Your minds are still recovering, so you might not be motivated enough and refuse to play the games. But remember, your major motivation to keep playing is your life. You are all bewildered about yourselves. But when the time comes, when the game starts, you will regain all your identity."

"What kind of planet is the nth planet?" my classmate pondered. I kind of didn't expect him to ask either. He looks serious.

"The nth planet is like the Earth, too, but it is far better than Earth. The impossible things on Earth are made possible on the nth planet. Delusions and imagination can come into reality. A place created by feelings and emotions. The nth planet was born because it lives through how everyone on Earth feels. Only you, the people who will play the Tri-Games, know that the nth planet exists."

I don’t know if I should be glad to know such a thing.

"Are you crazy or something? That's far beyond scientific explanation. If only we, the Battle 24, knew that such a stupid planet exists because of your worthless information, then do you think we will believe your nonsensical theory?" questioned a boy with eyeglasses. His tone is serious and stoic.

"Like the name itself, nth planet—an unknown planet. You must be the one to search for the real meaning behind it. A planet where unbelievable things exist through people. The things you think are not possible now become within reach. The things that you think are impossible are hidden in your heart, called feelings and emotions. All the impulsive thoughts of every person in the world, on the nth planet, come true." I was struck by what the hologram stated. "nth planet does not exist in the world of erudite. It exists through the heart and mind of people, and that's the reason why things are made possible."

"How can we live there?"
“Let me go!”
"Why do we have to play the Tri-Games?"
"That's insane!"
"What are you plotting on us, huh?"
“Get us out of here.”
“What gives you the authority to do all this?”
“No one’s gonna buy that!”

The others asked more questions. This is tiring me... help me… please.

"Go and live." Those three words were the last thing I heard from the hologram.

If this is the end of my life, even if I am forced to live on another planet or whatever it is, even if I play the Tri-Games, even if I will be going to have a hard time... I promise myself I will live.