We will be watching.
A chill ran down his spine as he read that. It was like the words had willed their watching eyes into existence.
It wasn't the first time they had said that either, though this time it made him wonder.
Did these guys want them to win, to complete the trials?
Or did they want Earth to lose? To turn it into a safe point, just like this one, to slave during the trials of others.
Worse yet, what if none of this even mattered? What if this was just a big game for them? Something to watch when they got bored.
It was a mad thought, a disturbing one.
Screams erupted from outside the building, pulling Gray from his thoughts. He walked towards the window, drawing the curtains.
A small crowd had gathered on a park path. A man was shouting something at a soldier. A woman came in between them and started yelling as well. She was moving a lot, pointing at the soldier as she shouted.
~Don't be stupid, they'll shoot you.~
The soldier pushed her back. The other man jumped in, shoving the soldier away. They wrestled for a moment, the man was bigger than the soldier. But after more struggling he was pinned down. He tried getting up, and a gun was put to his head. The soldier started shouting.
The window fogged up, as he watched on, Gray hadn't even realized how ragged his breathing had become.
The crowd outside got even bigger. People were running to see what was going on. More soldiers were coming as well.
This won't end well.
The woman pulled something out of her bag. There was more shouting; Gray kept shaking his head.
The soldier raised his hands in the air; the woman shouted at him, she was shivering. Her partner was freed, and he started walking towards her, yelling.
Just then, another soldier rushed up behind her. She turned around.
The shouting stopped at once, as a loud bang pierced the air.
The soldier fell to the ground, and the woman dropped the gun, raising trembling hands into the air. Her partner tried picking up the gun but—
The gunshots were so clear. It was like he was down there with them. The couple fell to the ground, their blood slowly painting the floor red.
The crowd began shouting, but a few pointed guns and they stopped. The bodies were carried away, to some place Gray could not see.
~Just what the fuck is going on down here,~ he thought.
He was stunned. He should've known that the gleeful atmosphere he'd seen earlier was just a lie. There was no way that everyone would be so calm after being teleported to a place they knew nothing about. Some people had been separated from family, others had seen theirs being killed. Why wouldn't they be scared?
He watched on as another group of soldiers came by; they cleaned up the blood while others blocked the view. Another soldier was heading to the park, walking at a quick pace. A crowd of people started to gather and follow him out of view.
His mind filled with questions.
Did he really want to help the military right now? Or be around them at all for that matter. What would happen when someone eventually pointed a gun at him? Would he kill them too? Could he kill them?
Just then, the door opened. Gray turned around, still half-caught up in his own thoughts.
A soldier stood on the other side. "Come with me."
###
Gray was led downstairs. The complex's hallways looked neat, with brown carpeting in the corridors, matching the color of the walls and ceiling.
Most people he had passed were wearing military uniforms and even the ones that weren't walked like they should've been.
"Where are we going?" he asked the soldier. The guy walked with wide strides and hadn't turned to look at him once during their journey.
"General Bradley arranged for your meeting downstairs," the soldier replied, taking a right down another flight of stairs.
~That was quick,~ Gray thought to himself.
It took them a minute or two to reach the first floor. It looked like a simple apartment lobby, with a receptionist's desk, and couches on either side.
Four soldiers guarded the front door; two outside and two inside. Another set was behind the receptionist's desk and four stood at the side of the lobby they had just entered.
The soldier Gray had been walking with gestured towards one of the others, and they rushed off.
A moment later they returned with a short boy wearing slightly oversized clothes. The boy smiled as he laid eyes on Gray, and for a moment they were silent.
"What are you wearing?" Joshua asked after the soldiers left the two of them alone.
"What am I wearing?" Gray scoffed, looking down at Joshua's pants. "Vomit green. It's a good color on you," he added.
"Beggars can't be choosers," Joshua mocked. "They hand out the 'clothing resources' based on 'actual' need. I was lucky enough to get anything."
He opened his mouth but quickly stopped, before looking at one of the soldiers by the reception.
"Can we talk in one of your rooms, or is that also not allowed?" he shouted.
The soldier called something over his walkie, and a moment later the two were led to one of the rooms at the end of the lounge. The soldier stared at Gray for a moment, before leaving them alone.
"What took you so long, man? I was starting to think you bailed on me," Joshua said. He was smiling, but his expression was off. He looked... angry.
There was silence, as the two just stared at each other.
Gray didn't know what to say, and frankly, he wasn't all there. The aliens and the recent shooting were still on his mind, throwing all his other thoughts into disarray.
Joshua's expression softened. "At least give me an answer, man," he sighed.
"I wasn't exactly under the impression I should've been rushing," Gray replied. "But sorry about that. It looks like things are... rough here."
"Rough doesn't cut it," Joshua replied, before slumping onto the bed. He sighed as he snuggled into the pillow "They don't have it this soft in my block," he added.
"What's going on down here?" Gray asked. What's all... that about?" Gray added, nodding towards the door.
"What do you think, man. NPCs being NPCs," Joshua replied, before tossing the pillow against the wall and leaning on it.