Chapter 4: The New Challenge

Chapter 4: The New Challenge 

Mateo was running. Luar was right behind him. Luar thought to himself, "What is even happening?"

They burst out of the building together. Then Mateo spotted the same driver from before sitting in his Running Mobile. The driver saw Mateo smiling and thought to himself, "Why is this guy smiling like that?"

Mateo ran up to him. He said, "I have to go right now. Take me to 156 Frndal Avenue."

The driver said, "But I have to pick up someone."

Mateo said, "I will give you 50 JPD."

The driver thought for a moment. Then said, "You know what — never mind. I will take you for 50 JPD. It is still money."

Luar and Mateo got inside. They started driving.

Five minutes later back at the university Professor Odle was laughing and holding his face.

Professor Odle said, "That was a joke and he punched me very hard. It actually hurts."

The ten teachers turned out to be students as well. All of it was a lie from the beginning. Nobody was ever going to get expelled. They just wanted to collect the sketches, drawings, paintings, and sculptures to sell them. Every single piece of art submitted that day was going straight to the market.

The driver stopped the Running Mobile close to Mateo's building.

Mateo handed over 50 JPD. He said, "Ok take this."

Luar and Mateo both got out.

Luar said, "Why did we get off here? We still have a long way to walk right?"

Mateo said, "You are right about the walking. But we can't trust people we don't know. They could kill you."

Luar said, "Oh is that so?"

Mateo said, "They could be the same people who cut off your hand. Remember?"

Luar said, "You got a point."

They took the stairway up to their building and opened the door to room 04. Both of them went inside.

Mateo said, "I have to rest. That exam was something else. My head hurts."

Luar said, "Go ahead."

Mateo went to sleep.

It was four in the evening when Luar went to sleep as well. He had nothing else to do.

One day later Mateo woke up looking very angry.

Luar looked at him. He said, "Why so angry?"

Mateo said, "Why not? I lost my job. I lost the only exam I had. And now I only have 425 JPD to my name. Nothing more."

Luar said, "Can't help it. You know there is a thing called a job application."

Mateo said, "You are right. But no one will give me a job. It is all thanks to these Ielanyes. They have taken all the jobs. They are just everywhere."

Luar said, "Those dirty people. You are right about them."

Mateo said, "I will take a walk."

Mateo went outside. He saw a store close to his house. He entered it. It was a tire shop.

Mateo said, "Hi. Are you guys hiring workers?"

Worker 942 said, "No sorry. We are not hiring at the moment."

Mateo said, "Oh ok. Do you know any nearby stores that are hiring people?"

Worker 942 said, "Nope. We don't know any other store."

Mateo left. He went to a thrift store next. A worker came up to him.

The worker said, "Do you want a job with us?"

Mateo said, "Yes I do."

The worker said, "Come with me."

The worker showed Mateo a video of someone stealing from the store.

Mateo got nervous. He said, "This is not me."

The worker said, "I was showing you the video so you can become a watchman. Not saying that you stole from us."

Mateo said, "Oh. I have to go."

Mateo left. He thought to himself, "That was a big mistake."

Mateo went to another shop. He asked, "Are you guys hiring?"

The cashier said, "Bro it is like hell in here. Don't work here. But don't worry — we are not going to hire you anyway."

Mateo said, "Alright. Whatever."

The worker said, "You know what — never mind. My name is Alsfer."

Mateo said, "My name is Mateo."

Mateo said, "Well I have to find a job."

One minute passed. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six. Seven. Eight. Nine. Ten. Eleven. Twelve.

Mateo walked back home. Then he saw a newspaper in the mail. He took it inside and thought to himself, "I don't even read this thing. But whatever."

Mateo opened the door and went inside. He sat down in the kitchen.

Luar asked, "How did it go?"

Mateo said, "They did me dirty."

Luar said, "It happens."

Mateo opened the newspaper.

Mateo said, "As always. There are wars. In the east of Vandry and the west of Vandry they are fighting each other. Over three hundred thousand dead in the west. In the south over one hundred and fifty thousand are dead. This has been going on for the past two years."

Luar said, "We are not being killed. It is a third party killing another third party. Whatever. Let them kill each other. They are a useless bunch."

Mateo said, "Which side?"

Luar said, "Both of them."

Mateo laughed. Then he threw the newspaper by mistake.

Luar picked it up to give back to Mateo. Then Luar saw something. Something about money.

Luar asked, "Do you know what is written here?"

Mateo said, "Where?"

Luar said, "Here."

Mateo looked closely.

Mateo said, "Is that true?"

He read it carefully. People aged nine to twenty-three were all allowed to do a quest where they had to complete six stages. The first stage was getting inside the challenge. The second stage was winning rock paper scissors. The third stage was racing with other players. The fourth stage was fighting other players and getting three people in your team. The fifth stage was questions. And the last stage was answering two hundred and fifty questions in one hour.

Mateo stared at the newspaper.