End of the 1st Stage

We were all gathered at the convention hall for the release of the results. The day was gloomy, and the hall seemed darker than it usually was.

There was a guy standing next to us who seemed anxious and fidgety. He had sweat dripping from his forehead, and kept adjusting his clothes and biting his nails.

“What’s up with him?” Garnet asked me.

However, I knew exactly what he was anxious about. I’d seen his picture on the advanced profile as I was checking the other squads stats. I’d also met him before at the mall.

‘He’s about to lose everything.’

I also knew what was about to transpire. Mr Manabu took the stage as the hall went silent.

“Yesterday marked the end of the first stage, after the last match of the intersquad matches played out. Every squad took part in at least two matches, and the total number of points after both matches was used to rank the squads.”

Up to now, squads had an idea of where they stood on the table because of the rumors of how many points every squad had. But most squads refused to reveal how many points they had, thus most of it was guessing, and just caused unnecessary panic.

Only my squad knew everything for sure through the advanced profile. Oh, right, and one other person, but he was going to be revealed in a few.

“The results have been displayed above. In first place, Squad Gimel, with 240 points. In second place, there was a tie between two squads…”

He continued to announce the results for every squad, and once in a while, we’d hear agents celebrate their position before immediately going silent. Just as Mr Manabu was about to finish announcing the results, they were displayed on the screens all around the hall.

1. Squad Gimel: 240 points

2. Squad Alef: 230 points

2. Squad Tsadi: 230 points

4. Squad Chet: 220 points

5. Squad Bet: 180 points

5. Squad Fay: 180 points

7. Squad Zayin: 150 points

7. Squad Dalet: 150 points

9. Squad Resh: 130 points (110 points)

10. Squad Lamed: 130 points (90 points)

“And finally, squads Resh and Lamed drew last with 130 points each. A deciding match was taken, and squad Resh won with 110 points to 90 points.”

He paused for a moment and looked at us. The air in the room felt heavy and stuffed despite the ventilation.

“With that, all members of Squad Lamed are required to immediately exit the hall and await further instruction. Your services are no longer required at E.A.”

“WAIT… NO!!!!! YOU CAN’T DO THAT!!!”

All eyes turned towards the loud voice that originated from the crowd. It was the guy who was fidgety.

“I fought to get into E.A, my family sacrificed so much to get me here, and now I’m getting terminated because of some stupid games??!! Never!!!” he shouted, nearly in tears.

Mr Manabu just looked at him in silence.

// This is Herald Island. //

One of the girls in that squad fell on her knees, tears dripping from her eyes, as several guards entered the hall.

“Let go of me! I’m not going anywhere,” the guy shouted.

One of the guards grabbed him by the arm, causing him to lose balance and fall. The other members of the squad cooperated and he was dragged on the ground.

‘Their lives are over.’

Funny.

I’d known the cutoff we needed to exceed for two days; 130 points. We made a deal and built a whole plan around it. At the time, it felt like solving a puzzle. Fun, clean, elegant.

I just hadn’t pictured whose faces would be standing on the other side of that number.

My eyes met Alicia’s. She’d realised this fact as well.

Everyone moved aside as the guards and the agents walked by, one of them still struggling and shouting across the silent hall. That’s when one of the other members of the squad saw someone in the crowd.

“You… You caused all this.”

He suddenly started running towards someone in the crowd, as two guards chased him.

The guy running jumped onto one of the guys and started punching him as the people around them scattered in panic.

“You told us we wouldn’t get terminated if we did what you said. THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!!”

A guard's arm suddenly grabbed the Squad Lamed member by the neck and lifted him in the air.

“Comply or you get tased.” The guards' words were final. A few seconds later, they were out.

The hall burst into loud murmuring and gossip, anxious looks on everyone’s faces. It was now dawning on everyone that this wasn’t a joke.

The hall went silent the moment Mr Manabu tapped the mic.

“More information shall be communicated concerning the second stage. You are all dismissed.”

He turned off the mic and walked off the podium, the hall still silent.

I looked over at the guy who had just received a beating, who was now dusting himself off. He was standing alone, even his squadmates didn’t like his company.

Everyone already knew who he was, and now, everyone was sure avoiding him was the best option.

‘Oliver Larson… what did you do this time?’

It started out as fear. He looked scary enough the first time I saw him. There didn’t seem to be any life in his eyes as he punched blood out of his squadmate during our first squad meeting.

To think it all started with a single statement; “Watch it, idiot.”

The door hit the guy accidentally when London opened it. London apologised. The apology wasn’t accepted. Next thing we knew, someone’s face was being restructured.

All we could do was watch.

“Stand up.” London instructed.

He complied. Of course he complied. I would have complied even before he lay a finger on me.

“Next time, I’ll break something.”

‘Report to the higher-ups.’

That’s the first thought that came to mind… until I saw the calm in Miss Lorna’s eyes.

[Miss Lorna - Squad Overseer, Squad Alef. ]

She’d watched the whole fight unravel as she was seated on the edge of her desk, smoking a cigarette. Her lips, stained with purple gloss, were curved into a subtle smile. She was enjoying it all.

After a brief silence, she stood up.

“I’ll leave them to you,” she said to London.

As she walked to the door,

“None of this leaves this room.”

She said it confident that it wouldn’t. And even if it did, nothing would happen.

“We’re leaving for Herald Island next week. Be prepared.”

And with that, Alef was formed.

“We’re up against Dalet for our second match. Lorna only talked about one person; Amelia. Now, I want suggestions,” London said.

It was the first time he was asking for our suggestions. Naturally, no one spoke. He’d conditioned us never to.

After a brief silence…

“Come up with a plan,” he said. “And bring it to me before the end of the day. It better be a winning one.”

He stood up, tapped Dorian’s shoulder,

“You’re in-charge.”

And left. Dorian still had bruise marks on his face, and a strip of tape across his nose. We could all see the rebellion burning in his eyes every time he looked at London. But alas, it had to be done.

“I have an idea,” I said. All eyes fell on me.

A few days later,

“In second place, Squad Alef with 230 points.”

Everyone but Dorian turned to London. He didn’t say anything. His eyes were fixated on someone else in the crowd.

[Aiden Blake : Squad Gimel. ]

“More information shall be communicated concerning the second stage. You are all dismissed.”

Mr Manabu had barely left the hall when suddenly, chaos erupted in the hall.