Next!

A loud piercing shriek fills the long narrow hall.

The small man in front of me turns around to say: “don’t worry, I heard it doesn’t hurt at all.”

“Next!” A guard screams and everyone moves 5 spaces ahead.

I count the line. 11 spots before I’m…

Fear fills my body, something inside feels even more unsettled.

“Next!” the guard screams again, after another loud thunder echoes.

“I heard they’re looking for them and testing everyone” a woman behind me suggests.

Looking for who? Testing what? Even more questions begin to race.

Why am I here? What is going on? I begin to regret ever dreaming of this place.

“Next!” 5 more go in after yet another roaring bang.

Now staring eye to eye with the guard at the front of the line.

I can finally see behind the curtain, it’s no wonder why it was hidden this whole time.

5 chairs in a row, filled one by one with those ahead.

Another guard flicks a switch and the whole room floods with blinding light.

Standing this close the sound is deafening, piercing my ears they fill with blood.

The small man in the chair sees me and gives a small reassuring thumbs up.

5 sat down, but now only 4 get up.

The 5th is left shaking, and is now lifeless in front of our eyes.

The body is removed as I stand frozen in fear.

“Don’t worry, only one each round dies.” The small man whispered in my ear.

"Next!” the guard ushers me inside.

Now I’m sitting in the chair, the same one where I just watched that poor man die.

Here it comes… the loud bang after the flick of the switch.

I brace for impact, and wake up clenching my fist.