Aram was jolted out of his dreams by the impact of chalk against his head.
His eyes snapped open to see Teacher Muller glaring at him from the front of the classroom, his face contorted in anger.
"Are you kidding me, Aram?" he bellowed. "You can sleep at home, not in my class! Pick up that chalk and come solve this problem for the class."
Aram rubbed the back of his head, feeling the sting of the chalk as he sat up in his chair, his eyes still heavy with sleep. He looked around the room, noting the bored expressions of his classmates and the drab, gray walls. He yawned casting a glance out the window.
The sun was shining bright in the sky, casting a golden glow over the nearby mountains. Aram yearned to be outside, feeling the cool breeze on his face and the sun on his skin. He longed for freedom from his oppressive boredom in this classroom, this village, this life.
He caught sight of his reflection in the window, he was still not used to his curly white hair that he had recently dyed. The contrast between his hair, and his coppery tan skin was eye catching to say the least. He tugged at his loose-fitting blue T-shirt, feeling a sense of dissatisfaction with his appearance, he needed something more.
After all, he did want to get out of this shitty village and start a life as a badass bartender with a beautiful Latina wife.
'I will get the most badass tattoos and scars once I'm gone from here.'
Aram glanced back to his teacher, who was still looking at him with anger burning in his eyes.
"I would like to do it, Mr. Muller." A voice behind him resounded.
Aram knew who's voice it was without looking back. Razil.
Aram couldn't stand Razil. He was arrogant, always trying to prove himself, and always succeeding. Always trying to be better than everyone, at everything. He had even started taking MMA classes, just to try and outdo Aram. It was infuriating, and Aram felt his blood boil every time he saw Razil's face.
Everyone else seemed to love him though, since he was quite smart and handsome.
He often heard the girls talking about Razils beautiful blond hair, handsome face or athletic build.
They never talked about him like that though, even if he thought of himself as good looking.
"You are welcome, Aram" Razil said to him as he picked up the chalk from his desk.
There was something about him. Something that made people gravitate towards him, made them admire him. Aram didn't understand it. Was it how he treated everyone? How he smiled at them with his radiant smile? Or was it just his good looks that let him do anything?
Razil made quick work of the math problem and went to sit back at his seat.
------
As the class ended, Aram stood up to leave, but was stopped by Teacher Muller's stern voice.
"Not so fast, Aram. You'll be staying behind to clean the classroom. Alone."
Aram scowled, not wanting to clean up again. It wasn't his turn this week, so it was clearly a punishment. But before he could even begin protest, Razil spoke up.
"It's okay, I'll help him," he said, a friendly smile on his face. "You can go ahead and enjoy your weekend, Mr. Muller."
Aram couldn't believe it. Why was Razil being so nice to him? What did he want?
He watched as the teacher left the room, leaving him and Razil alone. Razil began to move the desks and chairs to the side, creating a makeshift ring in the center of the room. and leaving Aram confused.
"Want to spar?" Razil asked, his smile still in place.
This took Aram by surprise.
'Does he think he has already surpassed me after a few month of training?' Aram thought.
"Sure, I need to blow some steam off anyways, which rules?"
"Just grappling I would say, since we have no gloves." Razil decided.
'So that's why he asked me here instead of the gym..'
"If that's what you are comfortable with." Aram said, his voice cold.
Aram took his shoes and socks off and put his phone and keys away. In the gym they were never allowed to wear shoes, so that's what he was used to.
Razil followed suit and stepped into the middle of the ring once he was done.
Aram took a deep breath to calm himself, he was still way too angry that he had to clean up to focus.
He didn't want to fall into Razil's pace before they even started sparring.
Once he was ready he also stepped into the circle.
"Finally ready?" Razil asked mockingly, still with the polite smile plastered on his face.
"Shut up and let's go" Aram said, starting doing small hops on the ball of his feet, standing ready in his fighting stance.
Aram and Razil had very similar athletic builds and they were both around 1.80 m tall. Which meant no one had a clear advantage, so it was up to their skill.
After a few seconds of just circling one another Aram charged in, going for a takedown.
He grabbed Razil's front leg pulling it and slamming his shoulder into his stomach.
With his right hand he reached to his back leg, which was supporting Razil.
Surprisingly Razil immediately started falling.
But at the same time he fell he snaked his arm around Aram's neck and his legs around his torso.
He pulled on both ends.
Aram of course hadn't let him get his throat, putting his hand in-between just in time.
But that didn't make Razil shy away, he kept his position and kept pressing down on his neck and pulling it, making it hard to breath for Aram.
Without his hand, he would have already been done for. But Aram didn't want to give up that easily.
He grabbed Razil's leg with his free arm, put all of his strength into his own legs, stemming himself up to his feet while Razil was still holding onto his neck completely.
Razil tried to wiggle his leg free, knowing what was coming. But it was too late.
Aram was already in motion.
He slammed him to the ground like a wrecking ball.
Razil immediately started gasping for air, loosening his grip a little for a second. Which Aram used without hesitation. He pulled his head out.
But before had could pull himself completely free Razil found an opening. He took Arams arm and threw his legs around his neck.
He started chocking Aram as soon as he could, drawing both his legs tight.
Aram was fully trapped in a triangle choke.
He had lost, and he knew it.
But his pride on this one thing didn't let him tap out.
Aram struggled as hard as he could, but to no avail.
His vision rapidly turned blurry, and soon, he went limp.
He had passed out.
He had lost.
-------------------------------------
With a groan, Aram came back to his senses and felt pressure around his neck.
"Finally awake?" Razil's grim voice asked.
"How long was I out?" Aram inquired.
"About a minute, I think. And no clue where we are." Razil replied.
Aram frowned and sat up, squinting against the blinding sunlight. His mind was still hazy from the knockout. Blinking rapidly, he took in his surroundings. He found himself in the middle of a vast desert, with the hot sun beating down on him mercilessly. The sand was a deep rusty red, stretching out as far as the eye could see in every direction. Jagged rocks jutted out of the ground, their sharp edges glinting in the sunlight.
The heat was almost unbearable, and the air was thick with a dry, sandy smell. Aram's throat was dry and scratchy already.
"Is this some type of prank?" Aram asked, looking at Razil.
"I don't do--" Razil was interrupted by a weird pop sound resounding right in front of them.
A middle-aged woman in a green summer dress appeared and started blinking around, looking as confused as Aram was a second ago. After a few seconds, she opened her mouth to say something, but whatever she wanted to say was drowned out by another pop sound, bringing in a monk, who looked like he came straight from a movie.
This kept happening, and soon Aram could hear one pop after another, drowning out all other sounds for a few seconds.
Aram was bewildered as he looked around, counting at least a few dozen wildly different people of all ages and ethnicities.
'What is happening here?' Aram thought to himself.
As he pondered, the weird sounds stopped, and a deafening thunderclap caused Aram to instinctively cover his ears. The booming sound reverberated through his entire body, making him feel as if a giant had slammed his fist down on the ground. It was as if a powerful roar echoed across the landscape.
Just as the thunder was about to fade, it started again, but this time Aram noticed a voice in the middle of the deafening thunder. It was a deep and clear voice, booming with resonance. Heavy with authority and meaning, making Arams whole being tremble in fear.
"SURVIVE!" it echoed.