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Chapter 34 - The Blood Lottery

Itsuki, look, a drone just dropped two letters.

​"Two letters?"

​"That sounds kind of fishy, you know."

​"Uhh, come on, Itsuki. It's not like we're going to die."

​"But, Hayato..."

​"Uhh, let's open it. Maybe it has some important information."

​"To be honest, there could be important things that I may need to know. But they can just send a message to our tablets, and the sun just got up. Not even an hour has passed. Then why?"

​Then Hayato handed me a letter.

​"Take it, Itsuki."

​I took it.

​"Itsuki, let's open it together."

​"O...okay..."

​Then Hayato counted:

​"Three."

​"Two."

​"One."

​"Let's open."

​We both opened it at the same time.

​I looked at the paper carefully; it had a very strong smell. Written in a small font were the words:

​"Blood lottery begins..."

​"Itsuki, I'm feeling dizzy after opening this."

​I was feeling the same.

​Could it be I have stepped into a trap?

​But soon my eyes started to close. I looked at Hayato; his eyes were also closing.

​And the last thing I heard after my eyes closed was:

​"Take these two students. They will play the game."

​(After a few hours)

​When my eyes opened, I was shocked. I could hear my heartbeat.

​It was an iron room. It looked like we were underground. I started to observe the place carefully.

​I was in a bed, a small one. The surroundings were metallic. On my right side, there was a table and a glass of water. Then I saw it: a metal door.

​I quickly stood up from my bed and started to walk towards the door.

​I held the doorknob and tried to pull it, but it wasn't moving.

​Maybe it is locked.

​If I am in a situation like this, then where is Hayato?

​But then I found a hope.

​The door opened.

​A man was standing with a gun.

​"Hey, kid. Come out or you will be killed. Don't ask any questions."

​....

​I didn't say a single word and started to walk with him.

Even I fear death. If I don't listen to him I will die for sure.

​While walking, I saw some students and heard some gunshots.

​Finally, after walking for a minute, I saw many students gathered in a room. The man also pushed me, and soon I also got in the crowd.

​After me, many students were coming. My backpack and tablet weren't with me; all I had was my wristband.

​I tried to look at the time, but there was a message written:

​"No signal. Please go to a different place."

​There wasn't any signal.

​I tried to look for anyone I knew, but I couldn't find anyone familiar, not even Hayato.

​But then a hologram was cast in front of us.

​"Congratulations to all the students who have survived this far. You can ask me any questions you have."

​Then immediately a guy shouted, "Why are we gathered here?"

​Then the hologram spoke again:

​"You will be playing a game. The game's name is Blood Lottery."

​"Blood lottery??"

It was the same thing that was written in the letter. I knew it something was wrong.

​I was kind of scared. This game name was scary.

​Then another guy shouted, "Why are only we here? There aren't more than 600 students here."

​"All the students are playing this game. They are just in different rooms."

​"Does anyone have any more questions?"

​...

​"There aren't any. So now I will explain the rules of this game."

​Rules: There will be a jar full of papers. There will be different numbers written on them. All the students will take a paper. Then an elimination number announcement will be made. The authority will choose random numbers to announce. The student who has the exact same number as the announcement will be eliminated.

​"Elimination means death in this game."

​Huh. So this game is pure luck. Also, the authority can eliminate anyone they like, can't they?

​Then it spoke again:

​"So your game will start now."

​The hologram ended.

​A person wearing a mask brought a jar. There were papers all in different colors.

​Two armed police were protecting it.

​Then whispers started among all of them. Some were whispering who would go first, and some were talking about the fatality.

​Then a student said in a loud voice, "I will go first."

​All eyes locked on him as he walked towards the jar.

​Then he put his hand inside the jar and took a paper.

​Then the police told him to go to a different side from all the students.

​Seeing him, many students' fear disappeared.

​One after another, many students took a paper.

​I decided that now I would also go.

​Then I started to walk towards the jar. Not many people were staring at me because I was going a little late. If I had been going in first or second place, I would have been the center of attention.

​I also took a green-colored paper.

​And walked again towards the other group.

​I saw my number was 53.

​I calculated: the chances of being eliminated were extremely low because there are many numbers. If it is selected randomly, the chances of being eliminated are near 0%.

​But I think there will be some kind of catch.

​(A few minutes later)

​As all the students took their papers, another hologram was played.

​"Good job, students. You all have taken the papers. Now I will be announcing the elimination numbers."

​Some students started panicking, but there was no choice.

​"So, the numbers are:"

​"77..."

​"96..."

​"42..."

​"31..."

​"107..."

​"And 57."

​Seeing the 5 of 57, my breath stopped. But I got my breath again.

​Then all the students cheered except one.

​He was the one who showed bravery by going first.

​He started crying.

​I confronted him, "What happened?"

​He said in a trembling voice, "My number is 57."

​I realized. He will now be killed.

​I quickly left him alone. Staying with him would break him even more.

But then the hologram spoke again.

And the students started trembling again.

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