Pain, excruciating pain floods my very being, rips its way through my veins and tears at my mind, causing my spasming body to fall to the floor and convulse, my back arching as every muscle in my body feels as if it's shredded apart. Blood-curdling screams ravage my eardrums as I watch my helpless classmates collapse onto the floor in withering agony. Then, as suddenly as it began, it stopped, leaving me on the floor, twitching and gasping for air. And yet, it was like the pain ripped through the fog that had plagued my mind for so long as if purged the cobwebs from years of depression. Even if the clarity was only temporary, as it always was, I still felt a slight smile on my face.
"Something to keep my mind off, This so-called life…" The last of the chorus fills my ears and widens my grin. 'Something huh', I smirk, rip the earbuds out of place, and stuff them into my pocket.
While I wanted to revel in the feeling of being alive and the possibility of an exciting life, I had shit to do. My eyes dart about in panic and land on my notebook. 'Got to write that shit down, or I'm going to forget.'
After ensuring I wasn't in immediate danger, I hurriedly scribbled down essential bullet points from the announcement while still lying on the floor.
- False paradise
- Sins of the dead
- 7 chosen
- Adaptability
- Challenges
[All changes will begin in 10 seconds]
'Fuck! Where did that come from?' Jumping slightly from the message invading my vision, I blink rapidly until the visual intrusion disappears. '10 seconds, no pressure then.'
Hurriedly writing down what little else I could before the timer finished, I quickly glanced at the room before more text filled my vision.
[Congratulations, number 39856, you have been chosen, at random, as the European representative who will be given three extra spins to help reduce the risk of humanity's extinction.]
'Woah, I can't complain about being unlucky anymore.
[Please press to spin the Wheel of Power. Remaining spins, 4]
My heart begins to race as I try to make out any of the words on the Wheel, but they are all distorted and blurry.
'Look at you getting all nervous.' I let out a shaky laugh and took a deep breath. 'It's not like this will determine how I will live my life from now on in a glorified apocalypse.' Taking a deep breath to centre myself, I spin the Wheel.
Instantly, the obnoxiously large Wheel is replaced by a spinning kaleidoscopic mess that twists and warps my sense of reality and churns my stomach as my very existence is spun along with the Wheel before I am snapped back into place as the Wheel slows to a stop, landing on a section of words that have now become clear.
'Phase of Matter? Like solids, liquids and gases? Plasma?'
[Congratulations!!! The Wheel of Power has landed on Phases of Matter!
This will allow the individual to change the state and certain properties of matter.
Please note that this will not work on other living organisms, nor will it affect the temperature of the matter. Remaining spins, 3]
As I read the message, my mind is filled with images of me making moats of lava before reaching the end and letting out a disappointed sigh. 'No throwing lava at people, but I could probably turn concrete into quicksand or something.'
'On the next one, come on, baby. Daddy needs some reality warping!' I stop for a moment to internal cringe. 'I am so glad no one just heard me call myself daddy.' I press the button again to commence the sickening swirl of colours.
[Congratulations!!! The Wheel of Power has landed on: Super Lungs!
You now have super lungs, allowing you to easily breathe anything and nothing! You can inhale at incredible speeds without worrying about harmful airborne substances. Super lungs also distribute oxygen (or a gas equivalent) throughout the body as efficiently as possible, allowing for greater stamina. Remaining spins, 2]
'Oooookkk, going from an asthmatic to having superhuman breathing capacity isn't too bad? I would have preferred something that would allow me to move around with ease or put up a fight, but I guess this will help my survival.' I ready myself for the sickening swirl and press the button again.
[Congratulations!!! The Wheel of power has landed on: Phase step!
Your body has been bestowed with the abilities allowing you to step into the spirit realms, but beware of the creatures that call the realms their home. Remaining spins, 1]
I snort. 'Well, that's awfully vague and disconcerting.' I hear what sounds like a group of people screaming in the background. 'Shit, did time not freeze this time? What's going on?'
Quickly pressing the button again for the last time, I have my eyes and what I assume to be my soul assaulted by colours for the last time. 'Come on, come on, hurry up!'
[Congratulations!!! The Wheel of Power has landed on: Consumption!
You can now eat anything and nothing with no adverse effects! Consumption converts what you eat into the necessary nutrients, vitamins and minerals the body needs or could effectively use. Consumption also distributes your food throughout the body as efficiently as possible, allowing for greater stamina. Remaining spins, 0]
'That will have to do.' My vision clears, and I take in the sight of my classroom.
'Ah, that's a slight problem.'
POV Ella
[All changes will begin in 10 seconds]
Lying on the floor, taking fast, shallow breaths, I recover from the dose of pain as I watch the countdown. 'Wh…Why is this happening? We didn't do anything wrong; we weren't even given a chance to fix things!' Before I could delve deeper into the injustice, my vision was filled with a giant wheel filled to the brim with multi-coloured sections. 'Oh God, what the…'
[Please Press to spin the Wheel of power. Remaining spins, 1]
'...Heck, is that…The Wheel of Power. He said it would give us a superpower? Ummm' should I press it then? Please give me something good.' I press the button and cross my fingers. The Wheel begins to spin, and I feel my existence twisting and stretching before snapping back to reality.
[Congratulations!!! The Wheel of power has landed on: Right-hand power creation!
The next object you consciously touch with your right hand will influence and determine the abilities you shall wield. Remaining spins, 0]
'Umm, okay, I just need to find something good to touch then, yeah, I can do that.' My vision clears as the Wheel disappears into nothingness, but everything is still blurry. 'Why does it look like I've taken my glasses off? I thought we were meant to be healed…oh.' I remove my glasses, and the world comes back into focus just in time to see Mr Smith fall to the floor like a puppet with its strings cut and for Beth to disintegrate in front of my eyes.
A gasp escapes my mouth as I reach out to grab her, hoping to offer some kind of salvation, but I grab nothing but dust. "No…" I whisper in shock. 'No, no, this can't be happening, they just died...' A hysterical scream cuts through the silence, filling the room with panic.
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Jumping up off the floor, I spin around to see Henry with his throat ripped out, gargling on his own blood as Logan pins down Layla, biting and tearing at her neck with newly mutated elongated fingers and teeth.
"Oh fuck this!" I hear another yell as people start to run out of the room, trampling over each other to get away from the gory scene. I was about to join them when I saw a figure loom over Logan's back, holding a chair over his head, before smashing its metal legs down onto the back of Logan's head. A sickening crack fills the air, and I see Jacob's skinny 5'11 frame standing over Logan's snarling body. His previously bloodshot and baggy eyes now healed, revealing his clear blue eyes slightly hidden by long, curly brown hair; his face was stretched into a distorted grin that couldn't seem to decide if it should be excited or panicking as he looked around frantically, seemingly trying to take everything in at once.
He lifts the chair and brings it down twice, yelling at everyone to run. Those not already out of the door leave while I head over to Help Jacob, but after the 3rd hit, Logan's body becomes unmoving as blood begins to pool around his head, matting his dark hair and sticking it to the floor.
"Are you okay? Is he dead? Did you kill him? What are we going to do?" My panic manifests itself as rapid-fire questions as I look at my friend, who is now panting and crouching over Logan's motionless body.
"Um, slow down, please. I'm okay. I don't know if he's dead yet, and I can't remember the other questions." He responds while taking Logan's hand and placing its palm against the blue-tinted vinyl floor.
'What is he doing?'
Just as I'm about to ask, my eyes widen in shock as Logan's hand sinks into the floor until halfway up his forearm before Jacob violently vomits onto the back of Logan's head. "Fuck me, that was unpleasant." He moans, leaning back to catch his breath as he mutters something about the powers and side effects.
'His power? Oh, my power! I need to touch something!'
I quickly explained my power to Jacob so that we could brainstorm what object I should use. After a while, we came up with a shortlist.
"So the best options are the laser cutter, band saw, or first aid kit," I said, glancing at the objects in question.
"You firing lasers would be badass, but we don't know what we will face. Having a medic is always important, but ultimately, it is up to you." Jacob mutters, his voice still sore from the aftermath of his power.
I nod in agreement: 'I guess it will depend on whether I'm in a group or not. If I'm alone, then lasers would work best.'
"You're right. We don't know what the future will hold, and we will need a safety net. That's if we are going together," I ask, beginning to second-guess myself. I look at Jacob, who stands up to face me.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I thought that was implied, but we can make it official." He sticks out his hand for me to shake. "How would you like to wander around the end of the World with our friends and try not to die gruesomely?"
I smile and reach out to take his hand. "Of course, I would." But before I could shake his hand, he rapidly pulled away, causing me to frown. 'Why did he…'
"Ah, sorry, I don't know if touching me counts as activating your power, and I'm not sure the others could handle two of me, although the self-pleasure possibilities…" He trails off, giving me a toothy grin.
I snort and shake my head. 'Idiot still can't take anything seriously.'
"You're an idiot, but it's a valid point." I turn around, head over to the first aid kit, and touch it with my right hand. A sense of warmth floods my being, and the first aid kit disintegrates into dust. 'Just like Beth…'
"Ella, can you read this?" Jacob appears behind me, leaving little personal space, holding a mess of squiggly lines which look like a bunch of letters mashed together.
"Umm…" I trail off, trying harder to read the notebook before continuing, "I have no idea what that says. Is it English?" I ask in genuine confusion.
"I didn't think it was that bad." He grumbles
'Wait, that's his handwriting?!? No wonder he has to use a laptop in exams.'
"Anyway, I need to call the others and message them stuff that can't be overheard." He pauses for a moment to catch his breath before continuing. "Can you lock the doors? We don't know what's out there, " he asks while getting his phone out of his pocket.
"Um, sure." I walk over to the door with unsteady steps just before my phone vibrates in my pocket and lock it.
POV Jacob
As Ella heads over to lock the large wooden door, I write instructions to send to the group chat that my friends and I are part of. Initially, I just planned to send a picture of my "What to do in apocalypse notes," but they are apparently illegible. At the same time, I call the group chat to get their attention and to make sure they are all okay.
The first one to pick up was Sam, whose voice came through the speaker in a panicked tone. "Jacob, are you okay? Do you know what's going on? Where are you? Is anyone with you?"
'Damn, people really like asking questions without letting me respond.'
"Sam!" I yell to get him to pay attention as Noah joins the call. "Ella is with me; she's fine. She's just locking the doors while I plan some shit out and deal with the bodies."
"Bodies?!?" Sam, Noah and now Ava call out.
'Probably should have left that bit out.'
"Ummm, some dude went feral and potentially killed two people, I don't know; I haven't checked yet. Anyway, I need…" I glanced at the corpses and tried to explain but was interrupted again.
"They're dead?!? I hear Mia over, I assume, Aves's phone.
I temporarily stop typing on my phone and let out an annoyed sigh. "Possibly, I don't know yet, but weird shit is happening and I need help. I need you to come over here alone; I will send the room number and everything in a second."
"Why can't we bring people?" Sam asks
"There are six of us. Noah's car holds five, and your bike holds one. We also can't look after ourselves at the moment, let alone anyone else," I respond.
"Hmmm, okay.." says Sam in an unconvinced tone.
I sent the message giving our location and room number along with a list of things to look for in the product design and catering rooms next door. The list included tools such as saws, hammers, screwdrivers, chisels, and duct tape, while knives and canned food were to be taken from the catering rooms. It also stated that Noah would meet me here and go to the PE department to loot the bats and javelins together. The instructions ended with us meeting at Noah's car in 45 minutes.
"Please read the message and head over here without saying what you are doing. It sounds paranoid, but I think this guy turned into a vampire somehow, and I don't know what else is out there or listening."
There was a general chorus of agreement as I heard shuffling over the phone and a distant scream in the background. 'Oh yay, more screaming.' I think sarcastically.
Ella, by now, has locked the two doors and returned to look at the list on her phone. I look at the three unmoving bodies as she checks and adds things to the group chat herself. Henry and Layla both appear to be dead, with no pulse or breath leaving their bodies. Logan, on the other hand, was still breathing, albeit barely.
'So if people can turn into monsters…' I inspect his clawed fingers, fangs, and rapidly paling skin. 'What else has the wheels done to us?' I sigh, rub my hand over my face, and pick up another chair. I stare at his unmoving body. 'Should I kill him? Who knows if he will be able to get out and kill more? But the others won't like that, especially Sam. We need group cohesion more than we need yet another corpse.' I drop the chair, head over to where the duct tape is stored, and use it to cover his eyes and ears and wrap his legs together.
Taking a deep sigh, I step back and inspect my handiwork. 'Well, I might not have killed him outright, but this will probably get him killed. At least he has a chance; the others won't whine as much. Hopefully.' I look up and see Ella giving me a look I don't quite understand, but I shrug it off.
'Not really up for ethical debates right now, got other things to do.' I begin by gathering my notes on Jeremy's announcement and my apocalypse plan, trying to figure out how the inventory works. It didn't take long, turns out you just will something into your personal inventory space, and after a second or two delay, it evaporates into a blue light and appears in your inventory.
'Guess the two-second delay is to reduce its use in combat? Or can it be upgraded at that store, he mentioned?' I hope it's the second one because 2m squared isn't that big. 'How am I going to abuse IEDs with such little space?'
With my notes safely stored away, I began to search through the tools in the room to make it easier for the group when they arrived while Ella kept an eye out by the door. I began by setting aside 6 metal hammers we could use for defence and then made piles for each tool or useful piece of equipment.
"Noah's here." I hear Ella call out and look up from my work as Noah walks into the room in his classic shorts and hoodie. Noah is an intelligent and athletic young man with straight, short brown hair and muscular legs from his athletics training. He was the fastest in the group and the perfect choice to accompany me to the PE department.
"How is it out there?" I ask him in what I hoped was a causal voice.
“Bit shit, people are panicking and the net is lighting up with videos of people turning into literal monsters or shooting fire balls,” He goes to show me a slighting blurry shaking video on his phone before stopping as he stares at the corpses and incapacitated Logan.
"Um, are they…?" He trails off, his out stretched arm falling to his side the video forgotten.
"The ones covered in blood are dead, while Logan, the tied-up one, is alive. I think? I don't know how… Whatever he's become works." I explain, sounding surprisingly calm. I Should probably cover them up, or it could be distracting. I walked over to the doorway to get the hung-up aprons used to avoid messing up our clothes and uniforms when we worked.
"Ah, okay," Noah says in a slightly shaking voice.
'Maybe I'm being too nonchalant about all of this? Properly better than freaking out, though.' I pick up two aprons and put them over the bodies.
"I got you that hammer over there for defence." I nod towards the hammers.
"You think people are going to attack us?" Noah asks with concern.
"Not a clue, but I would prefer to be prepared for anything. Especially if we intend to steal all the school's best loot." I say while picking up my own hammer.
He takes a deep breath and stares into space for a few moments with a thoughtful expression "Alright then." He picks up the hammer and does a few practice swings. "When do we leave?"