David_SanchezFINAL

//Suddenly I can’t move. I feel like I'm in shock.// It was a rainy day, I was walking on a beach near my house. I’ve always had a passion for water, it calms me. It's been about sixteen years since my father died, my mom hasn't acted the same since. What I didn't realize, you see is that this was a whole different world. One where everything can be false. I start seeing something glowing. I didn't realize what this meant, so I kept walking. I feel like someone is watching me. When I reached the end of my walk I was sweating, but this person kept following me. Suddenly I felt a small pinch on my head, I fell to the floor like a fly on its last breath. I woke up in a small room that was filled with white. Almost everything was white. There was a mirror in front of me reminding me what I look like. A young man, about 5’7”, black hair. My eyes looked hazel but I knew they are dark brown, I look exhausted but strangely don't feel the heavyweights of no sleep. After a while, someone came in. she looked like someone straight out of a sci-fi movie. She asked me a few questions, my date of birth, my name, and my parent’s names. And then, came the dynamite, I was qualified to go to "The Trials." The trials are for the nation's top competitors. I though about it. [[Accept the Request.]] [[Decline the request.]]

The other challengers and I were taken on a plane to where the trials took place. I looked around, checking if I see anyone I recognized. [[Continue]]

I decide not to go. When I went to bed that night, I wondered if I should have participated. After telling my mother, she mother was furious. She said I should go to live in a better environment. She tells me this opportunity is too great to pass, that I should reconsider to live a better life. After all, my mom wasn’t the richest, either. I decide it’s best if I join “The Trials”. I ran to the government building in my town to accept the invite. I had a sigh of relief when I enrolled, it’s almost as if everything worked out, or so I thought. [[Continue]]

The other challengers and I were taken on a plane to where the trials took place. I looked around, checking if I see anyone I recognized. The interwiewer says we have one choice, particapate or go back home. The interview was quite simple. They gave everyone a number, I was 12. On the plane, there were 100 people on that plane, only one person will be the victor. Unlike The Hunger Games, no one gets killed or hurt. You do get praised for trying. After what seemed to be a couple of hundred years, we made it. It was a remote island off the coast of Taiwan. We all walked into a large building. The mentor, Mr. Albuquerque told us we must take a test to sort us into groups for a better understanding of what we are going to do. There were three groups, red, blue, and white. I took the test. Something failed on the test and I had to retake it. 5 tests later a mentee came in. He looked startled, even scared. “It appears you have been sorted by the test, you are all three of them,” he said still in shock. “It appears you must be with Mr. Albuquerque at all times,” he added. [[Continue->Leave?]]

//Me? Why me, just a 16-year-old boy… being sorted into all three groups. What do I do? Do I get kicked out?// I took a deep breath and tried to keep calm, nothing happened, I was expecting some sort of “you are the king!” moment. The next day was the first of two trials. I walked into a dark room, filled with stones blocks everywhere. In the middle of the room, there was a table with a tablet. I could feel the pressure when I slowly walked towards it. It was a simple question, yet half of the challengers get eliminated by this one. It was a tablet. It simply said, “What does leadership mean to you?” I thought about this question long and hard. I finally decided to answer the question. [[Leadership is fake, no one is a leader.]] [[Leadership is needed every day.]]

Suddenly, my tablet turned completely green and then shattered. A door randomly opened from a column of stone blocks, I was amazed. Inside were 49 people that had also passed the first test. [[Continue->Next]]

My tablet turns red. On the screen it says "in this game you need to work alone, you are eliminated" I walked out, knowing I tried my best. I should've known, this is a competetion.

“Listen up everyone, if you are still here you have completed the first trial. The second trial is physical. One person from each group will be put into groups of three.” I already knew it was different for me. I am still getting used to these trials; but that won’t stop me. “One group will only be one competitor, along with my mentee and I, he added. The next morning was the second trial. It was a complicated trial. The team must pick one person to pull a lever that weighs about 200 pounds. The second person has to run on a treadmill at 35 MPH to open a door after the lever has been pulled. The final person has to go through a room full of obstacles. Only 1 group completes and pass this challenge. We decided that Mr. Al will pull the lever, I will run on the treadmill, and the mentee, Oliver will do the obstacles. My group talked about which role I should do. [[Run on the treadmill]] [[Pull the lever]]

It was the second trial and I was ready. Al pulled the lever with a strong look of determination on his face. When it was my turn, I was already warmed out and was ready to run. In the beginning, it seemed to go well. And then I tripped, well almost as I was able to stop myself and I kept going. When the door finally opened Oliver ran right in. I watched from a television as he went from obstacle to obstacle, my fingers crossed. When Oliver completed the course I was so thankful he came back looking normal, I thought he might've gotten hurt. [[Continue->AYY.]]

My group decided that I should pull the level. When I walked in towards the lever, I felt overwhelmed. I finally decide it's time to pull the lever. Immedality, I fell to the ground. Over and over again, I fell. I was desperate. That was when I finally realized, it was over, The Trials are over. I am over. I felt a rush of sadness emerge from me. Why am I so upset? It’s just a game. I thought. I finally came to my senses and accepted that I failed. I walked out of the room, a single tear rolling down my cheek. I was devastated. I see a door in the room, I thought if I should go inside [[Yes]] [[No]]

d. As the number the list of names came on the screen, I couldn't read mine, until I read the final name on the screen, Alex Burros. I was extremely relieved. Everyone gathered up once again to see if they made it.. I felt as if weights were lifted off my shoulders. I had a choice to work for the government and mentor the next group of qualifiers. I wondered if I would be a good mentor. I thought about my family and how much I grew. I thought about it. [[Decline]] [[Accept]]

I see a kid with a fortnite t-shirt looking at me and doing the L and dabbing. I was annoyed.

I thank the mentor one last time and leave.

When I returned home to gather my belongings. I saw the world differently, I felt awake. I felt a sense of accomplishment and pride. I knew that if I stayed strong physically and mentally I would triumph. However, I can't shake this feeling deep inside of me. It felt like guilt, leaving my friends and family behind under such terrors of the world that we live in. I am leaving not just for myself but with the hopes of being able to help the ones I leave behind. In the land of luxury, I finally felt this sense of relaxation. How everything worked out. How lucky I am to be here. I then grew up happy and enjoying it. And there I lived, for the rest of my life.

I decided to accept the offer. I was taken to a building near the island where the trials took place. I was taken to an office, I passed an odd room with huge lock, I ask why it’s locked. They say it is an abandoned building that is no longer being used. After a few months, I got more and more curious on what’s inside that room. I decided to look around the office cabinets. Suprisingly, I found the key. When I opened the lock, I couldn’t believe what I saw. I saw a bunch of workers, looking at me. I see them working on code that seemed out of this world. I realized I would most likely be fired. I soon got fired from my job as a mentor. I continued my life in the land of luxury.

We were asked one last question. Do we feel ready, if you don't you can go back home. I thought about it. [[Go back home]] [[Continue->start the first trial]]

I thought about it. I realized I didn't feel safe here. I asked to go back home.