There were microphones attached to their body suits which made them audible to everyone.
"Mahmoud, are you sure we are going to do this?" Arham questioned as he placed a hand on Mahmoud's shoulder, but Mahmoud jerked him off.
"I don't care!"
"Yeah. You are right."
The camera angles changed and they could see what was wrong with the room. It was everything. It was a compact room made of metal walls and there was no window or outlet whatsoever. The room was covered with wooden flooring and was filled with random warehouse stuff. Only one person could enter the room at a time through the tiny door. It was open and there was a faint glow of light coming from inside, compared to the dullness outside.
The boys entered the premises and stood there for ten minutes until there was an announcement:
"The training will now begin." The voice was robotic and stoic. A little while after the announcement, the door closed and the locks clicked.
"What the hell is going on?!" Arham ran towards the door and banged it with his fist.
"Have you sold away your patience?" Mahmoud followed him and pulled him back.
"No. Nothing is fine. This school is definitely not ordinary."
At that time, there was yet another announcement:
"The students please proceed to the pavilion."
Arham and Mahmoud proceeded to the square marked pavilion and stood there till a bell rang. It was followed by a short instructional announcement:
"The students must remain on the pavilion till a three-minute bell rings, indicating the commencement of the task. The room contains keys located at random locations. For convenience, there are three keys and none of them is located in an unusual place."
"But, there is a time limit and the task should be completed in ten minutes. At the five minute mark, gas will be released which can be lethal if inhaled for more than five minutes. Good luck!"
Arham and Mahmoud looked at the digital clock. They had exactly ten minutes to perform the task. Arham proceeded to the right, while Mahmoud proceeded towards the left. He stumbled upon an object and picked it up. It was a copper-coloured key with two buttons. He kept it inside his pocket as he did not want Mahmoud to see it.
There was a loud buzzing sound and both turned back. It was the digital clock displaying the message in red-font:
"Key found but not claimed."
Mahmoud turned to Arham. "Did you find a key?"
"Um... Yes. I have it with me." Arham retrieved the key out of his pocket.
Mahmoud examined the key and the two buttons.
"We are supposed to press this button." Mahmoud pressed a button and one of the red lights on the clock turned green. "Arham, press the other button."
Arham pressed the button and other light turned green. Both the lights then flashed off.
"One key found." The message appeared on the clock.
Arham proceeded along with Mahmoud this time. They both searched in the drawers, cupboards and closets. There was no key whatsoever. They both sat down on the floor to see if they could find the key like they found the first one.
There was no key but one of the wooden panels was placed in a random fashion. Arham tried to move it but it seemed to be stuck to the concrete with a sticky substance. Mahmoud looked at the clock.
"Arham, we have exactly 5 seconds before the gas starts releasing. We have to do something ."
Arham picked up the panel and found another key, this time silver in colour. They pressed the buttons and the lights flashed green again. The five-minute mark was complete and a bell rung, followed by a cloud of smoke in the room.
"Cough... Arham... Please cover... cough...your face." Mahmoud said.
'This person. Even in such a situation, he is thinking about me.'
Arham covered his face and headed towards the pile of rubbish that was gathered in a corner. He began to look for the key in the dump. He picked up a clump of gathered newspaper and unfolded it. There was no key inside. The smoke was intensifying and his heartbeat was getting faster by the minute. A thick layer of sweat had formed on his face and his breathing was increasing.
"Mahmoud, I don't...cough...think I will...cough...survive."
"Please, Arham...keep breathing... we can make it."
"Where the hell did the bloody key go?!"
Mahmoud looked for the key in the rubbish. He had kept his eyes fixated on a doll earlier. The doll seemed no less than a nightmare material. It had misplaced eyes and torn clothes. Its body was made of rags and it was soiled with something red. Mahmoud pressed the doll in various places and he felt something hard. He ripped the part apart and found the key inside. They pressed the buttons and a door opened opposite to the entrance, which seemed like the exit. Mahmoud and Arham left that place, far away from everyone else.