The rhythmic clanging of boots against the gym's concrete floor filled the silent space as Avi made his way back to their regrouping spot. The school was locked down, its usual buzz replaced with an eerie stillness, and the gravity of the situation weighed heavy on his shoulders. The barrier that had encased the school since the chaos began shimmered with a strange, pulsating light, its translucent surface an impenetrable wall that cut them off from the world beyond. No one knew what lay outside that barrier, or if help was on the way. They were stranded, alone.
Despite that, Avi found comfort in the familiarity of the people waiting for him. Ken, Mia, Sophia, and Emily were gathered by the corner, their expressions a mix of fatigue and determination. Ken shot him a half-smile, but the tension in his eyes spoke of a seriousness that hadn't been there before.
"Everything alright?" Avi asked, slinging his pack off his shoulder.
"Yeah," Ken replied, his voice tight. "Just a bit anxious about what's coming next."
"I'm sure we'll be fine," Avi said, trying to sound more confident than he felt. "We've got a solid team."
Before they could exchange more words, a voice broke in, cutting through the uncertainty.
"Looks like you made it back in one piece," Ryan said as he emerged from behind a stack of crates, a figure trailing behind him.
Avi raised an eyebrow at the newcomer. The guy looked out of place, dressed like he was heading to a leadership seminar rather than facing down an uncertain battle. His casual grin, tousled hair, and an air of self-assuredness made him stand out, even in a room full of students teetering on the edge of panic.
"Who's this?" Avi asked, eyes narrowing.
Ryan gestured with a nod. "This is Alex Santos. He was the president of the student council—and he's been connecting everyone, pulling together our resources."
Avi's eyes narrowed further as he assessed Alex. The man had a magnetic presence, and Avi could see why he had managed to take charge so easily. His sharp eyes met Alex's, filled with a mix of curiosity and suspicion. "So, you're the one getting people to stop hoarding the last cans of beans?"
Alex chuckled, unfazed. "Something like that. But we need to shift our focus. We've set up a strategy meeting, and I'd like you all to join us."
Avi cast a glance at Ken and the others. Despite the chaos, there were still people thinking clearly. A wave of relief washed over him; it wasn't going to be just the six of them facing the wave.
"Alright," he said, nodding. "Lead the way."
Alex moved with a purpose, leading them down the hall past the gymnasium and into a storage room hidden behind a collection of equipment. The space was small, but it was secure—one of the few places that seemed safe with the barrier still holding them in. The air inside felt tense, charged with anticipation.
Inside, a group had already gathered. A few unfamiliar faces mingled with those Avi recognized: Lena, the school journalist, whose sharp gaze suggested she was still gathering information, and Lucas, the shy gamer who had a way of shifting from nervous to confident when talking about strategy. His fingers drummed lightly against his leg, a tic that appeared whenever he was anxious.
Alex stood at the front of the room, his usually confident posture now tinged with a rare hint of weariness. The buzzing chatter and nervous shuffling of students gradually died down as he began to speak, eyes scanning the room, searching for some semblance of hope in their frightened expressions.
"Listen up, everyone," Alex said, voice steady but commanding. "The entire school is on lockdown. We're sealed in, and there's a barrier surrounding us. No one can get in or out—not even us. We've tried. We've tested it. It's solid, and it's not going anywhere."
A murmur spread through the room, a mixture of confusion and fear. The students exchanged uneasy glances, the gravity of their predicament setting in.
"We don't know what's happening outside the barrier or if anyone is coming to help," Alex continued, his gaze shifting to a few of the more anxious faces. "We're on our own. But that doesn't mean we're helpless. We need to work as a team to stay safe and find a way out of this. The longer we wait, the harder it's going to get."
Avi shifted his weight, letting the reality of Alex's words sink in. They were trapped, cut off from the world, with no clear way to reach out or know if help was even coming. He glanced at Lucas, who looked both eager and anxious, ready to lay out a plan.
"Lucas, it's your turn," Alex said, giving him a nod that felt like both a command and an encouragement.
Lucas took a deep breath, adjusting his glasses. His hands were trembling, but his voice was clear when he spoke. "O-okay. So, based on the intel Lena's collected, we've got a rough idea of how many fighters, support classes, and production specialists we have."
Lena nodded, speaking up with a calm that belied the situation. "Excluding everyone in this room, we've got at least 30 fighters—mostly melee specialists—27 support players, including healers, buffers, and shielders, and 20 production classes, mainly crafters and engineers. There are also more 300 civilian survivors, those unlike the others, did not awaken skills. We can't just throw all of them into the battle, so we need to use them strategically."
Avi glanced over at Caleb, who was busy flipping through blueprints with an intense look. The crafting prodigy had always been in his element in the school's workshop, but now his work was crucial. "I've got my group of crafters working on barricades and tools," Caleb said, voice steady with determination. "We can reinforce entrances and create traps to slow any enemies that charge toward us, but I'll need time."
"And the rest of us?" Avi asked, raising an eyebrow.
Lucas adjusted his glasses again, the nervousness creeping back into his voice as he looked at the whiteboard. "First, we need to plan our defense based on the school's geography." He tapped the board, revealing a rough sketch of the building. "The front entrance is wide open, but we can block it off with barricades. The back's got more cover but is harder to defend. We'll need mobile units to watch the flanks."
Alex stepped forward, his voice taking on a note of urgency. "The enemy could come from any direction. We need to prepare for multiple contingencies. We can't just rely on walls. We need a team ready to adapt."
Lucas nodded. "So, here's the plan:"
Mobile Response Team: A small, quick-reaction force, ready to deploy wherever the enemy shows up.
Shield Wall: A front-line defense positioned near the main entrance and key points to absorb damage.
Healing Stations: Located in the center of the building for easy access to injured students.
Flanking Teams: Smaller groups designed to outmaneuver and catch the enemy off guard.
"We'll assign roles," Lucas continued. "Ryan, Ken, Mia, Sophia, Emily, and Avi—your team will form the backbone of our defense. We need a well-rounded team to handle whatever's thrown at us."
"And we'll need to hold the line until Caleb's barricades are up," Alex added, glancing at Caleb who nodded in agreement.
Tyler, the school jock with an attitude to match, sneered. "You've got to be kidding me. You think this ragtag group can hold the line? Look at them—half of them don't even know how to fight."
Avi's jaw tightened, but he bit down on the urge to punch Tyler's smug face. Instead, he leaned forward, eyes glinting with sarcasm. "And you'd know all about strategy, wouldn't you, Ty? Maybe you can start by leading the cheer squad. I'm sure they'll put up a better fight."
Tyler's nostrils flared, and he stepped closer, trying to loom over Avi, though it didn't have the same effect with Ken standing behind him. Ken's expression was unreadable, but the subtle tension in his muscles was enough to make Tyler reconsider his stance.
"You think this is a joke, Eques?" Tyler spat, his voice low but threatening. "You're gonna need more than a couple of jokes to hold this together."
Avi smirked, raising an eyebrow. "Oh, I know, Ty. I was thinking of you as our 'backup morale booster.' Just stand there and look pretty—no need to overexert yourself."
Tyler's jaw clenched, but he didn't dare snap back this time. Ken shifted his weight, his eyes narrowing slightly, and Tyler's bravado melted into a hesitant silence. The room held its breath for a moment, then moved on, the murmur of strategy and preparation taking over.
"Enough talk," Alex's voice cut through the tension. "We need to focus."
Tyler shot one last glare at Avi before following Alex's lead. He sat back down with obvious irritation in his face.
"Alright," Alex said, the tension settling over him like a weight. "Let's get this done. We've got no time to waste."
The group began to disperse, heading toward their designated spots. Lucas called out, "Remember, everyone, teamwork is key. Communicate, adapt, and stay sharp!"
As Avi stood there, eyes scanning the room, Tyler swaggered past him with a smirk that spoke volumes. He paused just long enough to lock eyes with Avi, his expression taunting.
"Hey, nerd," Tyler sneered. "Try not to get in the way when things go south."
Avi's jaw tightened, a flash of anger sparking behind his eyes. He took a step forward, but before he could retort, Tyler had already walked on, his lackeys chuckling and following behind him like shadows.
Avi watched him go, then smirked and called after him, "Don't worry, Ty. I'll make sure your ego gets a proper burial when this is all over."
The room fell silent for a moment, then erupted into hushed chuckles as the sound of preparations continued to fill the air.