As soon as I regained consciousness, my head was hit with a surge of pain, but the pain wasn't like a headache. It was more like a sensation of overloading information. My head buzzed with confusion until a series of short phrases appeared in my mind.
***
Evolution Games Rules:
- Each player will receive one evolution pill at random.
a.) varieties will be differentiated as followed: [Blue= Strength; Red= Vision; Green= Auditory; Yellow= Respiratory; Purple= Reflexes; Aquamarine= Regeneration; Pink= Brain Functions.] Due to me, Micheal Grey, these will be the only available pills in the games.
b.) each pill will last up to six hours, but this will depend on the strain of usage.
- No extra pills can be carried on the person throughout the competition.
- No food, water, or sundries will be provided to the players at the beginning of the games.
- Food, water, and sundries will be found in various supply crates and areas on the island.
- More Pills can also be found in special locations.
- Killing will not be tolerated and the person(s) who have committed the act will be punished according to national law.
- The last 20 participants will be awarded an opportunity to attend the next level of the Evolution Games.
- The top ten participants will be recognized for their actions by their sponsors.
***
Along with the rules of the games, a giant map of the entire island was displayed in my mind. Towards the north were jungles and forests, the south had deserts both snow and sand, the east contained a small ocean with reefs and such, finally, the west were mountain ranges. Ceandor island took the shape of a fat crescent moon, where the curve was maintained by the ocean part. The ocean itself was confined inside the large lake that was surrounded by cityscapes. The line where salt water and fresh water met was clearly visible. I stared at the spectacle which amazed.
***
After I was done examining the rules one more time and the map, I slowly lifted my eyelids. I was kissed with a blinding white light which was positioned right above me. I wanted to get up, but I had restraints placed on my torso, arms, and legs. I tried to struggle, but the lights, the restraints, and my own fatigue prevented me. Suddenly, I felt a cold and smooth hand grab my neck. I jolted awake and tried to bite the hand. The blue, latex-covered hand stretched back. A voice infiltrated my ears, "I'm just the doctor. I have to inject the tracker inside your neck. It will degrade after the game's end; it's just to help you in case you get hurt or lost." I relaxed my jaw and nodded at the mysterious figure to continue. The voice thanked me and took out a large syringe filled with an orange liquid. I was unfazed. As long as the medicine wasn't pills, I was fine. The so-called doctor injected the tracker as he or she promised. I shock of coldness dispensed itself into my neck. I lay there paralyzed for a few seconds before my body introduced some heat.
The restraints were slowly undone, and I stretched every part of my body before I sat up. Now I had the time to take in my surroundings. It looked like I was in a doctor's office, so the voice wasn't lying. There was a small sink, and beside it was stethoscopes, syringes, band-aids, and other small trinkets that belonged in a doctor's office. The air smelled sterile alcohol and the spot on my neck also secreted a similar smell. I was still in the clothes that George swiped from the mall before we had our little library escapade. I checked my pocket to still find the locket and chain from my grandfather. I sighed in relief. I hopped off the examination table and rubbed the part of my neck where I got the injection. It seemed to have healed.
I put on my shoes and walked over to the door. I tried to open it, but it was locked from the outside. There was no keyhole that could be picked from the inside, so I gave up and sat down on a different chair. Near my line of sight, I spotted a transparent plastic box. I got curious, so I decided to see what was inside of it. As I looked closer, I could see that it was the evolution pill. There was exactly one, and it was the yellow one. I recalled the purpose and remembered it. Well, I didn't actually remember it. It was more like the information was pushed out. It seemed that any information regarding the games was automatically inserted and usable inside of my head. This was pretty cool. I had to admit.
Yellow meant that it was for respiratory. More information popped up; the pill could enhance my respiratory system by several folds. I could run for longer distances without the build-up of lactic acid and hold my breath underwater for several minutes. This was all obvious. The best part was that the information in my head could predict how much time the drug would last. There wasn't any time in the box yet, but I assumed that it would showcase the seconds ticking down when I ingested the drug.
A clear voice resonated in my room, "All participants have finished their injections. Please don't panic as I am talking. I will only be saying this once. Outside your door, there will be a grand hallway where all the participants will see each other. In this short time frame, please make sure you reunite with your party members. If you don't, then you will be transported to Ceandor Island alone. If you have an aptitude over fifty percent, then please don't bother trying to form a group. We at Grey Corp. have all information on everybody here. If you do not comply with our rules, then you will be eliminated in an instant and be banned from all future games." I faced the door. "Once you have regrouped with your parties, you will be transported to random areas in the map simultaneously with the other contestants." I nodded my head to myself. "Mr. Grey has added another rule. Weapons have been added to the island. They are, of course, inferior rated, but use them with discretion. If one dies because of the weapon in your hand, you will be charged with manslaughter by the nation's law. Anyway, that is all." The door's handle turned down, and the door opened forward. I stepped outside.